Huawei Designs Face Scanning Camera That Generates a ‘Skin Score’

#mobile #news #3dscan #design #huawei #imaging #letsgodigital #patent #scan #skin #smartphone #smartphonecamera

Oppo Find X4 Pro Revealed by New Design Specifications: Report

While Oppo recently revealed a lot during its Inno Day event this past week, it didn't provide any details on the expected Find X4 Pro smartphone other than it would come early next year. Luckily, a new design patent shows in detail what is likely to come.

Uncovered by LetsGoDigital, the design patent filed in China and also with the Global Design Database of the World Intellectual Property Office for worldwide protection contains 48 images, 18 of which are shown in color, of a new Oppo smartphone with a full screen, edgeless design.

The smartphone appears to show a selfie camera that is hidden under the display, which is likely an application of the technology it showed off earlier this year. In August, Oppo said that its new under-screen camera solution solves many of the technical and manufacturing-related challenges that have plagued manufacturers attempting for years. Breakthroughs it has made have resolved issues like inconsistent display quality in the area above the under-display camera as well as the poor image quality that is caused by forcing a camera to shoot through a layer of display pixels.

The rear of the device, which is far more interesting to mobile photographers, features a square camera bump next to a small display screen. That display screen likely will be able to show a host of things from notifications to the time, but will also make taking selfies with the more advanced rear camera array possible. Even if Oppo has made its front-facing camera a lot better, the addition of the display on the back means it didn't really have to since photographers will very likely be able to see themselves in that rear display. Nothing was specified as to what to expect from focal lengths and resolution, but the rear bump appears to house four different cameras.

LetsGoDigital says the camera system appears to protrude out quite far from the body, and on that note, Oppo doesn't appear to be using its retractable camera that it has recently teased in this model.

Because this is just a design patent, it's possible that this isn't the coming Find X4 Pro, despite many signs indicating that it very well could be. For starters, it appears to be a natural evolution of the Find X3 Pro smartphone, which played host to an outstanding camera array. The patent was filed in September of 2020 even though it was only just published on December 14, giving the company plenty of time to actually manufacture the smartphone. The only thing that is almost guaranteed is that Oppo will power the device with the new Snapdragon 8 chip. The new MariSilicon X neural processing unit is also likely to make an appearance.

The full design patent information can be read on LetsGoDigital.

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Samsung Designs Smartwatch with Rolling Display and Centered Camera

It appears Samsung has designed one of the stranger iterations on a smartwatch: two rolling screens on either side of a center frame that houses a camera.

According to patent documents uncovered by LetsGoDigital, Samsung has designed a smartwatch with a rolling screen that, when in its most compact form, doesn't look much different from any other modern Android smartwatch. However, a narrow frame is fitted between the two semicircular display parts which makes it possible to enlarge the rollable screen from the center to the top and bottom of the watch.

The mechanics of the rolling functionality are detailed in the diagrams below:

Users will be able to enlarge or reduce the size of the watch face by pressing down on the crown on the side of the watch casing. It might also be possible to enlarge or reduce the size of the face with touch commands. Once fully extended, the design describes a face that is 40% larger than when in its most compact orientation.

Samsung seems to think the viewing experience will be good enough to watch movies, as one of the diagrams clearly depicts Marvel's Thor:

Perhaps most bizarrely, the aforementioned narrow center frame also houses a camera that points in the same direction as the watch face display. It is inferred that the center frame around the lens of the camera will also feature display pixels, so the only part of the watch that doesn't appear to always be able to display an image is directly on the camera itself.

The orientation of the camera feels strange, especially considering its prime placement in the center of the device. That said, it's probably a more useful location of the camera than on the sides of the watch since any use cases for a camera (like taking a video call or a selfie) will necessitate pointing the camera at the wearer's face.

While not the first smartwatch design to feature a flexible screen, it might be the first to build an actively rollable one that is significantly more advanced than simply bending a screen around a wrist. As noted by LetsGoDigital, the patent is extremely detailed and does not just contain designs for the watch, but also various operating options. While this kind of detail is by no means an assurance the watch will see production, it does indicate that Samsung is taking the idea seriously.

