Cameras for computing devices
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorLeo B. Baldwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The visible presence of one or more cameras of a computing device can be minimized or otherwise reduced using a aperture. A front aperture can be used with one or more cameras, where the piece providing the aperture can be colored to match a color of a surrounding portion of the device, such as a portion of a display window or cover glass of the device. The aperture can enable the associated camera to capture light passing through the aperture, while hiding the camera from the view of the user to the extent practical. In cases where the user might want to know where to look, one or more indicia can be provided by the device to notify the user of the location of the camera(s).
Claims21
A computing device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a display including an active pixel area and a cover element overlying the active pixel area, at least a portion of the cover element extending beyond a perimeter of the active pixel area, an inner surface within the at least one portion of the cover element attached to a layer of material, the layer of material having a specified color and at least one opening;
- memory including instructions that are executable by the processor to cause information to be displayed via the active pixel area;
- an aperture positioned between a camera and the cover element, the aperture having substantially the same color as the specified color of the layer of material such that an opening in the aperture appears smaller;
- and
- the camera positioned with respect to the aperture such that the camera captures light passing through the cover element, the at least one opening of the layer of material and the opening in the aperture.
An electronic device, comprising:
- an active display element;
- a cover glass overlying the active display element;
- a camera positioned under the cover glass and configured to capture light passing through a portion of the cover glass, at least a portion of the cover element extending beyond a perimeter of the active pixel area, an inner surface within the at least one portion of the cover glass attached to a layer of material, the layer of material having a specified color and at least one opening;
- and
- an aperture between the camera and the cover glass, an opening of the aperture having a diameter smaller than at least one of a corresponding opening in the layer of material or a lens of the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.