Dual form factor devices having operative and complementary aligning components

Embodiments relate to mobile devices and systems having an operative component integrated into a first housing and a complementary component within an opening of a second housing moveably coupled to the first housing such that, in a particular configuration of the device or system, the operative component is aligned with the complementary component to enhance performance of the operative component.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This Application claims priority to IN Patent Application No. 201741007184, filed on 1 Mar. 2017 and titled “DUAL FORM FACTOR DEVICES HAVING OPERATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY ALIGNING COMPONENTS”, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

In some implementations, mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets and the like may have a form factor that is as sleek as possible for a better look and better usability. As a result of the reduced z-thickness available in the housing or chassis of such devices, there are challenges in integrating camera modules that provide improved imaging capabilities or other modules that require a higher z-thickness. In particular, camera modules being integrated into the devices may be limited to wide field of view (FOV) lenses due to the space constraints. Accommodating better cameras with slightly higher thickness may result in an undesirable bump in the housing where the camera is located. To attain more advanced imaging solutions may require the use of clip-on accessories connected to the mobile device through a Bluetooth connection, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, or the like.

As such, there is a continual need for improved imaging capabilities in mobile devices having sleek, low z-thickness form factors. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present improvements have been needed. Such improvements may become critical as the desire to provide high quality imaging in a variety of devices such as mobile devices becomes more widespread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made in the following detailed description to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designate like parts throughout to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and/or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of claimed subject matter. It should also be noted that directions and references, for example, up, down, top, bottom, over, under, and so on, may be used to facilitate the discussion of the drawings and embodiments and are not intended to restrict the application of claimed subject matter. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of claimed subject matter defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Devices and systems are described below related to device form factors that provide, in a particular configuration, alignment between an operative component and a complementary component to enhance performance of the operative component.

In some embodiments discussed herein, a device such as a mobile device includes an operative component such as a camera or flash or the like and a display integrated into a first housing of the mobile device. A user interface component is integrated into a second housing of the mobile device moveably coupled to the first housing. A complementary component, to enhance performance of the operative component, is disposed within an opening of the second housing such that the second housing being moveably coupled to the first housing provides movement between a first configuration (or positioning) of the mobile device and a second configuration (or positioning) of the mobile device. In the first configuration, the display, the user interface component, and the operative component are exposed from the mobile device to provide the user access to the functionality of each of the components. In the second configuration, the operative component is adjacent to and aligned with the complementary component within the opening of the second housing. Thereby, the first configuration may offer a useful form factor for a user of the device. For example, multiple displays may be exposed in a direction of the user's viewing or the like. Furthermore, in the second configuration, the performance of the operative component may be improved or enhanced by the alignment with the complementary component. For example, the operative component may be a camera and the complementary component may be an optical zoom to provide improved imaging performance and/or capabilities for the camera. In another example, the operative component may be a flash and the complementary component may be a flash focusing lens system to focus the flash within a scene.

As used herein, the term operative component includes any device, component, or element that provides a useful functionality by attaining or analyzing light, power, waves, or the like from the surroundings of the device such as an image sensor, an audio sensor, or the like or provides light, power, or the like to the surroundings to influence the surroundings of the device such as a flash, a light source, or the like. For example, operative components may include a camera, a flash, a sensor, a speaker, a microphone, or the like. Also, as used herein, the term complementary component includes any device, component, or element that provides an improvement, enhancement, or adjustment with respect to its corresponding operative component by modifying the light, power, waves, or the like (e.g., a signal) from the surroundings of the device before they interact with the operative component or by modifying the light, power, waves, or the like from the operative component before it issues to the surroundings. For example, complementary components may include an optical zoom, an optical filter, a flash focusing lens system, audio filters, or the like.

In an embodiment, a lens system design is provided for a folded mode (e.g., configuration) of a dual/foldable display form factor device to provide improved or differentiated imaging capabilities (e.g., as compared to capabilities without the lens system) for a corresponding small form factor camera. Such embodiments may provide advantageous form factor devices for users along with improved imaging. Furthermore, by providing adjacent operative and complementary components in various configurations of devices, thicker designs may be integrated into devices (e.g., implemented when the components are adjacent to one another) that would otherwise not be available within the form factor constraints of the devices.

In some embodiments, an opening (e.g., a through-hole) is provided in the housing or chassis of the mobile device such as a dual/foldable display form factor device. The opening may house a complementary element such as additional optical elements for a corresponding operative element such as a camera. In the context of imaging, the additional optical element or elements improve the imaging solutions (e.g., provide improved optical zoom) or provide new imaging solutions (e.g., enabling hyperspectral imaging) by using the additional z-thickness provided by the opening when the device is in a particular configuration such as a compact mode or configuration. As discussed further herein, the opening is located such that it may house the complementary element or elements so that it is aligned to the operative element when in a particular configuration such as a compact mode. The complementary element may be permanent (e.g., fixedly integrated into the opening) or the complementary element may be plugged into the opening (e.g., removably integrated into the opening) such that complementary elements may be swapped out by a user of the device.

FIG. 1Aillustrates a front view109of an example mobile device101having a complementary component within an opening of a housing thereof to provide enhanced performance of an operative component in particular a configuration, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 1Billustrates a rear view110of mobile device101, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure. As shown,FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate mobile device101in an open configuration121.FIG. 1Cillustrates front view109of mobile device101in a compact configuration131, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 1Dillustrates a cross-sectional view119of mobile device101in compact configuration131taken along view A inFIG. 1C, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 1Eprovides 3D views of mobile device101in a semi-closed configuration141and compact configuration131, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.

