U.S. patent application number 14/165242 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for foldable display device providing adaptive touch sensitive area and method for controlling the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Eunhyung CHO, Sinae CHUN, Jihwan KIM.
Application Number | 20140285449 14/165242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51758623 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140285449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHO; Eunhyung ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE PROVIDING ADAPTIVE TOUCH SENSITIVE AREA AND
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
Abstract
A foldable display device and method for controlling the
foldable display device are discussed. The method includes
detecting a state of a foldable display unit, the foldable display
unit being in a folded state when the foldable display device is
folded and being in an unfolded state when the foldable display
device is unfolded, the foldable display unit being divided into a
first area which is a border area, a second area which is a folding
area and a third area located between the first area and the second
area; and deactivating a touch sensor unit of the first area and
activating touch sensor units of the second area and the third
area, when the foldable display unit is gripped in the unfolded
state.
Inventors: |
CHO; Eunhyung; (Seoul,
KR) ; CHUN; Sinae; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM;
Jihwan; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
51758623 |
Appl. No.: |
14/165242 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13918224 |
Jun 14, 2013 |
8654095 |
|
|
14165242 |
|
|
|
|
61803758 |
Mar 20, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0416 20130101;
G06F 2203/04102 20130101; G06F 1/1652 20130101; G06F 1/1647
20130101; G06F 3/04886 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F 1/1641
20130101; G06F 2200/1612 20130101; G06F 3/0412 20130101; G06F
1/1643 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 1/16 20060101 G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0056757 |
Claims
1. A foldable display device comprising: a foldable display unit
being in a folded state when the foldable display device is folded
and being in an unfolded state when the foldable display device is
unfolded, the foldable display unit being divided into a first area
which is a border area, a second area which is a folding area and a
third area located between the first area and the second area;
touch sensor units of the first area, the second area and the third
area configured to detect control input for the display unit; and a
controller configured to control the display unit and the touch
sensor units, wherein the controller is further configured to:
detect the state of the foldable display unit, and deactivate the
touch sensor unit of the first area and activates the touch sensor
units of the second area and the third area, when the foldable
display unit is gripped in the unfolded state.
2. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
foldable display unit in the folded state is located on front and
back sides of the foldable display device.
3. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
foldable display unit in the unfolded state is located on a front
side of the foldable display device.
4. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, if
the touch sensor unit of the first area is deactivated, the
controller is further configured to ignore the control input when
the control input for the first area is detected.
5. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, if
the touch sensor unit of the first area is deactivated, the
controller is further configured to: detect touch input for the
first area and a user grip, bypass the touch input when the touch
input is detected, and perform a function corresponding to the user
grip when the user grip is detected.
6. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, if
the touch sensor unit of the first area is deactivated, the
controller is further configured to interrupt power supply to the
touch sensor unit of the first area.
7. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein: the
inner angle of the foldable display unit in the folded state is
less than a first angle, and the inner angle of the foldable
display unit in the unfolded state is greater than a second
angle.
8. The foldable display device according to claim 7, wherein, if
the state of the foldable display unit is changed from the unfolded
state to the folded state, the controller is further configured to
deactivate the touch sensor unit of the second area when the inner
angle of the foldable display unit is less than a third angle.
9. The foldable display device according to claim 8, wherein the
third angle has a value equal to or greater than the first angle
and equal to or less than the second angle and an angle range from
the first angle to the third angle is less than an angle range from
the third angle to the second angle.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to: detect the control input in
the third area, and activate the deactivated touch sensor unit of
the first area when the control input is moved from the third area
to the first area while contact of the control input with the
foldable display unit is maintained.
13. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to: detect the control input in
the third area, and activate the deactivated touch sensor unit of
the second area when the control input is moved from the third area
to the second area in which the touch sensor unit is deactivated in
the folded state while contact of the control input with the
foldable display unit is maintained.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, if
the foldable display unit is in the folded state, the touch sensor
unit of the first area or the second area is activated when the
control input detected in the third area is moved to the first area
or the second area.
17. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein, if
the foldable display unit is in the unfolded state, the touch
sensor unit of the first area is activated when the control input
detected in the second area or the third area is moved to the first
area.
18. (canceled)
19. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to set the sizes of the first area
and the second area in correspondence with the size of the foldable
display unit.
20. The foldable display device according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to set the sizes of the first area
and the second area in the folded state to be less than the sizes
of the first area and the second area in the unfolded state.
