Privacy Screens for Mobile Phone
15 patents in this list
Updated:
Privacy screens for mobile devices currently rely on passive filters that narrow viewing angles to around 60 degrees, but these solutions reduce display brightness by 30-40% and degrade image quality. Meanwhile, emerging threats like shoulder surfing and camera-based surveillance create privacy risks in public spaces, where users need to balance screen visibility with data protection.
The core challenge lies in developing privacy solutions that can dynamically adjust between full visibility and secure viewing without permanently compromising display quality or device functionality.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including magnetic quick-release privacy filters, deployable side shields with adjustable apertures, light-emitting camera blocks, and smart privacy screens with switchable viewing angles. These and other approaches aim to give users granular control over their device privacy while maintaining usability in different contexts.
1. Smartphone Attachment with Flaps and Shield for Camera and Microphone Obscuration
Laith Warraiat, 2023
A smartphone privacy device that attaches to the back of a smartphone and has flaps and a shield to obscure cameras and microphones. This allows selective isolation of the smartphone's audio and visual input to limit surveillance and spying. The device has a lower flap to cover the bottom microphone and speaker, an upper flap to cover the top microphone and camera, and a rear shield to cover the rear microphone and camera. The flaps and shield have rubber gaskets to insulate the smartphone from the audio input further.
2. Camera Privacy Shield with Light-Emitting Film for Sensor Saturation
Dell Products, L.P., 2023
Privacy shield design for cameras on devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones that prevent unauthorized access to the camera feed. The shield uses a light-emitting film over the lens that can be activated to saturate the camera sensor. When the shield is deployed, it emits light to overwhelm the sensor and prevent the camera from capturing usable images. This prevents hackers from viewing or recording anything through the camera, even if they manage to hijack it. The shield is positioned at a distance from the focal point based on the lens's focal length to allow normal image capture without the shield in place.
3. Portable Device Accessory with Pivoting Screen Shield and Attachment Mechanism
ConfiVox Inc., 2022
Portable device accessory that can block a device's screen like a smartphone to provide privacy when viewing sensitive content. The accessory attaches to the back of the device and has a pivoting shield that can be moved between a storage position on the back and a blocking position over the screen. When blocked, the shield extends over the device's front face to cover the screen. The shield can have features like a cloth to obscure the view further. The accessory can attach using mechanisms like clips, hooks, magnets, or a moving plate. This allows the shield to pivot and slide into place.
4. Display Device with Movable Anti-Peep Member for Adjustable Viewing Angle Control
Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd., 2021
Display device with privacy protection that reduces viewing angles to prevent unauthorized viewing of displayed content. The display device has an anti-peep member that can move between two states. In the first state, the anti-peep member covers the display screen to reduce viewing angles. In the second state, the anti-peep member is removed from the screen to restore normal viewing angles. The anti-peep member has a shielding part to block light and a transparent part. Moving the anti-peep member can reduce viewing angles without affecting the display in the second state. This prevents accidental viewing of sensitive content when the display is in public view.
5. Privacy Screen with Selective Line of Sight Obstruction for Mobile Devices
Sang-Ho Moon, 2021
Deleting the lines of sight of people nearby is a simple process, and a privacy screen can be deployed to physically block lines of sight other than the immediate user's to the mobile device screen. The screens prevent the inadvertent disclosure of private information on the mobile device.
6. Mobile Phone Case with Deployable Privacy Screen Cover
Sang-Ho Moon, 2021
Mobile phone case with a deployable privacy screen to prevent unauthorized viewing of the device's display. The case has a built-in screen that can be extended over the phone's display to block other people from seeing what's on the screen. This provides privacy when using the phone in public places where prying eyes may be present.
7. Magnetic Retractable Camera Cover with Detachable Sliding Door and Customizable Surfaces
Kurt Bulawa, Trang Tran, 2020
Thin, customizable camera covers for devices like laptops and smartphones that can be easily opened and closed to block or expose the camera. The cover has a retractable door that adheres to the device base when closed and can peel open to reveal the camera. The door can also detach and slide left or right using magnets to expose or hide the camera. The cover can be custom-branded on both the base and door. The goal is to provide a reliable, thin, and customizable way to securely block the camera when not in use to prevent unauthorized access without needing to remove or disable the camera physically.