As shown, mobile device101may include a housing104and a housing105that are moveably coupled to one another by a hinge106(which is shown in an exploded view inFIGS. 1A and 1Bfor the sake of clarity of presentation). As used herein the term housing includes any device structure that may include or house any number of device components. For example, a housing may include an independent chassis or the like. For example, mobile device101may include any number of housings. Housings104,105may have any suitable thicknesses (e.g., z-dimensions) such as low profile thickness of about 4.5 mm, 4.75 mm, 4.85 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm, or the like. As shown, hinge106allows housing104and housing105to rotate about hinge106to provide movement between open configuration121and compact configuration131. For example, hinge106provides a rotational coupling of housings104,105about hinge106. In open configuration121, housings104,105may be substantially planar with respect to one another along the x-y plane or with an obtuse angle (along the x-direction) therebetween such that a user of mobile device101may view and/or interact with a display111integrated into housing104and a display112integrated into housing105simultaneously. In some examples, displays111,112may include a touch display such that displays111,112may receive touch input from a user.

Although discussed with respect to hinge106, housings104,105may be moveably coupled to one another using any suitable technique or techniques such as a flexible member between housings104,105. In other form factors, housings104,105may be slidably coupled to one another as is discussed further herein. Furthermore, as shown, display111may integrated into housing104. As used herein the term integrated into includes any integration of a device or component into a housing. For example, the component may be mounted to a chassis of the housing and a skin may also be mounted to the chassis such that the component and the skin are substantially flush. In other examples, the component may be mounted to a skin of the housing or the like. As will be appreciated, the component being integrated into the housing must or may (depending on the component) be exposed to an environment and or use of mobile device101. In the illustrated example, mobile device101includes displays111,112. In other embodiments, one or both of displays111,112may be or may include user interface devices such as key pads, stylus sensor pads or the like. As used herein, the term user interface component includes displays, touch sensitive displays, key pads, input sensors, or any device used to interact with a user. Furthermore, mobile device101may optionally include a front facing camera102integrated into housing104and/or a front facing camera103integrated into housing105.

Also as shown, housing105of mobile device101includes an opening108and an optical element107within opening108and a rear facing camera113integrated into housing104. Optical element107is illustrated as a shaded circle and opening108is illustrated as a square for the sake of clarity of presentation. However, optical element107and opening108may have any suitable shapes such as circular, square, rectangular, or the like and they may have the same shape or the they may be different. Optical element107may include any optical element such as a lens or lenses or the like that adjusts the light from a surroundings of mobile device101prior to the light reaching camera113.

As shown inFIGS. 1C and 1D, when mobile device101is moved to compact configuration131(e.g., by a user), optical element107within opening108is adjacent to and aligned with (e.g., along the z-axis) rear facing camera113, which is obscured inFIG. 1C, such that an image of a scene151may be captured by camera113with the aid of optical element107. In the context of the coordinate system established herein, inFIG. 1C, with reference toFIG. 1A, housing104has been folded behind housing105. It is noted that the user of mobile device in such a context moves from out of the page (e.g., in a positive z-direction) with respect toFIG. 1Ato in the page with respect toFIG. 1C(e.g., in a negative z-direction and operating an opposite side of mobile device101to that presented inFIG. 1C). Likewise, scene151, which is opposite mobile device101moves from in the page (e.g., in a negative z-direction) with respect toFIG. 1Ato out of the page with respect toFIG. 1C(e.g., in a positive z-direction).

As discussed, opening108may provide a through hole in housing104. As discussed, by bringing optical element107within opening108near and in alignment with camera113(which is front facing in compact configuration131), improved optical performance may be provided for mobile device101. For example, optical element107may be a fixed or active optical zoom (e.g., a zoom lens or lens system), an optical filter, or the like to improve the image quality of images attained by camera113. For example, an optical zoom may provide any suitable zoom factor such as a 2× zoom, a 3× zoom, or the like. For example, a zoom lens thickness of about 5 mm may provide for a fixed or variable zoom of up to about a 3× optical zoom. Furthermore, the optical filter may include one or a combination of a neutral density filter, an ultraviolet (UV) filter, an infrared (IR) filter, a polarizer filter, a color filter, or the like. In some embodiments, to mitigate alignment problems between optical element107and camera113, the aperture of optical element107may be larger than the sensor of camera113. As shown inFIG. 1D, in some examples, a gap114may be provided between housing104and housing105and between camera113and optical element107in compact configuration131. In other examples, little or no gap may be provided between either housing104and housing105or between camera113and optical element107. In some examples, gap114may be provided between housing104and housing105but no gap may be provided between camera113and optical element107.

Although illustrated with respect to camera113and optical element107, mobile device101may integrate any suitable operative component into housing104and any suitable complementary component into housing105such that, in compact configuration131, the operative and complementary components are brought into alignment and adjacent to one another such that the complementary component may enhance the performance of the operative component (and such that in open configuration121no such enhancement is provided since the components are not adjacent nor aligned with one another). In the illustrated embodiment, the operative component is camera113(which may include any suitable components such as a lens or lenses, an aperture, and an image sensor within a camera module) and the complementary component is optical element107(which may include a zoom lens system, an optical filter or filters, or the like). In some embodiments, the operative component is a flash and the complementary component is a flash focusing lens system. In other embodiments, the operative component is a hyperspectral imaging camera (e.g., to attain image information for wavelengths of light that are not in the visible spectrum) and the complementary component is a hyperspectral optical filter. In yet other embodiments, the operative component is a hyperspectral flash or hyperspectral light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) hyperspectral flash or hyperspectral light source and the complementary component is a hyperspectral optical filter. For example, such hyperspectral cameras and flashes may be suitable for food inspection or the like.

