Electronic device and computer readable medium

Abstract

The invention provides an electronic apparatus and a computer readable medium. An electronic device capable of being folded by a folding portion, the electronic device having: a processor; an inner display which is located on the inner side when folded and can receive a contact operation by a user; and an outer display which is located on the outer side when folded and is capable of receiving a touch operation by a user, the processor being controlled so as to display different applications on the inner display, detecting a touch operation by the user with respect to one of the applications displayed on the inner display, and displaying the detected touch operation on the outer display. In response to detection of a change in a folding angle of the folding portion, display control is performed in which a last application among applications operated by a user before the electronic device is turned off is displayed on the outer display.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application date of September 4, 2020, application number: 202010920341.6, and invention name: "Electronic device and computer-readable medium". Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and computer-readable media. Background Art

[0003] In Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2006-42400, a portable communication terminal is disclosed, which comprises: a display panel having a screen display portion, the display panel being a flexible display panel, the display panel being able to be folded left and right along at least one line in the vertical direction as a boundary when viewed from a user (the area of ​​the folded surface facing the user by the folding is approximately half of the area before the folding); a speaker and a microphone, which are arranged on the surface of the display panel opposite to the surface on which the screen display portion is provided, and are arranged on either side of the approximately half of the left and right sides of the surface when viewed from the user, and are used for conducting wireless conversations with remote users. Summary of the invention

[0004] There are electronic devices that are foldable by a folding portion and have displays on the inside and outside when folded. In such electronic devices, if the display contents on the displays when folded and unfolded can be controlled in detail, various displays can be provided.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a computer-readable medium, wherein the electronic device can be folded by a folding portion, has displays on the inner and outer sides when folded, and can provide various displays by controlling the display content on the display in detail.

[0006] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing device which can be folded by a folding portion, the electronic device comprising: a processor; an inner display which is located on the inner side when folded and can accept touch operations from a user; and an outer display which is located on the outer side when folded and can accept touch operations from a user, the processor being controlled in such a manner as to display different applications on the inner display, detecting a touch operation of a user on one of the applications displayed on the inner display, and in response to detecting a change in the folding angle of the folding portion, performing display control of the last application displayed on the outer display among the applications operated by the user before closing the electronic device.

[0007] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the size of each application displayed on the inner display is changed by the user.

[0008] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, on the inner display, display areas of different applications do not overlap with each other.

[0009] According to the fourth scheme of the present disclosure, when a change in the folding angle of the folding portion is detected within a predetermined time from the contact operation, the processor performs the display control, and when a change in the folding angle of the folding portion is detected after the predetermined time has passed, the processor does not perform the display control.

[0010] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the processor performs the display control according to whether the contact point of the contact operation is located in a predetermined area.

[0011] According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the type of the contact operation is determined by at least one of the contact time, contact strength, number of contacts, presence or absence of movement of the contact point, movement speed of the contact point, and movement distance of the contact point, or a combination thereof.

[0012] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the processor controls display of the inner display when detecting that the folding angle of the folder has changed by a predetermined amount or more after detecting a contact operation on the outer display.

[0013] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the processor changes the content of the display control according to the set operation mode.

[0014] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the operation mode is a mode related to a battery consumption rate.

[0015] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the inner display and the outer display is a flexible display.

[0016] According to aspect 11 of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided, storing a program that enables a computer to execute processing, wherein the processing is executed in an electronic device that can be folded by at least one folding portion, and the electronic device comprises: a processor; an inner display, which is located on the inner side when folded and can accept user contact operations; and an outer display, which is located on the outer side when folded and can accept user contact operations, wherein the processing includes: controlling in a manner of displaying different applications on the inner display, detecting a user's contact operation on one of the applications displayed on the inner display, and in response to detecting a change in the folding angle of the folding portion, performing display control of the last application displayed on the outer display among the applications operated by the user before closing the electronic device.

[0017] (Effect)

[0018] According to the first aspect, the same application can be operated before and after the electronic device is turned off, thereby improving user convenience.

[0019] According to the second aspect, the user can operate the application in a size that is easy for the user to use, thereby improving the convenience of the user.

[0020] According to the third aspect, even when a plurality of applications are displayed, the user can check all display areas of the respective applications, thereby improving user convenience.

[0021] According to the fourth aspect, the content of display control on the display can be changed depending on whether a change in the folding angle of the folding portion is detected within a predetermined time, thereby providing various displays.

[0022] According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to perform display control according to the position of the contact point.

[0023] According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to perform display control corresponding to the type of contact operation.

[0024] According to the seventh aspect, the display of the inner display can be controlled by a touch operation on the outer display and a change in the folding angle.

[0025] According to the eighth aspect, the display of the display can be controlled according to the set working mode.

[0026] According to the ninth aspect, the display control of the display can be performed according to the mode setting related to the battery consumption rate.

[0027] According to the tenth aspect, in an electronic device having a flexible display, display control based on a contact operation on the display and a change in the folding angle can be performed.

[0028] According to the eleventh aspect, the same application can be operated before and after the electronic device is turned off, thereby improving user convenience.

[0029] According to the present disclosure, for an electronic device that can be folded by a folder and has displays inside and outside when folded, the same application can be operated before and after the electronic device is closed, thereby improving user convenience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an electronic device according to the present embodiment.

[0031] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an electronic device according to the present embodiment.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an electronic device.