21. A method for controlling a foldable display device, the method
comprising: detecting a state of a foldable display unit, the
foldable display unit being in a folded state when the foldable
display device is folded and being in an unfolded state when the
foldable display device is unfolded, the foldable display unit
being divided into a first area which is a border area, a second
area which is a folding area and a third area located between the
first area and the second area; and deactivating a touch sensor
unit of the first area and activating touch sensor units of the
second area and the third area, when the foldable display unit is
gripped in the unfolded state.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the foldable display
unit in the folded state is located on front and back sides of the
foldable display device.
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the foldable display
unit in the unfolded state is located on a front side of the
foldable display device.
24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: ignoring
the control input detected in the first area when the touch sensor
unit of the first area is deactivated.
25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: when the
touch sensor unit of the first area is deactivated, detecting touch
input for the first area and a user grip, bypassing the touch input
when the touch input is detected, and performing a function
corresponding to the user grip when the user grip is detected.
26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: when the
touch sensor unit of the first area is deactivated, interrupting
power supply to the touch sensor unit of the first area.
27. The method according to claim 21, wherein: the inner angle of
the foldable display unit in the folded state is less than a first
angle, and the inner angle of the foldable display unit in the
unfolded state is greater than a second angle.
28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising: when the
state of the foldable display unit is changed from the unfolded
state to the folded state, deactivating the touch sensor unit of
the second area when the inner angle of the foldable display unit
is less than a third angle.
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the third angle has a
value equal to or greater than the first angle and equal to or less
than the second angle and an angle range from the first angle to
the third angle is less than an angle range from the third angle to
the second angle.
30. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: detecting
the control input in the third area, and activating the deactivated
touch sensor unit of the first area when the control input is moved
from the third area to the first area while contact of the control
input with the foldable display unit is maintained.
31. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: detecting
the control input in the third area, and activating the deactivated
touch sensor unit of the second area when the control input is
moved from the third area to the second area in which the touch
sensor unit is deactivated in the folded state while contact of the
control input with the foldable display unit is maintained.
32. The method according to claim 21, wherein, if the foldable
display unit is in the folded state, the touch sensor unit of the
first area or the second area is activated when the control input
detected in the third area is moved to the first area or the second
area.
33. The method according to claim 21, wherein, if the foldable
display unit is in the unfolded state, the touch sensor unit of the
first area is activated when the control input detected in the
second area or the third area is moved to the first area.
34. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: setting
the sizes of the first area and the second area in correspondence
with the size of the foldable display unit.
35. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: setting
the sizes of the first area and the second area in the folded state
to be less than the sizes of the first area and the second area in
the unfolded state.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation of co-pending application
Ser. No. 13/918,224 filed Jun. 14, 2013, which claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/803,758, filed on Mar. 20,
2013 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0056757, filed on
May 20, 2013, the entire contents of all of the above applications
are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present specification relates to a foldable display
device and, more particularly, to a foldable display device
including touch sensitive areas which differ according to the state
thereof.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] As portable device have come into widespread use, handheld
portable devices have become popular. Portable devices have
portability due to lightweight and small size. Bendable or foldable
portable devices may be produced in order to improve portability.
In a portable device including a display unit, the size of a bezel
of the display unit may be reduced and a touch sensitive display
unit may be provided on a front side thereof in order to provide a
wider user interface to a user. If a user holds a portable device
by hand, unintended user touch input may occur in a border area of
the display unit. In addition, in a foldable display device among
portable devices, a border area may be changed according to a
folded state. Accordingly, there is a need for a technique of
adaptively changing a touch sensitive area of a foldable display
device according to a folded state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present specification is directed to a
foldable display device providing an adaptive touch sensitive area
and a method for controlling the same that substantially obviate
one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the
related art.
[0007] An object of the present specification is to provide a
foldable display device for adaptively changing a touch sensitive
area and a method for controlling the same. In particular, in the
present specification, there is a need for a method of determining
which touch sensitive area of a foldable display device is
activated according to a folded state.
[0008] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
specification will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the specification. The objectives and
other advantages of the specification may be realized and attained
by the structure particularly pointed out in the written
description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0009] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the specification, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a foldable display device includes a
foldable display unit including a first state which corresponds to
a folded state and a second state which corresponds to an unfolded
state, the foldable display unit being divided into a first area
which is a border area, a second area which is a folding area and a
third area located between the first area and the second area,
touch sensor units configured to detect control input for the
display unit, and a controller configured to control the display
unit and the touch sensor units, wherein the controller detects the
state of the foldable display unit, deactivates the touch sensor
units of the first area and the second area and activates the touch
sensor unit of the third area, if the foldable display unit is in
the first state, and deactivates the touch sensor unit of the first
area and activates the touch sensor units of the second area and
the third area, if the foldable display unit is in the second
state.
