Electronic device including flexible display, method for operating thereof and storage medium

Abstract

According to various embodiments, the system comprises a housing having a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure, a flexible display including a first display area and a second display area separated by the first housing and the second housing that are overlappable with each other, and a processor provided inside the housing, wherein the processor may be configured to obtain a folded angle of the flexible display when the flexible display is at least partially folded, and to adjust the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for a user. Various other embodiments may be provided.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] Various embodiments relate to an electronic device including a flexible display, a method of operation thereof, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Thanks to advancements in electronic technology, various types of flexible electronic devices are being developed. These flexible electronic devices can provide larger displays while maintaining portability. For example, flexible electronic devices can have their shape deformed by applying force, allowing them to provide foldable or bendable or rollable displays.

[0003] When using web surfing or multimedia functions, it may be more convenient to use an electronic device that outputs a larger screen. While a larger display can be mounted on an electronic device to provide a larger screen, there may be limitations on expanding the size of the display when considering the portability of the electronic device. In one embodiment, a display using an organic light-emitting diode can provide a larger screen while ensuring the portability of the electronic device. For example, a display using an organic light-emitting diode (or an electronic device equipped with it) can achieve stable operation even when manufactured to be significantly thin, and can be mounted on the electronic device in a foldable, slidable, or rollable form. The problem to be solved

[0004] In electronic devices including foldable flexible displays, a screen can be displayed on displays of various sizes (or various resolutions) (or display areas). For example, when the electronic device is folded in half and stood upright, the user can view the screen hands-free. In this case, if the ambient light changes, the brightness can be automatically adjusted or adjusted by the user to ensure visibility; however, since the measurement and calculation of the display brightness are based on the unfolded state, a difference in brightness perceived by the user may occur due to the difference in viewing angles between the upper and lower displays in the middle state of being folded in half. This can degrade the seamless user experience.

[0005] Therefore, an electronic device including a flexible display that can improve visibility by considering the folding angle and the user's eye position in an intermediate state where the electronic device is folded in half, a method of operation thereof, and a storage medium can be provided.

[0006] Various embodiments disclosed in this document may provide an electronic device including a flexible display, a method of operation thereof, and a storage medium, which can improve visibility by applying different driving voltages to different regions based on the folding axis of the flexible display. means of solving the problem

[0007] According to various embodiments, the system includes a housing having a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure, a flexible display including a first display area and a second display area separated by the first housing and the second housing that can overlap each other, and a processor provided inside the housing, wherein the processor is configured to obtain a folded angle of the flexible display when the flexible display is at least partially folded, and to adjust the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user.

[0008] According to various embodiments, a method of operation of an electronic device may include, when a flexible display comprising a first display area and a second display area separated by a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure so as to overlap each other is at least partially folded, an operation of obtaining a folded angle of the flexible display and an operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for a user.

[0009] According to various embodiments, in a storage medium storing commands, the commands are configured to cause at least one processor to perform at least one operation when executed by at least one processor, wherein the at least one operation may include the operation of obtaining a folded angle of a flexible display, wherein the flexible display includes a first display area and a second display area separated by a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure so as to overlap each other, and the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for a user. Effects of the invention

[0010] According to one embodiment, the electronic device can compensate for the difference in brightness between two regions by applying different driving voltages to regions based on the folding axis of the flexible display, thereby improving visibility.

[0011] The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments. FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 2b is a drawing illustrating a folded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 2c is a drawing illustrating a partially folded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram to explain cases where the brightness appears different depending on the viewing angle while partially folded of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of an electronic device including a flexible display with a stacked structure according to various embodiments. FIG. 5 is an example diagram illustrating the calculation of a viewing angle based on the user's eye position relative to the side of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is an example diagram illustrating the calculation of the viewing angle of a flexible display according to eye position based on the front of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart for explaining the operation method of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram for explaining a brightness adjustment process according to various embodiments. FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart for explaining the operation method of an electronic device for adjusting brightness by display area according to various embodiments. FIG. 10a is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying the same voltage to a display panel in an unfolded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 10b is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying different voltages to different display areas in a partially folded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 11a is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying the same voltage to a display panel in an unfolded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 11b is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying different voltages to different display areas in a partially folded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 12 is a drawing for illustrating a user interface screen with brightness adjusted in a partially folded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 13 is a drawing for illustrating a user interface screen for brightness adjustment in a partially folded state according to various embodiments. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) in a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network) or with an electronic device (104) or a server (108) through a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) through a server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), memory (130), input module (150), sound output module (155), display module (160), audio module (170), sensor module (176), interface (177), connection terminal (178), haptic module (179), camera module (180), power management module (188), battery (189), communication module (190), subscriber identification module (196), or antenna module (197). In some embodiments, at least one of these components (e.g., connection terminal (178)) may be omitted from the electronic device (101), or one or more other components may be added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., sensor module (176), camera module (180), or antenna module (197)) may be integrated into a single component (e.g., display module (160)).

[0014] The processor (120) can control at least one other component (e.g., hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing software (e.g., program (140)), for example, and can perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) can store commands or data received from other components (e.g., sensor module (176) or communication module (190)) in volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in volatile memory (132), and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., central processing unit or application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) that can operate independently or together with it (e.g., graphics processing unit, neural processing unit (NPU), image signal processor, sensor hub processor, or communication processor). For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and an auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use lower power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a designated function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as part thereof.

