IP Library Granted Patent US 9,864,410
Granted Patent B2
US 9,864,410 · App. 14/953,670 · Granted Jan 9, 2018

Foldable device and method of controlling the same

Inventors: Jin La (Suwon-si, KR); Yu-dong Bae (Suwon-si, KR); Yong-ho Kim (Seoul, KR); Jong-hyun Ryu (Suwon-si, KR); Yong-gook Park (Yongin-si, KR); Ae-young Lim (Yongin-si, KR); Kyung-ho Jeong (Seoul, KR); Youn-ho Choi (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G06F1/1652G06F1/1677G06F3/017G06F3/0487G06F21/31H04M1/0243H04M1/72522G06F2203/04803H04L63/083H04M1/0214H04M1/0268H04M2250/22H04W12/06H04W88/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,864,410
App. No.
14/953,670
Granted
Jan 9, 2018
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (32)

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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: LA, JIN; BAE, YU-DONG; KIM, YONG-HO; RYU, JONG-HYUN; PARK, YONG-GOOK; LIM, AE-YOUNG; JEONG, KYUNG-HO; CHOI, YOUN-HO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 037168/0488 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2015-0031966 · Mar 6, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62097223 · Dec 29, 2014
Related Publication 20160187994A1 · Jun 30, 2016