[0010] In another aspect of the present specification, a method for
controlling a foldable display device includes detecting a state of
a foldable display unit, the state of the foldable display unit
including a first state which corresponds to a folded state and a
second state which corresponds to an unfolded state and the
foldable display unit being divided into a first area which is a
border area, a second area which is a folding area and a third area
located between the first area and the second area, deactivating
touch sensor units of the first area and the second area and
activating a touch sensor unit of the third area if the foldable
display unit is in the first state, and deactivating the touch
sensor unit of the first area and activating the touch sensor units
of the second area and the third area if the foldable display unit
is in the second state.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
specification are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to
provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the specification and are incorporated in
and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s)
of the specification and together with the description serve to
explain the principle of the specification. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a foldable display device
according to an embodiment of the present specification;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing areas of a foldable display
device according to an embodiment of the present specification;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing areas of a foldable display
device according to another embodiment of the present
specification;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a folded state of a foldable
display device according to an embodiment of the present
specification;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of determining the
state of a foldable display device according to a folding angle of
the foldable display device according to an embodiment of the
present specification;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of changing the
position of content and a control button in correspondence with
rotation of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of
the present specification;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing exceptions of a touch sensitive
area of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the
present specification;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a foldable display device
according to an embodiment of the present specification; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling
a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present
specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present
specification will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings and, however, the range of the present
specification is not limited to the embodiments.
[0023] Although the terms used in the present specification are
selected from generally known and used terms, terms used herein may
be variable depending on operator's intention or customs in the
art, appearance of a new technology, or the like. In addition, some
of the terms mentioned in the description of the present
specification have been selected by the applicant at his or her
discretion, the detailed meanings of which are described in
relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is
required that the present specification is understood, not simply
by the actual terms used but by the meanings of each term lying
within.
[0024] In the present specification, a foldable display device may
include a foldable smartphone, a foldable smart pad, a foldable
music player, a foldable tablet computer, a foldable laptop, or a
flexible display device.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a foldable display device
according to an embodiment of the present specification. The
foldable display device 11 may include a foldable or bendable
display unit 12 and a bezel 13. The foldable display unit 12 may be
folded or bent in half with respect to a folding center axis 14 of
the foldable display device as described below. The foldable
display device 11 of the present specification is not limited to a
device folded or bent with respect to a center axis. The foldable
display device 11 may be asymmetrically folded. In addition, the
foldable display device may include two or more folding areas. For
example, the foldable display device 11 having two folding center
axes may be folded to a size of 1/3 of the total size thereof by
dividing a foldable display unit into three areas. Although a
foldable display device divided into two areas is described, the
present specification is applicable to a foldable display device
divided into three or more areas. The state of the foldable display
unit may be equal to that of the foldable display device.
[0026] The foldable display unit may not include the bezel 13 and a
front area of the foldable display device may be the display unit
12. The foldable display unit may include a touch sensitive display
unit.
[0027] The foldable display device 11 may be used in a state of
being gripped by a user's hand. Accordingly, if the foldable
display unit located on the front side of the foldable display
device is a touch sensitive display, unintended user touch input
may be performed through gripping. That is, when the user grips the
foldable display device, the touch sensitive display may be
touched. As the bezel of the foldable display device becomes
increasingly thin, a probability that unintended user touch input
occurs is increased. As a result, the foldable display device 11
may malfunction due to such unintended user touch input.
Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may temporarily
deactivate some touch sensitive areas in order to prevent
malfunction due to unintentional input through gripping, which will
be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0028] The state of the foldable display device 11 may be variously
changed by folding characteristics. The foldable display device 11
may be set to a folded state or an unfolded state. In addition, the
angle range of the foldable display device 11 may be set according
to state. For example, if an angle between both sides of the
foldable display unit is within a first angle range, the foldable
display device 11 may recognize that the foldable display unit is
in a folded state. If an angle between both sides of the foldable
display unit is within a second angle range, the foldable display
device 11 may recognize that the foldable display unit is in an
unfolded state. The angle included in the first angle range may be
less than the angle included in the second angle range. In another
embodiment, the state of the foldable display device 11 may be
determined based on an operation state of a hinge or using a
distance between both sides of the display unit. The foldable
display device 11 may activate or deactivate the touch sensor of
each area according to the state thereof, which will be described
in detail with reference to FIG. 5.
