Small form factor active illumination privacy shutter

A method for managing camera privacy, the method comprising:

• capturing visual images at the camera with light directed through a lens towards an image sensor;
• detecting a predetermined condition;
• in response to the predetermined condition, illuminating an illumination source between the lens and image sensor to impede capture of the visual images by the image sensor;
• in response to the predetermined condition, extending a light diffuser between the lens and the image sensor to impede light directed through the lens towards the image sensor;
• and
• directing the illumination of the illumination source towards the light diffuser.

A camera comprising:

• a lens operable to direct light;
• an image sensor aligned with the lens to receive the light and to capture a visual image from the light;
• an illumination source positioned between the lens and the image sensor;
• a light diffuser having a planar shape and sized to impede light passing from the lens to the image sensor;
• an actuator coupled to the light diffuser and operable to selectively extend the light diffuser to an impeding position between the lens and image sensor and to retract the light diffuser from the impeding position;
• a processing resource;
• and
• a non-transient memory storing instructions that when executed on the processing resource cause the illumination source to illuminate in response to a predetermined condition thereby impeding the image sensor from capture of the visual image from the light directed through the lens towards the image sensor and causes the actuator to extend the light diffuser to the impeding position in response to the predetermined condition.