IP Library Granted Patent US 12,610,002
Granted Patent B2
US 12,610,002 · App. 18/579,675 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Button control method for electronic device and electronic device

Inventors: Kai Hu (Shenzhen, CN); Yuxi Zhang (Shanghai, CN); Zhongbiao Wu (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
H04M1/0245G06F1/1647G06F1/1652G06F1/1677G06F3/0346H04M1/0216H04M1/0268H04M1/236H04M1/72466G06F2203/04102
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,610,002
App. No.
18/579,675
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes a display screen and at least one button. The display screen is a foldable screen. In a process in which a user uses the electronic device, a function that needs to be responded to by a button on the electronic device may be adaptively adjusted based on a physical form of the foldable screen of the electronic device, so that a button function that conforms to a using habit of the user can still be provided when the foldable screen of the electronic device is in a different physical form.

Claims (51)

1 . A method comprising:

making a first determination that a first button of an electronic device has been triggered;

making a second determination of whether a foldable display screen of the electronic device is in a folded state or an unfolded state;

outputting a first function or a second function based on the first determination and the second determination;

detecting that the electronic device is rotated around a z-axis;

determining, after detecting that the electronic device is rotated around the z-axis, a third function of a second button of the electronic device based on a rotation angle of the electronic device relative to a reference state of the electronic device on a first plane on which an x-axis and a y-axis are located, wherein the z-axis is perpendicular to the foldable display screen, wherein the x-axis is parallel to a side part of the electronic device, wherein the y-axis is perpendicular to a second plane on which the x-axis and the z-axis are located, and wherein the reference state is when a lower side edge of the electronic device is parallel to a horizontal plane and a first distance between an upper side edge of the electronic device and the horizontal plane is greater than or equal to a second distance between the lower side edge and the horizontal plane; and

outputting the third function when the second button is triggered.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

making a third determination that a third button of the electronic device has been triggered;

outputting, based on the first determination and the third determination, the second function when the foldable display screen is in the folded state; and

outputting, based on the first determination and the third determination, the first function when the foldable display screen is in the unfolded state.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first function is power-on/off and the second function is volume adjustment.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a folding angle of the foldable display screen; and

determining, based on the folding angle, whether the foldable display screen is in the folded state or the unfolded state.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining whether the foldable display screen is in the folded state or the unfolded state comprises:

determining, when the folding angle is greater than a first preset angle, that the foldable display screen is the unfolded state; and

determining, when the folding angle is less than or equal to a second preset angle, that the foldable display screen is the folded state.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second button is the same as the first button, and wherein the third function is the same as the first function or the second function.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting, when a holding posture of the electronic device is left-hand holding and a fourth button of the electronic device is triggered, a fourth function; and

outputting, when the holding posture is right-hand holding and the fourth button is triggered, a fifth function.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the fourth button is the same as the first button.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the fourth function is the same as the first function or the second function, wherein the fifth function is the same as the first function or the second function, and wherein the fourth function is different from the fifth function.

10 . An electronic device, comprising:

a first button;

a second button;

a foldable display screen;

at least one memory configured to store a program; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the first button, the second button, and the foldable display screen, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the program to cause the electronic device to:

output, when the foldable display screen is in a folded state and the first button of the electronic device is triggered, a first function;

output, when the foldable display screen is in an unfolded state and the first button is triggered, a second function;

detect that the electronic device is rotated around a z-axis;

determine, after detecting that the electronic device is rotated around the z-axis, a third function of the second button based on a rotation angle of the electronic device relative to a reference state of the electronic device on a first plane on which an x-axis and a y-axis are located, wherein the z-axis is perpendicular to the foldable display screen, wherein the x-axis is parallel to a side part of the electronic device, wherein the y-axis is perpendicular to a second plane on which the x-axis and the z-axis are located, and wherein the reference state is when a lower side edge of the electronic device is parallel to a horizontal plane and a first distance between an upper side edge of the electronic device and the horizontal plane is greater than or equal to a second distance between the lower side edge and the horizontal plane; and

output the third function when the second button is triggered.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising a third button coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program to cause the electronic device to:

output, when the foldable display screen is in the folded state and the third button is triggered, the second function; and

output, when the foldable display screen is in the unfolded state and the third button is in the unfolded state, the first function.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first function is power-on/off and the second function is volume adjustment.

13 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the foldable display screen comprises an inner screen and an outer screen, the inner screen comprises a first screen and a second screen, the outer screen is located on a first body of the electronic device, the first screen is located on the first body, and the second screen is located on a second body of the electronic device, and wherein both the first button and the third button are disposed on the first body.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein both the first button and the third button are located on a first side of the first body.

15 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program to cause the electronic device to:

obtain a folding angle of the foldable display screen; and

determine, based on the folding angle, whether the foldable display screen is in the folded state or the unfolded state.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program to cause the electronic device to determine whether the foldable display screen is in the folded state or the unfolded state by:

determining, when the folding angle is greater than a first preset angle, that the foldable display screen is the unfolded state; and

determining, when the folding angle is less than or equal to a second preset angle, that the foldable display screen is the folded state.

17 . The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising a fourth button coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program to cause the electronic device to:

output, when a holding posture of the electronic device is left-hand holding and the fourth button is triggered, a fourth function; and

output, when the holding posture is right-hand holding and the fourth button is triggered, a fifth function.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the fourth button is the same as the first button, wherein the fourth function is the same as the first function or the second function, wherein the fifth function is the same as the first function or the second function, and wherein the fourth function is different from the fifth function.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2026
From: HU, KAI; ZHANG, YUXI; WU, ZHONGBIAO
To: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073478/0989 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202110808766.2 · Jul 16, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240333825A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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