[0029] The foldable display device may include a foldable display
unit on a front side thereof in an unfolded state and may include a
foldable display unit on front and back sides thereof in a folded
state.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing areas of a foldable display
device according to an embodiment of the present specification.
According to embodiments, the foldable display device 11 may have a
touch sensitive display unit at a front side thereof. The foldable
display device 11 may not include a bezel.
[0031] In the foldable display device 11, a border area of a
foldable display unit may be set as a first area 21 and a folding
area may be set as a second area 22. An inner area other than the
first area and the second area 22 may be set as a third area 23.
The second area 22 may be set about the center axis 12.
[0032] In FIG. 2, the foldable display device 11 is in an unfolded
state. In the foldable display device 11, the touch sensor of the
first area 21 may be deactivated in the unfolded state.
Deactivating the touch sensor may mean that touch input is ignored
or the touch sensor is powered off. According to embodiments, the
touch sensor of the first area 21 may be deactivated at the
hardware level. According to embodiments, a foldable display device
without a touch sensor of a first area 21 may be designed. In FIG.
2, the first area 21 of the foldable display device 11 becomes a
border area. Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may
deactivate the touch sensor of the first area 21 belonging to the
border area to minimize malfunction due to unintentional input
through gripping. If the touch sensor of the first area 21 is
deactivated, the foldable display device 11 may ignore or bypass
touch input when touch input is detected in the first area 21. In
another embodiment, if the touch sensor of the first area 21 is
deactivated, the foldable display device 11 may perform a function
corresponding to a grip when the grip is detected in the first area
21. When the touch sensor detects a grip in a deactivated area, the
foldable display device 11 may use the detected grip as grip
position information. The foldable display device 11 may display a
control menu at a grip position using the grip position
information. The foldable display device 11 may display a control
menu at the grip position using the grip position information. In
addition, the foldable display device 11 may display an indicator
indicating the grip position.
[0033] The foldable display device 11 may activate the touch
sensors of the second area 22 which is the folding area and the
third area 23 which is the inner area to detect user touch
input.
[0034] The foldable display device 11 shown at the lower side of
FIG. 2 is different from the foldable display device 11 shown at
the upper side of FIG. 2 in terms of the boundary between the first
area 21 and the second area 22. The foldable display device 11 in
the unfolded state shown at the lower side of FIG. 2 may deactivate
the touch sensor of the first area 21 and activate the touch
sensors of the second area 22 and the third area.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing areas of a foldable display
device according to another embodiment of the present
specification. According to embodiments, the foldable display
device 11 may have a touch sensitive display unit at a front side
thereof. The foldable display device 11 may not include a
bezel.
[0036] The upper side of FIG. 3 shows areas if the foldable display
mode 11 in an unfolded state is in a landscape mode. The foldable
display device 11 may recognize that the foldable display device 11
is gripped by the user in the landscape mode using a gravity
sensor, a gyroscope sensor, etc.
[0037] If the foldable display device 11 is gripped by the user in
the landscape mode, the user may grip the first area 31.
Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may deactivate the
touch sensor of the first area 31 corresponding to a short side of
the foldable display device in the landscape mode. That is, the
foldable display device 11 may deactivate the touch sensors of two
sides each having a shorter length among four sides thereof. The
foldable display device detects an area gripped by the user and
adaptively sets the width of the first area 31. The foldable
display device may change the width of the first area 31 in
proportion to the width of the area gripped by the user.
[0038] The touch sensors of the second area 32 which is the folding
area and the third area 33 which is the inner area may be activated
to detect user touch input. In the upper side of FIG. 3, the touch
sensor of the border area corresponding to the long side of the
foldable display device may be activated as compared to FIG. 2.
Accordingly, the foldable display device may detect user touch
input in an area wider than that of FIG. 2.
[0039] The lower side of FIG. 3 shows areas if the foldable display
mode 11 in an unfolded state is in a portrait mode. The foldable
display device 11 may recognize that the foldable display device 11
is gripped by the user in the portrait mode using a gravity sensor,
a gyroscope sensor, etc.
[0040] If the foldable display device 11 is gripped by the user in
the portrait mode, the user may grip the first area 34.
Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may deactivate the
touch sensor of the first area 34 corresponding to a long side
among the border areas of the foldable display device in the
portrait mode. That is, the foldable display device 11 may
deactivate the touch sensors of two sides each having a longer
length among four sides thereof. The foldable display device
detects an area gripped by the user and adaptively sets the length
of the first area 34. The foldable display device may change the
length of the first area 34 in proportion to the width of the area
gripped by the user.
[0041] The touch sensors of the second area 35 which is the folding
area and the third area 36 which is the inner area may be activated
to detect user touch input. In the lower side of FIG. 3, the touch
sensor of the border area corresponding to the short side of the
foldable display device in the portrait mode may be activated as
compared to FIG. 2. Accordingly, the foldable display device may
detect user touch input over a wider area than that of FIG. 2.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a folded state of a foldable
display device according to an embodiment of the present
specification. According to embodiments, the foldable display
device 11 may have a touch sensitive display unit at a front side
thereof. The foldable display device 11 may not include a bezel. As
shown in FIG. 4, if the foldable display device is in the folded
state, touch sensitive display units may be provided on the front
side and the rear side thereof.
[0043] The foldable display device 11 may deactivate the touch
sensors of the first area 41 and the second area 42 in the folded
state. Deactivating the touch sensor may mean that touch input is
ignored or the touch sensor is powered off. According to
embodiments, the touch sensor of the first area 41 may be
deactivated at the hardware level. According to embodiments, a
foldable display device without a touch sensor of a first area 41
may be designed. In FIG. 4, in the foldable display device 11 of
the folded state, the first area 41 and the second area 42 are
border areas. Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may
deactivate the touch sensors of the first area 41 and the second
area 42 belonging to the border areas to minimize malfunction due
to unintentional input through gripping. In addition, the foldable
display device 11 may deactivate the touch sensors of the first
area 41 and the second area 42 located on the back side in the
folded state according to embodiments.
[0044] The foldable display device 11 may adaptively change the
width 44 of the first area and the width 45 of the second area
according to the state or size of the foldable display device 11.
For example, the foldable display device 11 may set the width 44 of
the first area and the width 45 of the second area in proportion to
the size thereof. The foldable display device 11 may set the width
44 of the first area and the width 45 of the second area in the
folded state to be narrower than the width 44 of the first area and
the width 45 of the second area in the unfolded state. This is
because, as the size of the foldable display device is increased,
more stable grip is required and thus the user must grip a wider
area. The foldable display device 11 may set a border area having a
first width in the unfolded state and set a border area having a
second width in the folded state. The first width may be equal to
or greater than the second width. Therefore, the foldable display
device may increase the touch sensitive area reduced due to the
folded state by the reduced border area.
[0045] The foldable display device 11 may activate the touch sensor
of the third area 43, which is the inner area, to detect user touch
input. In addition, the foldable display device 11 may deactivate
the touch sensor of the third area located on the back side in the
folded state according to embodiments. That is, the touch sensor of
an area which does not come within the field of vision of the user
in the third area 23, in which the touch sensor is activated, may
be deactivated.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of determining the
state of a foldable display device according to a folding angle of
the foldable display device according to an embodiment of the
present specification. According to embodiments, the foldable
display device 11 may have a touch sensitive display unit at a
front side thereof. The foldable display device 11 may not include
a bezel.
[0047] The foldable display device 11 may sense the folding angle
51 of the foldable display device as shown in the left upper side
of FIG. 5. The folding angle may be defined as an inner angle of
the foldable display unit. The foldable display device 11 may
determine the state of the foldable display device using the sensed
folding angle 51. The foldable display device 11 may use an
illumination sensor or a distance sensor to sense the folding angle
51. The illumination sensor may sense the folding angle according
to sensed brightness and the distance sensor may sense the folding
angle by measuring a distance between both sides of the display
unit of the foldable display device in the folded state.
Alternatively, the foldable display device 11 may sense the folding
angle using a hinge sensor or a magnetic sensor.
[0048] The foldable display device 11 may detect that the foldable
display device 11 is in the folded state if the folding angle 51 is
equal to or less than a first angle as shown in the left upper side
of FIG. 5. In addition, the foldable display device 11 may detect
that the foldable display device 11 is in the unfolded state if the
folding angle 51 is greater than the first angle as shown in the
lower side of FIG. 5.
