Back in June own smartphone with a camera under the display surface (prototype Mi 9 without screen cutout). There were rumors that a similar approach would be used in Xiaomi Mi Mix 4. However, instead we got wrapped in a screen worth $2800. However, the Mi Mix 4 is said to be still in the works, and a recently discovered patent describes one of its features.
The patent titled "Display Structure and Electronic Hardware" describes a hidden camera under the phone's screen that doesn't require cutouts or perforations that irritate modern perfectionists so much. The patent shows that the structure of such a display in the camera area includes a light control unit located in the light emitting portion of the display.
This area of ββthe screen works in polarization mode, when it completely hides the cameras, and in the mode of light transmission through itself. In the latter case, the pixels above it are turned off to also let light through. The patent describes two independently managed such areas.
By the way, simultaneously with Xiaomi in June a similar technology that hides the front camera under the display. So far, the main drawback of this approach (it is difficult to achieve ideal transparency) is the relatively low photosensitivity and, accordingly, , which manufacturers want to compensate with machine learning algorithms.
Perhaps Xiaomi has made significant progress in this area, and will introduce a commercial smartphone with a hidden front camera in the coming months? It is believed that this will be Mi Mix 4 - but we will wait for CES 2020 and MWC 2020, when such announcements can be made.
Source: 3dnews.ru