Patent Description:
As requirements of users increase, terminal devices have more and more functions. A photographing function is one of basic functions of terminal devices, and more and more terminal devices are equipped with a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera to satisfy different photographing requirements of users.

To increase the screen-to-body ratio of a terminal device, a front-facing camera in the related technology is usually a camera that can be extended and retracted. When the front-facing camera is required to work, the front-facing camera may extend out of the cavity of the housing of the terminal device, so that the user may take a selfie. When the selfie is taken, the front-facing camera may retract into the cavity from outside the housing, to hide itself in the housing.

Although the front-facing camera that can be extended and retracted does not occupy board space for disposing a display screen on the housing, the front-facing camera still occupies space in the housing. As a terminal device has more and more functions, the housing of the terminal device is integrated with more and more electronic components. Both the front-facing camera and the rear-facing camera need to occupy a space in the housing. Obviously, this makes it difficult to integrate more electronic components in the housing.

<CIT> discloses a structure and method for capturing images by portable electronic device. <CIT> discloses a mobile device and a method for controlling the same. <CIT> discloses a mobile terminal and a camera assembly. <CIT> discloses a panorama image capturing device and a panorama image capturing module thereof.

The present disclosure discloses a terminal device, as defined in the appended set of claims, to solve the problem that a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera of a terminal device in the related technology occupy large space in the housing.

The technical solution adopted in the present disclosure can achieve the following beneficial effects:.

In the photographing module disclosed in the present disclosure, the ambient light sensed by the light sensing chip in the first photographing state and the second photographing state come from different sources. In this case, the light sensing chip of the photographing module can capture or photograph scenes in two opposite directions, that is, the photographing module may be used as both a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera. Therefore, the terminal device equipped with the photographing module does not need to be configured with a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera. This can reduce the number of cameras, and in turn can reduce space occupied in the terminal device.

The accompanying drawings illustrated herein are provided to further understand the present disclosure and form a part of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and the descriptions thereof are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:.

Description of reference numerals in accompanying drawing:.

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the present disclosure with reference to specific embodiments of the present disclosure and the corresponding accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are some rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended set of claims.

The technical solutions disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, the embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a photographing module <NUM>, and the disclosed photographing module <NUM> can be applied to a terminal device. The photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a module housing <NUM>, a light sensing chip <NUM>, and a light capturing apparatus.

The module housing <NUM> is a basic component of the photographing module <NUM>, and the module housing <NUM> may provide an installation basis for other components of the photographing module <NUM>. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light sensing chip <NUM> and the light capturing apparatus are both disposed in the cavity of the module housing <NUM>. A first light capturing hole <NUM> and a second light capturing hole <NUM> are provided on two opposite sides of the module housing <NUM>, and the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> may capture light on the two opposite sides of the module housing <NUM>.

The light sensing chip <NUM> is a light sensing sensor of the photographing module <NUM>. Ambient light is finally projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM> and then may be sensed, and finally image information may be formed. The light sensing process and principle of the light sensing chip <NUM> are well-known technologies, and are not repeated herein.

Under normal circumstances, the light sensing surface of the light sensing chip <NUM> may be covered by a light filter <NUM>, to achieve the effect of light filtering to help improve the light sensing effect of the light sensing chip <NUM>. Specifically, the light filter <NUM> may be pasted on the light sensing chip <NUM> through an optical clear adhesive layer.

The photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the present disclosure has the first photographing state and the second photographing state. In the first photographing state, ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole <NUM> passes through the light capturing apparatus and is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM>, to realize light sensing photographing of the light sensing chip <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the first photographing state, the photographing module <NUM> photographs towards the rear side. In this case, the photographing module <NUM> is equivalent to the rear-facing camera of the terminal device, to photograph a scene at a long distance for the user. In the first photographing state, ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole <NUM> cannot be finally sensed by the light sensing chip <NUM>. In this case, the first light capturing hole <NUM> is usually blocked.

