US-12621576-B2 - Method and device for irreversible privacy protection in image acquisition

US12621576B2US 12621576 B2US12621576 B2US 12621576B2US-12621576-B2

Abstract

An image acquisition device includes an optical sensor and a dimmer. The optical sensor includes a photosensitive area configured to convert optical signal into image signal. The dimmer is on a side of the optical sensor that receives the optical signal. The dimmer completely covers the photosensitive area. The dimmer is configured for modulating intensity of the optical signal projected onto the optical sensor. The dimmer includes dimming blocks. Each dimming block is configured for modulating intensity of light projected onto a portion of the photosensitive area. An electronic device and an image acquisition method are also provided.

Inventors

Ming-Hsun Lee
Yen-lin Peng

Assignees

TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230724
Priority Date: 20221230

Claims (20)

1 . An image acquisition device comprising: a circuit board comprising first connection wires and first connection pads; an optical sensor, the optical sensor comprising a photosensitive area configured to convert an optical signal into an image signal; and a dimmer on a side of the optical sensor that receives the optical signal, the dimmer covering the photosensitive area, wherein along a thickness direction of the image acquisition device, a projection of the dimmer does not overlap with the first connection pads, the dimmer is electrically connected to the first connection pads by the first connection wires, the dimmer comprises a plurality of dimming blocks, and an opaqueness, to the optical signal, of each of the plurality of dimming blocks is variable, in response to a dimming block of the plurality of dimming blocks is controlled to 100% opaque to the optical signal, none of the optical signal is transmitted through a target portion of the photosensitive area, and no image information of the target portion is projected.
2 . The image acquisition device of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is between the circuit board and the dimmer, the circuit board further comprises a controller and circuit wires, and the optical sensor and the dimmer are electrically connected to the controller by different circuit wires.
3 . The image acquisition device of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks is independently controlled by the controller and electrically connected to the controller by different circuit wires.
4 . The image acquisition device of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are configured to be applied with different voltages by the circuit wires, and the electrochromic layer is configured to change color under a voltage difference between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
5 . The image acquisition device of claim 4 , wherein both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are made of transparent conductive materials.
6 . The image acquisition device of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks further comprises an ion storage layer between the first conductive layer and the electrochromic layer, and an electrolyte layer between the ion storage layer and the electrochromic layer, the ion storage layer is configured to store a certain amount of ions and electrons, and the electrolyte layer is configured to block electrons and allow ions to pass through.
7 . The image acquisition device of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to independently control a voltage applied to each of the plurality of dimming blocks, such that the opaqueness of each of the plurality of dimming blocks to the optical signal is varied.
8 . The image acquisition device of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a liquid crystal layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are configured to be applied with different voltages by the circuit wires, and the liquid crystal layer is configured to switch between a transparent state and a dark state under a voltage difference between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
9 . The image acquisition device of claim 8 , wherein both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are made of transparent conductive materials.
10 . The image acquisition device of claim 1 , wherein the dimmer further comprises a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and the plurality of dimming blocks is arranged between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.
11 . The image acquisition device of claim 1 , wherein the first connection wires are gold wires.
12 . An electronic device comprising: a body; an image acquisition device in the body; the image acquisition device comprising: a circuit board comprising first connection wires, and first connection pads; an optical sensor, the optical sensor comprising a photosensitive area configured to convert an optical signal into an image signal; and a dimmer on a side of the optical sensor that receives the optical signal, the dimmer completely covering the photosensitive area, wherein along a thickness direction of the image acquisition device, a projection of the dimmer does do not overlap with the first connection pads, the dimmer is electrically connected to the first connection pads by the first connection wires, the dimmer comprises a plurality of dimming blocks, and an opaqueness, to the optical signal, of each of the plurality of dimming blocks is variable, in response to a dimming block of the plurality of dimming blocks is controlled to 100% opaque to the optical signal, none of the optical signal is transmitted through a target portion of the photosensitive area, and no image information of the target portion is projected.
13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the optical sensor is between the circuit board and the dimmer, the circuit board further comprises a controller and circuit wires, and the optical sensor and the dimmer are electrically connected to the controller by different circuit wires.
14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks is independently controlled by the controller and electrically connected to the controller by different circuit wires.
15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are configured to applied with different voltages by the circuit wires; the electrochromic layer configured to change color under a voltage difference between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are made of transparent conductive materials.
16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks further comprises an ion storage layer between the first conductive layer and the electrochromic layer, and an electrolyte layer between the ion storage layer and the electrochromic layer, the ion storage layer is configured to store a certain amount of ions and electrons, and the electrolyte layer is configured to block electrons and allow ions to pass through.
17 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of dimming blocks comprises a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a liquid crystal layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are configured to be applied with different voltages by the circuit wires; the liquid crystal layer configured to switch between a transparent state and a dark state under a voltage difference between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and both the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are made of transparent conductive materials.
18 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to independently control a voltage applied to each of the plurality of dimming blocks, such that the opaqueness of each of the plurality of dimming blocks to the optical signal is varied.
19 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the dimmer further comprises a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, and the plurality of dimming blocks is arranged between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.
20 . An image acquisition method comprising: obtaining a preview image of an image to be collected, and dividing the preview image into a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions corresponding to at least one dimming block; selecting at least one target region from the plurality of regions on the preview image; controlling a voltage applied to corresponding dimming blocks of the at least one dimming block corresponding to the at least one target region to change opaqueness of the corresponding dimming block to an optical signal projected onto the at least one dimming block, wherein in response to the opaqueness of the corresponding dimming block to the optical signal is controlled to be 100%, none of the optical signal is transmitted through the at least one target region and no image information, of the image to be collected, corresponding to the at least one target region is projected; and converting the optical signal transmitted through the plurality of dimming blocks into an image signal.