[0049] As another embodiment, the foldable display device 11 may be
set to the folded state if the folding angle 51 is less than a
second angle. In addition, the foldable display device 11 may be
set to the unfolded state if the folding angle 51 is greater than a
third angle. If the foldable display device 11 is changed from the
unfolded state to the folded state, the touch sensor of the second
area 52 which is the folding area may be deactivated when the
folding angle 51 is a fourth angle. The fourth angle has a value
equal to or greater than the second angle and equal to or less than
the third angle and an angle range from the second angle to the
fourth angle may be set to be less than an angle range from the
fourth angle to the third angle. That is, if the foldable display
device 11 is in an intermediate state between the folded state and
the unfolded state as shown in the right upper side of FIG. 5, the
foldable display device 11 may maintain the touch sensor unit of
the second area 52 in the activated state until the foldable
display device reaches the folded state.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of changing the
position of content and a control button in correspondence with
rotation of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of
the present specification. According to embodiments, the foldable
display device 11 may have a touch sensitive display unit at a
front side thereof. The foldable display device 11 may not include
a bezel. As shown in FIG. 6, if the foldable display device is in
the folded state, touch sensitive display units may be provided on
front and back sides thereof.
[0051] In the left upper side of FIG. 6, the foldable display
device 11 may display an object 61 and a control button 62 in a
third area 43, in which the touch sensor is activated. The user may
control the object and the control button using touch input if the
object 61 and the control button 62 are present in the third area
43.
[0052] If the foldable display device 11 rotates as shown in the
right upper side of FIG. 6, the foldable display device 11 may
rotate the object 61 and the control button 62. The foldable
display device 11 may sense the rotation angle of the foldable
display device 11 and rotate and display the object 61 and the
control button 62 in correspondence with the sensed rotation
angle.
[0053] If the foldable display device 11 rotates the displayed
object 61 and control button 62, some of the object 61 or the
control button 62 may be displayed in an area, in which the touch
sensor is deactivated. For example, the control button 62 displayed
in the third area 43 in the left upper side of FIG. 6 may be
displayed in the second area 42 by rotation as shown in the right
upper side of FIG. 6. Since the touch sensor is deactivated in the
second area 42 of the foldable display device 11 in the folded
state, the user may not perform touch input using the control
button 62 displayed in the second area 42.
[0054] Accordingly, the foldable display device 11 may rotate the
displayed content on a per area basis. That is, in rotation of the
displayed object 61 or control button 62 due to rotation of the
foldable display device, the foldable display device 11 of the
present specification rotates the object 61 or the control button
62 on a per area basis, thereby ensuring touch continuity.
[0055] As shown in the lower side of FIG. 6, the foldable display
device 11 may sense the rotation angle of the foldable display
device and rotate the object 61 or the control button 62 displayed
in at least one area of the foldable display unit on a per area
basis in correspondence with the sensed rotation angle. If the
object 61 or the control button 62 is located in an area in which
the touch sensor is deactivated by rotation, the foldable display
device 11 may move and display the control button 62 in an area in
which the touch sensor is activated.
[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing exceptions of a touch sensitive
area of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the
present specification. According to embodiments, the foldable
display device 11 may have a touch sensitive display unit at a
front side thereof. The foldable display device 11 may not include
a bezel.
[0057] The foldable display device 11 may deactivate the touch
sensor of the first area 21 in the unfolded state. The foldable
display device 11 may detect touch input if touch input detected in
the second area 22 or the third area 23 in which the touch sensor
is activated is moved into the first area 21 while maintaining
contact with the foldable display device. The foldable display
device 11 may activate the touch sensor of some of the first area
21 based on a path along which touch input is moved from the second
area 22 or the third area 23.
[0058] That is, as shown in the upper side of FIG. 7, the foldable
display device 11 in the unfolded state may detect first touch
input 71 in the third area 23. First touch input 71 may be moved to
the right while maintaining contact with the foldable display
device. If first touch input 71 enters the first area 21 of the
foldable display device, the foldable display device 11 may
activate the touch sensor of some of the first area 21. For
example, the foldable display device 11 may track movement of first
touch input from the third area 23 to the first area 21 and
activate the touch sensor of some areas included in the travel
direction of first touch input 71 in the first area 21. The
foldable display device 11 may temporarily activate the touch
sensor of the first area 21 and, if first touch input 71 is
released from the foldable display device, the activated touch
sensor of some of the first area may be deactivated again. That is,
the foldable display device 11 may activate the first area 21 only
while control input moved from the third area 23 into the first
area 21 is detected while maintaining contact with the foldable
display device.