[0015] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., display module (160), sensor module (176), or communication module (190)) on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., image signal processor or communication processor) may be implemented as part of another functionally related component (e.g., camera module (180) or communication module (190)). According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing an artificial intelligence model. The artificial intelligence model may be generated through machine learning. Such learning may be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence is performed, or through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm may include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers.An artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to the hardware structure, the artificial intelligence model may include a software structure, either additionally or substantially.

[0016] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)). The data may include, for example, input data or output data for software (e.g., program (140)) and related commands. The memory (130) may include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0017] The program (140) may be stored as software in memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0018] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used for a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120)) from outside the electronic device (101) (e.g., user). The input module (150) may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0019] The sound output module (155) can output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device (101). The sound output module (155) may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver may be used to receive incoming calls. According to one embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part thereof.

[0020] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external (e.g., user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling said device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of the force generated by said touch.

[0021] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal or, conversely, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150) or output sound through the sound output module (155) or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphones) connected directly or wirelessly to the electronic device (101).

[0022] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating state of the electronic device (101) (e.g., power or temperature) or the external environmental state (e.g., user state) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biosensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0023] The interface (177) may support one or more specified protocols that can be used for the electronic device (101) to be connected directly or wirelessly to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0024] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0025] The haptic module (179) can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that the user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic senses. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulation device.

[0026] The camera module (180) can capture still images and video. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0027] The power management module (188) can manage the power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented, for example, as at least part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0028] The battery (189) can supply power to at least one component of the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0029] The communication module (190) can support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between an electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may include one or more communication processors that operate independently of the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., cellular communication module, short-range wireless communication module, or GNSS (global navigation satellite system) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., LAN (local area network) communication module, or power line communication module). The corresponding communication module among these communication modules can communicate with an external electronic device (104) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi (wireless fidelity) direct, or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can identify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0030] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following 4G networks, for example, new radio access technology. NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (massive machine type communications (mMTC)), or high reliability and low latency (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC)). The wireless communication module (192) can support a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate, for example. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in the high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output), full-dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large-scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (104)), or network system (e.g., second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a Peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for realizing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for realizing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) each 0.5 ms or less, or round trip 1 ms or less) for realizing URLLC.

[0031] An antenna module (197) can transmit a signal or power to or from an external source (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna comprising a radiator made of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as a first network (198) or a second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by a communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device through the selected at least one antenna. According to some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, other components (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module (197).

[0032] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent to a first surface (e.g., bottom surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a specified high frequency band (e.g., mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on or adjacent to a second surface (e.g., top surface or side surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving a signal of the specified high frequency band.

[0033] At least some of the above components can be connected to each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)) and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other.

[0034] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) through a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102, or 104) may be the same or different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations performed on the electronic device (101) may be performed on one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, if the electronic device (101) needs to perform a function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may request one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or service instead of performing the function or service itself or additionally. One or more external electronic devices that receive the above request may execute at least part of the requested function or service, or additional function or service 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 is or additionally processed as at least part of the response to the request. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used.

[0035] The electronic device (101) may provide ultra-low latency services using, for example, distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server using machine learning and / or neural networks. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included within a second network (199). The electronic device (101) may be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0036] FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating an unfolded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 2b is a drawing illustrating a folded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 2c is a drawing illustrating a partially folded state of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2a through 2c, in one embodiment, an electronic device (101) may include a foldable housing (230), a hinge cover (250) covering a foldable portion of the foldable housing (230), and a flexible or foldable display (200) (hereinafter abbreviated as "display" (200)) disposed within the space formed by the foldable housing (230). In this specification, the surface on which the display (200) is disposed is defined as a first surface or the front surface of the electronic device (101). The surface opposite to the front surface is defined as a second surface or the rear surface of the electronic device (101). Additionally, the surface surrounding the space between the front surface and the rear surface is defined as a third surface or the side surface of the electronic device (101).

[0038] According to various embodiments, the foldable housing (230) may include a first housing structure (or structure) (210), a second housing structure (220), a first rear cover (280), and a second rear cover (290). The foldable housing (230) of the electronic device (101) is not limited to the shapes and combinations shown in FIGS. 2a through 2c and may be implemented by other shapes or combinations and / or combinations of parts. For example, according to various embodiments, the foldable housing (230) may have the first housing structure (210) and the first rear cover (280) formed integrally, and the second housing structure (220) and the second rear cover (290) formed integrally.

[0039] According to various embodiments, the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may be arranged on both sides of the folding axis (A-A') and may have a shape that is symmetrical overall with respect to the folding axis (A-A'). The angle or distance between the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may vary depending on whether the state of the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state that is partially unfolded (or partially folded). The first housing structure (210) may have a shape that is symmetrical to the second housing structure (220). According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may be formed of a metal or non-metal material having a selected amount of rigidity to support the display (200).

[0040] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover (280) is positioned on one side of the folding axis at the rear of the electronic device (101) and may have a substantially rectangular periphery, for example, and the periphery may be wrapped by the first housing structure (210). Similarly, the second rear cover (290) is positioned on the other side of the folding axis at the rear of the electronic device (101) and its periphery may be wrapped by the second housing structure (220).

[0041] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover (280) and the second rear cover (290) may have a substantially symmetrical shape with respect to the folding axis (A-A'). However, the first rear cover (280) and the second rear cover (290) do not necessarily have mutually symmetrical shapes, and the electronic device (101) may include the first rear cover (280) and the second rear cover (290) of various shapes. According to various embodiments, the first rear cover (280) may be formed integrally with the first housing structure (210), and the second rear cover (290) may be formed integrally with the second housing structure (220).