Description

FIELD The subject matter herein generally relates to an image acquisition device, an image acquisition method, and an electronic device having the image acquisition device. BACKGROUND A camera generally modulates captured images by digital image processing techniques, such as blurring or setting mosaic on face of a portrait, or blurring surrounding environment to protect privacy. However, the above processing methods are algorithm processing of images, which can be restored by reverse engineering, resulting in the inability to protect privacy. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of embodiments only, with reference to the attached figures. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a top view of a partial of the image acquisition device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a dimmer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a dimmer according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an image acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the image to be collected according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as coupled, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently coupled or releasably coupled. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the present disclosure provides an image acquisition device. The image acquisition device 100 includes an optical sensor 10 and a dimmer 30. The optical sensor 10 converts optical signal L into image signal. The dimmer 30 is on a side of the optical sensor 10 that receives the optical signal L, for modulating intensity of the optical signal L projected onto the optical sensor 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 10 includes a photosensitive area 11 for converting the light signal L into image signal. The dimmer 30 completely covers the photosensitive area 11. The dimmer 30 includes a plurality of dimming blocks 31. Each dimming block 31 modulates the intensity of light passing through one corresponding block. Each dimming block 31 can be independently controlled. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the image acquisition device 100 also includes a circuit board 50. The optical sensor 10 is between the circuit board 50 and the dimmer 30. The circuit board 50 includes a substrate 57 and circuit wires 51 on the substrate 57. The optical sensor 10 and the dimmer 30 are electrically connected to different circuit wires 51. Specifically, the optical sensor 10 is located on a side of the substrate 57 and is electrically connected to the circuit wires 51 on the circuit board 50, thereby transmitting the converted image signal by the circuit wires 51. The dimmer 30 is located on a side of the optical sensor 10 away from the circuit board 50, and is also electrically connected to the circuit wires 51 to modulate the optical signal L based on the electrical signal transmitted by the circuit wires 51. In this embodiment, the optical sensor 10 can be either a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or other image sensing elements. The optical sensor 10 can convert the intensity signal of the optical signal L into electrical signal by the photoelectric effect when receiving the optical signal L. The optical sensor 10 includes a plurality of photosensitive units (not shown) densely arranged to form a photosensitive