PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9131135-B2
Application Number: US-48155809-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic device flash shutter

Abstract:
An electronic device may have a camera module for acquiring still and video digital images of a subject. A light source such as a light-emitting diode may serve as a flash for the camera module. A shutter may be mounted above the light-emitting diode. When the light-emitting diode is not being used to produce a flash of light for illuminating the subject, the shutter may be closed to block the light-emitting diode from view by a user. During image acquisition operations in which it is desired to illuminate the subject, the shutter may be opened to allow light from the light-emitting diode to exit the electronic device. The electronic device may have a touch screen display with an active region and an inactive region. The camera module and light source may be mounted under a portion of the inactive region of the display. The shutter may include a filter structure.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A light source module in an electronic device that provides illumination for capturing digital images with the electronic device, comprising:
 a light source; 
 a shutter blade for the light source; 
 an upper shutter blade cover member; 
 a lower shutter blade cover member, wherein the upper shutter blade cover member and the lower shutter blade cover member are contained within a housing of the electronic device and attached to each other to form a cavity in which the shutter blade moves between an open position and a closed position; 
 an actuator that causes the shutter blade to open so that light from the light source passes beyond the shutter blade and exits the electronic device; and 
 a camera module lens trim ring formed in the upper shutter blade cover member. 
 
     
     
       2. The light source module defined in  claim 1  wherein the actuator further causes the shutter blade to close so the light source is hidden from view by the shutter blade. 
     
     
       3. The light source module defined in  claim 2  wherein the shutter blade comprises a layer of silicon. 
     
     
       4. The light source module defined in  claim 2  further comprising a magnet connected to the shutter blade. 
     
     
       5. The light source module defined in  claim 4  further comprising an electromagnet that creates a magnetic field to move the magnet, wherein movement of the magnet moves the shutter blade between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
       6. The light source module defined in  claim 1  wherein the lower cover member comprises metal and the upper cover member comprises plastic. 
     
     
       7. The light source module defined in  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to shutters for electronic devices. 
     Digital cameras use digital image sensors to capture images. Electronic devices such as computers and cellular telephone are also sometimes provided with digital image sensors. For example, a laptop computer may have a digital image sensor mounted in its display housing to allow a user to participate in a video conference. A cellular telephone might have a rear-mounted or front-mounted digital camera sensor to allow a user of the cellular telephone to capture images. 
     Photography in low-light conditions often benefits from the use of artificial illumination. Many electronic devices are therefore provided with flash capabilities. For example, digital cameras and cellular telephones are sometimes provided with xenon flashtubes. Xenon flashtubes are able to provide ample illumination when acquiring images at low ambient light levels, but tend to be bulky and visually unappealing. 
     To address some of the size and aesthetic issues associated with conventional xenon flashbulbs, camera flash units have been developed that use light emitting diodes (LEDs). Flash devices that are based on LED technology tend to be small in size and exhibit reduced power consumption, but can be unsightly. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved illumination equipment for electronic devices with digital camera sensors. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such a computer or cellular telephone may be provided with a camera module. The camera module may have a camera sensor. When it is desired to take a photograph or capture video, the camera sensor may be used to acquire digital image data. 
     It is sometimes desirable to illuminate a subject when acquiring digital images. For example, in low-light conditions it may be helpful to project a flash of light onto the subject as a digital image is captured. 
     A light source such as a light-emitting diode may serve as a source of illumination. The light source may be mounted within the electronic device under an inactive portion of a touch screen display. The camera module may be mounted adjacent to the light source. This type of configuration may allow components from the camera module and the light source to be mounted on a common substrate. For example, the camera module and the light source may both be mounted on the same flex circuit. 
     A shutter may be used to conceal the light source when not in use. The shutter may have a movable shutter blade. An actuator may be used to position the movable shutter blade in an open position or a closed position as appropriate. 
     Control circuitry may be coupled to the camera module to receive digital images. The control circuitry may also be coupled to the shutter and the light source. When it is desired to use the light source as a camera flash, the control circuitry may place the shutter in the open position. This exposes the light source and allows light from the light source to pass through the shutter to exit the electronic device. When flash operations are complete, the control circuitry may place the shutter in a closed position to block the light source from view. 
     The shutter may have a rotating magnet that is mounted on a post in a base member. The base member may have an opening that receives the light source. The base member and other structures associated with the light source and shutter may be formed from heat-resistant materials to avoid heat damage when operating the light source. 