[0033] Figure 4 It is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an electronic device.

[0034] Figure 5 Detailed description of the invention is a flowchart showing the flow of display control processing of an electronic device.

[0035] Figure 6 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0036] Figure 7 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0037] Figure 8 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0038] Fig. 9 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0039] Fig.10 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0040] Fig.11 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0041] Fig.12 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0042] Fig.13 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0043] Fig.14 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0044] Fig.15 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0045] Fig.16 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0046] Fig.17 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0047] Fig.18 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0048] Fig.19 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0049] Fig. 20 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0050] Fig.21 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0051] Fig. 22 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0052] Fig.23 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0053] Fig.24 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0054] Fig.25 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0055] Fig.26 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0056] Fig. 27 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0057] Fig.28 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0058] Fig.29 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0059] Fig.30 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0060] Fig.31 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0061] Fig.32 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0062] Fig.33 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0063] Fig.34 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0064] Fig.35 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0065] Fig.36 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0066] Fig.37 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0067] Fig.38 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0068] Fig.39 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0069] Fig.40 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0070] Fig.41 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0071] Fig.42 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0072] Fig.43 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0073] Fig.44 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0074] Fig.45 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0075] Fig.46 It is a figure which shows a display example.

[0076] Fig.47 It is a figure which shows a display example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] An example of an embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each of the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent components and parts. In addition, the dimensional ratios of the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience of description and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0078] Figure 1 and Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an electronic device of the present embodiment. The electronic device 10 of the present embodiment is, for example, a device of a size that can be carried by a user. In addition, the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment is a device that can be folded by a central folding portion 111. By folding at the central folding portion 111, the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment can be carried by a user more easily than when it is not folded.

[0079] Furthermore, the electronic device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a first display unit 101 on the outside when folded by the folding portion 111, and includes a second display unit 102 on the inside. That is, the first display unit 101 is an example of an outside display, and the second display unit 102 is an example of an inside display. The first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 are displays capable of detecting contact operations by a user's finger or stylus, and each has a touch panel. In addition, the second display unit 102 is flexible so that it will not be damaged when folded by the folding portion 111.

[0080] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment can perform various processes according to the contact operation on the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102. In addition, the electronic device 10 of this embodiment can provide various displays and usage methods by controlling the display content of the display in detail. The specific control content will be described in detail later.

[0081] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment has a structure that is folded in only one direction by the folding portion 111 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the folding position is not limited to the center, and the number of folding positions is not limited to one.

[0082] Figure 32 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the electronic device 10 .

[0083] like Figure 3 As shown, the electronic device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage device (storage) 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a communication interface (I / F) 17. Each structure is connected via a bus 19 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0084] The CPU 11 is a central processing unit, and executes various programs to control various parts. That is, the CPU 11 reads the program from the ROM 12 or the storage device 14, and executes the program using the RAM 13 as a work area. The CPU 11 controls the above-mentioned structures and performs various calculations according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the storage device 14. In this embodiment, a display control program for controlling the display of the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 is stored in the ROM 12 or the storage device 14.

[0085] The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. The storage device 14 is composed of a storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a flash memory, and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0086] The input unit 15 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for performing various inputs.

[0087] The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display unit 16 may also be a touch panel type, and function as the input unit 15. In this embodiment, the display unit 16 corresponds to the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102.

[0088] The communication interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0089] When executing the display control program, the electronic device 10 uses the hardware resources to implement various functions.

[0090] Next, the functional structure of the electronic device 10 will be described.

[0091] Figure 4is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the electronic device 10 .

[0092] like Figure 4 As shown, the electronic device 10 has a first display unit 101, a second display unit 102, a contact determination unit 103, an operation determination unit 104, an angle determination unit 105, and a display control unit 106 as a functional structure. The contact determination unit 103, the operation determination unit 104, the angle determination unit 105, and the display control unit 106 are implemented by the CPU 11 reading a display control program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage device 14 and executing it.

[0093] As described above, the first display unit 101 is a display located on the outside when the electronic device 10 is folded by the folding unit 111. Also, as described above, the second display unit 102 is a display located on the inside when the electronic device 10 is folded by the folding unit 111.

[0094] The contact determination unit 103 determines whether the user has made a contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, and determines the contact point if a contact operation has been made. The contact determination unit 103 may determine a plurality of contact points on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 at the same time.

[0095] When the contact determination unit 103 determines that the user has performed a contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, the operation determination unit 104 determines the content of the contact operation. The type of the contact operation can be determined, for example, by at least one or a combination of the contact time, contact strength, number of contacts, presence or absence of movement of the contact point, movement speed of the contact point, and movement distance of the contact point in the contact operation. For example, the operation determination unit 104 detects a simple tap operation, a tap operation twice in succession within a specified time (double-click operation), a long press operation (long touch operation), an operation based on multiple contact points (multi-touch operation), an operation of sliding a finger in one direction while keeping the finger in contact with the display surface (swiping operation), an operation of moving the finger in various directions while keeping the finger in contact with the display surface, etc., as the content of the contact operation.

[0096] The angle determination unit 105 determines the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding unit 111. Figure 1 As shown, the state in which the electronic device 10 is folded, that is, the state in which the electronic device 10 is closed, is set to 0 degrees, and the state in which the electronic device 10 is horizontally opened is set to 180 degrees. In the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, the folding angle ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, but the range of the folding angle is not limited thereto. In the electronic device disclosed in the present invention, the folding angle may exceed 180 degrees and may be folded in opposite directions.

