US 11,887,551 B1
Electronic ink based camera privacy shutter
Justin Michael Ringuette, Morrisville, NC (US); Mark Summerville, Apex, NC (US); and Sandy Collins, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed by LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Sep. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/930,266.
Int. Cl. G09G 3/34 (2006.01); G03B 9/58 (2021.01); G02F 1/167 (2019.01)
CPC G09G 3/344 (2013.01) [G03B 9/58 (2013.01); G02F 1/167 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shutter system comprising:
an electronic device having a camera with a lens;
a shutter supported by the electronic device to block light transmission through the lens in a first state and permit light transmission in a second state, the shutter comprising:
a shutter body containing electrically charged light blocking particles in suspension;
a first pair of electrodes positioned to move the electrically charged light blocking particles to achieve the first state in response to a first voltage being applied to the first pair of electrodes; and
a second pair of electrodes positioned to move the electrically charged light blocking particles to achieve the second state in response to a second voltage being applied to the second pair of electrodes; and
an indicator body supported by the electronic device, the indicator body comprising a third pair of electrodes responsive to a third voltage to cause the indicator body to reflect a first color in response to the shutter being in the first state and a second color in response to the shutter being in the second state.