As shown inFIG. 1E, mobile device101may move from open configuration121(please refer toFIG. 1A) through a semi-closed configuration141to compact (or closed) configuration131. Open configuration121may offer a user of mobile device101with an advantageous form factor that provides a substantial amount of display surface while compact configuration131may provide less display surface but a better form factor for single hand holding of mobile device101, a form factor for image capture, a form factor suitable for storage, or the like. For example, compact configuration131may provide a comfortable image capture position for a user while camera113and optical element107are aligned to enhance the imaging performed by mobile device101as discussed.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1E, mobile device101includes camera113and display111integrated into housing104, display112integrated into housing105, and optical component107disposed within opening108of housing105. As discussed, the moveable coupling between housing104and housing105of mobile device101provides for movement between open configuration121and compact configuration131. In open configuration121, display112and display111face toward a positive z-direction from mobile device101(please refer toFIG. 1Awhich illustrates the z-axis coming out of the page). For example, display112and display111may face toward a user of mobile device101in open configuration121. Furthermore, in open configuration121, camera113faces toward a negative z-direction from mobile device101(please refer toFIG. 1Bwhich illustrates the z-axis entering the page and a negative z-direction coming out of the page). For example, camera113may face away from a user (e.g., opposite the direction toward the user) of mobile device101in open configuration121to provide a rear facing camera toward a scene.

In compact configuration131, display112may face toward a positive z-direction from mobile device101, display111may face toward a negative z-direction from mobile device101, and camera113is adjacent to and aligned with optical component107with camera113facing the positive z-direction from mobile device101(please refer toFIGS. 1C and 1D) with the user moving from the positive z-direction to the negative z-direction when mobile device101moves from open configuration121to compact configuration131as discussed above. It is noted that the coordinate system discussed herein is presented merely for the sake of clarity of presentation of mobile device101.

FIGS. 1A-1Eillustrate an arrangement for enhanced or differentiated imaging (e.g., by providing optical element107) over configurations without optical element107aligning with camera113. As shown inFIG. 1E, housing105includes opening108(e.g., a through hole) that houses optical element107(e.g., a lens system or optical filter or the like). On the rear side of the housing104, camera113is mounted such that in compact configuration131(e.g., a folded configuration or mode), optical element107aligns with optical element107in opening108to augment the capabilities of camera113, thereby providing the enhanced or differentiated imaging.

As discussed, in some examples, housing105includes opening108to hold a complementary component such as optical component107. The complementary component may be fixed within opening108(e.g., glued, mounted, or otherwise securely integrated into opening108) or the complementary component may be removably integrated within opening108(e.g., with a clip, a manual release, or the like) such that the complementary component may be removed by a user and a different complementary component may be installed. For example, in the context of imaging systems, a zoom lens system may be swapped out for an optical filter or the like. Furthermore, the complementary component may be a passive component (e.g., a component that may not be actuated) or the complementary component may be an active component that may be actuated. For example, a zoom lens system may have a moveable lens element, an optical filter grouping may have moveable filters that may be moved into and out of opening108, and so on. Such examples are discussed further herein with respect toFIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D. In some embodiments, a complementary component is not provided within opening108.

FIG. 2illustrates an example housing105of mobile device101having opening108to accommodate an operative component, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 2provides an illustration analogous toFIG. 1D. As shown, housing105of mobile device101may include opening108such that opening108does not have a complementary component disposed therein. Such a configuration may advantageously provide for camera113(or any operative component) to extend by a distance h above face201of housing104such that h may be in the range of about 1 to 4 mm. As shown, in some examples, opening108may extend entirely through housing105. In other examples, a translucent protective film or layer may be provided over opening180along face202of housing105to protect camera113(or any operative component) in compact configuration131.

FIG. 3illustrates an exploded view300of example housing105and optical element107of mobile device101, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, optical element107may be removably disposed within opening108of housing105of mobile device101. For example, housing105may provide a clip, slot, latch, or the like that may secure optical element107(or any complementary component) but that may release optical element107(or any complementary component) upon actuation by a user. Such a configuration may provide a flexible design for users as well as the opportunity for manufacturers to fabricate housing105with opening108that may later be filled or utilized by a complementary component inserted by a user.

As discussed, in some examples, housing105includes opening108having optical component107disposed therein to enhance the performance capabilities of camera113. Also as discussed, any complementary component and operative component combination may be implemented. Furthermore, more than one combination of complementary and operative component may be implemented within the same mobile device. Any number of combinations of complementary and operative components may be implemented within the same mobile device. Such complementary and operative components may be implemented side-by-side such that the complementary components are each in their own openings or such that the complementary components are installed in the same opening. In other examples, the complementary and operative components may be installed on separate regions or areas of mobile device101. For example, with reference toFIGS. 1A-1E, another combination of complementary and operative components may be installed such that: another operative component is next to camera113in housing104and the corresponding complementary component is in a separate opening of housing105, another operative component is next to camera113in housing104and the corresponding complementary component is in the same (enlarged) opening108as optics component107, or another operative component is in housing104but not next to camera113(e.g., at a bottom of the device) and the corresponding complementary component is in a separate opening of housing105. Similarly, the additional operative component maybe installed in housing105and a corresponding complementary component may be an opening of housing104.