The full patent documentation can be viewed on LetsGoDigital.

Image credits: All photos courtesy of LetsGoDigital.

#mobile #news #compactcamera #letsgodigital #rollingdisplay #samsung #samsungwatch #smartwatch #smartwatchcamera

Vivo Designs Detachable, Double-Sided Pop-Up Smartphone Camera

Vivo has designed a detachable pop-up camera system that consists of three total cameras and two flashes and runs on its own built-in battery.

Detachable smartphone cameras are not a new concept, at least in the design phase. For example, Vivo itself explored the idea of a small detachable phone camera with its own touch-display earlier this month, which was built upon a 2020 prototype that showed a smartphone design with a detachable front camera.

This time, Vivo designed a double-sided pop-up camera that may be the most advanced and practical design yet. The patent -- as found and illustrated by LetsGoDigital -- shows a Vivo smartphone with a full-screen design and a pop-up camera situated in the top right corner.

The system can be used for selfies and video calls and has a dual-camera integrated onto the back of the pop-up system. This acts as the main camera, giving users a total of three cameras and two flashes.

The pop-up camera can be fully removed and fixed at different angles thanks to a hinge. Users can make the most of the camera by placing it on a flat surface to take photos from a distance -- similar to using a camera with a remote shutter -- or by holding it in hand as a selfie stick.

This detachable camera system has a built-in battery which means it can be used independently from the smartphone. If the battery runs low, users can attach it back onto the smartphone to charge it from the main body's battery. This is done using a sliding rail, with additional magnets to prevent the camera from accidentally detaching.

As it's a double-sided camera, the system detects which side the user is on. This design also gives Vivo the option to add a Dual-View video function in the future.

LetsGoDigital explains that the patent doesn't mention what type of cameras are to be used with this design but instead it is stated that the camera will have different apertures "for all-round photography possibilities."

With numerous detachable camera system patents under its belt, it is seemingly increasingly likely that Vivo will at some point manufacture a finished smartphone that tries it, though it's unclear how successful such a design would be. There are no doubt practical applications that a removable module would certainly make easier, but the increased possibility of losing those critical parts may outweigh the benefits.

Vivo isn't the only one who is testing the design waters with a removable camera system. Oppo has also patented a detachable camera module design, although it is considerably bulkier in comparison to Vivo's. Samsung has considered integrating a smartphone camera into its S Pen.

The full patent application can be viewed on LetsGoDigital.

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Oppo Develops Smartphone with Camera on the Side of the Device

Oppo appears to be looking into the possibilities and benefits of placing a camera on the side of a smartphone. The design describes the use of a mirror system rather than integrating a separate dedicated sensor.

The company patented the design earlier this year, but it was just approved and published earlier this week. While a camera on the side of the phone may not sound particularly useful at first blush, Oppo believes it can be helpful for capturing moving subjects.

"Especially with moving subjects, it can be difficult to capture them sharply with a smartphone camera," LetsGoDigital, who discovered and illustrated the design, explains. "Think, for example, of a cyclist speeding past. You then have to move the phone to visualize the action. By making a hole on the side of the frame, at the height of the upper rear camera, the shooting direction can easily be changed -- without having to move the device."

The patent shows that instead of using a dedicated camera sensor on both the back and side of the smartphone, Oppo instead uses a mirror system that allows one sensor to perform the duties of those two perspectives. The idea is that as soon as the camera detects that a subject is moving to the right and out of frame, the mirror will rotate and the side camera will be activated to continue to capture the event seamlessly. The use of a mirror instead of two sensors likely keeps costs low but also allows Oppo to keep the same camera in tune with the action rather than relying on software to jump from one sensor to the next.