[0042] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover (280), the second rear cover (290), the first housing structure (210), and the second housing structure (220) may form a space in which various components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a printed circuit board, or a battery) may be placed. According to various embodiments, one or more components may be placed or visually exposed on the rear of the electronic device (101). For example, the first rear cover (280) and / or the second rear cover (290) may include a sub-display (209). Additionally, the first rear cover (280) and / or the second rear cover (290) may include a proximity sensor and / or a rear camera (208). According to various embodiments, a front camera (207) visually exposed to the front of an electronic device (101) through one or more openings or a rear camera (208) exposed through a first rear cover (280) may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and / or an image signal processor.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2b, the hinge cover (250) may be positioned between the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) and configured to cover internal components, such as the hinge structure. For example, the hinge structure may be configured to fold inward or outward. For example, a free stop hinge may maintain the folded state of the electronic device (101) at various angles.

[0044] According to various embodiments, the hinge cover (250) may be covered by a part of the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) or exposed to the outside depending on the state of the electronic device (101) (e.g., operating state) (e.g., half-folded state, unfolded state, flat state, or open state, closed state, or folded state, and / or a partially unfolded (or partially folded) intermediate state).

[0045] According to various embodiments, the display (200) may be placed in a space formed by the foldable housing (230). For example, the display (200) may be seated on a recess formed by the foldable housing (230) and may constitute most of the front surface of the electronic device (101).

[0046] According to various embodiments, the front of the electronic device (101) may include a display (200), a portion of a first housing structure (210) adjacent to the display (200), and a portion of a second housing structure (220). Additionally, the rear of the electronic device (101) may include a first rear cover (280), a portion of a first housing structure (210) adjacent to the first rear cover (280), a second rear cover (290), and a portion of a second housing structure (220) adjacent to the second rear cover (290).

[0047] According to various embodiments, the display (200) may mean a display in which at least some area can be deformed into a flat or curved surface. In one embodiment, the display (200) may include a folding area (203), a first display area (201) disposed on one side (the upper side of the folding area (203) shown in FIG. 2a) with respect to the folding area (203), and a second display area (202) disposed on the other side (the lower side of the folding area (203) shown in FIG. 2a).

[0048] Meanwhile, the division of the display (200) shown in FIG. 2a is exemplary, and the display (200) may be divided into multiple areas (e.g., four or more or two) depending on the structure or function. For example, in one embodiment, the area of ​​the display (200) may be divided by a folding area (203) extending parallel to the x-axis or a folding axis (A-A') in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, but in another embodiment, the area of ​​the display (200) may be divided based on a different folding area (e.g., a folding area parallel to the y-axis) or a different folding axis (e.g., a folding axis parallel to the y-axis).

[0049] The first display area (201) and the second display area (202) may have a shape that is symmetrical overall with respect to the folding area (203). However, some areas of the first display area (201) and / or the second display area (202) may include a notch cut according to the presence of a sensor, but in other areas, the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) may have a shape that is symmetrical to each other. In other words, the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) may include a part that has a shape that is symmetrical to each other and a part that has a shape that is asymmetrical to each other. At least one of the first display area (201) or the second display area (202) may include a front camera (207).

[0050] Hereinafter, we will examine in more detail the operation of the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) and each area of ​​the display (200) according to the state (e.g., operating state) of the electronic device (101) (e.g., half-folded state, unfolded state, flat state, normal state, or open state), closed state, or folded state, and / or an intermediate state (intermediate state, flex state, folding state) that is partially unfolded (or partially folded).

[0051] According to various embodiments, the angle or distance between the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may vary depending on the state of the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the first housing structure (210) additionally includes a sensor area (not shown) where various sensors are arranged, unlike the second housing structure (220), but may have a mutually symmetrical shape in other areas.

[0052] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state (e.g., FIG. 2a), the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may be arranged to face in the same direction at an angle of 180 degrees. The surface of the first display area (201) and the surface of the second display area (202) of the display (200) may form an angle of 180 degrees with each other and may face in the same direction (e.g., the front direction of the electronic device). The folding area (203) may form a plane with the first display area (201) and the second display area (202).

[0053] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device (101) is in a folded state (e.g., FIG. 2b), the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220) may be positioned facing each other. The surface of the first housing structure (210) and the surface of the second housing structure (220) of the display (200) may face each other by forming a narrow angle (e.g., between 0 and 10 degrees). The folding area (203) may be formed of a curved surface having at least a portion having a predetermined curvature.

[0054] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device (101) is in an intermediate state (e.g., FIG. 2c) in which the display portion is partially unfolded (or partially folded), the surface of the first housing structure (210) and the surface of the second housing structure (220) of the display (200) may form a certain angle (or specified angle) (e.g., an obtuse angle between 90 and 120 degrees) relative to each other. For example, in the intermediate state, the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) of the display (200) may form an angle that is larger than in the folded state and smaller than in the unfolded state.

[0055] The electronic device (101) can be varied into a folded state, an unfolded state, or a partially unfolded state (or a partially folded state). The electronic device (101) can be folded in two ways: 'in-folding,' where the front of the electronic device (101) is folded to form an acute angle when viewed from the direction of the folding axis (e.g., A-A'), and 'out-folding,' where the front of the electronic device (101) is folded to form an obtuse angle. For example, when the electronic device (101) is folded in the in-folding manner, the first surface (210a) may face the third surface (220a).