FIG. 4illustrates an example configuration400of mobile device101having multiple combinations of operative and complementary components disposed therein, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 4provides an illustration analogous toFIG. 1D. Furthermore,FIG. 4illustrates the implementation of multiple combinations of operative and complementary components as well as an example of a flash implemented with a flash focusing lens system, which as discussed, may be implemented independently as a operative and complementary component combination.

As shown inFIG. 4, configuration400includes housing105having openings (not shown) having a flash focusing lens system402and an optical zoom403disposed therein. Furthermore, a flash401and camera113are integrated into housing104such that, in compact configuration131, flash focusing lens system402is aligned with and adjacent to flash401and optical zoom403is aligned with and adjacent to camera113. For example, flash focusing lens system402may focus a flash411provided by flash401to a particular region of a field of view (FOV) of camera113. For example, the region of the FOV may be a particular region of scene151(e.g., a region representing a person, an object of interest, or the like). For example, flash411provided by flash401as a flash cone, which may be altered by flash focusing lens system402to provide a flash cone413onto scene151. Also as shown, in concert, camera113may receive light414from scene151after it passes through optical zoom403as sensed light412. Based on sensed light412, camera113may generate image data corresponding to scene151, which may be stored to a memory of mobile device101, transmitted to a remote device, and so on. Camera113and flash401(and corresponding flash focusing lens system402and optical zoom403) may provide for imaging in the visible spectrum or hyperspectral imaging.

Although illustrated with respect to a combination of camera113and optical zoom403and a second combination of flash401and flash focusing lens system402, any operative component and complementary component combinations may be implemented. Furthermore,FIG. 4illustrates two combinations of operative and complementary components. However, any number of combinations of operative and complementary components may be implemented such as three, four, or more. In an embodiment, an array (e.g., two or more) of any such combinations of operative and complementary components (e.g., complementary systems) may be provided. In the context of an array of cameras as the operative components, such an array may provide a fusion of filter and zoom based camera images to improve image quality such as resolution, noise removal, haze removal, or the like. For example, each camera may be provided with different complementary components such as one or more optical zooms, one or more optical filters, etc. and each camera may attain an image of a scene. Such images may optionally be combined to or otherwise manipulated to generate a final image having improved image quality with respect to an image that may be attained by any of the cameras alone.

As discussed, housings104,105of mobile device101may be moveably coupled by a hinge or similar component such that housings104,105are movable between open configuration121and compact configuration131. In some embodiments, housings104,105may be moveably coupled, at least partially, by a display substrate including displays111,112. In some embodiments, housings104,105may be slidably coupled. Furthermore, in compact configuration131, cameras103,113may both face a scene away from the user of mobile device101. In such instances, cameras103,113may be used in conjunction with one another to increase a zoom range of mobile device101.

FIG. 5illustrates an example configuration of mobile device101having a dual camera configuration and a single flexible substrate display, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5, in open configuration121, mobile device101may include displays111,112on or incorporated into a single flexible display substrate512. In an embodiment, single flexible display substrate512provides a flexible substrate on which separate displays111,112are disposed. In another embodiment, single flexible display substrate512provides displays111,112such that single flexible display substrate512is or includes a display (e.g., display elements, driver circuitry, etc.) and displays111,112are regions of single flexible display substrate512. Also as shown inFIG. 5, single flexible display substrate512may, at least partially, couple housings104,105such that single flexible display substrate512is a monolithic structure that is integrated into both housings104,105by being attached to the chassis of housings104,105, by being attached to a skin of housings104,105, or the like.

Also as shown inFIG. 5, in compact configuration131, single flexible display substrate512may wrap around housings104,105. As discussed, in open configuration121, displays111,112may advantageously provide a large display surface for a user while compact configuration131may provide for ease of handling by a user. In the illustration ofFIG. 5, cameras103,113(as visible through optical element107as disposed in opening108) may be exposed to the same scene (e.g., in the positive z-direction, please refer toFIG. 1C.

For example, the dual camera set up ofFIG. 5with cameras103,113exposed to the same scene may provide camera103as a user facing camera in open configuration121and camera113as a rear facing camera in open configuration121(please refer toFIG. 1Bshowing camera113on a rear surface of housing104). As discussed, camera113and optical element107disposed in opening108are aligned such that optical element107provides an optic for camera113in compact configuration131. Configuration500may act as a dual camera setup to provide enhanced imaging for mobile device101. Configuration500may be provided with any suitable housings and couplings between such housings discussed herein. For example, the combination of camera113and optical element107may provide a greater zoom with respect to camera103. Using such a system, camera103may be used for imaging at low zoom up to a predetermined zoom amount such as a zoom factor of 2.4× (e.g., through a digital zoom) or the like and beyond the predetermined zoom amount such as from a zoom factor of 2.5× (e.g., through optical zoom), camera113and optical element107provide imaging for mobile device101.

As discussed, multiple device housings may be moveably coupled between configurations such that, in a first configuration, an operative component and a complementary component are not aligned and, in second configuration, the operative component and the complementary component are aligned and adjacent to one another such that the complementary component enhances the performance of the operative component in some manner due to them being aligned and adjacent. In some embodiments, the housings may be moveably coupled by a hinge or a flexible member (optionally including a display or displays) or the like such that the coupling is rotational. In other embodiments, the housings may be moveably coupled by tracks or the like such that the coupling is a sliding coupling. In yet other embodiments, movement between open and compact configurations may be provided by a foldable display (e.g., with no need for a hinge or similar coupling).