While Oppo hasn't shipped a product that uses mirrors in a creative way yet, this design isn't the first patent that describes a creative camera technology that uses mirrors. Earlier this year, Oppo also patented a double-sided pop-up camera that used mirrors instead of separate, dedicated sensors to point a camera either forwards towards the user or backward away from the user. These ideas are interesting, but until Oppo actually ships a design that uses a mirror, they may just end up being quirky ideas that dead-end before they reach the implementation phase.

Full patent documentation for this design can be read on LetsGoDigital.

#mobile #news #design #letsgodigital #mirrorcamera #mirrors #oppo #oppopatent #patent #sidecamera #smartphone #smartphonecamera

Fujifilm Designs a Foldable Smartphone with a Stylus Pen

Fujifilm appears interested in jumping into the mobile smartphone space and designed a folding smartphone that works with a stylus pen. The description appears to be very similar to Samsung's recently announced Fold 3.

In a patent discovered and illustrated by LetsGoDigital, Fujifilm seems poised to take on a new market segment: mobile phones. The patent was filed in the United States on August 3 and published on September 9. The tech was also included in the World Intellectual Property Organization database that protects the patent worldwide.

The patent is extremely detailed and explains everything from the processor and the touch screen, to the speakers and the microphone. It will also work with a stylus. According to LetsGoDigital , Fujifilm has also defined various interfaces and control options, including one that will change based on the folding angle, a feature that sounds similar to Samsung's Flex Mode.

Strangely, despite 47 pages of detailed design information, the patent does not discuss anything about the camera system. It does not even mention anything about a front-facing camera, despite the renders provided by LetsGoDigital showing a classic hold-punch design. While this would be unusual for any smartphone patent, it's especially odd considering Fujifilm's place as one of the more prominent camera manufacturers in the world. While many smartphone manufacturers have partnered with camera brands to increase the notoriety of smartphone camera systems -- such as Zeiss with Vivo and Hasselblad with OnePlus -- a Fujifilm-designed device would be able to lean heavily on the company's own history to tout its camera systems.

Whatever the case, Fujifilm choosing to jump into the smartphone market at all with a folding device is in itself notable, as the technology for folding displays is still young.

A camera company making smartphones isn't unheard of, as both Sony and Panasonic have produced mobile devices in the past, but it is unusual for a company that has a more focused product line. Panasonic and Sony are much larger companies with considerably more divisions, and Fujifilm is rather small in comparison. Fujifilm has been known mainly for its medical technologies, cameras, and film.

Fujifilm recently closed four U.S photo equipment plants and cut 400 jobs amid its pivot to healthcare. Its new CEO has publicly said the company has no plans to abandon photography though, despite these changes.

As with all patents, just its existence isn't proof that a company will produce a given product so it's unclear if Fujifilm's folding smartphone will ever see the light of day.

Image credits: Renders and illustrations provided courtesy of LetsGoDigital and Technizo Concept.

#equipment #mobile #news #design #foldingsmartphone #fujifilm #fujifilmsmartphone #letsgodigital #patent #smartphone

Samsung is Considering Integrating Cameras into its S Pen

Samsung has designed an S Pen with an integrated smartphone camera that would give its Galaxy line of phones more ways to capture photos.

According to a new patent discovered by LetsGoDigital, Samsung has created what it describes as a "portable terminal including separable camera" that shows how it would integrate a detachable camera into its popular S Pen. The design for the pen is accompanied by what is otherwise a normal-looking smartphone that does not appear to feature any kind of selfie camera.

Instead, Samsung has integrated a camera into what looks like the same form factor as its detachable S Pen, which can be removed from a sheath near the top left of the device. The patent describes a set of magnets that would prevent it from accidentally becoming detached when in this position. It also describes the ability for Samsung's nibs to be attached to one end of the detachable piece, which would make it both a camera and a usable S Pen.

The rod-shaped design is not only one that works well for writing or drawing but also one that is easy to hold -- similar to a small selfie stick. It should be noted that this particular design shows an S Pen that would be wider and thicker on one end than the current S Pens, which are more cylindrical. This design is more akin to a construction pencil and while different, are not notably less comfortable to use. Additionally, that extra flat space allowed Samsung to build-in a stand in addition to a button that makes it possible to set the camera down on a surface and operate the camera independently of the phone.

