IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,489,982
Granted Patent B2
US 12,489,982 · App. 18/438,022 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Foldable electronic device and flash control method therefor

Inventor: Eunji Hong (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H04N23/74H04M1/0216H04M1/0264H04M1/0268H04N23/57H04N23/71
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,489,982
App. No.
18/438,022
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes: a first housing comprising a first surface and a second surface, and a second housing comprising a third surface and a fourth surface; a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable about a folding axis, the first surface facing the third surface in a folded state of the first housing and the second housing, the first surface and the third surface being oriented in a same direction in an unfolded state of the first housing and the second housing. Based on a touch input to activate the flash being received through the second display, a processor identifies an ambient illuminance value and state information relating to whether the first housing and the second housing are in the folded state or the unfolded state; and control the flash, based on the state information and the ambient illuminance value.

Claims (61)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a first housing comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and

a second housing comprising a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface;

a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable relative to each other about a folding axis, the first surface facing the third surface in a folded state of the first housing and the second housing, the first surface and the third surface being oriented in a same direction in an unfolded state of the first housing and the second housing;

a first display on the first surface and the third surface, the first display comprising a flexible display in at least a partial area of the first display;

a second display on at least a portion of the second surface;

a flash on the second surface and configured to output light;

a sensor;

memory; and

at least one processor operatively connected to the first display, the second display, the flash, the sensor, and the memory,

wherein the memory stores instructions executable by at least one processor, when executed, cause the electronic device to:

based on a touch input to activate the flash being received through the second display, identify, by using the sensor, an ambient illuminance value and state information relating to whether the first housing and the second housing are in the folded state or the unfolded state; and

control the flash, based on the state information and the ambient illuminance value.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

based on the first housing and the second housing being in the folded state, display a request for an additional input on the second display; and

based on the additional input being received, activate the flash.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

based on the ambient illuminance value being greater than a threshold illuminance value, display a request for an additional input on the second display; and

based on the additional input being received, activate the flash.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to, based on the ambient illuminance value being equal to or smaller than a threshold illuminance value, activate the flash.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to activate the flash at a brightness corresponding to the ambient illuminance value.

6 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

based on the ambient illuminance value being equal to or smaller than the threshold illuminance value, activate the flash at a brightness corresponding to the ambient illuminance value; and

based on the ambient illuminance value being greater than the threshold illuminance value, display a request for an additional input on the second display.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

detect, via the sensor, whether the electronic device is rotated; and

control the flash, based on the detection of whether the electronic device is rotated.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a camera adjacent to the flash,

wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

capture an image by using the camera;

determine whether a facial recognition area recognized as a face exists in the captured image; and

control the flash, based on whether the facial recognition area exists.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions cause the electronic device to:

identify whether the second display is touched; and

control the flash, based on whether the second display is touched.

10 . A method of controlling an electronic device comprising at least one flash, a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable relative to each other, the method comprising:

based on a touch input to activate the at least one flash being received, identifying an ambient illuminance value and state information relating to whether the first housing and the second housing are in a folded state or an unfolded state; and

controlling the flash, based on the state information and the ambient illuminance value.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

based on the first housing and the second housing being in the folded state, displaying a request for an additional input; and

based on the additional input being received, activating the at least one flash.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

based on the ambient illuminance value being greater than a threshold illuminance value, displaying a request for an additional input on a display of the electronic device; and

based on the additional input being received, activating the at least one flash.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, based on the ambient illuminance value being equal to or smaller than a threshold illuminance value, activating the at least one flash at a brightness corresponding to the ambient illuminance value.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting whether the electronic device is rotated; and

controlling the flash, based on the detecting whether the electronic device is rotated.

15 . An electronic device comprising:

a first housing comprising a first surface and a second surface oriented in an opposite direction of the first surface;

a second housing comprising a third surface and a fourth surface oriented in an opposite direction of the third surface;

a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable relative to each other about a folding axis, the first surface facing the third surface in a folded state of the first housing and the second housing, the first surface and the third surface being oriented in a same direction in an unfolded second state of the first housing and the second housing;

a first display on the first surface and the third surface, the first display comprising a flexible display in at least a partial area of the first display;

a second display on at least a part of the second surface;

a flash on the second surface and configured to output light;

memory;

at least one processor operatively connected to the first display, the second display, the flash and the memory,

wherein the memory stores instructions executable by at least one processor, when executed, cause the electronic device to:

based on a touch input to activate the flash being received through the second display, display an additional input request message on the second display,

based on an additional input corresponding to the additional input request message being received, activate the flash; and

based on a touch input to activate the flash being received through the first display, activate the flash without displaying the additional input request message.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2024
From: HONG, EUNJI
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066443/0883 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0105659 · Aug 10, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022009152 · Jun 27, 2022
Related Publication 20240187740A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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