FIG. 6Aillustrates a front view609of an example mobile device601having a complementary component within an opening of a housing thereof to provide enhanced performance of an operative component in a particular configuration, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 6Billustrates a rear view610of mobile device601, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 6Cillustrates a cross-sectional view619of mobile device601. As shown,FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6Cillustrate mobile device601in an open configuration621.FIG. 6Dillustrates a cross-sectional view620of mobile device601in a compact configuration631in taken along view B inFIG. 6A, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.

As shown, mobile device601may include a housing604and a housing605that are moveably coupled to one another along a direction615. InFIG. 6A, housing605is partially obscured by housing604for the sake of clarity of presentation. As will be appreciated, in fully open configuration621, housing605would be fully extended from housing604. Housings604,605may have any suitable thicknesses (e.g., z-dimensions) as discussed with respect to housing104,105. In some examples, housings604,605have the same thickness and, in other examples, they are different. For example housing605may be thicker than housing604to provide support for mobile device601. Housings604,605may be moveably (e.g., slidably) coupled using any suitable technique or techniques. For example, housing604and/or housing605may include a channel or slot and the other may include a tab or rail to provide a slidable coupling therebetween. In open configuration621, housings604,605may be substantially planar with respect to one another along the x-y plane or housing605may be slightly below housing604in the fully extended position. In any event, a user of mobile device601may view and/or interact with a display611integrated into housing604and a user interface612integrated into housing605simultaneously.

In the illustrated example, mobile device601includes display611and user interface612. In other embodiments, one or both of display611or user interface612may be or may include other devices discussed herein. For example, display611may be or may include any user interface devices such as key pads, stylus sensor pads, or the like. Furthermore, user interface612may include any user interface device discussed herein or user interface612may be a display. As used herein, the term user interface component includes display, key pads, input sensors, or any device used to interact with a user. Furthermore, mobile device601may optionally include a front facing camera602integrated into housing604and/or a front facing camera (not shown) integrated into housing605.

As shown, housing605of mobile device601includes an opening608and an optical element607within opening608and a rear facing camera613integrated into housing604. As shown inFIGS. 6C and 6D, when mobile device601is moved to compact configuration631, optical element607within opening608is adjacent to and aligned with (e.g., along the z-axis) rear facing camera613such that an image of a scene651may be captured by camera613with the aid of optical element607. For example, opening608may provide a through hole in housing604. As discussed, by bringing optical element607within opening608near and in alignment with camera613, improved optical performance may be provided for mobile device601. Camera613and optical element607may have any features and/or may be replaced with any alternative operative components and complementary components as discussed here with respect to mobile device101. For example, optical element607may be an optical zoom (e.g., a zoom lens or lens system), an optical filter, or the like to improve the image quality of images attained by camera613. For example, the optical filter may include one or a combination of a neutral density filter, an ultraviolet (UV) filter, an infrared (IR) filter, a polarizer filter, or the like. In some embodiments, to mitigate alignment problems between optical element607and camera613, the aperture of optical element607may be larger than the sensor of camera613. As shown inFIG. 6D, in some examples, little or no gap may be provided between housings604,605in compact configuration631. In other examples, a gap may be provided.

Although illustrated with respect to camera613and optical element607, mobile device601may integrate any suitable operative component into housing604and any suitable complementary component into housing605such that, in compact configuration631, the operative and complementary components are brought into alignment and adjacent to one another such that the complementary component may enhance the performance of the operative component (and such that in open configuration621no such enhancement is provided). In the illustrated embodiment, the operative component is camera613(which may include any suitable components such as a lens or lenses, an aperture, and an image sensor within a camera module) and the complementary component is optical element607(which may include a zoom lens system, an optical filter or filters, or the like). In some embodiments, the operative component is a flash and the complementary component is a flash focusing lens system (as discussed with respect toFIG. 4). In other embodiments, the operative component is a hyperspectral imaging camera (e.g., to attain image information for wavelengths of light that are not in the visible spectrum) and the complementary component is a hyperspectral optical filter. In yet other embodiments, the operative component is a hyperspectral flash or hyperspectral light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) hyperspectral flash or hyperspectral light source and the complementary component is a hyperspectral optical filter. For example, such hyperspectral cameras and flashes may be suitable for food inspection or the like.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6A-6D, mobile device601includes camera613and display611integrated into housing604, user interface612integrated into housing605, and optical component607disposed within opening608of housing605. As discussed, the moveable coupling between housing604and housing605of mobile device601provides for movement between open configuration621and compact configuration631. In open configuration621, user interface612and display611face toward a positive z-direction from mobile device601(please refer toFIG. 6Awhich illustrates the z-axis coming out of the page). For example, user interface612and display611may face toward a user of mobile device601in open configuration621. Furthermore, in open configuration621, camera613faces toward a negative z-direction from mobile device601(please refer toFIG. 6Bwhich illustrates the z-axis entering the page and a negative z-direction coming out of the page). For example, camera613may face away from a user (e.g., opposite the direction toward the user) of mobile device601in open configuration621to provide a rear facing camera toward a scene.

In compact configuration631, display611may face toward a positive z-direction from mobile device101, user interface612may face toward a positive z-direction from mobile device601but may be obscured from a user, and camera613is adjacent to and aligned with optical component607with camera613facing the negative z-direction from mobile device601(please refer toFIGS. 6C and 6D) toward scene651. For example, camera613may face away from the user and toward scene651to attain an image of the scene while display611faces the user to provide an image capture user interface for the user (please refer to the illustration of housing104inFIG. 1A).

