Electronically actuated camera privacy shutter
A privacy device includes a shutter moveably mounted along a first axis to a frame supporting a camera having a lens. A closing solenoid is supported by the frame and including a closing core. Control circuitry is coupled to the closing solenoid to cause the shutter to cover the lens. An opening solenoid that includes an opening core may be used to move the shutter to an open position to uncover the lens.
1 . A privacy device comprising:
a shutter moveably mounted along a first axis to a frame supporting a camera having a lens;
a closing solenoid supported by the frame and including a closing core;
control circuitry coupled to the closing solenoid to cause the shutter to cover the lens; and
a spring coupled to the frame and the shutter and biased to move the shutter to cover the lens; and
a locking lever supported by the frame on a first end, wherein a second end of the lever is configured to retentively mate with a recess in the shutter in response to the shutter being in an open position and is positioned proximate the closing solenoid to flex and release from the recess on actuation of the closing solenoid by the control circuitry to cover the lens in a closed position.
2 . The privacy device of claim 1 wherein the shutter comprises a tactile post configured to move the shutter to the open position in response to suitable external force applied to the post.
3 . The privacy device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is coupled to receive a close shutter signal and responsive to the closed shutter signal, actuate the closing solenoid to cause the shutter to cover the lens.
4 . The privacy device of claim 3 wherein the close shutter signal is received in response to a user command or switch operation by the user.
5 . The privacy device of claim 3 wherein the close shutter signal is generated responsive to a command from an executing application.
6 . The privacy device of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a webcam housing, a laptop housing, or a phone housing.
7 . A privacy device comprising:
a shutter moveably mounted along a first axis to a frame supporting a camera having a lens;
a closing solenoid supported by the frame and including a closing core, wherein the closing core is moveable in response to actuation of the closing solenoid;
control circuitry coupled to the closing solenoid to cause the shutter to cover the lens;
a shaft coupled to the moveable closing core and the shutter such that actuation of the solenoid by the control circuitry moves the shutter to cover the lens in a closed position; and
a spring-loaded latch configured to retentively mate with a recess in the shutter to hold the shutter in a selected position absent lateral force being applied to the shutter.
8 . The privacy device of claim 7 and further comprising:
an opening solenoid supported by the frame and including an opening solenoid moveable core; and
an opening shaft coupled to the opening solenoid moveable core and the shutter such that actuation of the opening solenoid by the control circuitry moves the shutter to an open position to uncover the lens.
9 . The privacy device of claim 8 wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive a close shutter signal to move the shutter to the closed position and an open shutter signal to move the shutter to the open position.
10 . The privacy device of claim 9 wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the close shutter signal from an executing application.
11 . The privacy device of claim 8 wherein the shutter comprises a tactile post configured to move the shutter to an open position or the closed position in response to suitable external force applied to the post.
12 . A computing system comprising:
a housing;
a processor and memory supported by the housing;
a camera supported by the housing the camera having a lens;
a shutter moveably mounted along a first axis to the housing;
a closing solenoid supported by the housing and including a core;
control circuitry coupled to the closing solenoid to cause the shutter to move along the first axis to cover the lens, wherein the closing core is moveable in response to actuation of the closing solenoid, a shaft coupled to the moveable closing core and the shutter such that actuation of the solenoid by the control circuitry moves the shutter to cover the lens in a closed position; and
a spring-loaded latch configured to retentively mate with a recess in the shutter to hold the shutter in a selected position absent lateral force being applied to the shutter.
13 . The computing system of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry comprises a transistor to drive the solenoid.
14 . The computing system of claim 12 and further comprising:
an opening solenoid supported by the housing and including an opening solenoid moveable core; and
an opening shaft coupled to the opening solenoid moveable core and the shutter such that actuation of the opening solenoid by the control circuitry moves the shutter to an open position to uncover the lens.