TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an apparatus with a camera, in particular to an apparatus with a rear facing camera and a a transparent display screen.

BACKGROUND

In present day apparatuses comprise normally integrated camera(s) and electronic display screen(s), wherein the integrated camera(s) and the display(s) generally occupy separate and distinct regions of the outer surface of the apparatus(es).

The portion of the outer surface of a apparatus associated with the camera does not function as a display. Often, it is provided in the form of a notch or hole, limiting the area of display.

Further, the camera, in particular the lens of the camera or a cover of the lens of the camera, often forms an interruption on a smooth outer surface of the apparatus and is both aesthetically and practically unpleasing. In addition, such an interruption on a smooth outer surface would increase complexity and cost in manufacturing the housing or the cover of the apparatus as well as the cameras. Furthermore, the lens of the camera can become dirty or damaged during use due to the direct exposure to the surrounding of the apparatus or fingers of a user.

SUMMARY

It is an object to provide an apparatus with a camera and a display that overcomes or at least reduces the problem indicated above.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a housing with a front side and a rear side, a camera, a rear display screen on the rear side, a first portion of the rear display screen being able to assume a transparent state, the first portion allowing light to pass through the first portion in the transparent state, the camera being a rear facing camera and the camera being placed behind the first portion. By placing the camera behind the display, and by providing the display with an area that can be rendered transparent, it becomes possible to obscure the camera from view when the camera is not in use. Further, an integrated display allows use of more of the rear side of the apparatus for purposes video display.

In a first possible implementation form of the first aspect a second portion of the area of the rear display screen is able to assume a transparent state, and a rear facing light source is placed in the housing with the rear facing light source being placed behind the second portion. Thus, it becomes possible to obscure a flashlight when it is not in use.

In a second possible implementation form of the first aspect the main display is smoothly integrated in the rear side.

In a third possible implementation form of the first aspect the first portion assumes the transparent state when the first portion is in an inactive state and no image is displayed in the first portion. Thus, it is ensured that the light of the image that the camera is to capture reaches the camera.

In a fourth possible implementation form of the first aspect the second portion assumes the transparent state when the second portion is in an inactive state and no image is displayed in the second portion. Thus, it is ensured that the light of the flashlight is not blocked by the main display.

In a fifth possible implementation form of the first aspect the apparatus comprises a second camera, with the second camera being arranged behind a third portion of the display screen that is able to assume a transparent state.

In a sixth possible implementation form of the first aspect the apparatus comprises a controller coupled to the rear display screen, the first portion assuming a transparent state when no image is displayed in the first portion, the camera having an active state and an inactive state, the state of the camera being communicated to the controller, and the controller being configured not to display an image in the first portion when the camera is in the active state. In a seventh possible implementation form of the first aspect the second portion assumes a transparent state when no image is displayed in the second portion, the light source having an active state and an inactive state, the state of the light source being communicated to the controller, and the controller being configured not to display an image in the second portion when the light source is in the active state.

In an eighth possible implementation form of the first aspect the first portion and the second portion are spaced from each other. Thus, it is ensured that light from the flashlight is not inadvertently scattered or reflected to the camera.

In a ninth possible implementation form of the first aspect the controller is configured to utilize the first portion for display when the camera is in an inactive state.

In a tenth possible implementation form of the first aspect the controller is configured to utilize the second portion for display when the light source is in an inactive state.

In an eleventh possible implementation form of the first aspect the rear display screen covers a portion of the rear side and the rear display screen at least covers the camera.

In an twelfth possible implementation form of the first aspect the controller is configured to display on the rear display screen an image resembling a portion of the rear side surrounding the rear display screen.

In a thirteenth possible implementation form of the first aspect the rear display screen is configured to visually hide the camera and/or the light source when the camera and/or the light source are not in use.

In a fourteenth possible implementation form of the first aspect the apparatus comprises a front display covering at least part of the front side.

In a fifteenth possible implementation form of the first aspect the camera comprises a lens or a lens group and the lens or lens group is located in the housing behind the first portion. In a sixteenth possible implementation of the first aspect a third portion of the area of said rear display screen is able to assume a transparent state, and a rear facing fingerprint sensor is placed in the housing with the rear facing fingerprint sensor being placed behind the third portion. Thus, it becomes possible to obscure a fingerprint sensor when it is not in use.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of operating an apparatus that comprises a housing with a front side and a rear side, a camera and a rear display screen on the rear side, a first portion of the area of the rear display screen being able to assume a transparent state, the camera being arranged behind the first portion and facing the first portion, the method comprising bringing the first portion in the transparent state when the camera is in an active state.

