Mobile terminal using flexible display and method of controlling the mobile terminal

• US 8,271,047 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Hwan, Kim, Mee Young, Ryu, Wan Chang, Lee, Seung Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Mahendra
• Application Number:
  US12/506,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20100120470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 455/455, 455/566, 715/708, 438/15, 438/17, 345/1.3, 345/104, 345/206, 345/178, 345/87, 345/156, 345/581, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying an operating screen on the first display module and displaying an operation control menu on the second display module; determining whether the first display module is bent or folded; and choosing one of a plurality of menu items of the operation control menu corresponding to a bent or folded portion of the first display module. Therefore, it is possible to control various operations performed by the mobile terminal according to whether the first display module is bent or folded.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input, the method comprising:

displaying an operating screen on the first display module;

displaying an operation control menu including a plurality of menu items on the second display module, the operation control menu being a menu for controlling the operating screen;

determining, by the mobile terminal, which portion of the first display module is bent or folded while displaying the operating screen and the operating control menu;

choosing, by the mobile terminal, one of the plurality of menu items of the operation control menu corresponding to the determined bent or folded portion of the first display module; and

performing, by the mobile terminal, an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item and applying a result of the performed operation to the operation screen of the first display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven,

the method further comprising switching an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the operation comprises:

performing the operation corresponding to the chosen menu item after the one of the plurality of menu items is chosen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the operation comprises:

displaying an inquiry message;

receiving a reply to the inquiry message from a user; and

deciding whether or not to perform the operation corresponding to the chosen menu item according to the reply to the inquiry message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the operation comprises:

performing the operation corresponding to the chosen menu item when a touch input is detected in an area where the chosen menu item is displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

choosing a number of menu items to be included in the operation control menu.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing at least one of size and color of the chosen menu item so as to be distinguishable from other menu items of the plurality of menu items.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the plurality of menu items of the operation control menu as icons.

8. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first display module configured to be flexible and to display an operating screen;

a second display module configured to receive a touch input and to display an operation control menu including a plurality of menu items, the operating control menu being a menu for controlling the operating screen;

a sensing unit operatively connected to the first display module and configured to determine which portion of the first display module is bent or folded; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensing unit and configured to

choose one of the plurality of menu items of the operation control menu corresponding to the bent or folded portion of the first display module determined by the sensing unit, and

perform an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item and apply a result of the performed operation to the operation screen of the first display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven, and

wherein the controller is further configured to switch an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein, when a touch input is detected in an area where the chosen menu item is displayed, the controller is configured to control an operation to be performed corresponding to the chosen menu item.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to display an inquiry message and to decide whether or not to perform an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item according to a reply to the inquiry message.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the second display module is disposed on a level with the first display module and connected to the first display module.

12. A method of controlling a mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input, the method comprising:

displaying, by the mobile terminal, an operating screen corresponding to a current operating mode on the first display module;

in response to bending or folding at least one portion of the first display module, displaying, by the mobile terminal, on the second display module an operation control menu, including a plurality of menu items, that can be executed in the current operating mode; and

when one of a plurality of menu items of the operation control menu is chosen via a touch, performing, by the mobile terminal, an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item and applying the performed operation to the operation screen of the first display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven,

the method further comprising switching an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

13. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first display module configured to be flexible and to display an operating screen corresponding to a current operating mode;

a second display module configured to receive a touch input;

a sensing unit operatively connected to the first display module and configured to determine whether or not at least one portion of the first display module is bent or folded; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensing unit and configured to display, when data provided by the sensing unit indicates that the first display module is bent or folded, an operation control menu that can be executed in the current operating mode on the second display module,

wherein, when one of a plurality of menu items of the operation control menu is chosen via a touch, the controller is further configured to perform an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item and apply a result of the performed operation to the operation screen of the first display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven, and

wherein the controller is further configured to switch an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

14. A method of controlling a mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input, the method comprising:

displaying, by the mobile terminal, a first operating-mode screen on the first display module;

displaying, by the mobile terminal, a second operating-mode screen associated with the first operating-mode screen on the second display module mode in response to bending or folding at least one portion of the first display module; and

when the at least one portion of the first display module is unbent or unfolded, displaying, by the mobile terminal, the second operating-mode screen on the first display module and displaying a third operating-mode screen associated with the second operating-mode screen on the second display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven,

the method further comprising switching an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

15. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first display module configured to be flexible and display a first operating-mode screen;

a second display module configured to receive a touch input;

a sensing unit operatively connected to the first display module and configured to determine whether or not at least one portion of the first display module is bent or folded; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensing unit and configured to

display, when data provided by the sensing unit indicates that the first display module is bent or folded, a second operating-mode screen associated with the first operating-mode screen on the second display module,

display the second operating-mode screen on the first display module, and

when data provided by the sensing unit indicates that the at least one portion of the first display module is unbent or unfolded, display a third operating-mode screen associated with the second operating-mode screen on the second display module,

wherein the first and second display modules are independently driven, and

wherein the controller is further configured to switch an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

16. A method of controlling a mobile terminal equipped with a flexible first display module and a second display module capable of receiving a touch input, the method comprising:

displaying, by the mobile terminal, an operating screen including an operation control menu having a plurality of menu items on the first and second display modules;

scrolling, by the mobile terminal, the operation screen displayed on the first and second display modules when at least one portion of the first display module is bent or folded;

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the operation control menu on the second display module according to the scrolling of the operation screen;

receiving, by the mobile terminal, a touch input to choose one of the plurality of menu items; and

performing, by the mobile terminal, an operation corresponding to the chosen menu item and applying a result of the performed operation to the operation screen,

wherein the first and second display modules are driven as a single display,

the method further comprising switching an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of scrolling the operating screen comprises:

scrolling the operating screen in response to a touch-and-drag input detected on the second display module.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

scrolling the operating screen back to its original position when no user input is received within a predetermined amount of time after the step of scrolling is completed.

19. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first display module configured to be flexible and to display an operating screen including an operation control menu having a plurality of menu items;

a second display module connected to the first display module and configured to receive a touch input and to display the operating screen;

a sensing unit operatively connected to the first display module and configured to determine whether at least one portion of the first display module is bent or folded; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensing unit and configured to

scroll the operation screen displayed on the first and second display modules, and

display the operation control menu on the second display module according to the

scrolling of the operation screen when data provided by the sensing unit indicates that the

at least one portion of the first display module is bent or folded,

wherein the controller is further configured to perform an operation corresponding to a touched one of the plurality of menu items and apply the performed operation to the operation screen,

wherein the first and second display modules are driven as a single display, and

wherein the controller is further configured to switch an operation mode of the mobile terminal if a predetermined portion of the first display module is bent or folded, the operation mode comprising a separate-operating mode and an integrated-operating mode.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to scroll the operating screen in response to a touch-and-drag input detected on the second display module.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to scroll the operating screen back to its original position when no user input is received within a predetermined amount of time after an initial scroll is ended.