In analogy with the discussion provided with respect to mobile device101, the complementary component (e.g., optical element607) may be fixed within opening608(e.g., glued, mounted, etc.) or the complementary component may be removably integrated within opening608(e.g., with a clip, a manual release, etc.) such that the complementary component may be removed by a user and a different complementary component may be installed. The complementary component may be a passive component (e.g., a component that may not be actuated) or the complementary component may be an active component that may be actuated. For example, a zoom lens system may have a moveable lens element, an optical filter grouping may have moveable filters that may be moved into and out of opening108, and so on.

FIG. 7Aillustrates an example active complementary component700for example mobile device101, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 7Billustrates an example zoom lens active component730, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 7Cillustrates an example optical filter bank active component710, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.FIG. 7Dillustrates another example optical filter bank active component720, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure.

Active complementary component700may be any suitable active component that may enhance the performance of a corresponding operative component (not shown) such as a zoom lens or zoom lens system, an optical filter bank, or the like. Active complementary component700may be fixed within opening108or active complementary component700may be removably integrated within opening108. In examples where active complementary component700is fixed within opening108, active complementary component700may be installed within portions of housing105that extend beyond opening108.

As shown inFIG. 7A, active complementary component700may be installed within opening108of mobile device101. Although illustrated and discussed with respect to mobile device101, the described active complementary component700, traces, and controller may be applied to any mobile device discussed herein. As shown, active complementary component700is coupled to a controller701by a electrical trace705such that controller701may control active complementary component700during the operation of mobile device701. For example, electrical trace705may be coupled to complementary component700and configured to provide a signal to actuate a moveable component of complementary component700. Controller701may be any suitable integrated circuit, circuitry, or the like that provides signaling or power or the like to control active complementary component700. For example, controller701may be a microprocessor or the like. Electrical trace705may include any suitable coupling between controller701and active complementary component700such as a metallization, a wiring, a trace on a circuit board, or the like. As shown inFIG. 7B, in some examples, mobile device101may include zoom lens active component730. As shown, zoom lens active component730may include a housing703and one or more lenses702. Although illustrated with a single moveable lens702moveable along a direction704, zoom lens active component730may include any number of fixed and moveable lenses. As shown, controller701may provide a signal or power or the like to zoom lens active component730via electrical trace705to move lens702to provide a zoom capability as discussed herein. Lens702may be moved along direction704within housing703using any suitable technique or techniques such as using an electric motor (not shown) capable of moving lens702to various positions within housing703.

As shown inFIG. 7C, in some examples, mobile device101may include optical filter bank active component710. As shown, optical filter bank active component710may include a dial715and multiple optical filters711,712,713,714having different optical properties mounted within dial715such that, when rotated around center axis716, a selected optical filter, which is optical filter711in the illustrated example, may be provided within opening108. Optical filters711,712,713,714may include any suitable optical filters in the visible spectrum, hyperspectral filters, or the like. For example, optical filters711,712,713,714may include a neutral density filter, a UV filter, an IR filter, a polarizer, a color filter, or the like. In an embodiment, one of optical filters711,712,713,714may be a blank filter or translucent element or the like to effectively provide no filtering. Although illustrated with four optical filters711,712,713,714, any number and type of filters may be used. As shown, controller701may provide a signal or power or the like to optical filter bank active component710via electrical trace705to move dial715to provide one of optical filters711,712,713,714within opening108. Dial715may be moved using any suitable technique or techniques such as using an electric motor (not shown) capable of moving optical filters711,712,713,714to various positions to provide one of optical filters711,712,713,714within opening108.

As shown inFIG. 7D, in some examples, mobile device101may include optical filter bank active component720. As shown, optical filter bank active component720may include a housing723holding multiple optical filters711,712,713,714analogous to those presented inFIG. 7Cand having the same or similar properties. As shown, controller701may provide a signal or power or the like to optical filter bank active component720via electrical trace705to an active or selected filter or filters, which in the illustrated example is a single optical filter713within opening108. The selected filter(s) (e.g., any of optical filters711,712,713,714provided within optical filter bank active component720) may be moved along a direction724using any suitable technique or techniques such as using an electric motor (not shown) capable of moving a selected one or more of optical filters711,712,713,714to a position within opening108. As also shown inFIG. 7D, housing105may include a portion721having a receiver722that provides a receiving opening for a portion of the selected one or more of optical filters711,712,713,714. For example, receiver722may provide stability for the selected one or more of optical filters711,712,713,714while it is provided within opening108.

As discussed herein, active or passive complimentary components may be provided within an opening of a housing such that, in a particular configuration, the complimentary component(s) are aligned with and adjacent to corresponding active components. A mobile device may include a single combination of complimentary and operative components or multiple combinations side-by-side as discussed herein and, in particular, with respect toFIG. 4. In other examples multiple active or passive complimentary components may be provided for a single operative component. For example, active or passive complimentary components may be stacked within opening108to provide enhanced performance for the single operative component. For example, an active or passive zoom and an active or passive optical filter or filter system may be stacked (e.g., in the z-direction) within opening108of housing105.