[0059] The foldable display device 11 may deactivate the touch
sensors of the first area 21 and the second area 22 in the folded
state. The foldable display device 11 may detect touch input if
touch input detected in the third area 23 in which the touch sensor
is activated is moved into the first area 21 or the second area 22
while maintaining contact with the foldable display device. The
foldable display device 11 may activate the touch sensor of some of
the first area 21 or the second area 22 based on a dragging path
from the third area 23.
[0060] That is, as shown in the lower side of FIG. 7, the foldable
display device 11 in the folded state may detect second touch input
72 in the third area 43. Second touch input 72 may be moved to the
right while maintaining contact with the foldable display device.
If second touch input 72 enters the second area 42, in which the
touch sensor is deactivated, due to folding, the foldable display
device 11 may activate the touch sensor of some of the second area
42. For example, the foldable display device 11 may track movement
of second touch input 72 from the third area 43 to the second area
42 and activate the touch sensor of some area included in the
travel direction of second touch input 72 in the second area 42.
The foldable display device 11 may temporarily activate the touch
sensor of the second area 42 and, if second touch input 72 is
released from the foldable display device, the touch sensor of some
of the second area 42 may be deactivated again.
[0061] As described above, the foldable display device 11 may
adaptively set the touch sensitive area and accurately reflect user
touch intention according to exceptions.
[0062] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a foldable display device
according to an embodiment of the present specification. The
display device may include a foldable display unit 101, a sensor
unit 102 and a controller 103.
[0063] The foldable display unit 101 may display an object and a
control button. The foldable display unit 101 may be folded or bent
in half with respect to the folding center axis. The foldable
display unit 101 may be asymmetrically folded with respect to an
arbitrary axis instead of the center axis. In addition, the
foldable display device may include two or more folding areas. For
example, the foldable display device having two folding center axes
may be folded to a size of 1/3 of the total size thereof by
dividing a foldable display unit into three areas. The foldable
display unit 101 may include at least one of an organic
light-emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an
electronic ink and flexible display, etc. according to
embodiments.
[0064] The sensor unit 102 may sense the state of the foldable
display device. The sensor unit 102 may measure an inner angle
between both sides of the foldable display unit to sense the folded
state or the unfolded state. As another embodiment, the sensor unit
102 may determine the state of the foldable display device using a
distance between both sides of the display unit of the foldable
display device in the folded state or based on the operation state
of a hinge. The sensor unit 102 may send information about the
state of the device to the controller 103.
[0065] The sensor unit 102 may sense touch input to the foldable
display device. The sensor unit 102 may sense user touch input
using a resistive or capacitive touch sensor. The touch sensor of
each area may be activated or deactivated by the controller 103.
The sensor unit may send information about sensed touch input to
the controller.
[0066] The sensor unit 102 may sense a tilt angle or rotation angle
of the foldable display device. The sensor unit 102 may use at
least one of a gravity sensor, a tilt sensor and a gyroscope sensor
to sense the tilt angle or the rotation angle. The sensor unit may
send information about the tile angle or the rotation angle to the
controller 103. The sensor unit 102 may determine whether the
foldable display device is in a portrait mode or a landscape mode
using at least one of a gravity sensor, a tilt sensor and a
gyroscope sensor.
[0067] The touch sensors of the foldable display unit 101 and the
sensor unit 102 may be integrated to form a touch sensitive display
unit according to embodiments.
[0068] The controller 103 may control the sensor unit 102 and the
display unit 103 using information received from the sensor unit
102. The controller 103 may detect the state of the foldable
display device using the sensor unit 102. The controller 103 may
detect whether the foldable display device is in the folded state
or the unfolded state. The determination as to whether the foldable
display device is in the folded state or the unfolded state may be
made based on information about the state of the device received
from the sensor unit. The controller may activate or deactivate the
touch sensor unit on a per area basis according to the detected
state of the foldable display device as described with reference to
FIGS. 2 to 6.
[0069] The controller 103 may receive information about sensed
touch input from the sensor unit 102. The controller 103 may
determine whether operation corresponding to touch input is
performed depending on in which area touch input is sensed. If
touch input is sensed in an area in which the touch sensor is
deactivated by the controller, the controller may ignore and bypass
the touch input. In addition, if touch input is sensed in an area
in which the touch sensor is activated by the controller, the
controller may perform operation corresponding to the touch
input.
[0070] The controller 103 may receive information about the sensed
tilt angle or rotation angle from the sensor unit 102. The
controller may rotate and display the object and the control button
displayed on the foldable display unit 101 based on the received
information. The controller may rotate the object and the control
button on a per area basis. Therefore, it is possible to prevent
the object or the control button from being moved into an area in
which the touch sensor is deactivated by rotation.