[0097] The display control unit 106 performs display control on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. For example, when the contact determination unit 103 determines that a contact operation has been performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, the display control unit 106 performs display control on at least one of the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 according to the contact point and the type of the contact operation. Moreover, the display control unit 106 performs display control according to the content of the user's contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. In addition, the display control unit 106 performs display control based on the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding unit 111 determined by the angle determination unit 105. The change of the folding angle of the folding unit 111 includes both the case where the folding angle increases and the case where the folding angle decreases. The opening of the electronic device 10 means that the folding angle of the folding unit 111 increases from 0 degrees. The closing or folding of the electronic device 10 means that the folding angle of the folding unit 111 decreases to 0 degrees.

[0098] If the contact operation from the user starts earlier, either the completion timing of the contact operation from the user or the completion timing of the change in the folding angle of the folding portion 111 may be earlier. That is, the display control unit 106 may perform display control in the case where the folding portion 111 changes the folding angle of the electronic device 10 within a specified time after the user completes the contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. In addition, the display control unit 106 may perform display control in the case where the folding portion 111 starts changing the folding angle of the electronic device 10 during the period from the start of the user's contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 to the end of the contact operation, and the change in the folding angle is completed after the contact operation is completed. In addition, the display control unit 106 may perform display control in the case where the change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding portion 111 starts and ends during the period from the start of the user's contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 to the end of the contact operation.

[0099] When the display control is performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 according to the contact point and the type of contact operation, the display control unit 106 can perform display control to display the same application in different ways. When the display control unit 106 performs display control on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 according to the contact point and the type of contact operation, the display control unit 106 can perform display control to display different applications.

[0100] Consider the case where the angle at which the folding portion 111 folds the electronic device 10 may be greater than a predetermined threshold value when information is displayed on the first display portion 101. In other words, consider the case where the user opens the electronic device 10 when information is displayed on the first display portion 101. In this case, the display control portion 106 may determine whether to keep displaying information on the first display portion 101 based on the contact point and the type of contact operation, or may determine based on a pre-set setting.

[0101] The angle determination unit 105 can determine whether the folding angle of the folding portion 111 is a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle may be a single-point angle such as 90 degrees, 135 degrees, or a range such as more than 90 degrees, 30 degrees to 60 degrees, or the like. Furthermore, the display control unit 106 can detect the change in the folding angle of the folding portion 111, and perform different display controls according to the folding angle of the folding portion 111 before or after the change. For example, the display control unit 106 can perform different display controls according to whether the folding angle before the change is a predetermined angle. In addition, for example, the display control unit 106 can perform different display controls according to whether the folding angle of the folding portion 111 after the change is a predetermined angle. In addition, for example, the display control unit 106 can perform different display controls according to whether the folding angle of the folding portion 111 before the change is a predetermined first angle and the folding angle after the change is a predetermined second angle. In this case, the first angle and the second angle may be single-point angles, or a range may be specified.

[0102] Specifically, the predetermined angle is set to 0 to 30 degrees. In this case, when the folding angle of the folding portion 111 before the change is an angle between 0 and 30 degrees, the display control unit 106 can perform display control to close the first display unit 101. In addition, in this case, when the folding angle of the folding portion 111 before the change is other than 0 to 30 degrees, display control can be performed to display all or part of the content displayed on the second display unit 102 before the folding angle is changed on the first display unit 101. The part of the content displayed on the second display unit 102 may be content with high importance or content selected by the user.

[0103] In addition, the predetermined angle is set to 0 degrees. In this case, the display control unit 106 can perform display control to turn off the first display unit 101 when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 after the change is 0 degrees. In addition, in this case, the display control unit 106 can perform display control to turn off the first display unit 101 when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 after the change is an angle other than 0 degrees.

[0104] The display control unit 106 may perform different display controls on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 changes from a state of being greater than a predetermined first angle to a state of being greater than 90 degrees and less than the first angle, and when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 changes from a state of being greater than 90 degrees and less than the first angle to being 0 degrees. For example, the first angle is set to 135 degrees. The display control unit 106 may perform different display controls on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 changes from a state of being 180 degrees to a state of being 120 degrees, and when the folding angle changes from being 120 degrees to being 0 degrees.

[0105] When the display control unit 106 performs display control on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, it may also perform display control according to the operation mode of the electronic device 10. The operation mode of the electronic device 10 may be an operation mode that specifies the power consumption rate of a battery (not shown). That is, the display control unit 106 may perform different display controls in an operation mode that increases the power consumption rate of the battery and in an operation mode that decreases the power consumption rate of the battery.

[0106] The display control unit 106 may also perform display control corresponding to the internal state of the electronic device 10 when implementing display control for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. For example, as the internal state of the electronic device 10, display control corresponding to the SoC (State of Charge) of a battery not shown in the figure may also be performed. That is, the display control unit 106 may also perform different display controls when the SoC is above a predetermined threshold and when it is below the threshold. Multiple thresholds related to the SoC may be set.

[0107] That is, the display control unit 106 performs display control not only according to the contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, but also based on the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10. By the display control unit 106 performing display control based on the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10, the electronic device 10 can provide the user with a variety of displays and usage methods.