[0056] FIG. 2c shows an intermediate state in which the electronic device (101) is partially unfolded based on a folding axis. As illustrated in FIG. 2c, the electronic device (101) may have a second housing structure (220) in contact with a contact surface (e.g., floor, table), and a first housing structure (210) in an upright state relative to the contact surface.

[0057] As such, an electronic device including a flexible display can be folded or bent along a single axis. Here, the axis may be pre-set or arbitrary. A pre-set axis may mean that only a specific area of ​​the flexible display of the electronic device (e.g., a portion of the area including the axis) is bendable. On the other hand, an arbitrary axis may mean that the entire area of ​​the display of the electronic device is bendable. Although FIG. 2c is illustrated as being folded in half along an axis passing through the center of the electronic device, those skilled in the art will readily understand that there is no limitation on the position of the axis.

[0058] FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram to explain cases where the brightness appears different depending on the viewing angle while partially folded of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 3(a), in an intermediate state where the electronic device (101) is partially folded (or partially unfolded) based on the folding axis, the second housing structure (220) of the electronic device (101) is in contact with a contact surface (e.g., floor, table), and the first housing structure (210) may be in an upright state relative to the contact surface. According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is partially folded and the user (300) looks at the first display area (201) corresponding to the upper side based on the folding axis, the same voltage is supplied to the display panel including the first display area (201) and the second display area (202), but the brightness and color difference may appear different due to the difference in the user's visual perception of the first display area (201) and the second display area (202). Generally, the brightness measurement and calculation of the display are based on the unfolded state, but the brightness can be adjusted by the user and can also be automatically adjusted according to the ambient brightness using a light sensor. However, in the case of an electronic device (101) including a foldable display, a difference in brightness may occur in each display area as shown in FIG. 3(b) due to the difference in the user's viewing angle regarding the display area (or display surface) divided vertically with respect to the folding axis, not only in the unfolded state but also in a partially folded state, for example, between 90 and 120 degrees.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 3(a), if the user's viewing angle for the first display area (201) (e.g., upper display area) is, for example, 90 degrees, the user's viewing angle for the second display area (202) (e.g., lower display) may be less than 90 degrees. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when partially folded, the second display area (202) may appear darker than the first display area (201) from the user's perspective.

[0061] Therefore, it is necessary to correct the brightness and color difference between the first display area (201) and the second display area (202). According to various embodiments, the driving voltage can be applied differently by considering the folded angle and the user's eye position for each area based on the folding axis of the flexible display. Accordingly, since it is possible for the user to view a uniform screen regardless of the user's eye position while the display is partially folded, visibility can be improved.

[0062] FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of an electronic device including a flexible display with a stacked structure according to various embodiments.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4, an electronic device (401) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) may include at least one processor (420), memory (430), display driver IC (465), touch sensor IC (4666), sensor module (476), and / or camera module (480). Additionally, the flexible display (460) of the electronic device (401) may have a stacked structure as shown in FIG. 4. According to one embodiment, the flexible display (460) may include a window (461), a polarizer (462), a touch sensor panel (TSP) (463), and / or a display panel (464). Depending on the implementation as illustrated in FIG. 4, the touch sensor panel (463) may be located above the display panel (464) and may include an optical layer on the touch sensor panel (463), the optical layer may include a polarizer (462). In another example, the touch sensor panel (463) may be located above the polarizer (462).

[0064] First, the display driver IC (DDI) (465) can receive image data or image information including an image control signal corresponding to a command to control the image data from a processor (420) (e.g., the main processor (121) of FIG. 1 (e.g., an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) that operates independently of the function of the main processor (121)) through an interface module, for example. Additionally, the display driver IC (465) can store at least a portion of the received image information in a memory (430), for example, in frame units. The display driver IC (465) can perform preprocessing or postprocessing (e.g., resolution, brightness, or size adjustment) on at least a portion of the image data based at least on the characteristics of the image data or the characteristics of the display (460).

[0065] According to various embodiments, the touch sensor IC (466) controls the touch sensor panel (463) to detect a touch input or hovering input for a designated location, for example, by measuring a change in a signal (e.g., capacitance) for a designated location of the flexible display (460), and can provide information (e.g., location, area, pressure, or time) regarding the detected touch input or hovering input to the processor (420).

[0066] According to various embodiments, the display panel (464) may include an element for displaying a screen, and the window (461) may be made of a transparent material. According to one embodiment, the window (461) may include a flexible window.

[0067] According to various embodiments, the electronic device (401) may further include at least one sensor of the sensor module (476) or a control circuit for the same. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (476) may include an illuminance sensor, a gyroscope sensor and an accelerometer used to measure the horizontal and orientation of the electronic device (401). According to one embodiment, the sensor module (476) may include a sensor (e.g., a digital Hall sensor, a 6-axis sensor) for determining the operating state (e.g., unfolded state, folded state, and / or intermediate state) and the folded angle of the electronic device (401). In addition to the above, the sensor module (476) may include a strain sensor that outputs a strain value used to indirectly measure the folded angle of the electronic device (401).

[0068] According to various embodiments, the electronic device (401) includes a camera module (480), and the operation of capturing a face image including the user's eyes can be activated based on the detection of an event of a change in the operating state of the electronic device (401). For example, the processor (420) can activate the camera module (480) in response to the detection of a change in the operating state (e.g., unfolded state, folded state, and / or partially folded intermediate state) and can acquire a face image of the user at a set interval. According to one embodiment, the processor (420) continuously captures a face image through the camera module (480) during application execution and can acquire eye position information of the user through analysis of the face image.

