IP Library Granted Patent US 12,468,346
Granted Patent B2
US 12,468,346 · App. 18/615,026 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Method for controlling flexible display, and electronic device

Inventors: Jonggeun Yoon (Suwon-si, KR); Jebin Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Pilwon Seo (Suwon-si, KR); Jiyoung Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Jiwoo Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G06F1/1652G06F1/1624G06F1/1677G06F3/02G06F3/0346G06F3/03545G06F3/038G09G3/035G09G2354/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,468,346
App. No.
18/615,026
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This electronic device may comprise: a flexible display; a first rolling actuator configured to extend the flexible display in a first direction; a second rolling actuator configured to extend the flexible display in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: determine the mounting state of the electronic device; acquire information about the position of a peripheral device, which is linked with the electronic device, based on the mounting state satisfying a designated condition; set the extension direction of the flexible display on the basis of the information about the position of the peripheral device; and control the first rolling actuator and/or the second rolling actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction and/or the second direction on the basis of the set extension direction.

Claims (66)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a flexible display;

a first actuator configured to extend the flexible display in a first direction;

at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

determine whether an electronic pen is detached from the electronic device;

based on determination of the detachment of the electronic pen, acquire at least one of position information or angle information of the electronic pen; and

provide an extension of the flexible display based on at least one of the position information or angle information of the electronic pen.

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

a charging coil; and

a second actuator configured to extend the flexible display in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and

wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

acquire, through the charging coil, a charging off signal of the electronic pen;

determine that the electronic pen is detached from the electronic device based on the charging off signal;

control the first actuator or the second actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction or the second direction based on the extension direction; and

display, through the extended flexible display, a content regarding the electronic pen.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

identify a direction in which the electronic pen being positioned after the detachment based on the position information acquired using at least one sensor;

based on the identified direction being in a first lateral direction with reference to the electronic device, drive the first actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction corresponding to the first lateral direction; and

based on the identified direction being in a second lateral direction with reference to the electronic device, drive the second actuator to extend the flexible display in the second direction corresponding to the second lateral direction.

4 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

identify a direction in which one end of the electronic pen is facing after the detachment based on the angle information acquired using at least one sensor;

based on the identified direction being in the first direction, drive the first actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction; and

based on the identified direction being in the second direction, drive the second actuator to extend the flexible display in the second direction.

5 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

based on the detachment of the electronic pen, display a user interface regarding the extension direction of the flexible display; and

drive at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator to extend the flexible display in a direction corresponding to user input acquired with respect to the user interface.

6 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

display the content regarding the electronic pen on an extended area of the flexible display.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the content regarding the electronic pen comprises at least one of a pen type, a pen color or a pen thickness.

8 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

based on determination that the electronic pen being attached to the electronic device, control at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator to contract the flexible display.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

acquire, through a charging coil, a charging on signal of the electronic pen; and

determine that the electronic pen is attached to the electronic device based on the charging on signal.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is individually and/or collectively configured to cause the electronic device to:

based on the contraction of the flexible display, remove display of the content regarding the electronic pen and display a content indicating that the electronic pen being attached to the electronic device.

11 . A method comprising:

determining whether an electronic pen is detached from the electronic device;

based on determination of the detachment of the electronic pen, acquiring at least one of position information or angle information of the electronic pen; and

providing an extension of a flexible display based on at least one of the position information or angle information of the electronic pen.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

acquiring, through a charging coil, a charging off signal of the electronic pen;

determining that the electronic pen is detached from the electronic device based on the charging off signal;

using at least one of a first actuator or a second actuator to extend the flexible display in a first direction and/or a second direction opposite to the first direction, based on the extension direction; and

displaying, through the extended flexible display, a content regarding the electronic pen.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

identifying a direction in which the electronic pen being positioned after the detachment based on the position information acquired using at least one sensor;

based on the identified direction being in a first lateral direction with reference to the electronic device, using the first actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction corresponding to the first lateral direction; and

based on the identified direction being in a second lateral direction with reference to the electronic device, using the second actuator to extend the flexible display in the second direction corresponding to the second lateral direction.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

identifying a direction in which one end of the electronic pen is facing after the detachment based on the angle information acquired using at least one sensor;

based on the identified direction being in the first direction, using the first actuator to extend the flexible display in the first direction; and

based on the identified direction being in the second direction, using the second actuator to extend the flexible display in the second direction.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

based on the detachment of the electronic pen, displaying a user interface inquiring the extension direction of the flexible display; and

using at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator to extend the flexible display in a direction corresponding to user input acquired with respect to the user interface.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

displaying the content regarding the electronic pen on an extended area of the flexible display.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the content regarding the electronic pen comprises at least one of a pen type, a pen color or a pen thickness.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

based on determination that the electronic pen being attached to the electronic device, using at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator to contract the flexible display.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

acquiring, through a charging coil, a charging on signal of the electronic pen; and

determining that the electronic pen is attached to the electronic device based on the charging on signal.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein searching for the external device comprises:

based on the contraction of the flexible display, removing display of the content regarding the electronic pen and displaying a content indicating that the electronic pen being attached to the electronic device.

Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0148097 · Nov 6, 2020 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 18295496 · Apr 4, 2023
Continuation PCTKR2021015064 · Oct 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240231437A1 · Jul 11, 2024
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