Foldable device and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9864410-B2
Application number	US-201514953670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 29, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A foldable device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The foldable device includes: a flexible display which includes a main display area and an edge display area; and a controller which is configured to determine, based on an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded, a range of a partial activation area of the main display area, wherein the range of the partial activation area is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable device comprising:
a flexible display comprising a main display area and an edge display area; and
a controller configured to determine, based on an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded, a range of a partial activation area of the main display area,
wherein the main display area is positioned so as not to be exposed to an outside when the foldable device is completely folded, and the edge display area is positioned so as to be exposed to the outside when the foldable device is folded such that the main display area is not exposed, and
wherein the range of the partial activation area is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area.

2. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate the edge display area in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined first angle with respect to a state of being folded, to activate a portion of the main display area in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined second angle, and to expand a range of the activated portion of the main display area, in response to the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being increased.

3. The foldable device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to display first content on the edge display area and to display detailed content, the detailed content being related to the first content, on the activated portion of the main display area.

4. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust at least one from among a type, an amount, and an attribute of content that is to be displayed on the activated portion of the main display area, based on the range of the partial activation area of the main display area.

5. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate an entirety of the main display area when the angle at which the foldable device is unfolded is greater than or equal to a predetermined third angle.

6. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and
the controller is further configured to determine a location from which an activated portion of the main display area starts, based on a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

7. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and
the controller is further configured to determine at least one edge display area that is to be activated from among the plurality of edge display areas, based on an angle at which the foldable device is inclined while in a state of being folded and a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

8. The foldable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate the edge display area in response to at least one of a message reception, a call reception, and an alarm being generated.

9. A method for controlling a foldable device that comprises a flexible display comprising a main display area and an edge display area, the method comprising:
sensing an angle at which the foldable device is unfolded; and
determining a range of a partial activation area of the main display area, which is activated and is partially bounded by a boundary between the edge display area and the main display area, based on the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded,
wherein the main display area is positioned so as not to be exposed to an outside when the foldable device is completely folded, and the edge display area is positioned so as to be exposed to the outside when the foldable device is folded such that the main display area is not exposed.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
activating the edge display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined first angle with respect to a state of being folded;
activating a portion of the main display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined second angle; and
expanding a range of the activated portion of the main display area, in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being increased.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
displaying first content on the edge display area; and
displaying detailed content, the detailed content being related to the first content, on the activated portion of the main display area.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the determining the range of the activated portion of the main display area comprises adjusting at least one from among a type, an amount, and an attribute of content that is to be displayed on the activated portion, based on the range of the partial activation area.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising activating an entirety of the main display area in response to the sensed angle at which the foldable device is unfolded being greater than or equal to a predetermined third angle.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the flexible display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and
the determining the range of the partial activation area of the main display area comprises determining a location from which an activated portion of the main display area starts, based on a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

15. The method of claim 9 , the display further comprises a plurality of edge display areas, and
the method further comprises determining at least one edge display area that is to be activated, from among the plurality of edge display areas, based on an angle at which the foldable device is inclined while in a state of being folded and a direction in which a user views the foldable device.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising activating the edge display area in response to at least one of a message reception, a call reception, and an alarm being generated.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• La Jin
• Bae Yu-Dong
• Kim Yong-Ho
• Ryu Jong-Hyun
• Park Yong-Gook
• Lim Ae-Young
• Jeong Kyung-Ho
• Choi Youn-Ho

Classifications

• H04M1/0268

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• G06F3/0487

  using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser · CPC title

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · 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

• G06F2203/04803

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