[0071] FIG. 8 is a block diagram according to an embodiment, in
which blocks represent logically divided elements of the foldable
display device. Accordingly, the elements of the foldable display
device may be mounted as one chip or a plurality of chips according
to design of the foldable display device.
[0072] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling
a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present
specification. The foldable display device may set a first area
which is a border area of a foldable display unit, a second area
which is a folding area and a third area which is located in an
inner area between the first area and the second area (S 10). As
described with reference to FIG. 2, the foldable display device may
set a border which may be gripped by a user as the first area. The
foldable display device may set left and right areas of the folding
center axis as the second area which is the folding area. In
addition, the foldable display device may set the inner area of the
foldable display unit surrounded by the first area and the second
area as the third area. The first area may be gripped by the user
in the unfolded state. The second area may be gripped by the user
in the folded state.
[0073] As described with reference to FIG. 3, the foldable display
device may differently set the first area, second area and third
area of the foldable display unit according to the portrait mode
and the landscape mode.
[0074] The foldable display device may detect the state of the
foldable display unit (S230). The state of the foldable display
unit may include a first state which corresponds to the folded
state or a second state which corresponds to the unfolded state. As
described with reference to FIG. 8, the foldable display device may
detect the state of the foldable display unit using the sensor
unit. The foldable display device may measure the inner angle
between both sides of the foldable display unit using the sensor
unit to detect whether the foldable display device is in the folded
state or the unfolded state. As another embodiment, the foldable
display device may determine the state of the foldable display unit
based on the operation state of a hinge located in the folding area
or by sensing a distance between both sides of the folded display
unit.
[0075] The foldable display device may determine that the state of
the foldable display unit corresponds to the first state which is
the folded state (S30). If the foldable display unit is in the
first state, the touch sensor units of the first area and the
second area are deactivated (S40) and the touch sensor unit of the
third area may be activated (S50). The foldable display device may
determine the state based on information about the state of the
foldable display unit sent from the sensor unit to the controller.
As described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first area and
second area of the foldable display device may be gripped by the
user in the first state which corresponds to the folded state.
Accordingly, the foldable display device may deactivate the touch
sensor units of the first area and the second area in order to
prevent unintentional input due to gripping. The foldable display
device interrupts supply of power to the touch sensor unit or
ignores touch input from a deactivated area.
[0076] The foldable display device may activate the touch sensor
unit of the third area to detect user touch input. That is, the
foldable display device may detect user touch input from the area
of the foldable display unit excluding the first and second
areas.
[0077] The foldable display device may determine that the foldable
display unit is in the second state which is the unfolded state
(S30). If the foldable display unit is in the second state, the
touch sensor unit of the first area may be deactivated (S60) and
the touch sensor units of the second area and the third area may be
activated (S70). The foldable display device may determine the
state based on information about the state of the foldable display
unit sent from the sensor unit to the controller. As described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first area of the foldable display
device may be gripped by the user in the second state which is the
unfolded state. Accordingly, the foldable display device may
deactivate the touch sensor unit of the first area in order to
prevent malfunction due to a grip. The foldable display device
interrupts supply of power to the touch sensor unit or ignores
touch input from a deactivated area.
[0078] The foldable display device may activate the touch sensor
units of the second area and the third area to detect user touch
input. That is, the foldable display device may detect user touch
input from the area of the foldable display unit excluding the
first area. Therefore, the user may perform touch input in the
areas of the foldable display unit excluding the border area.
[0079] As described above, the foldable display device of the
present specification may adaptively change the touch sensitive
area according to the state thereof to prevent malfunction due to
unintended user touch input.
[0080] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device may selectively activate a touch sensitive area according to
a folded state.
[0081] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device may deactivate a touch sensor unit of a border area to
prevent malfunction.
[0082] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device may rotate an object on a per area basis according to a
rotation angle.
[0083] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device may differently set a border area according to a folded
state.
[0084] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device may activate or deactivate a touch sensitive unit of a
folding area according to a folding angle.
[0085] According to the present specification, a foldable display
device temporarily activates a touch sensor of a deactivated area
if control input is moved from an area in which a touch sensor unit
is activated and an area in which a touch sensor unit is
deactivated.
[0086] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present
specification without departing from the spirit or scope of the
inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present specification
covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided
they come within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *