Foldable device and method of controlling the same

• US 9,864,410 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: La, Jin, Bae, Yu-dong, Kim, Yong-ho, Ryu, Jong-hyun, Park, Yong-gook, Lim, Ae-young, Jeong, Kyung-ho, Choi, Youn-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Martello, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/953,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/04 Changes in size, position or resolution of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/02 Flexible displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A foldable device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The foldable device includes: a flexible display which includes a main display area and an edge display area; and a controller which is configured to determine, based on an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded, a range of a partial activation area of the main display area, wherein the range of the partial activation area is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area.

Claims

1. A foldable device comprising:

a flexible display comprising a main display area and an edge display area; and

a controller configured to determine, based on an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded, a range of a partial activation area of the main display area,

wherein the main display area is positioned so as not to be exposed to an outside when the foldable device is completely folded, and the edge display area is positioned so as to be exposed to the outside when the foldable device is folded such that the main display area is not exposed, and

wherein the range of the partial activation area is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area.

2. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the edge display area in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined first angle with respect to a state of being folded, to activate a portion of the main display area in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined second angle, and to expand a range of the activated portion of the main display area, in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being increased.

3. The foldable device of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to display first content on the edge display area and to display detailed content, the detailed content being related to the first content, on the activated portion of the main display area.

4. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust at least one from among a type, an amount, and an attribute of content that is to be displayed on the activated portion of the main display area, based on the range of the partial activation area of the main display area.

5. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate an entirety of the main display area when the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded is greater than or equal to a predetermined third angle.

6. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and

the controller is further configured to determine a location from which an activated portion of the main display area starts, based on a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

7. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and

the controller is further configured to determine at least one edge display area that is to be activated from among the plurality of edge display areas, based on an angle at which the foldable device is inclined while in a state of being folded and a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

8. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the edge display area in response to at least one of a message reception, a call reception, and an alarm being generated.

9. A method for controlling a foldable device that comprises a flexible display comprising a main display area and an edge display area, the method comprising:

sensing an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded; and

determining a range of a partial activation area of the main display area, which is activated and is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area, based on the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded,

wherein the main display area is positioned so as not to be exposed to an outside when the foldable device is completely folded, and the edge display area is positioned so as to be exposed to the outside when the foldable device is folded such that the main display area is not exposed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

activating the edge display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined first angle with respect to a state of being folded;

activating a portion of the main display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined second angle; and

expanding a range of the activated portion of the main display area, in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being increased.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying first content on the edge display area; and

displaying detailed content, the detailed content being related to the first content, on the activated portion of the main display area.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining the range of the activated portion of the main display area comprises adjusting at least one from among a type, an amount, and an attribute of content that is to be displayed on the activated portion, based on the range of the partial activation area.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising activating an entirety of the main display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined third angle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and

the determining the range of the partial activation area of the main display area comprises determining a location from which an activated portion of the main display area starts, based on a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

15. The method of claim 9, the display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and

the method further comprises determining at least one edge display area that is to be activated, from among the plurality of edge display areas, based on an angle at which the foldable device is inclined while in a state of being folded and a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising activating the edge display area in response to at least one of a message reception, a call reception, and an alarm being generated.