[0069] According to various embodiments, the memory (430) may store a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set according to the viewing angle. According to one embodiment, the table may map voltage values ​​to determine how much to adjust the brightness of a display area (e.g., a second display area (202)) positioned below the folded surface (or folding axis) through the hinge structure, based on the folded angle of the flexible display (460) and eye position information for the user.

[0070] For example, Table 1 below illustrates the voltage to be supplied through wiring connected to a plurality of pixels included in the second display area (202) in correspondence with the viewing angle for the second display area (202) with respect to the folding axis.

[0071] 시야각 PRINCIPLE DD PRINCIPLE SS 90° Default Value Default Value 95° + 0.1V - 0.1V 100° + 0.2V - 0.2V 105° + 0.3V - 0.3V 110° + 0.4V - 0.4V ·· · ·· · ·· · 165° +1.5V -1.5V 170° +1.6V -1.6V 175° +1.7V -1.7V 180° +1.8V -1.8V

[0073] According to Table 1 above, the processor (420) can increase the brightness of the second display area (202) by increasing the power as the viewing angle of the second display area (202) increases. For example, the processor (420) can adjust the brightness of the second display area (202) by adjusting either ELVdd (electro luminescence voltage drain-to-drain) or ELVss (electro luminescence voltage source-to-source) by referring to the table above. As described above, the processor (420) can adjust the brightness of the second display area (202) by referring to the table above, but this is merely illustrative and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, since the maximum brightness and default brightness of the electronic device (401) differ depending on various conditions as well as organic materials, the voltage value according to the viewing angle in the table may be adjustable.

[0074] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) can detect the physical state and / or change in physical state of the electronic device (401) based on data received from the sensor module (476). For example, the processor (420) can determine (or calculate) the angle between the first surface of the first housing structure (210) of the electronic device (401) and the first surface of the second housing structure (220) based on at least one of an angle sensor, a strain sensor, a distance sensor, or a gyroscope sensor provided in the electronic device (401).

[0075] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) can determine whether the angle between the first surface of the first housing structure (210) and the first surface of the second housing structure (220) corresponds to a specified first angle range (e.g., a range greater than about 90 degrees and less than or equal to about 120 degrees), a specified second angle range (e.g., a range greater than or equal to about 0 degrees and less than about 20 degrees), or a specified third angle range (e.g., a range greater than 120 degrees and less than or equal to about 180 degrees). For example, the processor (420) can determine that the electronic device (101) is in a partially unfolded (or partially folded) state if the angle between the first surface of the first housing structure (210) and the first surface of the second housing structure (220) corresponds to the specified first angle range.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) can detect a change in the operating state (e.g., unfolded state, folded state, and / or partially folded intermediate state) (e.g., folded event, unfolded event). For example, it can determine whether it is folded or unfolded based on a sensor capable of detecting a change in the operating state, and can obtain the folded angle of the flexible display (460) corresponding to the operating state.

[0077] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may determine whether to operate the camera module (480) based on application attributes. For example, since a user may not perceive a difference in brightness with their eyes for dark colors, the brightness adjustment function may not be performed when running an application that uses black as the background color. On the other hand, the processor (420) may operate the camera module (480) to obtain eye position information for brightness adjustment in the case of applications that require brightness adjustment, such as the internet.

[0078] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) can automatically adjust the brightness of the execution screen at the bottom while the application is running based on the folded angle and user eye position information in response to a change in the operating state for an application where brightness adjustment is required.

[0079] According to one embodiment, in the case of an application using white as a background color such as the internet, the processor (420) can adjust the brightness of the display area corresponding to the lower side in contact with the contact surface (e.g., floor, table) based on the folding axis when a change in the operating state is detected during the execution of the application.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may execute an application in response to a request for application execution by a user after a change in the operating state is detected. According to one embodiment, depending on the attributes of the application in a partially folded state, the processor (420) may increase the frequency (or cycle, number) of acquiring eye position information from a face image acquired through the camera module (480). For example, if the background color of an application requiring brightness adjustment is white, the difference in brightness between the upper and lower display areas may be perceived as greater from the user's perspective; therefore, the processor (420) may increase the number of operations to correct the brightness difference by increasing the frequency of acquiring the eye position information based on the attributes of the application.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can increase the frequency of calculating the viewing angle for a display area corresponding to the lower side (e.g., a second display area) based on the application attributes, the folded angle of the flexible display (460) and the eye position information of the user during the execution of the application. Accordingly, the processor (420) can quickly perform brightness correction for the display area corresponding to the lower side that is in contact during the execution of the application. By doing so, from the user's perspective, through brightness correction with increased frequency of operation, a uniform execution screen without distinction between the upper and lower display areas can be viewed.

[0082] As described above, in order to correct the difference in brightness between display areas that occurs depending on the viewing angle of the user, the processor (420) can calculate the viewing angle of the display area corresponding to the contacting lower side based on the folded angle and eye position information of the user.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can adjust the voltage supplied to a plurality of pixels included in the display area corresponding to the lower side by referring to a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set indicating how much brightness to adjust according to the calculated viewing angle. According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can correct the difference in brightness between each display area by controlling the driving voltage differently for each display area. For example, the processor (420) can correct the difference in brightness with the display area corresponding to the upper side when standing upright relative to the contact surface by adjusting the voltage supplied to the lower display. Accordingly, according to various embodiments, the difference in brightness between the upper and lower display areas can be reduced, thereby improving user visibility.