     The shutter may have a shutter blade that is formed from a thin layer of silicon. Upper and lower shutter blade cover members may be used to create an interior opening into which the shutter blade may be retracted when the shutter is open. 
     If desired, the shutter blade may be provided with a transparent colored filter structure. For example, an opening in a silicon shutter blade may be filled with a red or green transparent material (as an example). When the shutter blade is in its closed position, light from the light source may pass through the filter structure for viewing by a user of the electronic device. Status information or other suitable information may be conveyed to the user by controlling the light source. For example, the light source may be turned on and off while the shutter blade is closed to create a blinking status light during the acquisition of video with the camera module. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an illustrative shutter that may be used to conceal a light source such as a light emitting diode in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative light-emitting-diode flash assembly in which a shutter is used to conceal the light-emitting diode when not in use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an interior portion of an illustrative electronic device showing how the device may have a flash assembly with a shutter that is mounted adjacent to a digital camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a flash assembly with a shutter and an adjacent digital camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a module with an integrated flash and camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an interior portion of an illustrative electronic device having a module with an integrated flash and camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a module of the type shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative module with an integrated flash and camera in which the flash shutter and camera are provided with an integrated shutter cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Shutters may be used to cover light sources such as light-emitting diode (LED) light sources in electronic devices. The electronic devices may be provided with camera sensors for acquiring digital images. The light sources may be used to provide illumination when acquiring the digital images. For example, the light sources may serve as flashes that provide relatively bright illumination for short periods of time. 
     When a light source is in active use, its shutter may be opened to allow light to be emitted. When the light source is not being used, its associated shutter may be closed. This may improve the appearance of the device by shielding a potentially unsightly light emitting diode from view. For example, a blue light-emitting diode may have a yellow filter layer so that its emitted light is white. The yellow color of the exterior portion of this type of light-emitting diode helps to ensure that light-emitting diode emits light with a desired color temperature, but may be unsightly. This unsightly appearance may be exacerbated when the light source is provided with an efficient beam shaping lens. By using the shutter as a cosmetic cover, the yellow color of the light-emitting diode is blocked from view. 
     Light sources with shutters may be used in any suitable electronic device. As an example, these light sources may be used in electronic devices such as desktop computers or computer monitors. The electronic devices in which the light sources are used may also be portable electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablet computers, or small portable computers of the type that are sometimes referred to as ultraportables. If desired, portable electronic devices with shuttered light sources may be somewhat smaller devices. Examples of smaller portable electronic devices that may use light sources with shutters include wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone and earpiece devices, and other wearable and miniature devices. With one suitable arrangement, the portable electronic devices may be handheld electronic devices. 
     An illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be, for example, an electronic device that supports wireless functions. Device  10  may have storage and processing circuitry that allows device  10  to run code. The code may be used in implementing functions such as internet browsing functions, email and calendar functions, games, music player functionality, digital image acquisition functions, flash and shutter control operations, indicator light functions, etc. 
     Device  10  may have housing  12 . Housing  12  may be formed of any suitable materials including, plastic, glass, ceramics, metal, other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. Bezel  14  may serve to hold a display such as display  20  or other device with a planar surface in place on device  10 . 
     Display  20  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or any other suitable display. The outermost surface of display  20  may be formed from one or more plastic or glass layers. If desired, touch screen functionality may be integrated into display  20  or may be provided using a separate touch pad device. An advantage of integrating a touch screen into display  20  to make display  20  touch sensitive is that this type of arrangement can save space and reduce visual clutter. 
     Display screen  20  (e.g., a touch screen) is merely one example of an input-output device that may be used with electronic device  10 . If desired, electronic device  10  may have other input-output devices. For example, electronic device  10  may have user input control devices such as button  18  and input-output components such as ports  16 . Button  18  may be, for example, a menu button. Ports  16  may include audio jacks, universal serial bus ports, and other digital and analog input-output connectors. Openings in housing  12  may, if desired, form speaker and microphone ports. In the example of  FIG. 1 , display screen  20  is shown as being mounted on the front face of handheld electronic device  10 , but display screen  20  may, if desired, be mounted on the rear face of handheld electronic device  10 , on a side of device  10 , on a flip-up portion of device  10  that is attached to a main body portion of device  10  by a hinge (for example), or using any other suitable mounting arrangement. 