In the second photographing state, ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole <NUM> passes through the light capturing apparatus and is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM>, to realize light sensing photographing of the light sensing chip <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for the convenience of description, in the second photographing state, the photographing module <NUM> photographs towards the front side of the terminal device, that is, a side of the device housing <NUM> of the terminal device on which the display screen <NUM> is disposed. In this case, the photographing module <NUM> is equivalent to the front-facing camera of the terminal device, to take a selfie for the user. In the second photographing state, ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole <NUM> cannot be finally sensed by the light sensing chip <NUM>. In this case, the second light capturing hole <NUM> is usually blocked.

As can be seen from the foregoing process, in the photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the ambient light sensed by the light sensing chip <NUM> in the first photographing state and the second photographing state come from different sources. In this case, the light sensing chip <NUM> of the photographing module <NUM> can capture or photograph scenes in two opposite directions, that is, the photographing module <NUM> may be used as both a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera. Therefore, the terminal device equipped with the photographing module <NUM> does not need to be configured with a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera. This can reduce the number of cameras, and in turn can reduce space occupied in the terminal device.

The light capturing apparatus may adjust the direction of the ambient light of the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM>, so that the ambient light may finally be projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM>. The light capturing apparatus may have multiple structures, for example, the light capturing apparatus includes two different reflecting surfaces.

In an optional solution, the light capturing apparatus may include a first light capturing component <NUM> and a second light capturing component <NUM>. The first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> are disposed opposite to the first light capturing component <NUM> and the second light capturing component <NUM> respectively. The first light capturing component <NUM> may distribute ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole <NUM>, so that the ambient light is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM> after being distributed by the first light capturing component <NUM>. Similarly, the second light capturing component <NUM> may distribute ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole <NUM>, so that the ambient light is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM> after being distributed by the second light capturing component <NUM>.

In the first photographing state, the ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole <NUM> is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM> through the second light capturing component <NUM>, and in the second photographing state, the ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole <NUM> is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM> through the first light capturing component <NUM>.

As described above, the first light capturing component <NUM> and the second light capturing component <NUM> may distribute the ambient light to adjust the direction of the ambient light. As shown in <FIG>, in a specific implementation, both the first light capturing component <NUM> and the second light capturing component <NUM> may be reflecting prisms. Certainly, the first light capturing component <NUM> and the second light capturing component <NUM> may also be plane mirrors. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit specific types of the first light capturing component <NUM> and the second light capturing component <NUM>.

To better implement light distribution, the photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a lens component <NUM>, where the lens component <NUM> may be disposed in the cavity of the module housing <NUM>, and the ambient light passing through the light capturing apparatus passes through the lens component <NUM> and is projected onto the light sensing chip <NUM>. In other words, the lens component <NUM> may further re-distribute the ambient light that passes through the light capturing apparatus, so that a light path may be adjusted more flexibly, which helps the light sensing chip <NUM> better sense light. Specifically, the lens component <NUM> usually includes at least one lens. As shown in <FIG>, the lens component <NUM> includes three stacked lenses. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the number of lenses included in the lens component <NUM>.

Specifically, whether the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> transmit light is controlled, so that the photographing module <NUM> switches between the first photographing state and the second photographing state. Whether the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> transmit light is controlled in many ways. For example, in a simpler implementation, the photographing module may include a light shielding sheet that may be detachably disposed on the first light capturing hole <NUM> or the second light capturing hole <NUM>. When the first light capturing hole <NUM> is required to capture light, the light shielding sheet is removed and then disposed on the second light capturing hole <NUM>. When the second light capturing hole <NUM> is required to capture light, the light shielding sheet is removed and disposed on the first light capturing hole <NUM>.

Certainly, the module housing <NUM> may be equipped with two shading sheets, both of which may rotate. The two shading sheets correspond to the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> respectively, and the two shading sheets both may rotate to switch between a blocking position and an avoiding position, to control light capturing of the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM>.