[0108] Next, the operation of the electronic device 10 will be described.

[0109] Figure 5 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of the display control process of the electronic device 10. The CPU 11 reads out the display control program from the ROM 12 or the storage device 14, expands the program in the RAM 13, and executes the program, thereby performing the display control process.

[0110] Figure 5The display control process shown is an example of the display control process for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 performed by the CPU 11 in response to the touch operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. The CPU 11 waits until the touch operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 occurs (step S101).

[0111] When a contact operation on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 is detected (step S101; yes), the CPU 11 determines whether a predetermined operation is performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 (step S102). The predetermined operation is an operation for the CPU 11 to perform display control on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 according to the contact point and the type of the contact operation.

[0112] When it is determined that a predetermined operation is performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 (step S102; yes), the CPU 11 then determines whether a change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding unit 111 is detected after the contact operation is performed (step S103). The CPU 11 can determine whether a change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding unit 111 is detected within a specified time after the contact operation is performed.

[0113] If a change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding portion 111 is detected after the contact operation is performed (step S103; Yes), the CPU 11 performs display control processing for the first display portion 101 or the second display portion 102 accompanying the detection of the change in the folding angle (step S104). The display control in step S104 is set to "processing (1)".

[0114] If the change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 by the folding portion 111 is not detected after the contact operation is performed (step S103; No), the CPU 11 performs display control processing for the first display portion 101 or the second display portion 102 without detecting the change in the folding angle (step S105). The display control in step S105 is set to "processing (2)".

[0115] When it is determined that the predetermined operation is not performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 (step S102; No), the CPU 11 performs a display control process for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 corresponding to the operation that is not the predetermined operation performed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 (step S106). The display control in step S106 is referred to as "process (3)".

[0116] In this way, the CPU 11 changes the content of the display control process for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 according to the content of the contact operation and the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10. That is, the CPU 11 selects and executes the display control process for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 from at least three processes. By changing the display control process for the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102, the electronic device 10 can provide the user with a variety of displays and usage methods.

[0117] Next, a specific example of the display control process of the CPU 11 will be described while showing an example of display of information on the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 .

[0118] Figure 6 , Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an example of information display on the first display unit 101. Figure 6 FIG. 2 shows a screen in which the first display unit 101 displays a plurality of icons. Figure 6 The screen showing multiple icons is called the home screen. Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a screen in which the first display unit 101 displays the current time and the current date. Figure 7 The screens showing the current time and the current date are called standby screens, and are displayed when, for example, the electronic device 10 is restored from a sleep state or when an executed application is terminated.

[0119] Figure 8 2 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the second display unit 102. Figure 8 , a screen is shown in which the current time, the current date, and the weather at the current location are displayed on the left half of the second display unit 102, and a plurality of icons are displayed on the right half. When the electronic device 10 is restored from a sleep state, or when the folded angle of the electronic device 10 is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, for example, greater than or equal to 90 degrees, the display Figure 8 The screen shown.

[0120] Consider showing Figure 8 In the state of such a screen, as a predetermined operation, the user performs a long touch operation on the background, and the electronic device 10 is folded within a predetermined time after the long touch operation is completed. Figure 5 The CPU 11 performs processing (1) to display the first display unit 101. Figure 6 In this case, as Figure 5In the process (2), the CPU 11 may change the color or brightness of the home screen according to the long touch operation. By changing the color or brightness of the home screen according to the long touch operation, the user can see that the home screen is selected. On the other hand, as an operation that is not a predetermined operation, when the user taps the icon, the CPU 11 executes the process of starting the application of the tapped icon as Figure 5 Processing in (3).

[0121] When the user further taps a certain part of the home screen whose color or brightness has been changed, or when a predetermined time has passed, the CPU 11 can restore the color or brightness to the original color or brightness. By restoring the color or brightness to the original color or brightness, the user can see that the selection of the home screen has been cancelled. When the electronic device 10 is folded in a state where the home screen is selected, the CPU 11 causes the first display unit 101 to display the home screen. In addition, when the electronic device 10 is folded in a state where the home screen is not selected, the CPU 11 causes the first display unit 101 to display the standby screen.

[0122] Various applications are installed in the electronic device 10. Furthermore, the user can start the installed application, operate the started application, and terminate the application by performing a touch operation on the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102. The following describes the display control of the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 by the CPU 11 by exemplifying various applications.

[0123] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig. 9 The figure shows a state where an e-mail application is displayed on the second display unit 102. When the user selects the received list on the left, the CPU 11 displays the body of the selected e-mail on the right. Fig. 9 A state in which the user has selected an e-mail sent from Mr. Sato is shown.

[0124] Fig.10 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.10 The state in which the e-mail application is displayed on the second display unit 102 is shown. Fig.10 A state in which the user has selected an e-mail sent from Mr. Suzuki is shown.

[0125] Description Figures 9 to 10As shown, the display control performed by the CPU 11 on the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 when the user switches the email to be selected. For example, suppose that after the user selects the email sent from Mr. Suzuki by touching the second display unit 102, the user turns off the electronic device 10 within a specified time, such as within 5 seconds. The predetermined touch operation here can be, for example, a tap operation on the list or a long touch operation. That is, it is assumed that within a specified time after the user selects the email sent from Mr. Suzuki, the folding angle of the electronic device 10 becomes 0 degrees. At this time, as Fig.11 As shown, the CPU 11 may also perform display control on the first display unit 101 so as to display the text of the e-mail sent from Mr. Suzuki which was selected before being closed.