By placing the camera behind the display, and by providing the display with an area that can be rendered transparent at least in the area where it covers the camera, it becomes possible to obscure the camera from view when the camera is not in use. In this way, a housing or a cover of an apparatus, where the display with a transparent area resides, can be made without interruption, e.g. as a smooth area as a portion of a cover or a housing of the apparatus so that the complexity and cost of manufacturing can be reduce. In addition, the lends or the camera can be protected by the display or by the transparent part of the display from becoming dirty or damages.

In a first possible implementation form of the second aspect the method comprises capturing an image with the camera with light that has travelled through the first portion.

In a second possible implementation form of the second aspect the method comprises displaying an image or pattern for hiding the camera from view when the camera is in an inactive state.

These and other aspects will be apparent from the embodiment(s) described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments, and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to an embodiment showing a font display screen, Fig. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing a flashlight, a rear display screen, and a camera lens visible behind the rear display screen,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the flashlight and showing the rear display screen obscuring the camera lens with an image that resembles the rear side of the apparatus,

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the flashlight and showing a rear display screen that obscures the camera lens with an image that on its contours resembles the rear side of the apparatus and displays a logo in a central part of the rear display,

Fig. 5 is a rear view of another embodiment of the apparatus, showing the rear side of the apparatus with both a flashlight and two camera lenses visible behind a rear display screen, Fig. 6 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 5, with the rear display screen obscuring both the flashlight and the two camera lenses and with an image that resembles the rear side of the apparatus,

Fig. 7 is a rear view of another embodiment of the apparatus, showing the rear side of the apparatus with a flashlight, two camera lenses, and a fingerprint sensor visible behind a rear display screen due to portions of the rear display screen being transparent in an inactive state of the rear display screen,

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 7, with the rear display screen obscuring the flashlight, the two camera lenses, and the fingerprint sensor and with an image that resembles the rear side of the apparatus, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, in particular Figs. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of the apparatus is disclosed in the form of a smartphone.

The apparatus comprises a housing 1 with a front side and a rear side. The front side of the housing 1 is provided with a front display screen in the form of a touchscreen 2. A front facing camera (not shown) may be provided in the housing 1 with a lens on the front side. Typically, this front facing camera will be a secondary camera for e.g. taking selfies. A rear facing camera 3 is disposed in the housing 1 with a lens of the rear facing camera on the rear side of the housing 1, i.e. the camera 3 is directed rearwardly, and the camera axis extends from the rear side of the apparatus. In an embodiment, both the rear side and the front side of the apparatus 1 are substantially flat, except for the areas near the contours of the rear side and the front side, which are preferably at least rounded or chamfered. In an embodiment the camera axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the flat rear side.

A rear display screen 6 is arranged on the rear side of the apparatus. The outline of the rear display screen 6 is illustrated by the rectangle formed by the interrupted white line. The rear display screen 6 may cover the complete rear side or only a portion of the rear side. Preferably, the rear display screen 6 is substantially flush with the rear side. The rear display screen 6 covers at least a portion of the rear side and the rear display screen 6 covers the camera 3.

The rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion of the rear display screen 6 in front of the camera 3) is able to assume a transparent state, i.e. allows light to pass therethrough when in its transparent state. The rear facing camera 3 is located behind the rear display screen 6. In the present embodiment the complete rear screen 6 is capable of assuming a transparent state. The rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof) assumes the transparent state when the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof) is in an inactive state and no image is displayed in the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof).

The rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof) assumes the transparent state when no image is displayed in the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof), thereby allowing light to pass through the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof). The apparatus comprises a controller 11 , such as a processor that is described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 9. The controller 11 is coupled to the rear display screen 6. The camera 3 has an active state and an inactive state. The state of the camera 3 is communicated to the controller 11, and the controller 11 is configured not to display an image on the rear display screen 6 (or at least not on a portion thereof) when the camera 3 is in the active state. The controller 11 is configured to utilize the complete rear display screen 6 for display when the camera 3 is in an inactive state.