As discussed, the complimentary component (e.g., a lens system, etc.) may be fixed or removable (e.g., pluggable), passive (e.g., static) or active (e.g., dynamic), and single element or multiple element (e.g., side-by-side or stacked). In the fixed design, the complimentary component may be assembled and fused into the housing or chassis while in the pluggable design, the complimentary component may be provided separately from mobile device such that it may be plugged into the opening or hole by a userIn the static design, the complimentary component may provide a static configuration such as a fixed optical zoom factor or a fixed spectrum filter or the like. In the dynamic design, the complimentary component may provide the enhancements for the corresponding operative component during the operation of the mobile device (e.g., at run time). As discussed, active component implementations may be achieved using motors that move lenses or set of lenses, optical filters or sets of optical filters, or the like and/or adjust the positioning of the lens or filters to achieve the required enhancement.For example, in a single element design, a single optical element may be used while in the stacked form, multiple optical elements may be stacked together to achieve the desired enhancement.

FIG. 8illustrates a system800in which a mobile computing platform employs operative and complimentary components that are aligned in a compact configuration, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure. System800may be any portable device configured for one or more of electronic data display, electronic data processing, wireless electronic data transmission, or the like. For example, although illustrated as a foldable smartphone, system800may be any of a tablet, a laptop computer, a watch, an augmented reality device, a virtual reality device, a headset etc.

As shown, system800may include a housing805having a user interface device851integrated therein and a housing806moveably coupled to housing805by hinge106having a user interface device852integrated therein. Housings805,806may include any housings discussed herein. Housings805,806are illustrated as being moveably coupled to one another by hinge106, but housings805,806may be moveably coupled to one another using any suitable technique or techniques such as being slidably coupled, being coupled by a flexible display substrate or the like. User interface devices851,852may include any user interface devices such as displays, touch displays, key pads, stylus sensor pads, etc.

Also as illustrated inFIG. 8, system800includes a complementary component807disposed within an opening808of housing806and an operative component813on a back of housing805such that, when system800is moved from the open configuration ofFIG. 8to a compact or closed configuration, complementary component807and operative component813are aligned and adjacent to one another such that complementary component807enhances the performance of operative component813. Also as shown, system800includes a chip-level or package-level integrated system810and a battery815. In the illustrated example, integrated system810is disposed within housing806. In another example, integrated system810is disposed within housing805. In yet another example, each of housings804,805include an integrated system or a portion thereof.

Integrated system810may be implemented as discrete components (e.g., integrated circuits) or as a system on a chip and may include may include memory circuitry835(e.g., random access memory, storage, etc.), processor circuitry840(e.g., a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, graphics processor, etc.), and communications circuitry845(e.g., a wireless transceiver, a radio frequency integrated circuit, a wideband RF transmitter and/or receiver, etc.). The components of integrated system810may be communicatively coupled to one another for the transfer of data within integrated system810. Functionally, memory circuitry835may provide memory and storage for integrated system810including image and/or video data for display user interface devices851,852, processor circuitry840may provide high level control for system810as well as operations corresponding to generating image and/or video data for display by user interface devices851,852and/or operations corresponding to generating signals or power to operate an active complementary component807, if employed, and communications circuitry845may transmit and/or receive data including image and/or video data for display by display device850and/or data generated by operative component813such as image and/or video data or the like. For example, communications circuitry745may be coupled to an antenna (not shown) to implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family), IEEE 802.20, long term evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond.

FIG. 9is a functional block diagram of a computing device900, arranged in accordance with at least some implementations of the present disclosure. Computing device900or portions thereof may be implemented via system800, for example, and further includes a motherboard902hosting a number of components, such as, but not limited to, a processor901(e.g., an applications processor, a microprocessor, etc.) and one or more communications chips904,905. Processor901may be physically and/or electrically coupled to motherboard902. In some examples, processor901includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the processor901. In general, the term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory.

In various examples, one or more communication chips904,905may also be physically and/or electrically coupled to the motherboard902. In further implementations, communication chips904may be part of processor901. Depending on its applications, computing device900may include other components that may or may not be physically and electrically coupled to motherboard902. These other components may include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM)907,908, non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM)910, a graphics processor912, flash memory, global positioning system (GPS) device913, compass914, a chipset906, an antenna916, a power amplifier909, a touchscreen controller911, a touchscreen display917, a speaker915, a camera903, and a battery918, as illustrated, and other components such as a digital signal processor, a crypto processor, an audio codec, a video codec, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a mass storage device (such as hard disk drive, solid state drive (SSD), compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth), or the like. For example, touchscreen display917may implement any light emitting diode structure (s) or micro light emitting diode(s) discussed herein.

Communication chips904,905may enable wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing device900. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. Communication chips904,905may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to those described elsewhere herein. As discussed, computing device900may include a plurality of communication chips904,905. For example, a first communication chip may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others. For example, one or both of communication chips904,905may provide a wireless transceiver for computing device900. As discussed, touchscreen display917of computing device900may include or utilize one or more micro light emitting diodes such as any light emitting diode structure s discussed herein.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

In one or more first examples, a mobile device comprises an operative component and a first user interface component integrated into a first housing, a second user interface component integrated into a second housing moveably coupled to the first housing, and a complementary component, to enhance performance of the operative component, disposed within an opening of the second housing, wherein the second housing being moveably coupled to the first housing provides movement between a first configuration of the mobile device and a second configuration of the mobile device, and wherein, in the first configuration, the first user interface component, the second user interface component, and the operative component are exposed from the mobile device and, in the second configuration, the operative component is adjacent to and aligned with the complementary component within the opening of the second housing.