[0126] On the other hand, it is assumed that the user selects the email sent from Mr. Suzuki by touching the second display unit 102, and the user closes the electronic device 10 after a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds. That is, it is assumed that the user selects the email sent from Mr. Suzuki, and after a predetermined time has passed, the folding angle of the electronic device 10 becomes 0 degrees. In this case, Fig.12 As shown, the CPU 11 can execute display control on the first display unit 101 to display a list of received electronic mails.

[0127] The CPU 11 may determine whether to display the first display unit 101 in the case where the user has only tapped the email sent from Mr. Suzuki or in the case where the user has long-touched the email sent from Mr. Suzuki. Fig.11 and Fig.12 That is, even in the same state, multiple predetermined operations can be set in the electronic device 10.

[0128] Fig.13 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.13 The state in which the electronic book reader application is displayed on the second display unit 102 is shown.

[0129] As a predetermined contact operation on the second display unit 102, it is assumed that the user selects a part of the content of the electronic book displayed by the electronic book reader, and the user turns off the electronic device 10 within a predetermined time, for example, within 5 seconds. The operation of the user selecting a part of the content is, for example, an operation of dragging a finger from a starting point to an end point, an operation of surrounding with a finger, etc. In this case, Fig.14 As shown, the CPU 11 can perform display control on the first display unit 101 so as to display the content of the electronic book starting from the portion selected before closing.

[0130] Fig.15 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the first display unit 101 . Fig.15 This shows a state where the CPU 11 displays the standby screen on the first display unit 101 and a notification indicating the reception of an e-mail is superimposed and displayed on the standby screen. Fig.15 Just before the standby screen is displayed, the electronic book reader application is displayed on the second display unit 102 .

[0131] exist Fig.15 In the state, when the user selects only notifications, such as Fig.16 As shown, the CPU 11 executes display control to display the contents of the received electronic mail on the first display unit 101 .

[0132] On the other hand, it is assumed that the user does not select a notification and opens the electronic device 10. That is, the folding angle of the electronic device 10 is an angle greater than 0 degrees, for example, 180 degrees. In this case, Fig.17 As shown, the CPU 11 performs display control such that, after the electronic book reader application is displayed on the second display unit 102 , a notification indicating the reception of an electronic mail is superimposed on the electronic book reader.

[0133] Assume that Fig.16 The user opens the electronic device 10 while the content of the received email is displayed on the first display unit 101. That is, the folding angle of the electronic device 10 is greater than 0 degrees, for example, 180 degrees. Fig.18 As shown in FIG. 1 , the CPU 11 performs display control to display the content of the received email and the reply screen of the email on the second display unit 102. Fig.18 As shown, the CPU 11 performs display control to display a label 121 on the second display portion 102 for calling the application of the electronic book reader just displayed on the second display portion 102. In addition to the label 121, the CPU 11 may also perform display control to display an icon for calling the application just displayed on the second display portion 102 on the second display portion 102.

[0134] exist Fig.18 In the example, the body of the email received from Mr. Suzuki is displayed on the second display unit 102. In this state, the user performs a swiping operation of swiping the body of the email from left to right by touching the second display unit 102. Fig.19As shown, the CPU 11 can perform display control on the second display unit 102 so as to display a list of emails received from Mr. Suzuki on the left side and display the text of the email just received from Mr. Suzuki on the right side.

[0135] The CPU 11 may display a plurality of notifications on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 . Fig. 20 2 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the first display unit 101. Fig. 20 , a state is shown in which the CPU 11 displays a plurality of notifications indicating the reception of electronic mails on the standby screen while the standby screen is displayed on the first display unit 101 and is superimposed on the standby screen.

[0136] like Fig.21 As shown, the CPU 11 can execute display control for displaying a list of received electronic mails on the first display unit 101 .

[0137] exist Fig. 20 In the state of Fig.16 1 shows a display control for displaying the contents of the e-mail received from Mr. Suzuki on the first display unit 101. Fig.21 In the state of Fig.16 1 and 2. Display control for displaying the contents of the e-mail received from Mr. Suzuki on the first display unit 101 is shown.

[0138] Then, in Fig.16 The user opens the electronic device 10 while the content of the received email shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the first display unit 101. That is, the folding angle of the electronic device 10 is greater than 0 degrees, for example, 180 degrees. In this case, the CPU 11 may perform the following operations: Fig.19 The display control shown in FIG. 1 displays a list of e-mails received from Mr. Suzuki on the left side of the second display unit 102 and displays the text of the e-mail just received from Mr. Suzuki on the right side of the second display unit 102. Fig.19 Although a label or an icon for calling the application just displayed is not shown, the CPU 11 may display the label or the icon on the second display unit 102 .

[0139] In addition, when Fig. 20As shown, when the user turns on the electronic device 10 in a state where the first display unit 101 displays a plurality of notifications, the CPU 11 may also control the second display unit 102 to overlap a plurality of notifications indicating the reception of e-mails on the standby screen. That is, when the folding angle of the folding unit 111 changes from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, the CPU 11 may also control the second display unit 102 to overlap a plurality of notifications indicating the reception of e-mails on the standby screen. Fig. 22 2 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the second display unit 102. Fig. 22 , a state is shown in which the CPU 11 displays a plurality of notifications indicating the reception of electronic mails on the standby screen while the standby screen is displayed on the second display unit 102 and is superimposed on the standby screen.