The above methods usually require manual manipulation by the user, which is inconvenient for the user to manipulate. On this basis, referring to <FIG> again, the photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure further includes a first electrochromic component <NUM>, a second electrochromic component <NUM>, and a controller, where the controller may be a control chip integrated on the motherboard of the terminal device.

The first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> are both disposed on the module housing <NUM>, and the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> are both made of electrochromic materials. When power-on currents are different, the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> change colors, which affects passage of light, to switch between a light-transmitting state and a light-blocking state.

The first electrochromic component <NUM> covers the first light capturing hole <NUM>, the second electrochromic component <NUM> covers the second light capturing hole <NUM>, the controller is connected to the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM>, and the controller controls currents of the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> to control the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> to transmit light or block light. In this case, the user may control the terminal device and control currents of the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM>, to control switching between the first photographing state and the second photographing state.

There are many types of electrochromic materials. In an optional solution, both the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> may be electrochromic glass plates. The electrochromic glass plate may also serve as a cover plate of the photographing module, which can desirably serve decorative purpose.

In an optional solution, the module housing <NUM> includes a first surface and a second surface that are distributed opposite to each other, the first light capturing hole <NUM> may be provided on the first surface, and the first electrochromic component <NUM> may cover the first surface, so that the photographing module <NUM> may have better aesthetics performance on this side. Similarly, the second light capturing hole <NUM> may be provided on the second surface, and the second electrochromic component <NUM> may cover the second surface. Similarly, this disposing method can improve aesthetic performance of the photographing module. Specifically, the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the module housing <NUM> may be fixedly bonded, and similarly, the second electrochromic component <NUM> and the module housing <NUM> may be fixedly bonded.

Both the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> need to be powered on during operation. Normally, the photographing module <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board (such as the mainboard of the terminal device) in the device housing <NUM>, to supply power to the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM>.

Electrical connection of the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> is implemented in many structures. The first surface may be provided with a first connection hole <NUM> connected to the inside of the module housing <NUM>, and the second surface may be provided with a second connection hole <NUM> connected to the inside of the module housing <NUM>. The first connection hole <NUM> is provided with a first electrical connection portion <NUM>, the second connection hole <NUM> is provided with a second electrical connection portion <NUM>, the first electrical connection portion <NUM> is electrically connected to the first electrochromic component <NUM>, and the second electrical connection portion <NUM> is electrically connected to the second electrochromic component <NUM>. Normally, the photographing module <NUM> is a scalable structure and needs to move relative to the device housing <NUM> of the terminal device. To better adapt to the position of the photographing module <NUM>, the first electrical connection portion <NUM> and the second electrical connection portion <NUM> may be electrically connected to a circuit board (such as the mainboard of the terminal device) in the device housing <NUM> of the terminal device through a flexible electrical connection component passing through the module housing <NUM>.

To facilitate assembly, in an optional solution, both the first electrical connection portion <NUM> and the second electrical connection portion <NUM> may be silver paste portions. During a preparation process, silver paste may be solidified on the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM>, so that the first electrical connection portion <NUM> and the second electrical connection portion <NUM> are respectively formed. During a disposing process, the first electrical connection portion <NUM> is aligned with the first connection hole <NUM> to dispose the first electrochromic component <NUM> on the module housing <NUM>. Similarly, the second electrical connection portion <NUM> is aligned with the second connection hole <NUM> to dispose the second electrochromic component <NUM> on the module housing <NUM>. The above connection method undoubtedly facilitates an electrical connection operation.

In an optional solution, the flexible electrical connection component may include a first flexible circuit board <NUM> and a second flexible circuit board <NUM>. One end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion <NUM>, and the other end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> may pass through the module housing <NUM> and is electrically connected to the circuit board in the device housing <NUM>. Similarly, one end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> may be electrically connected to the second electrical connection portion <NUM>, and the other end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> may pass through the module housing <NUM> and is electrically connected to the circuit board in the device housing <NUM>. This method of supplying power to the first electrochromic component <NUM> and the second electrochromic component <NUM> through electrical connection components can avoid electrical connection impact between each other, which is convenient for maintenance and an electrical connection operation.