[0084] According to various embodiments, a housing (e.g., foldable housing (230)) having a first housing (e.g., first housing structure (210)) and a second housing (e.g., second housing structure (220)) that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure, a flexible display (460) including a first display area (201) and a second display area (202) separated by the first housing and the second housing that can overlap each other, and a processor (420) provided inside the housing, wherein the processor (420) may be configured to obtain a folded angle of the flexible display (460) when the flexible display (460) is at least partially folded, and to adjust the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) based on the folded angle of the flexible display (460) and eye position information for the user.

[0085] According to various embodiments, the flexible display (460) may be configured to include a first wiring for supplying power to a first plurality of pixels included in the first display area (201) during application execution and a second wiring for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in the second display area (202).

[0086] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) is configured to supply different voltages through the first wiring and the second wiring, respectively, based on the folded angle of the flexible display (460) and eye position information for the user, and may be configured to supply the same voltage through the first wiring and the second wiring when the flexible display (460) is unfolded.

[0087] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may be configured to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area by adjusting either ELVdd (electro luminescence voltage drain-to-drain) or ELVss (electro luminescence voltage source-to-source) through each of the first wiring and the second wiring.

[0088] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may be configured to identify the attributes of an application to be executed when the flexible display (460) is at least partially folded, and to identify whether to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area based on the attributes of the application.

[0089] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may be configured to identify whether an application requires brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the application, and if the application requires brightness adjustment, to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area.

[0090] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may be configured to adjust the brightness of the second display area (202) positioned on the lower side based on the folded surface through the hinge structure.

[0091] According to various embodiments, the electronic device (401) further includes a camera module (480) for acquiring a face image of the user, and the processor (420) may be configured to acquire eye position information of the user from the face image at a predetermined period during the execution of the application, and to adjust the brightness of the second display area (202) based on the acquired eye position information.

[0092] According to various embodiments, the processor (420) may be configured to calculate a viewing angle for the second display area (202) based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user, and to supply a voltage corresponding to the calculated viewing angle for the second display area (202) through the second wiring by referring to a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set according to the viewing angle for the second display area (202).

[0093] FIG. 5 is an example diagram illustrating the calculation of a viewing angle based on the user's eye position relative to the side of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is an example diagram illustrating the calculation of a viewing angle based on the eye position of a flexible display relative to the front of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0094] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the electronic device (401) is partially folded, when the user (300) looks at the first display area (201) corresponding to the upper side with respect to the folding axis, the electronic device (401) can acquire a face image through a front camera (e.g., camera module (480)) placed in the first housing structure (210). The electronic device (401) can detect the user's eye position based on the face image and, accordingly, acquire a field of view (e.g., upper field of view) between the first display area (201) corresponding to the upper side and the user's eye position. At this time, the electronic device (401) can determine (or calculate) an angle (e.g., folded angle) between the first surface of the first housing structure (210) of the electronic device (401) and the first surface of the second housing structure (220) based on at least one of a digital Hall sensor, an angle sensor, a strain sensor, a distance sensor, or a gyroscope sensor. When the electronic device (401) obtains the folded angle and the upper viewing angle, it can predict (or calculate) the viewing angle for the second display area (202) corresponding to the lower side. According to various embodiments, the electronic device (401) may detect the position of the user's eyebrows, forehead, nose, and / or mouth based on a face image, and accordingly obtain the viewing angle (e.g., upper viewing angle) between the first display area (201) corresponding to the upper side with respect to the folding axis and the position of the user's eyebrows, forehead, nose, and / or mouth.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 5, if the user's viewing angle (e.g., upper viewing angle) (501) for the first display area (201) (e.g., upper display) is 90 degrees, for example, the user's viewing angle (e.g., lower viewing angle) (502) for the second display area (202) (e.g., lower display) may be less than 90 degrees. On the other hand, if the user's viewing angle (e.g., upper viewing angle) (503) for the first display area (201) (e.g., upper display area) is 110 degrees, for example, the user's viewing angle (e.g., lower viewing angle) (504) for the second display area (202) (e.g., lower display) may be less than 90 degrees, which is further reduced compared to the case where the upper viewing angle is 90 degrees. As described above, the electronic device (401) can calculate the viewing angle for the lower display (e.g., lower viewing angle) based on the folded angle and the eye position for the upper display, i.e., the upper viewing angle.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 6, when viewed from the front of the electronic device, the user's viewing angle (e.g., upper viewing angle) (e.g., 90 degrees, 100 degrees, 110 degrees) for the first display area (201) (e.g., upper display) can be identified according to eye position (601, 602, 603).

[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart (700) for explaining the operation method of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0098] Each step / operation of the operation method of FIG. 7 may be performed by at least one of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, the electronic device (401) of FIG. 4) and at least one processor of the electronic device (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 and the processor (420) of FIG. 4).

[0099] Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 710, an electronic device (401) (e.g., processor (420) of FIG. 4) can obtain a folded angle of a flexible display including a first display area and a second display area separated by a first housing (e.g., first housing structure (210)) and a second housing (e.g., second housing structure (220)) that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure so as to overlap each other, when the flexible display is at least partially folded.

[0100] In operation 720, the electronic device (401) can adjust the brightness of at least one of the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user.

[0101] According to various embodiments, the operation of controlling the brightness of at least one display area may include the operation of supplying different voltages through each of a first wiring for supplying power to a first plurality of pixels included in the first display area and a second wiring for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in the second display area during application execution.

[0102] According to various embodiments, the method may further include the operation of supplying the same voltage through the first wiring and the second wiring while the flexible display is unfolded.

