Flexible Electronic Device and Operating Method Thereof

Abstract

This application relates to a flexible electronic device for sensing a deformed state and an operating method thereof. The electronic device includes: a housing; a flexible display; at least one first sensor disposed in the housing; at least one second sensor disposed in the housing and different from the at least one first sensor; at least one processor disposed in the housing and operably connected to the flexible display, the at least one first sensor, and the at least one second sensor; and a memory operably connected to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform a plurality of operations including: obtaining first data from the at least one first sensor; activating the at least one second sensor at least in part based on the obtained first data; obtaining second data from the at least one second sensor; and sensing a deformed state of the flexible display at least in part based on the obtained first data or second data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Some embodiments relate to a flexible electronic device for sensing a deformed state and a method of operating the same. Background Art

[0002] Nowadays, electronic devices are equipped with various functions, including taking still or moving images, playing music files or moving image files, gaming, receiving broadcasts, and supporting wireless Internet, and have thus been implemented as general multimedia players. Accordingly, electronic devices have undergone new types of development in terms of hardware or software in order to enhance portability and convenience while meeting user needs.

[0003] The above information is presented only as background information to help understand the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above is applicable as prior art with respect to the present disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An electronic device according to some embodiments includes: a housing; a flexible display including a first portion and a second portion movable relative to each other; at least one first sensor disposed in the housing and configured to measure a relative position of the first portion and the second portion; at least one second sensor different from the at least one first sensor, the at least one second sensor disposed in the housing and configured to measure a relative position of the first portion and the second portion; at least one processor disposed in the housing and operably connected to the flexible display, the at least one first sensor, and the at least one second sensor; and a memory operably connected to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform a plurality of operations including: obtaining first data from the at least one first sensor; activating the at least one second sensor at least in part based on the obtained first data; obtaining second data from the at least one second sensor; and sensing a deformed state of the flexible display at least in part based on the obtained first data or second data.

[0005] A method of operating an electronic device, according to some embodiments, the method includes: obtaining first data from at least one first sensor configured to measure a relative position of a first portion and a second portion of a flexible display; activating at least one second sensor different from the at least one first sensor at least in part based on the obtained first data; obtaining second data from the activated at least one second sensor; and sensing a deformed state of the flexible display at least in part based on the obtained first data or second data.

[0006] The beneficial effects obtainable in the present disclosure are not limited to the above beneficial effects, and other beneficial effects not mentioned herein can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to certain embodiments;

[0009] Figure 2A is a front view showing an open state of an electronic device according to certain embodiments, and Figure 2B is a rear view showing an open state of an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0010] Figure 3A is a view showing a closed state of an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0011] Figure 3B is a view showing a folded state of an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0012] Figure 4 is a view showing sensors provided on an electronic device;

[0013] Figure 5 is a view showing a sensor frame structure for identifying a deformed state of an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0014] Figure 6 is a flowchart for identifying a deformed state of an electronic device related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0015] Figure 7 is a flowchart for activating at least one second sensor related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0016] Figure 8A is a flowchart for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0017] Figure 8B is a view for describing a sensor control operation of an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0018] Figure 9 is a flowchart for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments;

[0019] Figure 10Ais a diagram for describing a folded state of an electronic device according to some embodiments, Figure 10B is a diagram for describing a folded state of an electronic device according to some embodiments, Figure 10C is a diagram for describing a folded state of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 10D is a diagram for describing a folded state of an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0020] Figure 11 is another flowchart for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0021] Figure 12 is a flowchart for determining a deformed state of a display related to an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0022] Figure 13 is a flowchart for changing a display output scheme according to a deformed state of a display related to an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0023] Figure 14 is a diagram for describing an operation of changing an output scheme based on a deformed state related to an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0024] Figure 15 is a flowchart for determining an operation mode related to an electronic device according to some embodiments;

[0025] Figure 16A is a diagram for describing a display structure of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 16B is a diagram for describing a display structure of an electronic device according to some embodiments; and

[0026] Figure 16C is another diagram for describing an operation of changing an output scheme based on a deformed state related to an electronic device according to some embodiments. Detailed Embodiments

[0027] An electronic device can be flexible in structure. The mechanical state of a flexible electronic device can be changed by a user gesture. In addition, the operation of the flexible electronic device can be controlled based on a state change.

[0028] Such a flexible electronic device can be switched from an open state (or a fully open state) to a folded state or a closed state. Such a state change can be determined by an inertial sensor, a Hall IC sensor, etc.

[0029] However, these sensors have different characteristics respectively, making it difficult to identify various states of the electronic device. For example, the open state or closed state of a flexible electronic device can be determined by using a Hall IC sensor, but the characteristics of the Hall IC sensor make it difficult to measure deformations equal to or greater than a specific angle. In addition, the folded state of a flexible electronic device can be determined by using an inertial sensor, but the characteristics of the inertial sensor (the error accumulates as the measurement time increases) may reduce the accuracy of the measurement result.

[0030] Accordingly, some embodiments are provided to provide methods and devices for accurately measuring the deformation state of an electronic device. According to some embodiments, a measurement sensor is selected based on the degree of deformation related to the flexible electronic device, and the deformation state is determined based on the selected sensor, thereby enabling accurate measurement of the state of the electronic device.

[0031] The technical purposes to be achieved herein are not limited to the above technical purposes, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can clearly understand other technical purposes not mentioned herein from the following description.

[0032] Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, if the detailed description of a known function or its related configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The terms used herein are defined based on the corresponding functions in the present disclosure and may vary according to the intention, practice, etc. of the user or operator. Therefore, its definition will be made based on the overall context of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 1 An electronic device 101 that can have an open state, a closed state, or a folded state will be described. FIG. 2 depicts the open state, Figure 3A depicts the closed state, and Figure 3B depicts the folded state. Figure 4 depicts a sensor configured to detect a specific deformation state of the electronic device according to one embodiment. Figures 5 to 8B depicts using the sensor to determine the deformation state of the electronic device. Figures 9 to 12 depicts an embodiment in which the electronic device has more than one folding part. Figures 13 to 15 depicts changing the output scheme based on the determined deformation state. Figures 16A to 16C illustrates an embodiment having an expandable display.

[0034] Electronic device

[0035] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to some embodiments. Refer to Figure 1, in a network environment 100, an electronic device 101 may communicate with an electronic device 102 via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or communicate with an electronic device 104 or a server 108 via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104 via the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a processor 120, a memory 130, an input device 150, a sound output device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190, a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the display device 160 or the camera module 180) may be omitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added to the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit. For example, the sensor module 176 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented as being embedded in the display device 160 (e.g., a display).

[0036] In certain embodiments, as will be shown, the processor 120, the memory 130, the input device 150, the sound output device 155, the display device 160, the audio module 170, the sensor module 176, the interface 177, the haptic module 179, the camera module 180, the power management module 188, the battery 189, the communication module 190, the subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, and the antenna module 197 may be disposed in a foldable housing.

[0037] The processor 120 may run software (e.g., program 140), for example, to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware component or a software component) connected to the processor 120 of the electronic device 101, and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or calculation, the processor 120 may load commands or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module 176 or the communication module 190) into the volatile memory 132, process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store the resulting data in the non-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operationally independent of or combined with the main processor 121. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or may be adapted for a specific function. The auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented separately from the main processor 121 or as part of the main processor 121.

[0038] When the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one of the components of the electronic device 101 (other than the main processor 121) (e.g., the display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190), or when the main processor 121 is in an active state (e.g., running an application), the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states related to at least one of the components of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) together with the main processor 121. According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module 180 or the communication module 190) that is functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

[0039] Hereinafter, the term "processor" should be understood to include both singular and plural contexts.