In one or more second examples, for any of the first examples, the operative component comprises a camera and the complementary component comprises one of an optical zoom or an optical filter.

In one or more third examples, for any of the first examples, the operative component comprises a flash and the complementary component comprises a flash focusing lens system.

In one or more fourth examples, for any of the first examples, the operative component comprises a hyperspectral imaging camera and the complementary component comprises a hyperspectral optical filter.

In one or more fifth examples, for any of the first examples, the operative component comprises a hyperspectral light source and the complementary component comprises a hyperspectral optical filter.

In one or more sixth examples, for any of the first through fifth examples, the mobile device further comprises a second operative component integrated into the first housing and a second complementary component, to enhance performance of the second operative component, within one of the opening or a second opening of the second housing, wherein, in the second configuration, the second operative component is aligned with the second complementary component within the opening of the second housing.

In one or more seventh examples, for any of the first through sixth examples, the operative component comprises a camera, the complementary component comprises one of an optical zoom or an optical filter, the second operative component comprises a flash, and the second complementary component comprises a flash focusing lens system.

In one or more eighth examples, for any of the first through seventh examples, the second housing being moveably coupled to the first housing comprises one of a hinge coupling the first housing and the second housing, a slidable coupling between the first housing and the second housing, or a flexible coupling between the first housing and the second housing.

In one or more ninth examples, for any of the first through eighth examples, the first user interface component comprises a first display and the second user interface component comprises a second display such that the first display and the second display are provided on a same flexible display substrate and wherein the second housing being moveably coupled to the first housing comprises at least the flexible display substrate coupling the first housing and the second housing.

In one or more tenth examples, for any of the first through ninth examples, the complementary component being within the opening of the second housing comprises the complementary component being one of fixedly integrated into the opening or removably integrated into the opening of the second housing.

In one or more eleventh examples, for any of the first through tenth examples, the mobile device further comprises an electrical trace coupled to the complementary component and configured to provide a signal to actuate a moveable component of the complementary component.

In one or more twelfth examples, for any of the first through eleventh examples, the operative component comprises a camera, the complementary component comprises an optical zoom, and the moveable component comprises a lens of the optical zoom.

In one or more thirteenth examples, for any of the first through twelfth examples, the operative component comprises a camera, the complementary component comprises a plurality optical filters, and the moveable component comprises an individual optical filter of the plurality of optical filters.

In one or more fourteenth examples, for any of the first through thirteenth examples, the operative component comprises a camera, the complementary component comprises an optical zoom, and the moveable component comprises a lens of the optical zoom or wherein the operative component comprises a camera, the complementary component comprises a plurality optical filters, and the moveable component comprises an individual optical filter of the plurality of optical filters.

In one or more fifteenth examples, for any of the first through fourteenth examples, the mobile device further comprises or a system comprising the mobile device further comprises a memory and a processor coupled to the memory such that the processor and the memory are disposed within the first or second housing.

In one or more sixteenth examples, for any of the first through fifteenth examples, the operative component is a camera, the first user interface component is a first display, the second user interface component is a second display, the complementary component is an optical component, the first configuration is an open configuration of the mobile device, and the second configuration is a compact configuration of the mobile device, such that, in the open configuration, the first display and the second display face toward a first direction from the mobile device and the camera faces toward a second direction from the mobile device opposite the first direction and, in the compact configuration, the first display faces toward the first direction, the second display faces toward the second direction and the camera is adjacent to and aligned with the optical component within the opening of the second housing and facing toward the second direction.

In one or more seventeenth examples, for any of the first through sixteenth examples, the optical component comprises a passive optical component and the optical component is fixedly integrated into the opening.

In one or more eighteenth examples, for any of the first through seventeenth examples, the optical component comprises an active optical component and the optical component is removably integrated into the opening.

In one or more nineteenth examples, a mobile device or system comprises a sensing means and a first means for interfacing with a user integrated into a first housing, a second means for interfacing with a user integrated into a second housing coupled to the first housing by a coupling means, and a signal adjustment means disposed within an opening of the second housing, wherein the coupling means provides for movement between an open configuration of the mobile device and a compact configuration of the mobile device, and wherein, in the open configuration, the first means for interfacing with a user and the second means for interfacing with a user face toward a first direction from the mobile device and the sensing means faces toward a second direction from the mobile device opposite the first direction and, in the compact configuration, the first means for interfacing with a user faces toward the first direction, the second means for interfacing with a user faces toward the second direction and the sensing means is adjacent to and aligned with the signal adjustment means within the opening of the second housing and facing toward the second direction.

In one or more twentieth examples, for any of the nineteenth examples, the first means for interfacing with a user and the second means for interfacing with a user are provided on a same flexible substrate and wherein the coupling means comprises at least the flexible substrate.

In one or more twenty-first examples, for any of the nineteenth or twentieth examples, the sensing means comprises one of a visible light camera or a hyperspectral camera and wherein the signal adjustment means comprises one of an optical zoom or an optical filter.

In one or more twenty-second examples, for any of the nineteenth through twenty-first examples, the signal adjustment means comprises a passive optical component that is fixedly integrated into the opening.

In one or more twenty-third examples, for any of the nineteenth through twenty-second examples, the signal adjustment means comprises an active optical component that is removably integrated into the opening.

In one or more twenty-fourth examples, for any of the nineteenth through twenty-third examples, the mobile device or system further comprises a signaling means coupled to the signal adjustment means and configured to provide a signal to actuate a moveable component of the signal adjustment means.