Abstract:
Inadvertent or malicious viewing of an information handling system end user by an integrated camera is prevented with a mechanical shutter that actuates to selectively impede transmission of light to the camera. Mechanical blocking of the camera lens prevents malicious code from hijacking the operation of the camera and provides a visual indicator that capturing images is impeded with the lens physically blocked. In one embodiment, actuating the mechanical shutter also powers down the camera.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system cameras, and more particularly to an information handling system integrated camera lens cover. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
     Information handling systems have become a preferred communication tool for many end users. Two of the factors that have made information handling systems a preferred communication tool are the convenience available from portable information handling systems and the relatively large bandwidth available for communication through wireless networks, such as wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspots and wireless wide area networks (WWAN) available through cell phone providers. End users communicate through e-mails, text messages and multimedia information. For example, social networking sites allow end users to post images and videos for download and viewing by friends. Broadband network communications support direct video conferencing between information handling systems with video and audio information captured at each information handling system. Many portable information handling systems integrate a video camera and microphone to aid video conferencing. For example, some portable information handling systems integrate a video camera in a bezel that contains an LCD screen so that the end user&#39;s image is captured as the end user views information presented at the LCD. 
     One difficulty with user-facing video cameras is that end users might inadvertently turn on the video camera to capture and send images of inopportune or embarrassing moments. For example, an end user might walk in front of an active video camera transmitting over the Internet in a state of undress. Another difficulty with a user-facing video camera is that a hacker or malicious code in control of the information handling system might activate the video camera without the knowledge of the end user. Sophisticated hackers eliminate indications of operation of a video camera at an information handling system, such as by shutting off an LED indicator illuminated by the video camera when capturing images during normal operating conditions. Early web cameras designed to attach to a display as an external peripheral did include a shutter to block a lens and prevent the camera from capturing images; however, integrated cameras found in modern portable information handling system housings have size limitations that prevent the use of a conventional mechanical shutter. The thickness of a portable information handling system display housing is generally based upon LCD panel and backlight thickness so that the overall system size can remain as thin as possible. Conventional video cameras integrated in a portable information handling system housing typically use all available thickness so that the lens assembly is as large as possible. A larger lens assembly allows larger optics that capture greater amounts of light for higher quality images, particularly in low light environments. Typically an end user will prefer the largest lens assembly that will fit in the space available of a portable information handling system housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which controls the capture of images by a camera integrated in an information handling system housing. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for controlling the capture of images by a camera integrated in an information handling system housing. A mechanical shutter selectively impedes transmission of light to a camera integrated in an information handling system housing to provide a mechanical mechanism for controlling the capture of images at the camera. 
     More specifically, an information handling system processes information with components disposed in a housing. A video camera integrated in the housing and in communication with the components allows the capture of images as visual information available to the components, such as for transmission through a network to other information handling systems in a videoconference. A mechanical shutter dispose at the housing proximate the camera selectively impedes transmission of light to the camera in order to secure the camera from capturing images. The mechanical shutter is a non-transparent material that blocks light when moved over the camera lens. Alternatively, the mechanical shutter is a transparent material having a non-transparent treatment that blocks or otherwise impedes transmission of light. The mechanical shutter may include a visible portion that so that an end user can view the visible portion as an indicator when the camera lens is impeded by the mechanical shutter. In one embodiment, the mechanical shutter moves the camera from out of alignment with an opening of the housing so that the camera does not have access to light outside of the information handling system housing. 
     The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a mechanical shutter disposed at a housing proximate to a camera lens allows an end user to control the capture of images by the camera with a mechanical actuator. Physically blocking the lens from capturing images secures the video camera from malicious use, such as remote control by a hacker. A thin shutter structure disposed in the housing avoids an impact on housing thickness while allowing full use of available housing space for a lens assembly so that captured images have a high quality. A physical indicator that highlights the position of a shutter lets the end user know with a quick glance whether or not the video camera is physically secure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of an information handling system having a camera selectively impeded from capturing images with a mechanical shutter; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a side view of a mechanical shutter in a closed position that impedes a camera from capturing images; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict alternative embodiments of a mechanical shutter; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of a mechanical shutter in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A mechanical shutter selectively impedes the capture of images by an information handling system camera to provide improved security and privacy for an end user of the information handling system. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram depicts an information handling system  10  having a camera  12  selectively impeded from capturing images with a mechanical shutter  14 . Information handling system  10  processes information with components disposed in a housing  16 . For example, an application executing on a CPU  18  and stored in memory  20  generates visual information that represents an image. A chipset  22  accepts the visual information and formats the visual information for presentation as an image by display  24 . In one embodiment, the application is a videoconferencing application that communicates with another information handling system through a network interface, such as a wireless network interface card (WNIC)  26 . Images and sounds from the network communications are presented at information handling system  10  while images captured by camera  12  and sounds captured by a microphone  28  are sent from information handling system  10  through WNIC  26  to a distal information handling system. 
