Electronic device, and method for controlling and operating foldable display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12261968-B2
Application number	US-202217752202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	Nov 26, 2019
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a foldable housing, a flexible display, at least one camera, at least one sensor and at least one processor, wherein the foldable housing includes a first housing having a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, a first connecting member which is connected to a side surface of the first housing and which can be folded in a first rotating direction and unfolded in a second rotating direction, a second housing which is connected to the first connecting member and has a third surface facing the first direction and a fourth surface facing the second direction, and in which the flexible display is positioned on the third surface, a second connecting member connected to the side surface of the second housing, and a third housing which is connected to the second connecting member and has a fifth surface facing the first direction and a sixth surface facing the second direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing;
a flexible display;
at least one camera;
memory storing instructions;
at least one sensor; and
at least one processor,
wherein the foldable housing includes:
a first housing having a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the first and second surfaces are spaced apart from each other by a first length, and the flexible display is positioned on the first surface;
a first connecting member connected to a side surface of the first housing and disposed inside the foldable housing, the first connecting member being foldable in a first rotational direction; and unfoldable in a second rotational direction;
a second housing connected to the first connecting member and having a third surface facing the first direction and a fourth surface facing the second direction, wherein the flexible display is positioned on the third surface;
a second connecting member having a thickness corresponding to the first length and disposed inside the foldable housing, the second connecting member being connected to a side surface of the second housing, foldable in the second rotational direction, and unfoldable in the first rotational direction; and
a third housing connected to the second connecting member and having a fifth surface facing the first direction and a sixth surface facing the second direction, wherein the flexible display is positioned on the fifth surface, and

wherein, in a state that the second housing and the third housing are folded so that the fourth surface and the sixth surface face each other, a distance between the third surface and the fifth surface is substantially same as the first length,
wherein the at least one camera includes a first camera disposed on the second surface of the first housing,
wherein a physical button is disposed on a side surface of the first housing,
wherein, when the third housing is folded, the fourth surface of the second housing includes a protruding area to accommodate the third housing, and
wherein a thickness of the protruding area is substantially same to a thickness of the first housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the second housing has a first area in which the third housing is placeable on the fourth surface when the second housing and the third housing are folded so that the fourth surface and the sixth surface face each other,
wherein, in the first area, the third surface and the fourth surface are spaced apart from each other by a second length,
wherein the second housing has a second area in which a second camera is disposed on at least a portion of the fourth surface,
wherein, in the second area, the third surface and the fourth surface are spaced apart from each other by a third length,
wherein the second length is smaller than the first length, and
wherein the third length is greater than the second length.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a magnet sensor, and
wherein the flexible display is continuously positioned on the first surface of the first housing, the third surface of the second housing, and the fifth surface of the third housing.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the second connecting member includes a hinge structure configured to be stopped at a specific angle between 0 degrees and 180 degrees,
wherein the hinge structure is a cylindrical hinge structure having a length substantially equal to the first length, and
wherein the hinge structure includes a multi-joint structure and a sliding structure, the multi-joint structure having elasticity, the sliding structure being disposed inside the third housing and allowing the third housing to move closer to or away from the hinge structure in response to a folding or unfolding operation.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first connecting member provides a folding state of the first housing and the second housing so that the first surface and the third surface face each other,
wherein the first connecting member includes a bracket structure connecting the first housing and the second housing and being disposed inside the first housing and the second housing, and
wherein the first connecting member further includes a hinge cover that covers foldable portions of the first housing and the second housing.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
divide the flexible display into a plurality of display areas, and
control a screen of each of the divided plurality of display areas, and

wherein among the plurality of divided display areas:
a display area of the flexible display disposed in the first housing is configured as a first display area,
a display area of the flexible display disposed in the second housing is configured as a second display area, and
a display area of the flexible display disposed in the third housing is configured as a third display area.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
output content to the third display area when the second housing and the third housing are in a folding state so that the fourth surface and the sixth surface face each other, and when the first housing and the second housing are in a folding state so that the first surface and the third surface face each other, and
output the content to the third display area and the second display area when the second housing and the third housing are switched from the folding state to an unfolding state while the first housing and the second housing are in the folding state so that the first surface and the third surface face each other.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device is further configured to:
control to display content in the third display area of the third housing in a folding state of the foldable housing,
control to display content in at least one of the first display area or the second display area when at least one of the first housing or the second housing are switched to an open or unfolding state, and
control to display content in at least one of the first to third display areas upon determining that the third housing is switched to an open or unfolding state.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
switch to a selfie shooting mode upon detecting that the third display area faces a user when the first housing and the second housing are in a folding state so that the first surface and the third surface face each other, and when the second housing and the third housing are in an unfolding state.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to;
switch to a desktop mode when the first and second housings are in an open state from 90 degrees to a first predetermined angle, when the second and third housings are in an open state from a second predetermined angle to 90 degrees, and when the first housing faces a floor.

11. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Seo
• Lee Seungchan
• KOO Jaok
• Won Jonghoon
• Yun Yongsang
• Lee Dasom
• Ji Yunjeong
• Han Hoon

Classifications

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H04M1/0214

  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 title

• G06F3/1423

  controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/72448 Primary

  with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions · CPC title