Report: LG Patents In-Display Front Camera for Smartphones

Ever since Apple decided to reduce the screen-to-body ratio on the iPhone X and introduce the notch, other OEMs have been on an ongoing battle to reduce the screen space as well. Some OEMs like Vivo and Oppo have also introduced a slider on their smartphones that effectively eliminated the notch also, and launched a true bezel-less display. Now, LG seems to want to go one step further and possibly launch a smartphone with an in-display front camera.

LG has apparently patented a smartphone with a camera under the display, creating a rimless full screen design, without a notch at the top of the screen, reports LetsGoDigital. There are two designs that have been patented - one with a flat surface and one with curved edges. Both the models use flexible OLED displays, made by LG Display. The report states that the design patents have been applied at KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office) in South Korea, and was published on October 24 and November 2.

The patent images indicate that the selfie camera can be placed in different locations - in the middle, left edge, or right edge - on the top portion of the display. The selfie camera comes in the form of an oval hole that is made of transparent material, and it is said to house two camera sensors and other sensors that are essential on the smartphone. With this patent, LG possibly wants to achieve nearly a 100 percent screen surface without the need to put on a manual or a motorised slider at the back of the smartphone.

Samsung has also been reported to be working on a similar technique for its upcoming smartphones, and this could possibly be the plausible future we all hope for. Until then, we have to make do with makeshift sliders and notches.

November 08, 2018