In less than 24 hours after Oppo revealed the world’s first under-display camera, Xiaomi has also shown off its own take on the new ‘under-display’ camera technology. Xiaomi president Lin Bin has posted a video to Weibo (later re-posted to Twitter) of the Xiaomi Mi 9 with a front facing camera concealed entirely behind the phone’s screen. That means the new version of the handset has no need for any notches, hole-punches, or even pop-up selfie cameras alongside its OLED display.
What is not entirely clear is how Xiaomi’s new technology works. The Phone Talks notes that Xiaomi recently filed for a patent that appears to cover similar functionality, which uses two alternately-driven display portions to allow light to pass through to the camera sensor.
How Xiaomi’s ‘under-display’ camera works
The present disclosure of the ‘under-display’ camera is directed to an electronic device that includes a screen assembly, a drive assembly, and at least one photosensitive function. Providing the first display portion and the second display portion for the screen component of the electronic device such that the second display portion and the photosensitive function portion under the first display part are driven to alternately fit the light transmitting portion on the first display part.
Do you want a sneak peek at the future? Here you go…introducing you to Under-Display Camera technology!#Xiaomi #InnovationForEveryone pic.twitter.com/d2HL6FHkh1
— Xiaomi #5GIsHere (@Xiaomi) June 3, 2019
Then the second display portion is engaged with the light transmitting portion of the first display. The photosensitive function section is hidden under the first display section, and the screen assembly achieves a full-screen effect, which improves the screen coverage of the electronic device. When the photosensitive function member is matched with the light transmitting portion of the first display section, the photosensitive function part can achieve a corresponding photosensitive function through the light transmitting portion.
Since the movement of the second display segment and the photosensitive function segment is completed under the first display portion, the surface enhances the aesthetics and operation convenience of the electronic device during use.
Although Xiaomi’s prototype of the ‘under-display’ cameraappears to be functional, there’s no word yet on when the phone might make it to market.
