Electronic device with foldable display and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11221676-B2
Application number	US-202016732933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2020
Priority date	Jan 4, 2019
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A foldable electronic device is provided, which includes a hinge structure, a first housing that is connected to the hinge structure, a second housing that is connected to the hinge, a first vibration element disposed in the first housing, a first motion sensor disposed adjacent to the first vibration element, a second motion sensor disposed in the second housing, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to control vibration intensity of the first vibration element, based on a first value measured from the first motion sensor and a second value measured from the second motion sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a hinge structure;
a first housing connected to the hinge structure, the first housing including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a second housing connected to the hinge structure, the second housing including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and the second housing being configured to be folded about the hinge structure with the first housing, wherein in a folded state, the first surface faces the third surface, and in an unfolded state, the third direction is the same as the first direction;
a display disposed over at least part of the first surface and at least part of the third surface;
a first vibration element for emitting a vibration pattern, wherein the first vibration element is disposed in a first portion of the first housing;
a first motion sensor disposed adjacent to the first vibration element in the first housing;
a second motion sensor disposed in a second portion of the second housing;
a processor operatively connected with the display, the first vibration element, the first motion sensor, and the second motion sensor; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
in response to receiving a touch input on the display, control the first vibration element to emit a vibration pattern;
control the first motion sensor to measure a first intensity value of the vibration pattern emitted by the first vibration element and the second motion sensor to measure a second intensity value of the vibration pattern emitted by the first vibration element;
determine a third intensity value of the vibration pattern to be emitted from the first vibration element, based on the first intensity value and a distance between a touch position of the touch input and the first vibration element; and
control the first vibration element to emit to vibration pattern that is changed based on the determine third intensity value.

2. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a first corner and a second corner,
wherein the second housing includes a third corner and a fourth corner,
wherein in the folded state, the first corner and the third corner face each other, and the second corner and the fourth corner face each other,
wherein the first motion sensor is disposed adjacent to the first corner, and
wherein the second motion sensor is disposed adjacent to the fourth corner.

3. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor includes an acceleration sensor.

4. The foldable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the acceleration sensor has six degrees of freedom (DOF).

5. The foldable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to detect a state of the foldable electronic device using the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor, and
wherein the state of the foldable electronic device includes an orientation of the foldable electronic device and an angle between the first housing and the second housing.

6. The foldable electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising a second vibration element disposed adjacent to the second motion sensor in the second housing,
wherein the processor is operatively connected with the second vibration element.

7. The foldable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
determine whether the angle between the first housing and the second housing is within a specified range, based on the first intensity value and the second intensity value,
determine whether one of the first housing and the second housing is used as a bottom surface of the foldable electronic device, based on the first intensity value and the second intensity value, and
emit vibration using one of the first vibration element and the second vibration element that belongs to a portion of the foldable housing that does not correspond to the bottom surface, when it is determined that the angle is within the specified range and one of the first housing and the second housing is used as the bottom surface.

8. A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a hinge structure;
a first housing connected to the hinge structure, the first housing including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a second housing connected to the hinge structure, the second housing including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and the second housing being configured to be folded about the hinge structure with the first housing, wherein in a folded state, the first surface faces the third surface, and in an unfolded state, the third direction is the same as the first direction;
a display disposed over at least part of the first surface and at least part of the third surface;
a first motion sensor disposed in the first housing;
a first vibration element for emitting a haptic pattern, wherein the first vibration element is disposed adjacent to the first motion sensor in the first housing;
a second motion sensor disposed in the second housing;
a second vibration element for emitting the haptic pattern, wherein the second vibration element is disposed adjacent to the second motion sensor in the second housing;
a processor operatively connected with the display, the first vibration element, the second vibration element, the first motion sensor, and the second motion sensor; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
control the first vibration element to emit the haptic pattern from at least one of the first vibration element or the second vibration element, wherein the haptic pattern corresponds to a specified event,
determine a state of the electronic device based on a part of first information generated by the first motion sensor and second motion sensor, wherein the state of the electronic device includes an orientation of the electronic device and an angle between the first housing and the second housing;
select one of the first vibration element and the second vibration element, based on the determined state of the electronic device;
measure a first intensity value of the haptic pattern based on a part of second information generated by the first motion sensor and second motion sensor;
determine a second intensity value of the haptic pattern to be emitted from the selected vibration element, based on the first intensity value of the haptic pattern; and
control the selected vibration element to emit the haptic pattern that is changed based on the determined second intensity value,
wherein if the specified event includes a touch input on the display, the processor is further configured to determine the second intensity value of the haptic pattern to be emitted from the selected vibration element, based on the first intensity value and a distance between a touch position of the touch input and the selected vibration element.

9. The foldable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first housing includes a first corner and a second corner,
wherein the second housing includes a third corner and a fourth corner,
wherein the first corner and the third corner face each other, and the second corner and the fourth corner face each other, in th

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Song Kwonho
• Lee Jeongseok
• Lee Yonggu
• Park Jaehwan
• Yang Changkwan
• Eom Kihun

Classifications

• G06F1/1677

  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 title

• G06F3/0346 Primary

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title