     A difficulty with software-controlled operations of camera  12  is that malicious code can potentially take control of camera  12  to capture images for communication through WNIC  26  without the end user&#39;s knowledge or consent. To prevent communication of images captured by camera  12 , mechanical shutter  14  impedes the transmission of light to camera  12 , thus preventing the capture of meaningful images by camera  12 . Mechanical shutter  14  responds to a physical input by an end user to an actuator  30  accessible at the exterior of housing  16  so that actions by malicious code executing on information handling system  10  will not override the end user&#39;s election to impede transmission of light to camera  12 . In order to fit in the housing  16  without limiting the size of camera  12 , mechanical shutter  14  is made of thin material, such as paper thin stainless steel shim stock or paper thin optically clear mylar film. 
     In one embodiment, an input at actuator  30  to mechanically impede the transmission of light also removes power from camera  12  and microphone  26 . Mechanical shutter  14  can impede transmission of light to camera  12  in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, mechanical shutter  14  couples at the interior of housing  16  proximate to an opening in housing  16  through which camera  12  receives light, and actuator  30  extends through housing  16  to translate user inputs at the exterior of housing  16  to movement of mechanical shutter  14  at the interior of housing  16 . In an alternative embodiment, mechanical shutter  14  couples at the exterior surface of housing  16  to cover and expose camera  12 . In another embodiment, camera  12  couples to mechanical shutter  14  so that actuation of mechanical shutter  14  moves camera  12  into and out of alignment with the opening of housing  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side view depicts a mechanical shutter  14  in a closed position that impedes a camera  12  from capturing images. Camera  12  is selected to have a size that will use most of the space available within the interior of housing  16  so that optics of increased size improves image quality captured by camera  12 . Housing  16  has an exterior surface formed by a bezel  32  that assembles to housing  16 , the bezel having an opening  34  covered by a protective lens  36 . Opening  34  aligns with a lens  38  of camera  12 , which gathers light passing through opening  34  using a sensor  40 . Camera  12  assembles with a minimal gap for assembly tolerance in order to have a thin housing footprint with maximal camera size. A printed circuit board  42  supports sensor  40  and lens  38  and provides communication for electrical signals to the components of information handling system  10 . A power source  44  provides power to run sensor  40  and microphone  26 . 
     Mechanical shutter  14  slides with a perpendicular motion between lens  38  and protective lens  36  to selectively impede and allow transmission of light through opening  34  to sensor  40 . To fit within the minimal clearance provided between protective lens  36  and lens  38 , mechanical shutter  14  has minimal thickness. A slide assembly  46  interfaces mechanical shutter  14  with actuator  30  to allow an end user to slide mechanical shutter  14  relative to lens  38 . For example, slide assembly  46  is a plastic injection molded piece that snaps into connectors of housing  16  and holds mechanical shutter  14  in a sliding relationship. In alternative embodiments, other types of securing mechanism may retain mechanical shutter  14  in position to translate be between open positions that allow camera use and closed positions that disallow camera use by impeding transmission of light. With actuator  30  pushed towards protective lens  36 , mechanical shutter  14  blocks transmission of light to sensor  40 . In addition, a power switch interface connects actuator  30  to power source  44  so that power to camera  12  and microphone  28  is removed when mechanical shutter  14  is positioned to impede light transmission to sensor  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , alternative embodiments of a mechanical shutter  14  are depicted.  FIG. 3A  depicts mechanical shutter  14  formed from a transparent material, such as glass or plastic, and having a non-transparent treatment  50  that blocks or otherwise impede the transmission of light. For example, non-transparent treatment  50  may be a portion having red paint that covers lens  38  when mechanical shutter  14  slides treated portion  50  over lens  38 . An advantage to a bright and visually apparent treatment is that an end user can detect that the camera is turned off when mechanical shutter  14  aligns treated portion  50  with opening  34 . Other types of treatments that impede transmission of light include a beaded glass portion or unfocused lens portion that allow passage of light without enough clarity to form an image.  FIG. 3B  depicts mechanical shutter  14  made from a nontransparent material, such as sheet metal or opaque plastic, having an open portion  52  that does not impede transmission of light, such as a hole formed in the material. When camera  12  is in use, open portion  52  aligns with lens  38  to allow use of camera  12 . To disable camera  12 , open portion  52  is moved from alignment with opening  34  so that a non-transparent portion of mechanical shutter  14  impedes transmission of light to lens  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a side view depicts a mechanical shutter  14  in an open position. Slide assembly  46  supports movement of actuator  30  in a perpendicular motion relative to lens  38  so that light is allowed to transmit through opening  34  into sensor  40 . In one alternative embodiment, mechanical shutter  14  is disposed beneath PCB  42  to support movement of camera  12  relative to opening  34 . Perpendicular motion initiated by actuator  30  to mechanical shutter  14  translates to move camera  12  so that lens  38  is not in alignment with opening  34 . As PCB  42  moves lens  38  out of alignment with opening  34 , power and communications connections become decoupled to make camera  12  and microphone  26  inoperative until power and communications connections are re-coupled by movement of actuator  30  to realign lens  38  with opening  34 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.