That said, the pen doesn't have to be fully removed in order to work. The patent states that the camera can also be just slightly popped up from its housing to operate as a typical selfie camera, as shown in the set of illustrations below from the patent and compiled by LetsGoDigital.

In another possible design shown in the patent, Samsung may also toy with the idea of integrating the entire rear camera array into the pen, which would make the higher-quality rear-facing cameras usable remotely as part of the removable pen.

Samsung is easily the most well-known smartphone brand to continue to offer a stylus as part of its flagship smartphone lineup, which does put it into a unique position to try different things with the pen system. Integrating a camera into the pen would allow the company to not only bypass issues with under-display cameras but also provide additional uses for photography. What's more, while modular and replaceable cameras aren't a new idea in smartphones, attaching one to a larger piece like an S Pen would probably result in fewer instances of loss.

#equipment #mobile #news #design #letsgodigital #patent #removeablecamera #samsung #samsunggalaxy #samsungspen #selfiecamera #smartphonecamera #stylus

Huawei Develops Smartphone Camera with a Traditional Variable Aperture

While smartphone cameras continue to improve, most don't offer any kind of variable aperture. While Samsung has developed a way to introduce this in a future device, Huawei has also designed a method, and it's more akin to a traditional lens.

While implementing variable aperture into a smartphone is uncommon, it is not a new idea. Back in 2018, Samsung's Galaxy S9 smartphone featured a camera with a variable aperture, which is visible in the below close-up video from Jerry Rig Everything. The video has been timestamped for the portion when he looks closely at the mechanism.

In subsequent smartphones, Samsung and other manufacturers have ditched the variable aperture functionality in lieu of choosing instead to add more cameras and different focal lengths. Since smartphone sensors were, at that time, very small, the advantages of adding a physical iris over just providing more focal length options were small. Now though, as those sensors are getting larger and better, the physical diaphragm could see a return.

As evidence of this, Samsung recently patented a design that arranges three cameras in a T-shape and uses a motorized gear to slide them around and change their aperture in the process.

While Samsung used a physical diaphragm in the S9 and clearly is toying with other ways to adjust the depth of field, what it released in 2018 and what its more recent patent shows do not look much like what photographers are used to seeing in full-size lenses. In contrast, Huawei's design -- which the company recently patented and has been explained by LetsGoDigital -- shows the use of what looks like a far more traditional camera aperture diaphragm that consists of six blades which can open and close at various points to allow a different amount of light to hit the sensor.

According to the patent documentation, Huawei specifically wanted to mimic the design of a traditional lens rather than come up with something new but was unable to house an ultrasonic motor or stepping motor to adjust the aperture given size constraints. Instead, it plans to use a miniature driver that is supported by a coil and magnet, though the company says a piezoelectric motor could also be used.

The intended focal length of the lens that could see this tech implemented was not revealed, though Huawei does state it could use the tech on multiple cameras in the same device. The full documentation on the variable aperture patent can be read on LetsGoDigital.

#mobile #news #huawei #letsgodigital #samsung #smartphone #smartphonecamera #smartphonephotography #variableaperture

Samsung Designs Variable Aperture ‘Moving’ Smartphone Camera

Samsung has been granted a patent for what it is described as a camera with a moveable construction. The three cameras in the array are arranged in a T-shape and a motorized gear moves them in a sliding motion, which changes their aperture in the process.

Unearthed and illustrated by LetsGoDigital, the company describes a system that places a main wide-angle lens in the center of a "T" shape, with the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses on the left and the right of the main camera. In their default setting, the cameras are placed in a line next to each other, but depending on the desire of the photographer, the center lens can move downwards (initiated by the smartphone camera app interface) which then slides the two other lenses inwards which forms a triangle shape.