[0140] The CPU 11 can change the content of display control when the folding angle of the electronic device 10 is changed, according to the content of the contact operation on the first display portion 101 or the second display portion 102 .

[0141] Fig.23 1 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the first display unit 101. For example, Fig.23 As shown, it is assumed that the CPU 11 executes display control for displaying a list of emails received by the electronic device 10 on the first display unit 101 based on a user operation.

[0142] Assume that in this state, the user opens the electronic device 10 without performing any contact operation on the first display unit 101. That is, assume that the user does not perform any contact operation on the first display unit 101, and the folding angle changes from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. In this case, Fig.24 As shown, the CPU 11 may also perform display control to display a list of received emails on the left side of the second display unit 102 and to display the text of the email received from Mr. Sato at the head of the list on the right side of the second display unit 102.

[0143] On the other hand, suppose that the user performs a touch operation of long-touching one of the items in the list on the first display unit 101 and then turns on the electronic device 10. In this case, the CPU 11 may execute the following Fig.25 1 and 2. Display control for displaying the body of the selected e-mail on the entire surface of the second display unit 102 is shown.

[0144] In addition, suppose that the user performs a long touch operation on the first display unit 101 to keep the electronic device 10 closed. In this case, the CPU 11 can perform display control to display the body of the selected email on the first display unit 101.

[0145] Fig.26 1 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the first display unit 101. For example, assuming that the CPU 11 Fig.26 As shown, based on the user's operation, display control is performed to display a user interface for accepting an operation related to e-mail on the first display unit 101.

[0146] Assume that Fig.26 In the state of "new message", the user taps "new message" and keeps the electronic device 10 in the closed state. That is, it is assumed that the folding angle does not change from 0 degrees after the user taps "new message". In this case, the CPU 11 can execute the following Fig. 27 1 and 2. Display control of displaying a user interface for creating a new e-mail on the first display unit 101 is shown.

[0147] In addition, assuming that Fig.26 In the state, the user performs a long touch "new message" contact operation and then turns on the electronic device 10. In this case, the CPU 11 can Fig.28 The display control is shown as executing to display a user interface for creating a new email on the left side of the second display unit 102 and a user interface for selecting a photo or document to be attached to the email on the right side of the second display unit 102. Fig.28 In the user interface shown in FIG. 1 , when the cursor is located at the destination (“To:” column), the CPU 11 may execute display control to display an address book stored in the electronic device 10 or in a server (not shown) on the right side of the second display unit 102.

[0148] In addition, assuming that Fig.26 In the state of , the user taps "search" and the electronic device 10 remains in the closed state. In this case, the CPU 11 can Fig.29 As shown, display control is performed to display a user interface for searching e-mails on the first display unit 101.

[0149] When the user Fig.29 In the user interface shown in FIG. 1 , for example, when “Sato” is input in the search box, the CPU 11 executes the following operations: Fig.30 1 and 2. Display control for displaying a list of emails including "Sato" as the sender on the first display unit 101 is shown.

[0150] Here, it is assumed that the user performs a long touch operation on "Sato Hanako" from the list of emails containing "Sato" as the sender, and then turns on the electronic device 10. In this case, the CPU 11 may execute the following operations: Fig.31The display control shown displays a list of emails received from Mr. “Sato Hanako” on the left side of the second display unit 102 and displays the text of the email received from Mr. “Sato Hanako” at the head of the list on the right side of the second display unit 102 .

[0151] On the other hand, assuming that Fig.30 In the state of the first display unit 101, the user does not perform any contact operation and turns on the electronic device 10. In this case, the CPU 11 can execute the following Fig.32 As shown, a list of emails including “Sato” as the sender is displayed on the left side of the second display unit 102 , and the body of the email located at the head of the list is displayed on the right side of the second display unit 102 .

[0152] Figure 7 An example of display control of other applications performed by the CPU 11 is shown. Fig.33 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.33 An example of a transfer guidance application for displaying a transfer guidance for a train on the second display unit 102 is shown. For example, it is assumed that the CPU 11 executes display control for displaying transfer candidates from a departure station to an arrival station on the left side of the second display unit 102 and displaying detailed information of the selected candidate on the right side of the second display unit 102. Fig.33 Also shown is a state in which a button 122 is displayed on the second display unit 102 . The button 122 is used to display the content of the transfer guidance application displayed on the second display unit 102 on the first display unit 101 .

[0153] Assume that in this state, the user taps the button 122 displayed on the second display unit 102 to turn off the electronic device 10. The CPU 11 may also perform the following operations: Fig.34 1 and 2. Display control for displaying transfer options from the departure station to the arrival station on the first display unit 101 is shown.

[0154] In addition, if the user taps the button 122 displayed on the second display unit 102 without turning off the electronic device 10, the CPU 11 may perform the following operations: Fig.34 As shown, the display control for displaying the transfer candidates from the departure station to the arrival station on the first display unit 101 is performed, but the display control on the first display unit 101 may not be performed.