     A user of electronic device  10  may supply input commands using user input interface devices such as button  18  and touch screen  20 . Suitable user input interface devices for electronic device  10  include buttons (e.g., alphanumeric keys, power on-off, power-on, power-off, and other specialized buttons, etc.), a touch pad, pointing stick, or other cursor control device, a microphone for supplying voice commands, or any other suitable interface for controlling device  10 . Although shown as being formed on the top face of electronic device  10  in the example of  FIG. 1 , buttons such as button  18  and other user input interface devices may generally be formed on any suitable portion of electronic device  10 . For example, a button such as button  18  or other user interface control may be formed on the side of electronic device  10 . Buttons and other user interface controls can also be located on the top face, rear face, or other portion of device  10 . 
     Display  20  may be covered with a transparent plastic or glass cover. This cover, which is sometimes referred to as the display “cover glass” may extend over the exposed surface of device  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Central region  26  of display  20  may be provided with touch-screen functionality. Touch screen functionality may be provided using resistive touch sensors, acoustic-based touch sensors, capacitive touch sensors, or any other suitable touch sensor arrangement. For example, transparent touch screen electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor may be provided on the underside of the cover glass in central region  26 . 
     Because region  26  is sensitive to touch input (e.g., when a user&#39;s finger or other external objects are detected within a particular proximity of the touch sensor), region  26  is sometimes referred to as the active region. Portions of display  20  outside of active region  26  (e.g., peripheral regions  22  in the example of  FIG. 1 ) do not contain touch sensor electrodes and may therefore sometimes be referred to as inactive regions. The undersides of the cover glass of display  20  in inactive regions  22  may be coated with an opaque ink (e.g., black ink) to hide components under regions  22  from view. 
     Camera sensors and light sources such as light-emitting-diode light sources may be mounted in any suitable portion of electronic device  10 . For example, a camera sensor and light-emitting diode may be mounted on the rear of device  10  or on a side portion of device  10 . With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, a camera sensor and associated light-emitting diode light source are mounted under an inactive region  22  of the display cover glass such as region  24  of  FIG. 1 . This is, however, merely one illustrative location for locating a camera sensor and light source in device  10 . Any location may be used to mount a camera sensor and light source if desired. 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device such as electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , display  20  may include a transparent cover  28 . Cover  28  may be a planar member that is formed from plastic, glass, or other transparent material. Display  20  may be mounted to housing  12  of device  10  using bezel  14 . If desired, an elastomeric gasket may be used to help prevent damage to the edges of cover  28 . 
     In active region  26 , display  20  may be provided with an array of touch sensor electrodes such as touch sensor array  30 . A light source such as light source  40  may be mounted in region  24  of inactive region  22 . Light source  40  may be a light-emitting diode, an array of light-emitting diode structures, a flashlamp, or any other suitable source of light. Portions of the underside of cover  28  in region  22  may be coated with an opaque material such as black ink  32 . The opaque material shields interior components in device  10  from view. In region  34 , there is no black ink, so that cover  28  remains transparent. 
     Because region  34  is transparent, shutter  46  may be used to help shield the interior of device  10  from view when light source  40  is not being used to provide illumination for digital image capture functions. Shutter  46  may have one or more opaque blades. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, shutter  46  may have a single silicon blade. An actuator such as electromagnetic actuator  44  may be used to move the shutter blade between an open position and a closed position. 
     Control circuitry  36  may be coupled to shutter actuator  44  and light source  40  by paths  42  and  38 , respectively. Paths  42  and  38  may include one or more conductive lines and may be used to transmit control signals to shutter  44  and light source  40 . 
     When it is desired to use light source  40  to provide light (e.g., for illuminating image capture operations with a digital camera sensor), control circuitry  36  may provide control signals to actuator  44  over path  42  that direct actuator  44  to place the blade of shutter  46  in its open position. 
     While the blade of shutter  46  is open, control circuitry  36  may provide control signals to light source  40  over path  38  that direct light source  40  to generate illumination. As an example, control circuitry  36  may direct light source  40  to generate a high intensity burst of light (i.e., a “flash” for taking a digital photograph). Steady illumination may also be provided. For example, light source  40  may be used to generate continuous illumination at a potentially lower light level when it is desired to illuminate a subject while acquiring video. Continuous light may also be generated to provide illumination for red-eye reduction functions or may be generated to provide illumination during autofocus operations. 