[0103] According to various embodiments, the method may further include, when the flexible display is at least partially folded, an operation of identifying the attributes of an application to be executed and an operation of identifying whether to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area based on the attributes of the application.

[0104] According to various embodiments, the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area may include an operation of identifying whether an application requires brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the application, and an operation of adjusting the brightness of the at least one display area if it is an application requiring brightness adjustment.

[0105] According to various embodiments, the operation of adjusting the brightness of the at least one display area may include the operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area positioned on the lower side based on the folded surface through the hinge structure.

[0106] According to various embodiments, the operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area may include the operation of acquiring a face image of the user during the execution of the application, the operation of acquiring eye position information of the user from the face image at a predetermined period, and the operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area based on the acquired eye position information.

[0107] According to various embodiments, the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area may include the operation of calculating a viewing angle for the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user, and the operation of supplying a voltage corresponding to the calculated viewing angle for the second display area through the second wiring by referring to a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set according to the viewing angle for the second display area.

[0108] According to various embodiments, the operation of adjusting the brightness of the at least one display area may include, by referring to the table, increasing the voltage supplied through the second wiring as the viewing angle of the second display area increases.

[0109] FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram for explaining a brightness adjustment process according to various embodiments.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 8, the electronic device (401) can repeat (850) at least one of identifying a viewing angle (810), identifying a folding angle (820), identifying an application attribute (830), and predicting a viewing angle (840) for a top surface (e.g., a first display area (201)) in a folding state (800) during application execution.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the folding state (800) may be an intermediate state in which the angle between the first surface of the first housing structure (210) and the first surface of the second housing structure (220) corresponds to a specified first angle range. The electronic device (401) can determine whether the flexible display (460) is in at least a partially folded state in response to a change in the operating state and can detect the angle between the first housing structure (210) and the second housing structure (220).

[0112] According to one embodiment, when in a folding state (800), the electronic device (401) can detect the position of the eyes based on an image obtained through a front camera and can identify the viewing angle of the upper surface according to the position of the eyes. According to one embodiment, the pupils included in the image of the user's face can be used as reference points to determine the direction of the display screen the user is looking at and the position of the eyes. For example, the electronic device (401) can determine which part of the display screen of FIG. 6 the user is looking at by analyzing the direction of the user's pupils and the position of the user from the image of the user's face. The viewing angle may indicate which part of the screen the user's gaze is located on, having a position relative to the first display area (201) separated by the folding axis in a partially folded state.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can identify the folding angle (820) based on at least one sensor such as a digital Hall sensor, an angle sensor, a strain sensor, a distance sensor, or a gyroscope sensor.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can identify (830) at least one running application or an application selected by the user in a folded state (or metadata). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can determine whether the application supports automatic brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the running application, and can determine whether the application requires adjustment of the operation frequency (or period) for identifying the viewing angle according to the eye position. For example, based on the attributes of the application, if the application uses white as the background color, the electronic device (401) can increase the operation frequency for identifying the viewing angle according to the eye position to quickly correct the difference between the upper and lower displays in real time.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can predict (or calculate) a viewing angle for a second display area based on the folded angle and eye position information for the user.

[0116] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can repeat the operations (850) (8810, 820, 830, 830, 840) at a set interval during application execution while in a folding state (800).

[0117] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart for explaining the operation method of an electronic device for adjusting brightness by display area according to various embodiments.

[0118] Each step / operation of the operation method of FIG. 9 may be performed by at least one of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) and at least one processor of the electronic device (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 and the processor (420) of FIG. 4). In one embodiment, at least one of operations 905 to 945 may be omitted, the order of some operations may be changed, or other operations may be added. Also, in the following embodiments, each operation may be performed sequentially, but is not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of each operation may be changed, and at least two operations may be performed in parallel.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 9, the electronic device (401) may display a first or second graphic element on at least a portion of the display in operation 905. For example, the electronic device (401) may display a first graphic element associated with a first application on at least a portion of the flexible display (or the entire screen). Or, if multiple applications are running, it may display a first graphic element associated with the first application and a second graphic element associated with the second application. For example, the electronic device (401) may display the first application or a screen generated by its execution, the screen / graphic interface of the first application, or an image / document / text / video played / displayed by the first application on an area of ​​the flexible display as the first graphic element.

[0120] In operation 910, the electronic device (401) can detect a folding event, and in operation 915, the electronic device (401) can set a first area and a second area on the display in response to the folding event. For example, the electronic device (401) can divide at least a portion of the flexible display into a first area (e.g., a first display area (201)) and a second area (e.g., a second display area (202)). For example, the folding event may include a folding / bending input that folds or bends the electronic device.

[0121] In operation 920, the electronic device (401) can identify whether an application requires brightness adjustment. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can identify whether an application requires brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the application. For example, in the case of a camera application using black as the background color, there may be no need for brightness adjustment because the user does not perceive a difference in brightness with the eyes between the two areas (e.g., the first display area (201), the second display area (202)). Therefore, the electronic device (401) may not perform the brightness adjustment function when an application that does not require brightness adjustment is executed. For example, when an application with a black background color is operated, the electronic device (401) may automatically perform brightness adjustment only once or limit the brightness adjustment function.

[0122] On the other hand, in operation 925, the electronic device (401) can identify whether automatic brightness control is possible in the case of an application that requires brightness control. For example, an application that uses white as a background color, such as the internet, may be an application that requires brightness control. If it is an application that requires brightness control, the electronic device (401) can identify whether automatic brightness control is possible. For example, if the user has set the brightness to be manually controlled according to the folded angle, the electronic device (401) cannot perform automatic brightness control.