[0155] An example of display control of other applications performed by the CPU 11 is shown. Fig.35 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.35 The example shown is that a map application for displaying a map is displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.35Indicates a map of Japan.

[0156] Assume that in this state, the user performs an operation to select a part of the Japanese map displayed on the second display unit 102, and then turns off the electronic device 10. For example, assume that the user performs an operation to select the vicinity of Hokkaido by a long touch operation, and then turns off the electronic device 10. The CPU 11 may also perform the following operations: Fig.36 1 and 2. Display control for displaying a map in which a portion selected by a user is enlarged on the first display unit 101 is shown.

[0157] Furthermore, when the user turns off the electronic device 10 without performing a touch operation on the map of Japan, the CPU 11 may perform display control to display the map of Japan as it is on the first display unit 101 .

[0158] The CPU 11 can display a plurality of applications on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102. A display control example in the case where a plurality of applications are displayed on the first display unit 101 or the second display unit 102 will be described.

[0159] Fig.37 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.37 An example of two applications being displayed on the second display unit 102 is shown. On the left side of the second display unit 102, a chat application for exchanging electronic messages with other users is displayed. On the right side of the second display unit 102, a web browsing application for browsing websites on the Internet is displayed. In addition, the size of each application displayed on the second display unit 102 can also be changed by user operation. In addition, although Fig.37 Although not shown, it is assumed that there is an application running in the background in the electronic device 10.

[0160] Assume that the user turns off the electronic device 10 in this state. In this case, the CPU 11 can perform display control on the first display portion 101 to display any application among the applications displayed on the second display portion 102 . Fig.38 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the first display unit 101 . Fig.38 An example is shown in which a chat application is displayed on the first display unit 101 .

[0161] If the application displayed on the second display unit 102 continues to be displayed on the first display unit 101 even when the user turns off the electronic device 10, the user's convenience is improved compared to the case where only one of them is displayed. Fig.382 shows an example in which a tab 123 for displaying a web browsing application by pulling up the first display unit 101 is displayed. By displaying the tab 123 on the first display unit 101, the CPU 11 can improve the convenience of the user compared to the case where the application is switched by swiping the first display unit 101 to the left or right. In addition, the CPU 11 can, of course, display the application started in the background on the first display unit 101 in response to the swiping operation performed by the user on the first display unit 101 to the left or right.

[0162] Assume that the user performs a predetermined touch operation and then turns off the electronic device 10 while a plurality of applications are displayed on the second display unit 102. In this case, the application displayed by the CPU 11 on the first display unit 101 may be the application operated by the user immediately before the electronic device 10 is turned off. In addition, in this case, the CPU 11 may also make the application displayed on the first display unit 101 an application with a large display size on the second display unit 102.

[0163] Fig.39 1 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the second display unit 102, showing an example in which the web browsing application is displayed larger than the chat application. Assume that in this state, the user performs a long touch operation on the web browsing application and then turns off the electronic device 10. In this case, the CPU 11 may execute the following operations: Fig.40 In this case, the CPU 11 may perform display control for displaying a tab 123 on the first display unit 101, the tab 123 being used to display a chat application by causing the user to pull up.

[0164] Fig.41 1 is a diagram showing an example of displaying information on the first display unit 101. When the user performs a touch operation on the first display unit 101 to pull up the tab 123 to the upper part of the screen, the CPU 11 performs the following operations according to the pull-up of the tab 123: Fig.41 The web browsing application is displayed on the first display unit 101 as shown in FIG. Then, when the tab 123 reaches the top of the screen, as shown in FIG. Fig.42 As shown in FIG. 1 , the CPU 11 performs display control to display only the Web browsing application on the first display unit 101. Fig.42 As shown, the CPU 11 performs display control to display a tab 123 on the first display unit 101, the tab 123 being used to display a chat application by causing the user to pull up.

[0165] The CPU 11 can display a plurality of windows of the same application on the first display portion 101 or the second display portion 102. A display control example when a plurality of windows of the same application are displayed on the first display portion 101 or the second display portion 102 will be described.

[0166] Fig.43 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the first display unit 101 . Fig.43 FIG. 2 shows an example of displaying a Web browsing application on the first display unit 101. Fig.43 , an example is shown in which a Web browsing application displays an article on the Internet introducing an exhibition.

[0167] The user taps the link position of the exhibition on the first display unit 101. In this case, Fig.44 As shown, the CPU 11 is connected to the exhibition website and performs display control to display the exhibition page by the web browser application on the first display unit 101. The exhibition page includes a link to the exhibition venue website and a link to the ticket purchase site.

[0168] When the user turns on the electronic device 10 in this state, the CPU 11 may control the display of the second display unit 102 according to the contact point and content of the contact operation performed by the user on the first display unit 101 .

[0169] Fig.45 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.45 FIG. 2 shows an example of displaying a Web browsing application on the second display unit 102. Fig.45 In the example of FIG. 1 , the CPU 11 displays the previous page displayed on the first display unit 101 before the electronic device 10 is turned on on the left side of the second display unit 102, and displays the page displayed on the first display unit 101 on the right side of the second display unit 102. That is, the CPU 11 displays an article on the Internet introducing the exhibition on the left side of the second display unit 102, and displays the exhibition page on the right side.