[0040] The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101, such as the processor 120 or the sensor module 176. The various data may include, for example, software (such as the program 140) and input data or output data for commands associated therewith. The memory 130 may include a volatile memory 132 or a non-volatile memory 134. The term "memory" should be understood to refer to the entire memory system and may include memories across multiple integrated circuits.

[0041] The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software, and the program 140 may include, for example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, or an application 146.

[0042] The input device 150 may receive commands or data to be used by other components of the electronic device 101 (such as the processor 120) from the outside of the electronic device 101 (such as a user). The input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (such as a stylus).

[0043] The sound output device 155 may output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes such as playing multimedia or playing a record, and the receiver may be used for incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0044] The display device 160 may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device 101 (such as a user). The display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector, and a control circuit for controlling the corresponding one of the display, the holographic device, and the projector. According to an embodiment, the display device 160 may include a touch circuit adapted to detect a touch or a sensor circuit (such as a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the intensity of a force caused by the touch.

[0045] The display device 160 may have a first region and a second region. As Figure 2A will be shown, the first region and the second region may be rotatably movable relative to each other about a folding axis substantially along the center line of the display device 160.

[0046] The audio module 170 may convert sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain sound via the input device 150, or output sound via the sound output device 155 or headphones of an external electronic device (such as the electronic device 102) directly (such as wiredly) or wirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

[0047] The sensor module 176 can detect the operating state of the electronic device 101 (e.g., power or temperature) or the environmental state outside the electronic device 101 (e.g., the state of the user), and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0048] In some embodiments, the sensor module 176 can include at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor. The at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor can provide information about the folded or deformed state of the housing of the electronic device. The at least one first sensor can include at least one of a Hall integrated circuit (IC) sensor and an acceleration sensor. The at least one second sensor can include at least one of an angle encoder or a rotation sensor. The at least one first sensor can provide first data to the processor 120. The at least one second sensor can be configured to be selectively activated by the processor 120. For example, the processor 120 can activate the at least one second sensor based on the first data received from the at least one first sensor.

[0049] The interface 177 can support one or more specific protocols used to directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly connect the electronic device 101 to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the interface 177 can include, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

[0050] The connection end 178 can include a connector through which the electronic device 101 can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the connection end 178 can include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0051] The haptic module 179 can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that can be recognized by the user through his sense of touch or kinesthesia. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0052] The camera module 180 can capture still images or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 can include one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash.

[0053] The power management module 188 may manage the power supply to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as at least a part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0054] The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0055] The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108), and perform communication via the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include one or more communication processors capable of operating independently of the processor 120 (e.g., an application processor (AP)), and support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with an external electronic device via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or Infrared Data Association (IrDA)) or a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN))). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or these various types of communication modules may be implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module 192 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a communication network (such as the first network 198 or the second network 199) using user information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the user identification module 196.

[0056] The antenna module 197 may transmit signals or power to the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., an external electronic device) or receive signals or power from the outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., an external electronic device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include an antenna, and the antenna may include a radiation element formed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication scheme to be used in a communication network (such as the first network 198 or the second network 199) may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module 190 (e.g., the wireless communication module 192). Subsequently, signals or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module 190 and an external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, additional components (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiation element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

[0057] At least some of the above components may be interconnected via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, a general-purpose input / output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)) and communicatively transmit signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween.

[0058] According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device 104 via a server 108 connected to a second network 199. Each of the electronic devices 102 and 104 may be a device of the same type as the electronic device 101 or a device of a different type from the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or some of the operations running on the electronic device 101 may be run on one or more of the external electronic device 102, the external electronic device 104, or the server 108. For example, if the electronic device 101 is to automatically execute a function or service or is to execute a function or service in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101 may request one or more of the external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service instead of running the function or service, or in addition to running the function or service, the electronic device 101 may also request one or more of the external electronic devices to execute at least part of the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute the requested at least part of the function or service, or execute additional functions or additional services related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may provide the result as at least part of a reply to the request with or without further processing of the result. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing technology, distributed computing technology, or client-server computing technology may be used.

[0059] An electronic device according to some embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device is not limited to those described above.

[0060] It should be understood that certain embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features set forth herein to specific embodiments, but include various changes, equivalent forms or alternative forms corresponding to the respective embodiments. For the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used to refer to like or related elements. It will be understood that a singular noun corresponding to a term may include one or more things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of the phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C", and "at least one of A, B or C" may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding one of the plurality of phrases. As used herein, terms such as "first" and "second" or "1st" and "2nd" may be used to simply distinguish the corresponding components from another component, and do not limit the components in other aspects (e.g., importance or order). It will be understood that in the case where the term "operatively" or "communicatively" is used or where the term "operatively" or "communicatively" is not used, if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as "coupled with another element (e.g., a second element)", "coupled to another element (e.g., a second element)", "connected with another element (e.g., a second element)", or "connected to another element (e.g., a second element)", it means that the one element can be directly (e.g., wired) connected to the other element, wirelessly connected to the other element, or connected to the other element via a third element.

[0061] As used herein, the term "module" may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with other terms (e.g., "logic", "logic block", "portion", or "circuit"). A module may be a single integrated component adapted to perform one or more functions or the smallest unit or portion of the single integrated component. For example, according to an embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0062] Certain embodiments described herein can be implemented as software (e.g., program 140) including one or more instructions readable by a machine (e.g., electronic device 101) stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 136 or external memory 138). For example, under the control of a processor, a processor (e.g., processor 120) of the machine (e.g., electronic device 101) can call at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium and run the at least one instruction with or without using one or more other components. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function in accordance with the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions can include code generated by a compiler or code that can be run by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium can be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Herein, the term "non-transitory" only means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not include signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), but this term does not distinguish between data being stored semi-permanently in the storage medium and data being stored temporarily in the storage medium.

[0063] According to an embodiment, a method according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure can be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product can be traded between a seller and a purchaser as a product. The computer program product can be published in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or the computer program product can be published online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store (e.g., Play StoreTM), or the computer program product can be distributed directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) (e.g., downloaded or uploaded). If it is published online, at least part of the computer program product can be generated temporarily, or at least part of the computer program product can be stored at least temporarily in a machine-readable storage medium (such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a forwarding server).

[0064] According to some embodiments, each of the above components (e.g., a module or a program) may include a single entity or multiple entities. According to some embodiments, one or more of the above components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Optionally or additionally, multiple components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, according to some embodiments, the integrated component may still perform the one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as the corresponding one of the multiple components performed the one or more functions before integration. According to some embodiments, the operations performed by a module, a program, or another component may be performed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or in a heuristic manner, or one or more of the operations may be run in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0065] The electronic device 101 may be disposed in a foldable housing that includes a first housing and a second housing connected to each other by a folding portion. The foldable housing may take various deformed states, such as an open state, a closed state, and a folded state. The open state is when the first housing and the second housing substantially form a single flat surface above the first housing and the second housing, or within a certain threshold of the flat surface. The closed state is when the first housing and the second housing are stacked on top of each other, or within a certain degree of being stacked on top of each other. The folded state is when the first housing and the second housing form an angle between the open state and the closed state.

[0066] Deformed state

[0067] Figure 2A is a diagram showing the open state of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 2B is a diagram showing the open state of an electronic device according to some embodiments. More specifically, Figure 2A is a front view showing the open state of an electronic device according to some embodiments, while Figure 2B is a rear view showing the open state of an electronic device according to some embodiments. In addition, Figure 3A is a diagram showing the closed states 300 and 310 of an electronic device according to some embodiments, Figure 3B is a diagram showing the folded states 320 and 330 of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 4 is a diagram 400 showing sensors provided on the electronic device. In the following description, the electronic device may include Figure 1 the electronic device 101 in

[0068] 1. Open state

[0069] Refer to Figure 2A andFigure 2B According to certain embodiments, an electronic device may include a foldable housing (or flexible housing) 210, a folding portion 220, a main display 230, and / or a sub-display 250.

[0070] According to certain embodiments, the foldable housing 210 may include a first housing 212 and a second housing 214. The first housing 212 may include a first surface (or first front surface) and a third surface (or first rear surface) facing away from the first surface. The second housing 214 may include a second surface (or second front surface) and a fourth surface (or second rear surface) facing away from the second surface.

[0071] According to certain embodiments, the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 may be disposed on opposite sides of the folding portion 220 and may be connected by the folding portion 220. For example, the folding portion 220 may be respectively coupled to a side surface of the first housing 212 and a side surface of the second housing 214 facing the side surface of the first housing 212 so as to be pivotally (or rotatably) or foldably connected between the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. According to an embodiment, the first housing 212 may be connected to the second housing 214 by the folding portion 220 and may rotate relative to the folding portion 220. In addition, the second housing 214 may be connected to the first housing 212 by the folding portion 220 and may rotate relative to the folding portion 220. The first housing 212 and the second housing 214 may rotate relative to the folding portion 220 such that the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 fold while facing each other.

[0072] According to certain embodiments, the main display 230 may be disposed across the folding portion 220 on the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. The main display 230 may be mounted to be supported by the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. In certain embodiments, the main display 230 may be disposed across the folding portion 220 on the first surface of the first housing 212 and the second surface of the second housing 214. The area of the main display 230 may be divided into different areas relative to the folding portion 220. For example, the area of the main display 230 may be divided into a first area 231 and a second area 232.

[0073] According to certain embodiments, the sub-display 250 may be disposed in a space formed by the first housing 212. At least a portion of the sub-display 250 may be visually exposed through the third surface (or first rear surface) of the first housing 212 or through a partial area of the first rear cover 280. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the sub-display 250 may be disposed in a space formed by the second housing 214 such that at least a portion of it is visually exposed through the fourth surface (or second rear surface) of the second housing 214 or through a partial area of the second rear cover 270.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the open state may refer to a state in which the first housing 212 faces a fifth direction and the second housing 214 faces a sixth direction that is substantially the same as the fifth direction. For example, when the electronic device is unfolded, the angle between the first surface of the first housing 212 and the second surface of the second housing 214 may be included within a pre-specified first angle range. The pre-specified first angle range may be greater than 150° and less than 180°. When the electronic device is unfolded, the main display 230 may be exposed through the field of view of the front surface of the electronic device that the user faces, and the sub-display 250 may not be exposed.

[0075] 2. Closed state

[0076] According to an embodiment, the closed state may refer to a state in which the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 substantially overlap or coincide with each other. The state of substantially overlapping or coinciding may refer to a state in which the angle between the first surface of the first housing 212 and the second surface of the second housing 214 is included within a pre-specified second angle range, or the angle between the third surface of the first housing 212 and the fourth surface of the second housing 214 is included within a pre-specified second angle range. The pre-specified second angle range may be greater than 0° and less than 10°. For example, the closed state may correspond to Figure 3A the state 300 in which the first surface of the first housing 212 and the second surface of the second housing 214 face each other, or Figure 3A the state 310 in which the third surface of the first housing 212 and the fourth surface of the second housing 214 face each other. When the electronic device is in the closed state, the sub-display 250 may be exposed through the field of view of the front surface of the electronic device that the user faces, and the main display 230 may not be exposed.

[0077] 3. Folded state

[0078] According to an embodiment, the folded state may correspond to an intermediate state between the above-described open state and the closed state. For example, the folded state of the electronic device may correspond to Figure 3B the state 320 in which the angle between the first surface of the first housing 212 and the second surface of the second housing 214 is included within a pre-specified third angle range, or correspond to Figure 3B the state 330 in which the angle between the third surface of the first housing 212 and the fourth surface of the second housing 214 is included within a pre-specified third angle range. The pre-specified third angle range may be greater than 10° and less than 150°. When the electronic device is folded, the main display 230 may be exposed through the field of view of the front surface of the electronic device that the user faces, and the sub-display 250 may not be exposed. In addition, depending on the degree of folding of the electronic device, at least a part of the rear surface of the electronic device (e.g., the sub-display 250) may be exposed, and at least a part of the main display 230 may not be exposed.

[0079] Sensor

[0080] Various sensors can be used to detect whether the electronic device is in an open state, a closed state, or a folded state.

[0081] According to some embodiments, each of the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 may have a first sensor disposed thereon. For example, as Figure 4 shown, at least one sensor capable of sensing deformation of the electronic device may be disposed on the first housing 212, the folding portion 220, and / or the second housing 214. The sensors capable of sensing deformation may include at least one of an inertial sensor 420, Hall IC sensors 430 and 440, a proximity sensor 410, a tensile sensor 450, or an angle encoder (or rotation sensor) 460. According to an embodiment, the inertial sensor 420 may be disposed in the space formed by the first housing 212 and in the space formed by the second housing 214. For example, the inertial sensor 420 may acquire information about acceleration, velocity, direction, distance, etc. generated by the movement of the first housing 212 and / or the second housing 214. For example, the inertial sensor 420 may be disposed in a predetermined area relative to the center of the first housing 212. According to an embodiment, the Hall IC sensors 430 and 440 may be disposed in a space configured such that the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 may be adjacent to each other. The Hall IC sensors 430 and 440 may include a transmitter for generating a magnetic field of a specific frequency and a receiver for receiving the magnetic field generated by the transmitter, thereby acquiring data about the closing or unfolding of the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. In addition, the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 may have a plurality of Hall IC sensors disposed thereon. For example, at least one of the transmitter or the receiver of the first Hall IC sensor 430 may be disposed on the side surface of the first housing 212 that is connected to the folding portion 220, and the other thereof may be disposed on the side surface of the second housing 214. In addition, at least one of the transmitter or the receiver of the second Hall IC sensor 440 may be disposed on the end corresponding to the first direction (e.g., the leftward direction of the first housing 212) of the first housing 212, and the other thereof may be disposed on the end corresponding to the second direction (e.g., the rightward direction of the second housing 214) of the second housing 214, where the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the proximity sensor 410 may be disposed inside the first housing 212 or the second housing 214. For example, the proximity sensor 410 may be disposed at an end corresponding to the third direction of the first housing 212 (e.g., the upward direction of the first housing 212) or at an end corresponding to the fourth direction of the second housing 214 (e.g., the upward direction of the second housing 214), where the fourth direction is substantially the same as the third direction. For example, the proximity sensor 410 may be exposed to the outside of the electronic device through an opening formed in the first surface (e.g., the first front surface) of the first housing 212 or the second surface (e.g., the second front surface) of the second housing 214, so as to obtain data on the proximity between the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. According to an embodiment, the stretch sensor 450 and the angle encoder 460 may be disposed on at least a part of the folding part 220 that connects the first housing 212 and the second housing 214. For example, the stretch sensor 450 and the angle encoder 460 may obtain information on the rotation angle of the first housing 212 and the second housing 214.

[0083] The above positions where at least one sensor is disposed are examples for helping to understand certain embodiments, and certain embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the positions where at least one sensor is disposed may be configured and / or changed by a designer and / or a user.

[0084] According to certain embodiments, the folding part 220 may be configured with a hinge part and a hinge cover (not shown), and the hinge part may be covered by the hinge cover.

[0085] According to certain embodiments, the main display 230 may be coupled to a touch sensor (not shown) capable of detecting a touch input, such that the main display 230 is configured with an integrated touch screen. When the main display 230 is configured with a touch screen, the touch sensor may be disposed above or below the main display 230.

[0086] The above configuration of the electronic device is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to the above configuration, the electronic device may further include at least one component. The at least one component may include at least one camera, at least one sensor, at least one microphone, at least one speaker, etc., as at least a part of the configuration described above with reference to Figure 1 The at least one component may be disposed in a space formed by the first rear cover 280 of the first housing 212 or the second rear cover 270 of the second housing 214.

[0087] The electronic device according to certain embodiments may reach a state (or fully opened state) in which it is unfolded by the folding part 220. In addition, the electronic device may reach a state (or partially opened state) and / or a closed state in which it is folded by the folding part 220.

[0088] The following angular ranges for determining the open state, the folded state, and the closed state:

[0089] Angle Deformation state

[0090] 0 to 10 degrees Closed

[0091] 10 to 150 degrees Folded

[0092] 150 to 180 degrees Open

[0093] These are examples, and some embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the angular ranges for determining the open state, the folded state, or the closed state can be configured and / or changed by the designer and / or the user.

[0094] Different sensors have different characteristics. For example, the open state or the closed state of a flexible electronic device can be determined by using a Hall IC sensor, but the characteristics of the Hall IC sensor may make it difficult to measure deformations equal to or greater than a specific angle. In addition, the folded state of a flexible electronic device can be determined by using an inertial sensor, but the characteristics of the inertial sensor (the error accumulates as the measurement time increases) may reduce the accuracy of the measurement result.

[0095] Therefore, the processor can use at least one second sensor to determine the deformation state of the electronic device. At least one first sensor can generally be "always on" and continuously monitor the state of the electronic device, such as a Hall IC sensor or an acceleration sensor. Based on the information provided by at least one first sensor, the processor can activate at least one second sensor. The data from at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor can be used to determine the deformation state of the electronic device.

[0096] Figure 5 FIG. 500 is a diagram showing a sensor frame structure for determining the deformation state of an electronic device according to some embodiments.

[0097] Referring to Figure 5 , the sensor frame can generate new information by combining multiple pieces of information obtained by various physical sensors 510 for determining the deformation state of the electronic device into a single piece of information. According to an embodiment, the sensor frame can include a combined information provider 520 and a deformation sensor provider 530, where the combined information provider 520 is configured to combine multiple pieces of information obtained by various physical sensors 510, and the deformation sensor provider 530 is configured to provide sensor information generated by the deformation of the electronic device based on the information combined by the combined information provider 520.

[0098] According to an embodiment, the combined information provider 520 may include an inertial information provider 521, an angular information provider 522, a folding information provider 523, a deformation information provider 524, etc. As described above, the combined information provider 520 may combine information acquired by at least some of the plurality of physical sensors 510 disposed on the electronic device. For example, the inertial information provider 521 may combine multiple pieces of information acquired by the acceleration sensor 511, the gyro sensor 516, etc., to provide inertial information. In addition, the angular information provider 522 may combine information acquired by the acceleration sensor 511, the gyro sensor 516, the angular encoder 513, the Hall IC sensor 517, etc., to provide angular information. In addition, the folding information provider 523 may combine information acquired by the angular encoder 513, the proximity sensor 514, the piezoelectric sensor 515, the Hall IC sensor 517, and the rotation sensor 519 to provide folding information. In addition, the deformation information provider 524 may combine information acquired by the acceleration sensor 511, the magnetic sensor 512, the angular encoder 513, the proximity sensor 514, the piezoelectric sensor 515, the gyro sensor 516, the Hall IC sensor 517, the stretch sensor 518, and the rotation sensor 519 to provide deformation information. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the type of the combined information provider 520 and the type of the physical sensors 510 used by the combined information provider 520 may be configured and / or changed by a designer and / or a user.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the deformation sensor provider 530 may provide at least a part of the information combined by the combined information provider 520, as sensor information generated by the deformation of the electronic device, as described above.

[0100] An electronic device according to certain embodiments (e.g., Figure 1 the electronic device 101 in Figure 2A may include: a housing (e.g., Figure 2A the foldable housing 210 in Figure 2A ); a flexible display (e.g., Figure 2A the main display 230 in Figure 5 ), which includes a first part (e.g., Figure 5 the first housing 212 in Figure 2A ) and a second part (e.g., Figure 2A the second housing 214 in Figure 2A ) that are movable relative to each other; at least one first sensor (e.g., Figure 5 at least a part of the physical sensors 510 in Figure 2A ), which is disposed in the housing and configured to measure the relative positions of the first part and the second part; at least one second sensor (e.g., Figure 5 another part of the physical sensors 510 in Figure 2A ) that is different from the at least one first sensor, the at least one second sensor being disposed in the housing and configured to measure the relative positions of the first part and the second part; a processor (e.g.,Figure 1 a processor 120) disposed in the housing and operably connected to the flexible display, at least one first sensor, and at least one second sensor; and a memory (e.g., Figure 1 the memory 130) in, operably connected to the processor. The memory can be configured to store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: obtain first data from at least one first sensor; activate at least one second sensor at least in part based on the obtained first data; obtain second data from the activated at least one second sensor; and sense a deformation state of the flexible display at least in part based on the obtained first data or second data.

[0101] According to an embodiment, the instructions can be configured to cause the processor to monitor an initial state of the housing by using at least one first sensor after the electronic device is started.

[0102] According to an embodiment, at least one first sensor can include a Hall IC sensor (e.g., Figure 5 the Hall IC sensor 517) in or an acceleration sensor (e.g., Figure 5 the acceleration sensor 511) in at least one of.

[0103] According to an embodiment, at least one second sensor can include an angle encoder (e.g., Figure 5 the angle encoder 513) in or a rotation sensor (e.g., Figure 5 the rotation sensor 519) in at least one of.

[0104] According to an embodiment, the memory can be configured to store accuracy information and / or current consumption information corresponding to relative positions and / or angles of at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor, and the instructions can be configured to cause the processor to activate at least one second sensor at least in part based on the first data and the information.

[0105] According to an embodiment, the memory can be configured to store information corresponding to an application of at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor, and the instructions can be configured to cause the processor to activate at least one second sensor at least in part based on the first data and the information.

[0106] According to an embodiment, the flexible display can further include a third portion that can be changed relative to each other in position and / or angle; the memory can be configured to store information corresponding to a folding type of the flexible display of at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor; and the instructions can be configured to cause the processor to determine the folding type of the flexible display at least in part based on the first data, and activate at least one second sensor based on the determined folding type and the information.

[0107] According to an embodiment, the instruction may be configured to cause the processor to activate at least one second sensor and then deactivate at least one first sensor.

[0108] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include at least one third sensor different from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor (e.g., Figure 5 another part of the physical sensor 510 in ), the third sensor being disposed in the housing and configured to measure the relative position and / or angle of the first part and the second part. The instruction may be configured to cause the processor to: activate at least one third sensor when the sensed deformation state of the flexible display satisfies a specified condition; obtain third data by using the activated third sensor; and monitor the deformation state of the flexible display based on the obtained third data. The at least one third sensor may include a gyroscope sensor (e.g., Figure 5 the gyroscope sensor 516 in ).

[0109] According to an embodiment, the instruction may be configured to cause the processor to determine an output scheme regarding the first part and the second part based on the sensed deformation state of the flexible display.

[0110] Figure 6 is a flowchart 600 for identifying a deformation state of an electronic device related to the electronic device according to certain embodiments. The various operations in the following embodiments may be executed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of the respective operations may be changed, and at least two operations may be executed in parallel.

[0111] Referring to Figure 6 , according to certain embodiments, in operation 610, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in (e.g., in the electronic device 101) may obtain first data by using at least one first sensor. For example, at least one first sensor may be some of the sensors provided in the electronic device 101. For example, the first data may be obtained by at least one of an inertial sensor, a magnetic sensor, a Hall IC sensor, a proximity sensor, an angle encoder, a stretch sensor, or a rotation sensor. As another example, the at least one first sensor may correspond to all the sensors provided in the electronic device 101. For example, the first data may be obtained by an inertial sensor, a magnetic sensor, a Hall IC sensor, a proximity sensor, an angle encoder, a stretch sensor, or a rotation sensor. According to an embodiment, the at least one first sensor may be activated by a pre-specified event. The pre-specified event may be related to at least one of power-on (or startup) of the electronic device 101, execution of a pre-specified application, a pre-specified user input, or a battery state. According to an embodiment, after the pre-specified event occurs, the first data may be related to the relative position and / or angle of at least a part of the first housing and at least a part of the second housing in the initial state of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the foldable housing 210). For example, the first data may be information combined by at least one of the combination information providers 520 as described above with reference to Figure 5 and provided.

[0112] According to some embodiments, in operation 620, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may process the activation of at least one second sensor based on the first data. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may determine a main deformation state of the electronic device 101 based on the first data. In addition, the processor 120 may activate at least one second sensor to obtain second data for determining a secondary deformation state based on the main deformation state. For example, at least a part of the at least one second sensor for obtaining the second data may be different from the at least one first sensor activated to obtain the first data. For example, when the first data is obtained by an inertial sensor and a Hall IC sensor, the processor 120 may activate at least one of a proximity sensor, an angle encoder, a stretch sensor, or a rotation sensor to obtain the second data. The processor 120 may deactivate at least one first sensor or may maintain the activation of at least a part of the activated first sensors.

[0113] According to some embodiments, in operation 630, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may obtain second data by using at least one activated second sensor. According to an embodiment, the second data may be information provided by at least one of the combination information provider 520 or the deformation sensor provider 530 as described above with reference to Figure 5 and provided.

[0114] According to certain embodiments, in operation 640, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may determine the deformed state of the display based on at least a portion of the second data. For example, the processor 120 may determine a secondary deformed state of the electronic device 101 based on at least a portion of the second data. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the processor 120 may use at least a portion of the first data to determine a secondary deformed state of the electronic device 101.

[0115] Figure 7 is a flowchart 700 for activating at least one second sensor related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments. The operations described below Figure 7 may correspond to certain embodiments of operations 610 and 620 in Figure 6 . The various operations in the following embodiments may be performed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of the respective operations may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

[0116] Referring to Figure 7 , according to certain embodiments, in operation 710, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may sense a state detection event. A state detection event refers to a pre-specified event for detecting the deformed state of the electronic device 101, and may be related to at least one of the power-on of the electronic device 101, the execution of a pre-specified application, a pre-specified user input, or the battery state as described above.

[0117] According to certain embodiments, in operation 720, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may process the acquisition of the first data. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may acquire the first data by using at least one first sensor.

[0118] According to certain embodiments, in operation 730, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may determine the folding degree of the display based on at least a portion of the first data. The folding degree may be based on the angle between the first area 231 and the second area 232 of the display.

[0119] According to certain embodiments, in operation 740, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 therein may confirm whether the sensor change condition is met based on the degree of folding of the display. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may confirm whether the sensor change condition is met based on pre-specified sensor driving information and the current degree of folding of the display. As in the example given in Table 1 below, the driving information may correspond to information related to the definition of the sensors (e.g., corresponding sensors) that are driven to correspond to the degree of folding of the display:

[0120] Table 1

[0121]

[0122] For example, the processor 120 may identify at least one corresponding sensor corresponding to the current degree of folding of the display based on the sensor driving information. In addition, the processor 120 may confirm whether the currently driven sensor (e.g., at least one first sensor currently driven) is the same as the at least one corresponding sensor identified. For example, if at least one sensor is the same as the at least one corresponding sensor, the processor 120 may confirm that the sensor change condition is not met. In addition, if at least one sensor is different from the at least one corresponding sensor, the processor 120 may confirm that the sensor change condition is met.

[0123] According to another embodiment, as in the example given in Table 2 below, the driving information may include additional information related to the definition of the amount of current consumed by the corresponding sensors:

[0124] Table 2

[0125]

[0126] For example, the processor 120 may identify at least one corresponding sensor corresponding to the current degree of folding of the display based on the current consumption in the sensor driving information. In addition, the processor 120 may confirm whether the currently driven sensor (e.g., at least one first sensor currently driven) is the same as the at least one corresponding sensor identified. For example, if at least one first sensor is the same as the at least one corresponding sensor, the processor 120 may confirm that the sensor change condition is not met. In addition, if at least one first sensor is different from the at least one corresponding sensor, the processor 120 may confirm that the sensor change condition is met.

[0127] According to certain embodiments, when it is confirmed that the sensor change condition is met based on the degree of folding of the display, in operation 750, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in ) may determine at least one second sensor corresponding to the degree of folding as an activation target. For example, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the first range, based on Table 1 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor and the inertial sensor as activation targets for obtaining second data. In addition, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the nth range, based on Table 1 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor, the inertial sensor, the angle encoder, and the stretch sensor as activation targets for obtaining second data.

[0128] As another example, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the first range, based on Table 1 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor as an activation target for obtaining second data, and the Hall IC sensor has relatively high accuracy among the corresponding sensors corresponding to the first range. In addition, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the nth range, based on Table 1 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor among the Hall IC sensor, the inertial sensor, the angle encoder, and the stretch sensor as an activation target for obtaining second data based on accuracy.

[0129] As another example, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the first range, based on Table 2 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor that consumes a small amount of current among the Hall IC sensor or the inertial sensor as an activation target for obtaining second data. In addition, in response to determining that the degree of folding is included in the nth range, based on Table 2 above, the processor 120 may determine the Hall IC sensor that consumes a small amount of current among the Hall IC sensor, the inertial sensor, the angle encoder, and the stretch sensor as an activation target for obtaining second data. The examples of the drive information in Table 1 and Table 2 mentioned in the above embodiments are examples for helping to understand certain embodiments, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, information about the degree of folding, the corresponding sensors, accuracy, or power consumption defined in the drive information may be configured and / or changed by the designer and / or the user. According to certain embodiments, the determined activation target may be at least one of the combined information provider 520 or the deformed sensor provider 530 as described in the reference Figure 5 described.

[0130] According to certain embodiments, when it is confirmed as a result of performing operation 740 that the sensor change condition is not satisfied, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may perform an operation of confirming whether the sensor change condition is satisfied. For example, the processor 120 may perform at least one of operation 720 to operation 740.

[0131] Figure 8AFIG. 800 is a flowchart for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to some embodiments. Figure 8B FIG. 850 is a diagram for describing sensor control operations of an electronic device according to some embodiments. Operations described below Figure 8A may correspond to Figure 7 certain embodiments of operation 750 in. In addition, various operations in the following embodiments may be performed in sequence, but not necessarily in sequence. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

[0132] Referring to Figure 8A , according to some embodiments, in operation 810, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may identify a folding state (or folding type or folding kind) of the electronic device 101 (or the main display 230) based on at least a portion of the first data. The folding state may be related to the folding direction of the electronic device 101. For example, the folding state may include a first folding state and a second folding state. The first folding state may correspond to a state (e.g., inner folding) in which a first surface (e.g., a first front surface) of the first housing 212 of the electronic device 101 and a second surface (e.g., a second front surface) of the second housing 214 are arranged to face each other (e.g., a case where a third surface (e.g., a first rear surface) of the first housing 212 or a fourth surface (e.g., a second rear surface) of the second housing 214 is exposed). In addition, the second folding state may correspond to a state (e.g., outer folding) in which a third surface of the first housing 212 of the electronic device 101 and a fourth surface of the second housing 214 are arranged to face each other (e.g., a case where a first surface of the first housing 212 or a second surface of the second housing 214 is exposed).

[0133] According to some embodiments, in operation 820, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may determine at least one second sensor corresponding to the folding state as an activation target.

[0134] According to some embodiments, in operation 830, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may determine at least one sensor not corresponding to the folding state as a non-activation target. The processor 120 may process at least one sensor that has been determined as a non-activation target so as to switch to a non-activated state. According to an embodiment, as Figure 8BAs shown, when the electronic device 101 switches from the first folded state (e.g., the inner folded state) to the unfolded state (e.g., a state close to fully unfolded), the processor 120 may determine at least one sensor related to the second folded state (e.g., the outer folded sensor group) as an activation (e.g., driving) target. In addition, when the electronic device 101 switches from the unfolded state to the second folded state, the processor 120 may process at least one sensor related to the first folded state (e.g., the inner folded sensor group) so as to make it in a non-activated state (e.g., aborted). On the other hand, when the electronic device 101 switches from the second folded state to the unfolded state, the processor 120 may process at least one non-activated sensor related to the first folded state (e.g., the inner folded sensor group) for activation. In addition, when the electronic device 101 switches from the unfolded state to the first folded state, the processor 120 may process at least one sensor related to the second folded state (e.g., the outer folded sensor group) to make it in a non-activated state.

[0135] More than one folding part

[0136] The present disclosure is not limited to an electronic device having only one folding part. For example, in some embodiments, the housing of the electronic device may be folded along more than one axis. For example, in Figure 10A the electronic device may have a first folding part 1012, a second folding part 1014, and a third folding part 1016. As Figures 10A to 10D shown, the electronic device may have various folded states.

[0137] Figure 9 is a flowchart 900 for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to some embodiments. Figure 10A is a diagram for describing the folded states of an electronic device according to some embodiments, Figure 10B is a diagram for describing the folded states of an electronic device according to some embodiments, Figure 10C is a diagram for describing the folded states of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 10D is a diagram for describing the folded states of an electronic device according to some embodiments. The operations described below Figure 9 may correspond to some embodiments of operation 750 in Figure 7 In addition, the various operations in the following embodiments may be executed in sequence, but not necessarily in sequence. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be executed in parallel.

[0138] Referring to Figure 9 according to some embodiments, in operation 910, the electronic device 101 (e.g.,Figure 1 The processor 120 in ) can sense multiple folding parts of the display. For example, as Figure 10A shown, the electronic device 101 may include (1000) multiple folding parts (e.g., a first folding part 1012, a second folding part 1014, and a third folding part 1016). In addition, the display 1010 can be divided into multiple regions relative to the multiple folding parts 1012, 1014, and 1016. For example, the display 1010 can be divided into a first region 1022, a second region 1024, a third region 1026, and a fourth region 1028. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 can sense a part and sense the folding of that part through the multiple folding parts 1012, 1014, and 1016.

[0139] According to certain embodiments, in operation 920, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) can identify the folding type (or folding category or folding state) of the electronic device 101 (or the main display 230) based on the sensed folding parts. As described above with reference to Figures 2A to 3B , the folding type related to the state of the electronic device 101 can be an open state (or fully open state), a folded state (or partially open state), and / or a closed state. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 can determine the folding type based on at least one of the number of parts whose folding has been sensed or the direction in which the folding has occurred. For example, when a folding of one folding part is detected, the processor 120 can determine a folding type corresponding to a fully closed state or a partially closed state. For example, as in the case of 1030 in Figure 10B , when a folding occurring in the third folding part (or the first folding part) is sensed, the processor 120 can determine a partially closed state in which at least a part of the display is exposed. In addition, as in the case of 1040 in Figure 10B , when a folding occurring in the second folding part is sensed, the processor 120 can determine a fully closed state in which the display is not exposed. As another example, when foldings of at least two folding parts are sensed, the processor 120 can determine a folding type corresponding to a partially rolled-up state or a fully rolled-up state. For example, as in the case of 1050 in Figure 10C , when foldings occurring in the third folding part (or the first folding part) and the second folding part in the same direction are sensed, the processor 120 can determine a partially rolled-up state in which at least a part of the display is exposed. In addition, as in the case of 1060 in Figure 10C , when foldings occurring in the first folding part, the second folding part, and the third folding part in the same direction are sensed, the processor 120 can determine a fully rolled-up state in which the display is not exposed. In addition, as in Figure 10DIn the case of 1070 and 1080, when it is sensed that folding occurs in the third folding part (or the first folding part) and the second folding part in at least different directions, the processor 120 may determine an "N" type or an "M" type state in which at least a part of the display is exposed.

[0140] According to some embodiments, in operation 930, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may determine at least one second sensor as an activation target based on the determined folding type. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may determine at least one second sensor corresponding to the folding type among the sensors provided in the electronic device 101 as an activation target. For example, the activation target may be at least one of the combined information provider 520 or the deformation sensor provider 530 as described above with reference to Figure 5 the above.

[0141] Figure 11 FIG. 1100 is a flowchart for determining at least one second sensor as an activation target related to an electronic device according to some embodiments. The operations described below Figure 11 may correspond to Figure 7 certain embodiments of operation 750 in. Various operations in the following embodiments may be executed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be executed in parallel.

[0142] Referring to Figure 11 , according to some embodiments, in operation 1110, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may determine whether to determine a plurality of second sensors as activation targets.

[0143] According to some embodiments, when a single second sensor is determined as an activation target, in operation 1140, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may process the single second sensor that has been determined as an activation target for activation.

[0144] According to some embodiments, when a plurality of second sensors are determined as activation targets, in operation 1120, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) may determine the type of the currently executed application. The type of the application may include a first type of application using a first-level deformation state and a second type of application using a second-level deformation state. The first-level deformation state may include an open state or a closed state of the electronic device 101. The second-level deformation state may include a folding state in addition to the first-level deformation state.

[0145] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1130, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 therein) may determine at least some of the plurality of second sensors that have been determined to be activation targets based on the application type and at least one piece of sensor information (e.g., sensor driving information) corresponding to at least one stored application (or application type). As in the example given in Table 3 below, the driving information may be information defining the sensors (e.g., corresponding sensors) that are driven to correspond to the application type:

[0146] Table 3

[0147]

[0148] For example, when a first type of application is recognized, the processor 120 may determine as activation targets the sensors capable of detecting a first-level deformation state. In addition, when a second type of application is recognized, the processor 120 may determine as activation targets the sensors capable of detecting a second-level deformation state. According to certain embodiments, the activation target may be at least one of the combined information provider 520 or the deformation sensor provider 530 as described above with reference to Figure 5 FIG.

[0149] Figure 12 is a flowchart 1200 for determining a deformation state of a display related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments. The operations described below Figure 12 may correspond to certain embodiments of operation 640 in Figure 6 FIG. The various operations in the following embodiments may be executed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of the respective operations may be changed, and at least two operations may be executed in parallel.

[0150] Referring to Figure 12 FIG., according to certain embodiments, in operation 1210, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 therein) may confirm whether the display is in a fixed state based on at least a part of the first data or at least a part of the second data. According to an embodiment, in the case of a laptop computer, the fixed state of the display may correspond to a state in which the first housing 212 and the second housing 214 of the electronic device 101 that can be folded and unfolded maintain a pre-specified angle.

[0151] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1220, in response to confirming the fixed state of the display, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in) may obtain third data by using at least one third sensor. According to an embodiment, the at least one third sensor may include at least one sensor capable of measuring an angle between the first housing and the second housing. For example, the at least one third sensor may be at least one of the combined information provider 520 or the deformation sensor provider 530 as described above with reference to Figure 5 at least one of those described.

[0152] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1230, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may determine a deformation state of the display based on at least a portion of the third data.

[0153] Based on the deformation state, the electronic device may determine how to change the output scheme on the display.

[0154] Changing the output scheme based on the deformation state

[0155] Figure 13 is a flowchart 1300 for changing a display output scheme based on a deformation state of a display related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments. Figure 14 is a diagram 1400 for describing operations of changing an output scheme based on a deformation state related to an electronic device according to certain embodiments. The operations described below Figure 13 may correspond to Figure 6 certain embodiments of operation 640 in. Various operations in the following embodiments may be performed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

[0156] Referring to Figure 13 According to certain embodiments, in operation 1310, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may output an execution screen by using a first display and a second display. According to an embodiment, the first display may correspond to a first region (e.g., the first region 231 in FIG. 2) of the main display (e.g., the main display 230 in FIG. 2), and the second display may correspond to a second region (e.g., the second region 232 in FIG. 2) of the main display 230.

[0157] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1320, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in ) can confirm whether the deformed state of the display satisfies a specified condition. According to an embodiment, the specified condition may be a reference angle for changing the current display output scheme configuration. According to an embodiment, when it is sensed that the display is deformed beyond the specified angle, the processor 120 can confirm that the specified condition is satisfied. In addition, when it is sensed that the display is deformed within the specified angle, the processor 120 can confirm that the specified condition is not satisfied.

[0158] According to some embodiments, when it is confirmed that the deformed state of the display does not satisfy the specified condition, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) can keep executing the output of the screen. For example, the processor 120 can output the execution screen through the first display and the second display in the specified output scheme.

[0159] According to some embodiments, when it is confirmed that the deformed state of the display satisfies the specified condition, in operation 1330, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in ) can change the output scheme for at least one of the first display or the second display. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 can process one of the first display or the second display so as to operate as a display device supporting the first output scheme (e.g., 2D output scheme) 1410, and can process the other display so as to operate as a display device supporting the second output scheme (e.g., 3D output scheme) 1420, as Figure 14 shown. According to another embodiment, the processor 120 can process one of the first display or the second display so as to operate as a display device, and can process the other display so as to operate as an input device.

[0160] Expandable display

[0161] Some embodiments can also be applied to an electronic device having an expandable display. Figure 15 is a flowchart 1500 for determining an operation mode related to an electronic device according to some embodiments. Figure 16A is a diagram for describing the display structure of an electronic device according to some embodiments, and Figure 16B is a diagram for describing the display structure of an electronic device according to some embodiments. Figure 16C is another diagram for describing an operation of changing an output scheme based on a deformed state according to some embodiments. Various operations in the following embodiments can be executed sequentially, but not necessarily sequentially. For example, the order of each operation can be changed, and at least two operations can be executed in parallel.

[0162] Refer to Figure 15 According to some embodiments, in operation 1510, the electronic device 101 (e.g.,Figure 1 The processor 120 in (e.g., in the electronic device 101) may obtain first data by using at least one first sensor. According to an embodiment, at least one first sensor may be some of the sensors provided in the electronic device 101. The first sensor may be a sensor capable of sensing the folding of at least a portion of the display. For example, the first sensor may include at least one of a Hall IC sensor, an angle encoder, a proximity sensor, or an acceleration sensor. However, this is merely an example, and the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the first sensor may include various sensors capable of sensing the folding of the display. According to an embodiment, as Figure 16A shown in 1600 in, the display 1610 of the electronic device may be expanded (or shrunk). In addition, at least one first sensor may be provided on a second surface (e.g., the rear surface 1630) different from the first surface (e.g., the front surface 1620) of the display 1610, as Figure 16B shown in. For example, as Figure 16B shown in 1630 in, which shows a side surface of the display 1610, the display 1610 may be provided on a plurality of housings 1632. In addition, each housing 1632 may be provided on both sides of a folding portion (e.g., a hinge member) 1638 and may be foldably or rotatably connected to each other through the folding portion 1638, as Figure 16B shown in 1640 in. In addition, each housing 1632 may be provided on a support member 1634, and at least one first sensor 1639 may be provided on at least a portion of each of the support members 1634-1 and 1634-2.

[0163] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1520, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may confirm whether the folding state of the display 1610 is sensed based on at least a portion of the first data. The folding state may be related to a state in which, as Figure 16C shown in 1650 in, at least one of the plurality of support members connected to each other around the folding portion P1 and the folding portion P2 (e.g., Figure 16B the folding portion 1638 in) is rotated.

[0164] According to certain embodiments, when the folding state of the display 1610 is not sensed, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may perform an operation of obtaining the first data. The first data may include information about the angle between the support member 1634-1 and the support member 1634-2.

[0165] According to certain embodiments, when the folding state of the display 1610 is detected, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in) may process at least one second sensor for operation in operation 1530. According to an embodiment, the at least one second sensor may be different from the first sensor activated to obtain the first data. For example, the at least one second sensor may be a sensor capable of sensing at least one of the degree of folding or the folding strength of the display 1610. For example, the processor 120 may use a stretch sensor as the at least one second sensor. However, this is only an example, and the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the processor 120 may use various sensors capable of sensing the degree of folding or the folding strength of the display 1610 as the at least one second sensor.

[0166] According to certain embodiments, in operation 1540, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may confirm whether second data is obtained by the at least one second sensor.

[0167] According to certain embodiments, when the acquisition of the second data is not sensed, in operation 1560, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1 the processor 120 in) may determine a screen output scheme based on the first data. For example, the processor 120 may process the execution screen to be output to correspond to the expanded (or reduced) display 1610.

[0168] According to certain embodiments, when the acquisition of the second data is sensed, in operation 1550, the electronic device 101 (e.g., Figure 1The processor 120 in ) may determine a screen output scheme based on the first data and the second data. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may measure the deformation of the electronic device (or display) based on the second data. This can solve the problem that if the deformation state of the electronic device (or display) is measured only by at least one first sensor, due to the characteristics of the first sensor, the deformation state of the electronic device cannot be accurately measured. For example, the processor 120 may measure the angles of the respective support members 1634-1 and 1634-2, but the deformation state of the electronic device cannot be accurately measured only based on the angles of the support members 1634-1 and 1634-2. Thus, when a pre-specified angle change level relative to the support members 1634-1 and 1634-2 is sensed, the processor 120 may accurately measure the deformation state (e.g., bending or rolling up) of the electronic device by using a tensile sensor. As another example, the processor 120 may measure the folding with respect to the respective support members 1634-1 and 1634-2, but the deformation state of the electronic device cannot be accurately measured due to the cumulative error regarding the folding of the support members 1634-1 and 1634-2. Thus, when a predetermined folding level relative to the specified support members 1634-1 and 1634-2 is sensed, the processor 120 may accurately measure the deformation state of the electronic device by using a tensile sensor. In addition, the processor 120 may determine a screen output scheme based on the measured deformation of the electronic device. For example, the processor 120 may distinguish a first region 1652 and a second region 1654 with reference to the region where a specified folding degree or a specified folding strength is sensed. In addition, the processor 120 may apply different output schemes to the distinguished first region 1652 and second region 1654. For example, the processor 120 may use one of the first region 1652 and the second region 1654 as a fixed region and may use the other region as an extended region. For example, the processor 120 may adjust the ratio of performing screen output in the extended region based on the second data and may fix the ratio of performing screen output in the fixed region. As another example, the processor 120 may process one of the first region 1652 or the second region 1654 to operate as a display device and may process the other region to operate as an input device. As another example, the processor 120 may process one of the first region 1652 or the second region 1654 to operate as a display device supporting a first output scheme and may process the other region to operate as a display device supporting a second output scheme.

[0169] A method for operating an electronic device (e.g., Figure 1 the electronic device 101 in ) according to certain embodiments may include the following operations: by using at least one first sensor (e.g., Figure 5obtaining first data by using at least a part of a physical sensor 510 therein, the at least one first sensor being configured to measure a first part of a flexible display (e.g., Figure 2A a main display 230 therein), such as Figure 2A a relative position and / or an angle between a first housing 212 therein and a second part (e.g., Figure 2A a second housing 214 therein); activating a second sensor different from the first sensor at least partially based on the obtained first data (e.g., Figure 5 another part of the physical sensor 510 therein); obtaining second data by using the activated second sensor; and sensing a deformation state of the flexible display at least partially based on the obtained first data or second data.

[0170] According to an embodiment, the operation of obtaining first data may include an operation of monitoring an initial state of the flexible display by using the first sensor after the electronic device is started.

[0171] According to an embodiment, the at least one first sensor may include at least one of a Hall IC sensor (e.g., Figure 5 a Hall IC sensor 517 therein) or an acceleration sensor (e.g., Figure 5 an acceleration sensor 511 therein) provided in the electronic device.

[0172] According to an embodiment, the at least one second sensor may include at least one of an angle encoder (e.g., Figure 5 an angle encoder 513 therein) or a rotation sensor (e.g., Figure 5 a rotation sensor 519 therein) provided in the electronic device.

[0173] According to an embodiment, the operation of activating the second sensor may include an operation of activating the at least one second sensor at least partially based on the first data and accuracy information and / or current consumption information corresponding to the relative position and / or angle of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor.

[0174] According to an embodiment, the operation of activating the second sensor may include an operation of activating the at least one second sensor at least partially based on the first data and information corresponding to at least one application of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor.

[0175] According to an embodiment, the operation of activating the second sensor may include the following operations: measuring an angle of a third part of the flexible display; determining a folding type of the flexible display based on the angles of the first part, the second part, and the third part; and activating the at least one second sensor based on the determined folding type.

[0176] According to an embodiment, the method may include an operation of activating at least one second sensor and then deactivating at least one first sensor.

[0177] According to an embodiment, the operation of sensing a deformation state of a flexible display may include the following operations: when the sensed deformation state of the flexible display satisfies a specified condition, activating at least one third sensor different from at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor; obtaining third data by using the activated third sensor (e.g., Figure 5 another part of the physical sensor 510 in

[0178] ); and monitoring the deformation state of the flexible display based on the obtained third data.

[0179] Meanwhile, although certain embodiments have been described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of certain embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of certain embodiments is not limited to the described embodiments, but is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: Housing; A flexible display including a first part and a second part capable of moving relative to each other; A plurality of sensors disposed in the housing and including various types of sensors configured to measure the relative positions of the first part and the second part; At least one processor; And A memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: Obtain first data from a first sensor group among the plurality of sensors; Determine at least in part the degree of folding of the flexible display based on the obtained first data; Identify whether a sensor change condition is satisfied based on the degree of folding of the flexible display; If the sensor change condition is satisfied, obtain second data from a second sensor group among the plurality of sensors; And If the sensor change condition is not satisfied, determine at least in part the deformation state of the flexible display based on the first data, and if the sensor change condition is satisfied, determine at least in part the deformation state of the flexible display based on the second data, wherein the composition of the sensor types included in the second sensor group is at least in part different from the composition of the sensor types included in the first sensor group.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to monitor an initial state of the housing from the first sensor group after the electronic device is started.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The first sensor group includes at least one of a Hall IC sensor and an acceleration sensor.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The second sensor group includes at least one of an angle encoder and a rotation sensor.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The memory is configured to store accuracy information or current consumption information corresponding to the relative positions of the plurality of sensors, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to activate the second sensor group at least in part based on the first data and the accuracy information or the current consumption information.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The memory is configured to store information corresponding to at least one application regarding the first sensor group and the second sensor group, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to activate the second sensor group at least in part based on the first data and the information.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The flexible display further includes a plurality of third parts capable of moving relative to each other; The memory is configured to store information corresponding to the folding type of the flexible display regarding the first sensor group and the second sensor group, wherein the folding type of the flexible display is determined based on the angles of the first part, the second part, and the third part; and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to determine at least in part the folding type of the flexible display based on the first data and activate the second sensor group based on the information corresponding to the determined folding type.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the electronic device to activate the second sensor group when a sensor change condition is met, and then to deactivate the first sensor group.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a third sensor group, different from the first sensor group and the second sensor group, the third sensor group being disposed in the housing and configured to measure the relative positions of the first portion and the second portion, wherein, When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the electronic device to: activate a third sensor group among the plurality of sensors when a deformation state of the flexible display meets a specified condition; acquire third data by using the activated third sensor group; and monitor the deformation state of the flexible display based on the acquired third data; and wherein the third sensor group includes a gyroscope sensor.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the electronic device to determine an output scheme for the first part and the second part based on the deformation state of the flexible display.

11. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising: Acquire first data from a first sensor group among a plurality of sensors configured to measure a relative position of a first part and a second part of a flexible display; Determine at least in part a degree of folding of the flexible display based on the acquired first data; Identify whether a sensor change condition is met based on the degree of folding of the flexible display; If the sensor change condition is met, acquire second data from a second sensor group among the plurality of sensors; and If the sensor change condition is not met, determine at least in part a deformation state of the flexible display based on the first data, and if the sensor change condition is met, determine at least in part a deformation state of the flexible display based on the second data, wherein a composition of sensor types included in the second sensor group is at least partially different from a composition of sensor types included in the first sensor group.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Acquiring the first data includes monitoring an initial state of the flexible display from the first sensor group after the electronic device is started.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The first sensor group includes at least one of a Hall IC sensor or an acceleration sensor provided in the electronic device.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The second sensor group includes at least one of an angle encoder or a rotation sensor provided in the electronic device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Acquiring the second data includes activating the second sensor group at least in part based on the first data and accuracy information or current consumption information corresponding to the relative position of the plurality of sensors.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Acquiring the second data includes activating the second sensor group at least in part based on the first data and information corresponding to at least one application regarding the first sensor group and the second sensor group.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Acquiring the second data includes: determining a folding type of the flexible display based on angles of the first part, the second part, and a third part of the flexible display; and activating the second sensor group based on the determined folding type.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising activating the second sensor group when the sensor change condition is satisfied, and deactivating the first sensor group after activating the second sensor group.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Sensing the deformation state of the flexible display includes: activating a third sensor group different from the first sensor group and the second sensor group when the deformation state of the flexible display meets a specified condition; Obtain third data from the activated third sensor group; and Monitor the deformation state of the flexible display based on the obtained third data.

20. The method according to claim 11, comprising determining an output scheme for the first part and the second part based on the deformed state of the flexible display.

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