Apparatus and method to maximize the display area of a mobile device
First Claim
1. A mobile device, comprising:
- an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces;
a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and
the camera movably disposed inside the camera port and operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device, wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device, the camera comprising a plurality of lenses, the camera operable to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device when the camera is active, the camera further comprising;
a first aperture;
a second aperture;
a plurality of photo sensors;
a light deflector associated with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light deflector changing a direction of a light beam, the light deflector operable to assume a first position, and a second position, the first position deflecting a light beam associated with the first aperture to a third lens, and the second position deflecting a light beam associated with the second aperture to the third lens;
the third lens disposed between the plurality of photo sensors and the light deflector; and
a light guide connecting the apertures, the light deflector, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light guide transmitting a beam of light between the apertures and the plurality of photo sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The technology disclosed here maximizes the size of the display area associated with the mobile device by various camera placement. In one embodiment, the camera is placed inside the mobile device, and can pop outside the mobile device when the camera is activated. When the camera is inactive the camera retracts inside the mobile device, and becomes unnoticeable to the user. In another embodiment, the camera is integrated into the mobile device display as a camera icon. The integrated camera serves two purposes: to record pictures, and to act as a camera icon, that when selected activates the camera. By removing the camera from the front side of the mobile device, or by integrating the camera into the display screen of the mobile device, the size of the mobile device display screen can be increased.
89 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A mobile device, comprising:
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an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces; a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and the camera movably disposed inside the camera port and operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device, wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device, the camera comprising a plurality of lenses, the camera operable to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device when the camera is active, the camera further comprising; a first aperture; a second aperture; a plurality of photo sensors; a light deflector associated with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light deflector changing a direction of a light beam, the light deflector operable to assume a first position, and a second position, the first position deflecting a light beam associated with the first aperture to a third lens, and the second position deflecting a light beam associated with the second aperture to the third lens; the third lens disposed between the plurality of photo sensors and the light deflector; and a light guide connecting the apertures, the light deflector, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light guide transmitting a beam of light between the apertures and the plurality of photo sensors.
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2. A mobile device, comprising:
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an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces; a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and the camera movably disposed inside the camera port comprising an aperture, the camera operable, when the camera is inactive, to retract inside the camera port, the camera operable, when the camera is active, to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device, and to position the aperture to receive light unobstructed by the mobile device, and the camera operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device;
wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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providing an outer casing associated with a mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces; providing a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and providing the camera detachably disposed inside the camera port, the camera comprising an aperture, the camera operable, when the camera is inactive, to retract inside the camera port, and to align with each surface in the plurality of surfaces associated with the outer casing, the camera operable, when the camera is active, to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device, and to position the aperture to receive light unobstructed by the mobile device, and wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A mobile device, comprising:
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an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces; a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and the camera movably disposed inside the camera port, the camera operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device; wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device.
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Specification