8. Colored Pouch with Multiple Openings for Selective Access to Mobile Device Controls and Ports
John Nguyen, 2020
A colored pouch with multiple openings to conceal the screen of a mobile electronic device while still permitting users to access and control the device through the openings when necessary. The pouch provides a balance between eliminating distractions from the device's screen and allowing important functions like answering calls, making calls, unlocking with fingerprint, recording audio, making commands, and connecting to ports.
9. Mobile Phone Case with Magnetic Field-Responsive Privacy Display and Function Activation Mechanism
PIXELRO CO.LTD, 2020
A mobile phone case that can selectively provide special functions like privacy protection for the display without requiring a separate functional film on the screen. The case has a magnetic bottom or side and a removable magnetic protective film over the phone's bottom. When the case is used as a secondary covering for the front of the phone, the magnetic film changes the display's light angle for privacy. Sensors in the phone detect the magnetic field changes to activate or deactivate specific functions or apps based on the magnet's presence. This allows selectively enabling special functions when needed without requiring permanent attached films.
10. Privacy and Glare Shield with Deployable Side Screens and Adjustable Apertures for Portable Electronic Devices
Francis J. Eckert, 2019
This is a privacy and glare shield for portable electronic devices like phones and PDAs that can be attached to a frame holder. The shield has deployable side screens that pivot outward to enclose the device screen and block side views. It also has adjustable apertures to access buttons and the camera. The shield can be removed from the frame holder if desired.
11. Cradle for Portable Electronic Devices with Integrated Camera Shield, Housing Cover, and Microphone Block
HIKARI HAJIME LLC, 2018
A cradle for portable electronic devices like smartphones or tablets provides privacy protection while the device is in it. The cradle has features like an opaque or translucent shield over the device's front camera to block its view, a colored cover that hides the device's housing, and a block to cover the device's microphone hole.
12. Magnetically Retained Non-Adhesive Privacy Screen for Electronic Devices
Stefan Leipold, 2017
A non-adhesive privacy screen for electronic devices that can be easily attached and removed without leaving residue. The screen has magnetic components aligned with magnets in the device display to retain it without adhesive. This allows the screen to be quickly and repeatedly attached and removed without damaging the device or leaving adhesive residue. The magnetic components are integrated into the screen itself, so it can have a smooth back surface that doesn't require adhesive.
13. Display Privacy Mechanism Utilizing Anamorphic Rendering for Orientation-Specific Visibility
BlackBerry Limited, 2017
Privacy feature for electronic devices like smartphones that makes it difficult for others to see the display when the device is not held in a specific orientation. The feature obfuscates the screen content when the privacy mode is engaged, but when the device is held in the calibrated viewing position, the content becomes legible. This leverages the concept of anamorphosis, where distorted images appear normal when viewed from a specific perspective. By rendering display content within the device's display on a non-parallel plane, it creates a 3D effect that requires the correct viewing angle to see correctly.
14. Mobile Device Privacy Shield with Microphone-Directing Sound Guide and Adjustable Attachment Mechanism
CONFIVOX INC., 2017
Privacy shield for mobile devices to block surrounding sounds during calls and enhance user privacy. The shield has a microphone-directing sound guide to capture user's voice. It attaches to the device using a hinge or slides onto a track. The shield pivots or slides to cover the user's mouth. This allows the user to block out background noise while still being heard clearly over the device's microphone.
15. Mobile Phone Case with Adjustable Rotating Light-Shielding Film Assembly
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2015
Mobile phone case with a light-shielding film to limit screen viewing angles and prevent prying. The case has a base plate, top cover, connection member, and at least one light-shielding film between them. The light-shielding film blocks some light from the phone screen to limit viewing angles. A rotating connection allows the film to turn around the connection point. This enables the user to adjust the viewing angle while still blocking light from the side. The rotating connection also allows easy film replacement.
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A variety of integrated privacy screen solutions for mobile phone cases are demonstrated by the patents showcased. These include rotating shields to hide the screen, light-emitting films to turn off cameras, retractable or adjustable privacy screens, and detachable flaps and shields to obscure cameras and microphones.