The transparent state of the rear display screen 6 is shown in Fig. 2, with the camera lens being visible behind the rear display screen 6, and with the camera 3 being able to receive light through the rear display screen 6. Fig. 3 shows the rear side of the apparatus 1 with the camera 3 being obscured by the rear display screen 6, due to the rear display screen 6 displaying an image. In the shown example in Fig. 3, the controller 11 is configured to display on the rear display screen 6 an image resembling a portion of the rear side surrounding the rear display screen 6. The image that is displayed on the rear display screen 6 is preferably identical or at least similar in color and pattern to the color and pattern of the rear side. Thus, to an observer the rear side of the housing 1 appears to be flush and uniform in this example, except for the flashlight 5.

The rear display screen 6 is configured to visually hide the camera 3 when the camera 3 is not in use by bringing the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof) in a non-transparent state when the camera 3 is in an inactive state. The rear display screen 6 is configured to allow the camera 3 to take pictures when the camera 3 is in use by bringing the rear display screen 6 (or at least a portion thereof) in a transparent state, thus allowing the camera 3 to capture an image with light that has travelled through the rear display screen 6. The rear display screen 6 may further be configured to display an image or pattern on the rear display screen 6 for hiding the camera 3 from view when the camera 3 is in an inactive state. As shown in Fig. 4, the image or pattern that may be displayed on the rear display screen 6 can be a logo.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the apparatus. In this embodiment, structures and features that are the same or similar to corresponding structures and features previously described or shown herein are denoted by the same reference numerals as previously used for simplicity.

This embodiment is largely identical to the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the rear display screen 6 covers a light source 5 (e.g. a flashlight for providing additional lighting for the camera 3). The outline of the rear display screen 6 is illustrated by the rectangle formed by the interrupted white line. The rear display screen 6 assumes the transparent state when the camera 3 and/or the light source 5 are in the inactive state. The state of the light source 5 is communicated to the controller 11, and the controller 11 is configured not to display an image in the rear display screen 6 when the light source 5 is in the active state.

The rear display screen 6 is configured to visually hide the camera 3 and/or the light source 5 when the camera 3 and/or the light source 5 are not in use. Fig. 5 illustrates the rear side in the state where the rear display screen 6 is transparent to allow light from the surroundings to enter the camera 3 and light from the light source 5 to pass through the rear display screen 6 to provide additional lighting on an object to be captured by the camera 3. Fig. 6 illustrates the rear side in the state where the rear display screen 6 displays an image to obscure the camera 3 and the light source 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the apparatus.

In this embodiment, structures and features that are the same or similar to corresponding structures and features previously described or shown herein are denoted by the same reference numerals as previously used for simplicity.

This embodiment is largely identical to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment the outline of the rear display screen 6 is indicated by the rectangle formed by a black interrupted line. In this embodiment, the rear display screen 6 covers the light source 5, a fingerprint sensor 16, and two cameras, a first camera 3 and a second camera 3’, the two lenses of these cameras being visible through the rear display screen 6. The rear display screen 6 is provided with a plurality of portions 7,8,10,17 that can assume a transparent state, whilst the remainder of the rear display screen 6 cannot assume a transparent state. A first portion 7 of the rear display screen 6 is capable of assuming a transparent state and covers the camera 3 (or at least the lens of the camera). A second portion 8 of the rear display screen 6, preferably separate from the first portion 7, covers a second camera 3’ (or at least the lens of the second camera 3’). A third portion 10 of the rear display screen 6 is capable of assuming a transparent state and covers the light source 5. A fourth portion 17 of the rear display screen 6 is capable of assuming a transparent state and covers the fingerprint sensor 16.

The first portion 7, the second portion 8, the third portion 10, and the fourth portion 17 are indicated in Fig. 7 by a circle or ellipse formed by an interrupted white line.

The third portion 10 is preferably separate from the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 to avoid light from the light source to be dispersed or scattered to one of the cameras 3,3’. Preferably, the first portion 7, the second portion 8, the third portion 10, and the fourth portion 17 are spaced from one another.

The controller 11 is configured to utilize the third portion 10 for display when the light source 5 is in an inactive state. The controller 11 is configured to place the third portion 10 in an inactive transparent state when the light source 5 is inactive and to place the first portion 7 in an inactive transparent state when the camera 3 is active and to place the second portion 8 in an inactive transparent state when the second camera 3’ is active. The controller 11 is configured to utilize the third portion 17 for display when the fingerprint sensor 16 is in an inactive state and to place the fourth portion 17 in an inactive transparent state when the fingerprint sensor

16 is active, e.g. when a user presses his or her finger against the fourth portion 17 of the rear display screen 6 in order to scan the finger. The controller 11 may be configured to utilize e.g. the area around the third portion 17 for visually indicating (e.g. when motion of the apparatus is detected and the apparatus needs to be unlocked with the fingerprint sensor for a user to have access to the user interface) to the user the position of the fingerprint sensor 17, thus guiding the user where to position his or her finger to scan the finger with the fingerprint sensor 16.

