Electronic device including flexible display, and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12537892-B2
Application number	US-202217836526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2022
Priority date	Dec 26, 2019
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a foldable housing having a hinge structure, a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area between the areas, wherein content is displayed in the first display area or the second display area according to a touch attribute inputted into the third display area in a folded display state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including a hinge structure; a flexible display; a processor; and memory storing instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:
display a first screen in a first display area of the flexible display and an object representing an application in a third display area corresponding to the hinge structure of the flexible display, in a folded state of the electronic device in which the flexible display is out-folded through the hinge structure to allow the first display area and a second display area of the flexible display to be exposed to an outside, wherein, in the folded state, the first display area and the second display area face opposite directions,
identify a touch drag input to the object in the third display area, while the first display area faces a first direction and the second display area faces a second direction opposite to the first direction in the folded state, wherein touch sensing and a screen display of the second display area are deactivated in the folded state while the second display area faces the second direction opposite to the first direction,
based on identifying that a direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the first display area while the first display area faces the first direction in the folded state, display a portion of the first screen and an execution screen of the application related to the object in the first display area,
based on identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area while the first display area faces the first direction in the folded state, identify whether the second display area faces the first direction in the folded state,
based on identifying a direction toward which the second display area faces is changed from the second direction to the first direction in the folded state within a predetermined time after identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area, activate the second display area and display an execution screen of the application related to the object in the second display area, and
based on identifying the direction toward which the second display area faces is not changed from the second direction to the first direction in the folded state within the predetermined time after identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area, refrain from displaying the execution screen of the application related to the object in the second display area.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to, based on identifying a touch and hold input to the object, display content of the application in at least a portion of the first display area while the touch and hold input is maintained on the object is maintained.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to, based on identifying a tap input to the object, display content of the application and an object for performing a function related to the content in at least a portion of the first display area.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to, based on identifying a drag input for moving the object to the first display area, identify a position and size of an area in which content of application is to be displayed, based on a direction of the drag input.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to display the content in an area corresponding to the identified position and size of the first display area and display a portion of the first screen in a remaining area of the first display area.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to display content of application in the second display area based on identifying that a state of the electronic device is changed from the folded state to an unfolded state while a touch input to the object is maintained.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to exclude the object from the third display area based on identifying a swipe input to the object.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to, after identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area, display the execution of the application related to the object in the second display area based on the electronic device being flipped within a preset time.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device not to display the execution of the application related to the object in the second display area based on the electronic device not being flipped within the preset time.

10 . A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
displaying a first screen in a first display area of a flexible display included in the electronic device and an object representing an application in a third display area corresponding to a hinge structure of the flexible display, in a folded state of the electronic device in which the flexible display is out-folded to allow the first display area and a second display area of the flexible display to be exposed to an outside, wherein, in the folded state, the first display area and the second display area face opposite directions; identifying a touch drag input to the object in the third display area, while the first display area faces a first direction and the second display area faces a second direction opposite to the first direction in the folded state, wherein touch sensing and a screen display of the second display area are deactivated in the folded state while the second display area faces the second direction opposite to the first direction; based on identifying that a direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the first display area while the first display area faces the first direction in the folded state, displaying a portion of the first screen and an execution screen of the application related to the object in the first display area; based on identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area while the first display area faces the first direction in the folded state, identifying whether the second display area faces the first direction in the folded state; based on identifying a direction toward which the second display area faces is changed from the second direction to the first direction in the folded state within a predetermined time after identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area, activating the second display area and displaying an execution screen of the application related to the object in the second display area; and based on identifying the direction toward which the second display area faces is not changed from the second direction to the first direction in the folded state within the predetermined time after identifying that the direction of the touch drag input is from the third display area to the second display area, refraining from displaying the executio

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Bona
• Yoo Kwansuk
• Lee Sukjae
• JUNG Junwon

Classifications

• H04M2201/42

  Graphical user interfaces · CPC title

• H04M2201/38

  Displays · CPC title

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title