     When the flash event or other illumination event is complete, control circuitry  36  may provide control signals to light source  40  that place light source  40  in an appropriate low-power state. Control circuitry  36  may also provide control signals to shutter  46  that close the shutter blade. With the shutter blade closed, the user&#39;s view of light source  40  will be blocked, thereby enhancing device aesthetics. 
     If desired, the blade of shutter  46  may be provided with one or more filter structures such as filter structure  48 . A filter structure may be formed in a circular or rectangular opening within the blade or the entire blade may be used to form a filter structure. Each filter structure may, for example, include a colored transparent material such as a green or red plastic or dyed epoxy. These materials may appear essentially opaque when light source  40  is turned off, but may permit transmission of light from light source  40  when light source  40  is turned on. This allows the filter structure to be used as a status indicator light. 
     Consider, as an example, a situation in which shutter  46  is in its closed position. When in its closed position, filter structure  48  can be positioned over light source  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this configuration, control circuitry  36  may turn on light source  40  without opening shutter  46 . When turning on light source  40  in this way, control circuitry  36  may set the output intensity of light source  40  to its maximum permitted value or may reduce the output level somewhat to conserve power and reduce the amount of heat generated by light source  40 . With light source  40  turned on and shutter  46  in its closed position, light from light source  40  may pass through filter structure  48  and transparent region  34 . 
     Control circuitry  36  can control the pattern of light that is emitted and the intensity of light that is emitted through filter structure  48  to convey information to the user of device  10 . The information that is conveyed may be, for example, information on the state of device  10 . Examples of information that may be conveyed by using light source  40  and filter structure  48  as a status indicator light include information on whether video capture functions are active or inactive (i.e., a “privacy” indicator), information on whether a battery in device  10  is being charged by a power adapter or other power information (i.e., a “charge status” or “battery” indicator), countdown timer information (e.g., just before a picture is captured using an automatic timed shutter function), information on autofocus status, information on low ambient light status, other camera information, information related to non-camera operations such as cellular telephone operations or media player operations, etc. 
     If desired, the components of shutter  46  and light source  40  may be interconnected to form a module such as module  64 . Module  64  may optionally include a camera sensor (i.e., to form an integrated shutter, light source, and camera module). 
     A perspective view of an illustrative module  64  of the type that may be used in electronic device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , module  64  may have a cover member such as shutter cover member  52  for covering the upper portion of shutter  46 . Light source  40  ( FIG. 2 ) may be mounted beneath opening  54  in cover member  52 . Because light source  40  may emit heat during operation, it may be desirable to form cover member  52  and other portions of module  64  from heat resistant materials. An illustrative heat resistant material that may be used for cover member  52  and other portions of module  64  is polyetherimide. Other heat resistant materials that may be used include ceramics, glass, metal alloys, and silicon (as examples). 
     When installed in device  10 , opening  54  in shutter cover member  52  may be aligned with opening  34  in black ink layer  32  in cover glass  28  of display  20  ( FIG. 2 ). Shutter  46  may have a shutter blade such as blade  50  (shown as having an optional filter structure  48 ). In  FIG. 3 , shutter blade  50  is shown in its open position (not covering opening  54 ). When it is desired to close shutter  46 , shutter blade  50  may be rotated in direction  62  about rotational axis  60  by actuator  44  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The components of shutter  46  and module  64  may be mounted to a substrate such as a printed circuit board substrate. This allows control signals to be provided to the actuator and light source of module  64 . The substrate may be, for example, a rigid printed circuit board substrate such as a fiberglass-filed epoxy circuit board or may be a flexible printed circuit board. Flexible printed circuit boards, which are sometimes referred to as flex circuits, have conductive traces formed on flexible sheets such as flexible sheets of polyimide or other polymers. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the components of module  64  have been mounted on flex circuit  56 . Flex circuit  56  may include conductive traces for forming paths such as paths  42  and  38  of  FIG. 2 . A connector such as zero-insertion-force (ZIF) connector  58  may be used to connect the traces of flex circuit  56  to control circuitry  36  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     An exploded perspective view of a module such as module  64  of  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , light source  40  of module  64  may be mounted on a planar portion of flex circuit  56  such as planar flex circuit portion  56 A. Flex circuit  56  may be, for example, a two-layer flex circuit. Connector  58  may be, for example, a six-pin zero-insertion-force connector. 