Fig. 7 shows the first portion 7, the second portion 8, the third portion 10, and the fourth portion

17 in an inactive transparent state, thereby allowing the cameras 3, 3’ a substantially unhindered view through the rear display screen 6, light to be emitted by the light source 5 through the rear display screen 6, and allowing the fingerprint sensor 16 to scan the fingerprint of a user holding his or her finger against the fourth portion 17.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear display screen 6 is configured to visually hide the cameras 3,3’, the light source 5, and/or the fingerprint sensor 16 when the cameras 3,3’, the light source 5, and/or the fingerprint sensor 16 are not in use, by rendering the first portion 7, the second portion 8, the third portion 10, and the fourth portion 17 nontransparent by displaying an image in these portions.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the apparatus 1 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In the example of Fig. 9 the computer system includes a processor 11, main memory 12, non-volatile memory 13, and a network interface device 14. Various common components (e.g. cache memory) are omitted for illustrative simplicity. The computer system is intended to illustrate a hardware device on which any of the components described in the example of Figs. 1 to 8 (and any other components described in this specification) can be implemented. The computer system can be of any applicable known or convenient type. The components of the computer system can be coupled together via a bus 15 or through some other known or convenient device. This disclosure contemplates the computer system taking any suitable physical form. As an example, and not by way of limitation, the computer system may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computer system, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, the computer system may include one or more computer systems, be unitary or distributed, span multiple locations, span multiple machines, or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer systems may perform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As an example, and not by way of limitation, one or more computer systems may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computer systems may perform at different times or at different locations one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein, where appropriate.

The processor 11 may be, for example, a conventional microprocessor such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor or Motorola power PC microprocessor. One of skill in the relevant art will recognize that the terms "machine-readable (storage) medium" or "computer-readable (storage) medium" include any type of device that is accessible by the processor.

The main memory 12 is coupled to the processor 11 by, for example, a bus 15. The main memory 12 can include, by way of example but not limitation, random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM). The memory can be local, remote, or distributed. The bus 15 also couples the processor 11 to the non-volatile memory 13. The non-volatile memory 13 is often a magnetic floppy or hard disk, a magnetic-optical disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), such as a CD-ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM, a magnetic or optical card, or another form of storage for large amounts of data. Some of this data is often written, by a direct memory access process, into memory during execution of software in the computer. The non-volatile storage 13 can be local, remote, or distributed. The non volatile memory is optional because systems can be created with all applicable data available in the memory. A typical computer system will usually include at least a processor 11, memory 12, and a device (e.g. a bus 15) coupling the main memory 12 to the processor 11. Software is typically stored in the non-volatile memory 13. A processor 11 is considered to be "configured to execute a program" when at least one value associated with the program is stored in a register readable by the processor 11.

The bus 15 also couples the processor 11 to the network interface device 14. The network interface device 14 can include one or more of a modem or network interface. It will be appreciated that a modem or network interface can be considered to be part of the computer system. The interface can include a cellular wireless network modem, cable modem, token ring interface, satellite transmission interface (e.g. "direct PC"), or other interfaces for coupling a computer system to other computer systems. The user interface can include one or more input and/or output devices. The I/O devices can include, by way of example but not limitation, a touch screen, buttons, a keyboard, a mouse or other pointing device, disk drives, printers, a scanner, and other input and/or output devices, including a display screen. The front display screen and the rear display screen 6 can include, by way of example but not limitation, an organic light-emitting diode display (OLLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), or some other applicable known or convenient display device. For simplicity, it is assumed that controllers of any devices not depicted in the example of Fig. 9 reside in the interface.

In operation, the computer system can be controlled by operating system software that includes a file management system. One example of operating system software with associated file management system software is the family of operating systems known as Android™ developed by Google LLC, California, USA. Another example of operating system software with its associated file management system software is the IOS™ operating system developed by Apple Inc., California USA. The file management system is typically stored in the non volatile memory 13 and/or drive unit and causes the processor 11 to execute the various acts required by the operating system to input and output data and to store data in the memory, including storing files on the non-volatile memory 13 and/or drive unit. Some portions of the detailed description may be presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to a desired result. The operations are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.