[0170] Fig.46 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.46 FIG. 2 shows an example in which a Web browsing application is displayed on the second display unit 102. Fig.46 In the example of , the CPU 11 displays the page displayed on the first display unit 101 before the electronic device 10 is turned on on the left side of the second display unit 102. Fig.46In the example of , the CPU 11 displays the page linked to the page displayed on the first display unit 101 and the user's calendar information on the right side of the second display unit 102. That is, the CPU 11 displays the page of the exhibition on the left side of the second display unit 102, and displays the page of the exhibition venue, the page of the ticket purchase station, and the user's calendar during the exhibition on the right side. The CPU 11 displays the user's calendar information based on the information recorded on the exhibition page. The CPU 11 can perform display control based on the information obtained from the page displayed on the first display unit 101 to display a map of the exhibition venue other than the user's calendar information on the second display unit 102, or display the user's calendar information and the map of the exhibition venue on the second display unit 102.

[0171] Fig.47 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of information displayed on the second display unit 102 . Fig.47 FIG. 2 shows an example in which a Web browsing application is displayed on the second display unit 102. Fig.47 In the example of , the CPU 11 displays the page displayed on the first display unit 101 before the electronic device 10 is turned on on the entire surface of the second display unit 102. That is, the CPU 11 displays the page of the exhibition on the entire surface of the second display unit 102. In addition, the CPU 11 may also perform display control to display the previous page displayed on the first display unit 101 on the first display unit 101 while displaying the page displayed on the first display unit 101 on the entire surface of the second display unit 102.

[0172] When the user turns on the electronic device 10, the display of the second display unit 102 is determined according to the contact point of the user's contact operation on the first display unit 101 and the content of the contact operation. Figure 45 to Figure 47 For example, when the user touches for a long time a position where no information is displayed on the first display unit 101 and then turns on the electronic device 10, the CPU 11 may control the display of the second display unit 102 to be Fig.45 In addition, for example, when the user touches the position where the link is set in the first display unit 101 for a long time and then turns on the electronic device 10, the CPU 11 can control the display of the second display unit 102 to become Fig.46 In addition, for example, when the user turns on the electronic device 10 without performing any contact operation on the first display unit 101, the CPU 11 can perform display control of the second display unit 102 to become Fig.47 status.

[0173] The above describes a specific example of the display control process performed by the CPU 11. Of course, the application executed in the electronic device 10 is not limited to the above example. The CPU 11 can perform display control for the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 according to the application executed in the electronic device 10. In addition, the content of the user's contact operation on the first display unit 101 and the second display unit 102 is also not limited to the above example.

[0174] In addition, the display control processing executed by reading the software (program) by the CPU in the above-mentioned embodiments may also be executed by various processors other than the CPU. As the processor in this case, a dedicated circuit is exemplified, and the dedicated circuit is a processor with a circuit structure specially designed for executing specific processing, such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) (FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) that can change the circuit structure after manufacturing, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and the like. In addition, the display control processing can be executed by one of these various processors, and the display control processing can also be executed by a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a plurality of FPGAs, and a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, etc.). In addition, more specifically, the hardware structure of these various processors is a circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0175] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the program for display control processing is pre-stored (installed) in a ROM or a storage device, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The program may also be provided in the form of being recorded in a non-temporary recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. In addition, the program may also be downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0176] In addition, the actions of the processors in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented not only by one processor, but also by the cooperation of multiple processors in physically separated positions. In addition, the order of the actions of the processors is not limited to the order described in the above-mentioned embodiments, and can also be appropriately changed.

Claims

1. An electronic device capable of being folded by a folding portion, the electronic device comprising: processor; The inner display is located on the inner side when the folded device is folded and can receive touch operation from the user; as well as The outer display is located on the outside when folded and can receive user touch operations. The processor controls the inner display to display different applications, detects a user's touch operation on one of the applications displayed on the inner display, and in response to detecting a change in the folding angle of the folding portion, performs display control of the last application displayed on the outer display among the applications operated by the user before closing the electronic device.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The size of each application displayed on the inner display is changed by the user.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: On the inner display, display areas of different applications do not overlap with each other.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The processor performs the display control when a change in the folding angle of the folding portion is detected within a predetermined time from the contact operation, and does not perform the display control when a change in the folding angle of the folding portion is detected after the predetermined time has passed.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The processor performs the display control according to whether a contact point of the contact operation is located in a predetermined area.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The type of the contact operation is determined by at least one of a contact time, a contact strength, a contact number, a movement of a contact point, a movement speed of a contact point, and a movement distance of the contact point, or a combination thereof.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The processor controls display of the inner display when detecting that the folding angle of the folder has changed by a predetermined amount or more after detecting a contact operation on the outer display.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The processor changes the content of the display control according to the set operation mode.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein: The operation mode is a mode related to the battery consumption rate.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the inner display and the outer display is a flexible display.

11. A computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process, The processing is performed in an electronic device, the electronic device can be folded by at least one folding portion, and the electronic device comprises: a processor; an inner display, which is located on the inner side when folded and can receive a user's contact operation; and an outer display, which is located on the outer side when folded and can receive a user's contact operation, The processing includes: Control is performed in a manner of displaying different applications on the inner display, detecting a user's touch operation on one of the applications displayed on the inner display, and in response to detecting a change in the folding angle of the folding portion, performing display control of the last application displayed on the outer display among the applications operated by the user before closing the electronic device.

Images