Foldable device and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015338888-A1
Application number	US-201514721210-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	May 23, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A foldable device includes: a flexible display configured to display an execution screen of an application; and a controller configured to control the flexible display to display an execution screen of at least one first application on a first surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is folded, and control, in response to the flexible display being unfolded, the flexible display to display the execution screen of the at least one first application and an execution screen of at least one second application related to the at least one first application to be displayed on a second surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is unfolded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable device comprising:
a flexible display configured to display an execution screen of an application; and a controller configured to control the flexible display to display an execution screen of at least one first application on a first surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is folded, and control, in response to the flexible display being unfolded, the flexible display to display the execution screen of the at least one first application and an execution screen of at least one second application related to the at least one first application to be displayed on a second surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is unfolded.

2 . The foldable device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input of a user's selection,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the flexible display to, while the flexible display is folded, co-display the execution screen of the at least one first application and a second application selection menu for selecting the at least one second application, and to determine the at least one second application according to the user's selection via the second application selection menu.

3 . The foldable device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input of a user's selection,
wherein the controller is further configured to control the flexible display to, while the execution screen of the at least one first application is displayed, display both the execution screen of the at least one first application and a second application selection menu for selecting the at least one second application, and to determine the at least one second application according to the user's selection via the second application selection menu.

4 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the at least one second application based on a pre-stored list of related applications.

5 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the at least one second application based on an input with respect to the at least one first application.

6 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine an application related to a notification event that occurs in the foldable device as the at least one second application.

7 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the at least one second application based on an application use history of a user.

8 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a user-set application as the at least one second application.

9 . The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the flexible display is disposed on an opposite side of the flexible display to the first surface of the flexible display,
the foldable device further comprises a state detector configured to detect a partially-folded state in which at least one portion of the second surface is folded to face towards a same side as the first surface, and the controller is further configured to control the flexible display to, in response to the state detector detecting the partially-folded state, display the execution screen of the at least one first application on the first surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device in the partially-folded state, and display the execution screen of the at least one second application on a region of the at least one portion of the second surface that faces towards the same side as the first surface that is used as the display of the foldable device in the partially-folded state.

10 . A method of controlling a foldable device comprising a flexible display, the method comprising:
displaying an execution screen of at least one first application on a first surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is folded; and displaying, in response to the flexible display being unfolded, the execution screen of the at least one first application and an execution screen of at least one second application related to the at least one first application on a second surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device when the flexible display is unfolded.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
co-displaying, while the flexible display is folded, the execution screen of the at least one first application and a second application selection menu for selecting the at least one second application; receiving an input of a user's selection via the second application selection menu; and determining the at least one second application according to the user's selection.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the displaying the execution screen of the at least one first application comprises co-displaying the execution screen of the at least one first application and a second application selection menu for selecting the at least one second application, and
the method further comprises: receiving an input of a user's selection via the second application selection menu; and determining the at least one second application according to the user's selection.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining the least one second application based on a pre-stored list of related applications.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining the least one second application based on an input with respect to the at least one first application.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining an application related to a notification event that occurs in the foldable device as the at least one second application.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining the at least one second application based on an application use history of a user.

17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a user-set application as the at least one second application.

18 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting a partially-folded state in which at least one portion of the second surface is folded to face towards a same side as the first surface; displaying, in response to the partially-folded state being detected, the execution screen of the at least one first application on the first surface of the flexible display that is used as a display of the foldable device in the partially-folded state; and displaying the execution screen of the at least one second application on a region of the at least one portion of the second surface that faces toward the same side as the first surface that is used as the display of the foldable device in the partially-folded state.

19 . A foldable device comprising:
a first display disposed on a first surface of the foldable device; a second display disposed on a second surface of the foldable device; a sensor configured to detect a folding state of the foldable device; and a controller configured to control the first display to display a first application while the flexible display is folded, and control the second display to display the first application and a second application in response to the flexible display being unfolded.

20 . The foldable device according to claim 19 , wherein the cont

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim So-Young
• Han Se-Hyun
• Kim Dae-Myung
• Choi Youn-Ho

Classifications

• G09G5/003

  Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto (specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092) · CPC title

• G06F1/1677 Primary

  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

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

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

• G06F2203/04803

  Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas · CPC title