Foldable electronic device

1. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable housing that includes:

a hinge structure;

a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure, and including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a first side surface surrounding at least some of a space between the first surface and the second surface; and

a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure, including a third surface facing in a third direction, a fourth surface facing in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and a second side surface surrounding at least some of a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, and foldable with the first housing structure with the hinge structure as a center,

wherein, in a folded state, the first side surface and the second side surface are aligned with each other;

a flexible display extended from the first surface to the third surface;

one or more first side keys disposed near the first side surface within the first housing structure, and including a first sensing panel reflecting a change in an external force applied to the first side surface;

one or more second side keys disposed near the second side surface within the second housing structure, and including a second sensing panel reflecting a change in an external force applied to the second side surface; and

a sensor disposed inside the foldable housing, electrically connected to the first sensing panel and the second sensing panel, and configured to generate a signal related to a key input based on a change in the external force detected by the first sensing panel or the second sensing panel,

wherein, in the folded state, at least one of the one or more first side keys and at least one of the one or more second side keys are substantially aligned with each other.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, in the folded state, the first surface faces the third surface.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, in the folded state, the second surface faces the fourth surface.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first housing structure includes a portion extended parallel to and spaced apart from a folding axis of the foldable housing, and

the one or more first side keys are disposed at the portion.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first housing structure includes a portion extended perpendicular to a folding axis of the foldable housing, and

the one or more first side keys are disposed at the portion.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first side keys and the one or more second side keys are aligned one-to-one in the folded state.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more second side keys include:

a first section including at least one second side key aligned with the one or more first side keys in the folded state; and

a second section including at least one second side key not aligned with the one or more first side keys in the folded state.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing panel and the second sensing panel include a strain gauge.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor electrically connected to the flexible display and the sensor; and

a memory electrically connected to the processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to assign a key function to at least one of the one or more first side keys or at least one of the one or more second side keys depending on the folded state.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

assign, in the folded state, the same key function to a first side key selected from among the one or more first side keys and a second side key being aligned with the selected first side key and selected from among the one or more second side keys; and

assign, not in the folded state, the key function to at least one of the selected first side key or the selected second side key.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the key function includes a function for increasing volume of an output sound, decreasing volume of an output sound, an artificial intelligence virtual assistant, or turning on or off power of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

assign, in the folded state, a first key function and a second key function to a first side key selected from among the one or more first side keys and a second side key being aligned with the selected first side key and selected from among the one or more second side keys; and

assign, not in the folded state, the first key function and the second key function respectively to the selected first side key and the selected second side key.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first key function is a function for an artificial intelligence virtual assistant, and the second key function is a function for turning on or off power of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:

the flexible display includes a first display area extended to the first side surface in a manner to overlap the one or more first side keys, and a second display area extended to the second side surface in a manner to overlap the one or more second side keys; and

in the folded state, the first display area and the second display area are aligned with each other.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to, not in the folded state:

display a key indicator at a position of the first display area corresponding to one of the one or more first side keys to which a key function is assigned; and

display a key indicator at a position of the second display area corresponding to one of the one or more second side keys to which a key function is assigned.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to, in the folded state:

assign the same key function to a first side key selected from among the one or more first side keys and a second side key being aligned with the selected first side key and selected from among the one or more second side keys; and

display, through the flexible display, a key indicator that extends from a first position of the first display area corresponding to the selected first side key to a second position of the second display area corresponding to the selected second side key.

17. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

assign a gesture function to some of the one or more first side keys or some of the one or more second side keys depending on the folded state; and

identify a gesture input based on a signal related to a key input generated by the sensor by using some of the one or more first side keys or the one or more second side keys to which the gesture function is assigned.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

assign, in the folded state, the same key function to a first side key selected from among the one or more first side keys and a second side key being aligned with the selected first side key and selected from among the one or more second side keys; and

assign, not in the folded state, the key function and the gesture function respectively to the selected first side key and the selected second side key.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the one or more second side keys include a first section including at least one second side key aligned with the one or more first side keys in the folded state, and a second section including at least one second side key not aligned with the one or more first side keys in the folded state, and wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

assign, in the folded state, the same key function to a first side key selected from among the one or more first side keys and a second side key of the first section being aligned with the selected first side key, and assign the gesture function to at least one second side key of the second section; and

assign, not in the folded state, the key function and the gesture function respectively to the selected first side key and the second side key of the first section.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the gesture input includes a swipe gesture or a squeeze gesture.