Specifically, the first flexible circuit board <NUM> may be attached to a first inner wall of the module housing <NUM> and cover the first electrical connection portion <NUM>. The second flexible circuit board <NUM> may be attached to a second inner wall of the module housing <NUM> and cover the second electrical connection portion <NUM>. The first inner wall and the second inner wall are disposed opposite to each other. This disposing method not only helps block the first connection hole <NUM> and the second connection hole <NUM>, but also can avoid intertwining between the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light sensing direction of the light sensing chip <NUM> may have multiple angles relative to penetrating directions of the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the penetrating directions of the first light capturing hole <NUM> and the second light capturing hole <NUM> may be perpendicular to the light sensing direction of the light sensing chip <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light sensing chip <NUM> may be disposed in the cavity of the module housing <NUM> in a variety of ways. In an optional solution, the module housing <NUM> may include a bonding edge <NUM> disposed on an inner wall of the module housing <NUM>, the photographing module <NUM> may further include a circuit board <NUM>, the light sensing chip <NUM> may be fixed on the circuit board <NUM>, and the edge of the circuit board <NUM> may be fixedly bonded onto the bonding edge <NUM>. Specifically, the circuit board <NUM> may be fixed onto the bonding edge <NUM> through bonding.

Based on the photographing module <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a terminal device. The disclosed terminal device includes a device housing <NUM>, a driving structure, and the photographing module <NUM> described in the foregoing embodiments. The driving structure is connected to the photographing module <NUM>, the device housing <NUM> is provided with a via hole <NUM>, the driving structure is connected to the photographing module <NUM>, and the driving structure drives the photographing module <NUM> to extend out of the device housing <NUM> or retract into the device housing <NUM> through the via hole <NUM>.

Generally, the device housing <NUM> includes a middle frame <NUM>, and the via hole <NUM> may be provided on the middle frame <NUM>. Certainly, the via hole <NUM> may also be provided in other positions of the device housing <NUM>. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific providing position of the via hole <NUM>.

The terminal device disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a smart phone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, a wearable device (such as a smart watch), or the like. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit a specific type of the terminal device.

The above embodiments of the present disclosure mainly describe the differences between various embodiments. As long as the different optimization features of the various embodiments are not contradictory, the various embodiments can be combined to form a better embodiment. Considering the brevity of the text, details are not described herein again.

Claim 1:
A photographing module (<NUM>), comprising a module housing (<NUM>), and a light sensing chip (<NUM>) and a light capturing apparatus that are disposed in a cavity of the module housing (<NUM>), wherein a first light capturing hole (<NUM>) and a second light capturing hole (<NUM>) are provided on two opposite sides of the module housing (<NUM>), the light capturing apparatus is disposed opposite to each of the first light capturing hole (<NUM>) and the second light capturing hole (<NUM>), in a first photographing state, ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole (<NUM>) is projected onto the light sensing chip (<NUM>) through the light capturing apparatus, and in a second photographing state, ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole (<NUM>) is projected onto the light sensing chip (<NUM>) through the light capturing apparatus;
characterized in that the light capturing apparatus is disposed in the cavity in a fixed manner;
wherein the photographing module (<NUM>) further comprises a first electrochromic component (<NUM>), a second electrochromic component (<NUM>), and a controller, wherein the first electrochromic component (<NUM>) covers the first light capturing hole (<NUM>) and is disposed at one side of the module housing (<NUM>) away from the cavity, the second electrochromic component (<NUM>) covers the second light capturing hole (<NUM>) and is disposed at one side of the module housing (<NUM>) away from the cavity, the controller is connected to the first electrochromic component (<NUM>) and the second electrochromic component (<NUM>), and the controller is adapted to control currents of the first electrochromic component (<NUM>) and the second electrochromic component (<NUM>) to control the first electrochromic component (<NUM>) and the second electrochromic component (<NUM>) to transmit light or block light.