As the distance between the cameras changes, the aperture is described as also changes. When the cameras are aligned in the most extreme triangle shape, the aperture is the smallest, when the cameras are in a line, the aperture is at its widest.

Theoretically, this design would allow photographers to adjust the aperture as they see fit for a specific scene and do so with a high degree of granularity. It sounds as though the smartphone app will allow the motor that moves the cameras to be adjusted on a slider, so photographers can look at a scene and adjust the amount of defocused background blur in real-time while looking at the results.

Variable aperture in smartphones is rare, but not unprecedented. As LetsGoDigital explains, Samsung actually has implemented it before in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10 smartphones, but in those two cases, only the wide-angle camera could adjust its aperture. This design would allow the aperture of all three cameras to be changed.

A possible downside of this design is, as is the case with many of the unusual patents that smartphone companies are granted, durability. As seen in the schematics above, the system is driven by a geared motor and a screw, and that single motor controls the movement of the entire array. Should anything happen to that one motor, the entire camera system would be stuck.

Still, it is at least an attempt to bring features found in even small standalone cameras to the smartphone but as always, it's never clear if Samsung will actually make use of the patent in a consumer product.

Image credits: Images provided courtesy of LetsGoDigital and used per publication guidelines.

#mobile #news #aperture #letsgodigital #patent #samsung #samsungsmartphone #smartphone #smartphonecamera #smartphonecameras #variableaperture

Vivo Designed a Pop-Up Multi-Zoom Telescoping Smartphone Camera

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo has recently published schematics for a pyramid-like smartphone camera design that stacks multiple lenses on top of each other in a unique telescoping camera mechanism.

According to documentation on the design, Vivo wanted to try and get over a challenging hump: smartphones currently only support a small number of multiple-zoom options. This new method would enable it to make a larger zoom range possible within the small chassis of a smartphone and offer what appears to be at least four zoom options.

Unlike other pop-up camera designs that have been either patented or even implemented in the past, Vivo's choice here wouldn't be to have the cameras act as a selfie camera, but instead point towards the back of the camera and operate as the full main camera array for the system. The benefits of this design are twofold. First, the phone can be slim and seamless all around and would not require a camera bump because the cameras would not be visible unless activated. Second, multiple cameras could be hidden on top of each other and potentially overlap, which would allow Vivo multiple different focal lengths of increasing zoom factor in this one system.

The patent also notes that the front-facing selfie camera would be an under-display type, which means this particular option would feature a set of cameras that use technology that is already on the bleeding edge before the pyramid-like telescoping system is considered. In short, Vivo is trying a lot of unproven ideas in one device. Curiously, a pop-up camera has been one solution to providing a seamless display to a smartphone and once under-display tech has been advanced to a certain point, many would think that the pop-up design would no longer be necessary. Clearly, Vivo disagrees.

According to renders and explanations from LetsGoDigital, Vivo's telescoping camera could be extended in four steps, and one camera lens extends at a time. The bottom lens would always pop up when the camera app is activated and the other lenses would appear as they are requested through the app software.

As mentioned, the lenses could potentially overlap and allow for multiple different optical zoom arrangements in the same camera and while Vivo doesn't specify exactly how much optical zoom can be expected here, the company does say it would be considerably more than any current system using a periscope lens design.

As is the case with any pop-up or removable system in a smartphone, the major issue that Vivo would run into is durability. Not only would this design require a set of moving parts that, at any number of points, could fail, but the entire pyramid-like system could also easily be snapped off if not retracted correctly.

Even though this design has its flaws which make it unlikely to come to market, Vivo is showing that it is not afraid to imagine different possibilities other manufacturers would be quick to disregard. Earlier this year, Vivo also patented a smartphone that includes a tiny quadcopter drone that slides out from the main body of the device, detaches, and can fly away to allow for better selfie photos. Compared to that, a telescoping camera system seems far more likely.

_Image credits: Photos by LetsGoDigital and Technizo Concept and used with permission and per publication guidelines. _

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