Method for displaying preview image and electronic device supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12498765-B2
Application number	US-202217878280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2022
Priority date	Aug 10, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A foldable electronic device and method for the same are disclosed herein. The foldable electronic device includes at least one display, a sensor, at least one camera, a processor, at least one switch electrically connecting the at least one display, at least one camera and processor. The processor implements the method, including: detecting an operating state of the device via the sensor, and controlling the at least one switch to selectively connect the processor to one of the display and the at least one camera, based on the detected operating state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a housing including a first housing structure and a second housing structure: a first display disposed on the first housing structure and the second housing structure and facing a first direction; a second display disposed on the first housing structure and facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first camera disposed on the second housing structure and facing the first direction: a second camera disposed on the first housing structure and facing the second direction: at least one processor; at least one switch configured to electrically connect the at least one processor to at least one of the first display, the second display, the first camera or the second camera; and a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the foldable electronic device to: control the at least one switch to turn on the first display and the first camera or turn on the second display and the second camera based on a signal indicating an operating state of the foldable electronic device.

2 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the foldable electronic device to:
select at least a part of multiplexed pieces of data based on the signal; when the selected at least the part of the multiplexed pieces of data includes first data associated with the display, transmit the first data to at least one the turned on display through a first transmission path using a display serial interface (DSI) of the foldable electronic device; and when the selected at least the part of the multiplexed pieces of data includes second data associated with the camera, transmit the second data to turned on camera through a second transmission path using a camera serial interface (CSI) of the foldable electronic device.

3 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the foldable electronic device to:
when the signal indicates that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is the folded state, control the at least one switch such that the first display is turned off, while obtaining a preview image by turning on the second camera; and when the signal indicates a change in the operating state of the foldable electronic device from the folded state to an unfolded state, turn off the second camera and turn on the first display, via operation of the at least one switch.

4 . The foldable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first transmission path communicably couples the at least one processor, the at least one switch, and the turned on display, and
wherein the second transmission path communicably couples the at least one processor, the at least one switch, and the turned on camera separately from the first transmission path.

5 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the foldable electronic device to:
when the signal indicates a change in the operating state of the foldable electronic device from the folded state to an unfolded state, operate the at least one switch to sequentially turn off the second camera, and turn on the first display sequentially after the second camera is turned off, by using the at least one switch.

6 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hinge structure rotatably connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure, wherein the first surface and the third surface are separated by the hinge structure.

7 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the foldable electronic device to: while the foldable electronic device is operated in a folded state, control the at least one switch so as to turn off the first display and to turn on the second camera; and display a preview image obtained using the second camera on the second display.

8 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the foldable electronic device to: while the foldable electronic device is operated in an unfolded state, turn on the first display and turn off the second camera, by using the at least one switch; and display a preview image obtained using the first camera on the first display.

9 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a first switch and a second switch, and
wherein the foldable electronic device further comprises: a first circuit board on which the at least one processor and the first switch are disposed; a second circuit board on which the second switch is disposed; and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) operatively connecting the first switch and the second switch.

10 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor, wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the foldable electronic device to: while receiving a preview image via the camera, detect the operating state of the foldable electronic device via the sensor.

11 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) switch.

12 . A method in a foldable electronic device including a housing including a first housing structure and a second housing structure, a first display disposed on the first housing structure and the second housing structure and facing a first direction, a second display disposed on the first housing structure and facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, a first camera disposed on the second housing structure and facing the first direction, a second camera disposed on the first housing structure and facing the second direction, a sensor and at least one processor, the method comprising:
obtaining, via the sensor, information indicating an operating state of the foldable electronic device; detecting, via the at least one processor, the operating state of the foldable electronic device using the obtained information; when the information indicates that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is an unfolded state, turning on the first display and the first camera; and when the information indicates that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is a folded state, turning on the second display and the second camera.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including:
when the information indicates that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is the unfolded state, turning off the second display and the second camera; and when the information indicates that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is the folded state, turning off the first display and the first camera.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the turning off of the second camera and the turning on of the first display when it is identified that the operating state of the foldable electronic device is changed from the folded state to the unfolded state includes:
sequentially turning off the first display after the second camera is turned off.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a first transmission path is a transmission path between the at least one processor, the switch, and the turned on display, and
wherein a second transmissio

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yeo Moonki
• Kim Miyoung
• Kim Suyoun
• Kim Seungjoon
• Sunwoo Seunghui
• Won Jongik
• Lee Daekyu
• Lee Dongyup
• Jeong Jiesoon
• Cho Kwangrae
• Cho Sangheum

Classifications

• G06F1/1618

  the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure · CPC title

• G06F1/1686

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• G06F3/1431

  using a single graphics controller · CPC title