     During operation, light may be emitted through portion  66  of light source  40 . Light source  40  may be a light-emitting diode and portion  66  may include a color correction filter that adjusts the color spectrum of the emitted light (e.g., to ensure that otherwise bluish light appears sufficiently white). 
     Module  64  may have structures that form electromagnetic actuator  44  of  FIG. 2 . These structures may include permanent magnet  74  and an electromagnet formed from coil  70  and core structure  68 . Electromagnetic coil  70  may be formed from wire that is wrapped around core structure  68 . Core structure  68  may have a U-shape as shown in  FIG. 4  and may be formed from a ferrous material such as steel. Positive and negative leads  71 A and  71 B of electromagnetic coil  70  may be electrically connected to respective pads  73 A and  73 B on planar portion  56 A on flex circuit  56 . When current is passed through the wire of coil  70 , a magnetic field is produced that causes magnet  74  to rotate around axis  60 . If desired, actuator  44  may be formed from a moving electromagnet and a stationary permanent magnet or may be formed from stationary and moving electromagnets. The example of  FIG. 4  in which the moving actuator member is formed from a permanent magnet (magnet  74 ) and the stationary structures are formed from an electromagnet (coil  70  on core  68 ) is merely illustrative. 
     Blade  50  may be attached to magnet  74 . Magnet  74  may have a cylindrical axial opening that allows magnet  74  to be mounted on post  88  in cylindrical opening  84  in base member  72 . When mounted on post  88 , magnet  74  (and therefore the attached shutter blade  50 ) may rotate about rotational axis  60 . 
     Base member  72  may be formed from polyetherimide, other plastics, or other suitable materials. When assembled inside device  10 , light-emitting diode  40  may be received in rectangular opening  86  of base member  72 . Because light source  40  may produce heat during operation, the use of heat resistant materials such as polyetherimide when forming base member  72  can help prevent heat-induced damage to base member  72 . 
     It may be desirable to shape the beam of light that is emitted from light source  40 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , module  64  includes an optical lens  76  that helps to redirect emitted light into a desired beam shape. Lens  76  may be a single element lens, a multi-element lens, a thin film lens (e.g., a Fresnel lens) or any other suitable lens. As an example, lens  76  may be a Fresnel-type lens having a transparent substrate on which a pattern of concentric rings are formed by curing transparent epoxy (e.g., by ultraviolet light curing). The substrate may be formed from a planar plastic film such as a sheet of polycarbonate or polyetherimide. 
     Lens  76  may be mounted under lower shutter blade cover member  78  using adhesive or other suitable fastening mechanisms. When mounted to member  78 , the rings of lens  76  may be aligned with circular opening  80 . Cover member  78  may be formed from plastic, metal, or other suitable materials. For example, cover member  78  may be formed from a non-ferrous metal such as beryllium copper. An advantage of using a non-ferrous material for cover member  78  is that this helps avoid creating electromagnetic interference with the actuator. An advantage of using metal for cover member  78  is that metals can be formed with small thicknesses (e.g., 0.5 mm or less, 0.2 mm or less, etc.). Using a thin shape for cover member  78  helps to make module  64  compact. 
     Shutter blade  50  may be formed from a thin material such as metal, plastic, semiconductor, etc. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, shutter blade  50  is formed from a thin layer of silicon (e.g., a layer that is less than about 0.1 mm thick, less than 0.05 mm thick, etc.). Silicon structures such as blade  50  can be formed using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Structures such as these are often referred to as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures, so blade  50  may sometimes be referred to as a MEMS shutter blade. Portion  90  of shutter blade  50  may be attached to magnet  74  using adhesive. 
     Blade  50  may have a spring structure  82  that is attached to top cover member  52 . Spring  82  may help provide a restoring force for shutter blade  50 . Any suitable structure may be used in forming a shutter blade spring mechanism (e.g., silicon, a magnet that imparts a restoring force, a spring metal member, etc.). The use of spring  82  is merely illustrative. 
     Upper shutter blade cover  52  may be connected to lower shutter blade cover  78  using any suitable attachment mechanism. For example, adhesive may be provided in peripheral regions of the upper surface of member  78  to bond the underside of member  52  to the upper surface of member  78  and thereby capture spring  82  and shutter blade  50  in module  64 . 
     When using light source  40  as a camera flash or other source of illumination for still and video imaging applications, it may be desirable to mount module  64  adjacent to a camera sensor. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 5 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , module  64  has been mounted in a corner region of housing  12  (e.g., in a region that will be under an inactive portion of the display when the display is mounted in device  10 ). Camera module  92  may be mounted adjacent to light-source and shutter module  64 . When mounted in device  10 , lens ring  94  and the associated lens of camera module  92  face in the same direction (vertical direction  96 ) as opening  54  in shutter cover member  52 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of device  10  that has been cut in cross-section along line  98  of  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , light source  40  may be mounted within base  72  in alignment with lens  76  and hole  54  in member  52 . 
     When upper shutter cover member  52  is attached to lower shutter cover member  78 , a thin cavity  100  is formed into which shutter blade  50  may be retracted when the shutter is in its open position. There is preferably sufficient clearance between shutter blade  50  and the adjoining surfaces of members  52  and  78  to avoid undesirable attractive forces between blade  50  and member  52  and  78  (e.g., electrostatic forces or Van der Waals forces). 
     If desired, shutter and light source module  64  may be integrated with camera module  92 . This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a compact configuration may be created in which a portion of upper cover member  52  protrudes under portion  102  of camera trim ring  94 .  FIG. 7  also shows how the components of both camera module  92  and module  64  may be mounted on a common flex circuit substrate (flex circuit  56 ), thereby facilitating additional size reductions. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of an integrated assembly of the type shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the integrated assembly of  FIG. 8  taken along line  104  in direction  106 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the components of camera module  92  and the components of module  64  such as the actuator and light source may be mounted to a common flex circuit  56 . Light source  40  may be a surface mount device (SMD) that is soldered to flex circuit  56  using solder  118 . 
     There may be a clearance (vertical distance D 1 ) between the upper surface of light source  40  and the lower surface of lens  76  that serves as an optical gap and allows light from source  40  to spread before being collected and shaped into a desired beam shape by lens  76 . Shutter blade cavity  100  may have a height D 2 . Blade  50  may be located at approximately the midpoint of cavity  100 , so that there is a clearance of D 2 /2 between blade  50  and the lower surface of member  52  and a clearance of D 2 /2 between blade  50  and the upper surface of member  78 . Because lens  76  is mounted to the lower surface of member  78  (in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 9 ), there is a clearance of at least D 2 /2 between blade  50  and lens  76 . 
     Ink  32  may cover the components of module  64  and module  92  from view through cover glass  28 . Regions  34  of cover glass  28  may be free of ink  32  to avoid blocking light source  40  and the camera sensor of module  92 . 
     Foam member  108  may be used to form a dust seal that prevents foreign matter from intruding into the interior of device  10 . 
     As shown in the illustrative configuration of  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 , lens trim ring  94  and shutter cover member  52  may be formed as separate parts that are joined during assembly. If desired, the lens trim ring and shutter cover may be formed as an integral member. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , member  110  may include a portion such as portion  112  that serves as a camera trim ring for camera module  92  and has a portion such as portion  114  that serves as a cover for shutter components  116  and light source  40 . 
     In configurations such as the configuration of  FIG. 10  in which a unitary flex circuit (flex circuit  56 ) is used for mounting module  92 , light source  40 , and shutter components  116 , connector  58  may include pins that convey digital camera sensor information associated with module  92 , control signals for light source  40 , and control signals for the shutter (shutter components  116  in  FIG. 10 ). Flex circuit  56  is flexible, which allows the shape of flex circuit  56  to be configured to accommodate a variety of device environments. For example, flex circuit  56  may have a tails such as tail  120  and tail  122  that allow connector  58  and light source  40  to be placed at desired locations in device  10  relative to module  92 . 
     If desired, other electronic components such as light sensors can be cosmetically covered with shutter  46 . The use of shutter  46  to cover light source  40  is merely illustrative. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090609
Publication Date: 20150908
Grant Date: 20150908
Priority Date: 20090609
Inventors: JARVIS DANIEL W.
HOWARTH RICHARD P.
TUPMAN DAVID
TSAI RICHARD H.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G03B9/12", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/57", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/57", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N5/2256", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N5/2257", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N5/2254", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G03B9/12", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 43300491