[0123] Therefore, if automatic brightness adjustment is not possible, the electronic device (401) may guide the user to adjust the brightness in operation 930. For example, the user may adjust the brightness through a guide that enables brightness adjustment for at least one display area as shown in FIG. 13.

[0124] On the other hand, if automatic brightness adjustment is possible, the electronic device (401) can obtain eye position information for the user in operation 935. In operation 940, based on the folded angle and eye position information, it can identify the viewing angle (e.g., viewing angle for the second display area (202)). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can perform the operation of identifying the viewing angle periodically or at a frequency determined by the application attributes during application execution.

[0125] In operation 945, the electronic device (401) can adjust the brightness of at least one of the first area and the second area based on the viewing angle during the execution of the application. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) can increase the brightness of the second display area (202) in correspondence with the calculated viewing angle by continuously calculating the viewing angle for the second display area (202) at regular intervals during the execution of the application. Accordingly, the brightness difference between the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) can be reduced.

[0126] Meanwhile, according to various embodiments, control for the first display area (201) and the second display area (202) can be separated to reduce the brightness difference between the first display area (201) and the second display area (202), and one of the ELVdd or ELVss power supplies of the flexible display can be implemented to be separated through a switching structure. To explain this in detail, reference will be made to FIGS. 10a to 11b.

[0127] FIG. 10a is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying the same voltage to a display panel in an unfolded state according to various embodiments.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 10a, in the unfolded state, a flexible display including an upper surface display (1001) (e.g., a first display area) and a lower surface display (1002) (e.g., a second display area) can be supplied with either an ELVdd (electroluminescence voltage drain-to-drain) or ELVss (electroluminescence voltage source-to-source) power supply through a display power IC (1010).

[0129] According to one embodiment, a display driver IC (e.g., the display driver IC (465) of FIG. 4) (hereinafter, DDI) can receive control signals and image data from a processor (420) and drive each pixel of a panel. For example, an upper display (1001) and a lower display (1002) can be connected to a single DDI (465).

[0130] According to one embodiment, in the unfolded state, the same voltage can be supplied to the upper display (1001) and the lower display (1002) through a display power IC (1010). For example, when using an ELVss power supply, the same ELVss power supply can be applied to the upper display (1001) and the lower display (1002) respectively through switching control. Accordingly, in the unfolded state, an application execution screen with the same brightness can be output to at least a portion of the flexible display (e.g., the entire screen) including the first display area (201) and the second display area (202).

[0131] FIG. 10b is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying different voltages to different display areas in a partially folded state according to various embodiments.

[0132] As illustrated in FIG. 10b, the flexible display may be configured to include a first wiring (or first line) for supplying power to a first plurality of pixels included in an upper display (1001) (e.g., a first display area (201)) and a second wiring (or second line) for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in a lower display (1002) (e.g., a second display area (202)).

[0133] Referring to FIG. 10b, when the processor (420) detects a change in the operating state (e.g., partially folded state), it can change the second wiring path for the lower display (1002) through switching control. For example, the processor (420) can control the connection to the DC / DC IC (1020) so that a regulated voltage can be supplied through the second wiring for the lower display (1002). For example, the processor (420) can switch so that the output terminal of the DC / DC IC (1020) is connected to the second wiring for the lower display (1002). According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can calculate a viewing angle for the lower display (1002) based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user. According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can control the voltage supplied through the second wiring for the lower display (1002) based on the calculated viewing angle.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 10b, the flexible display panel can be divided into upper and lower sections based on the folding axis, and separate wiring can be arranged for each display (1001, 1002).

[0135] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) can adjust the brightness of at least one display area by adjusting either ELVdd (electro luminescence voltage drain-to-drain) or ELVss (electro luminescence voltage source-to-source) through each of the first wiring and the second wiring via switching control.

[0136] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (401) may further include a separate DC / DC converter (e.g., DC / DC IC (1020)) to supply a different voltage to either of the displays (1001, 1002). Accordingly, in the unfolded state, the same voltage is supplied to each of the displays (1001, 1002) using one display power IC (1010) via a switch, and in the partially folded state, the brightness of one of the areas can be controlled by connecting the DC / DC IC (1020) to either of the displays (1001, 1002) via switching control.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 10b, when brightness control is performed using ELVss, the ELVss circuit must be arranged so as to be internally separated for each display (1001, 1002), and when brightness control is performed using ELVdd, the ELVdd circuit may be arranged so as to be internally separated for each display (1001, 1002).

[0138] FIGS. 11a and FIGS. 11b illustrate a case where brightness control is performed using ELVdd for each display (1001, 1002).

[0139] FIG. 11a is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying the same voltage to a display panel in an unfolded state according to various embodiments, and FIG. 11b is a block diagram illustrating a method of supplying different voltages to different display areas in a partially folded state according to various embodiments.

[0140] FIGS. 11a and FIGS. 11b have the same description of the components of FIGS. 10a and FIGS. 10b, respectively. However, compared to FIGS. 10a and FIGS. 10b, FIGS. 11a and FIGS. 11b differ only in that the brightness of each display (1001, 1002) is controlled using ELVdd, so the specific description thereof will be omitted.

[0141] Meanwhile, if the electronic device (401) includes a sub-display (e.g., the sub-display (209) of FIG. 2a) on the rear cover, it may include a DC / DC IC for driving the sub-display. In the case of an electronic device (401) that includes two or more displays in this manner, the DC / DC IC for the sub-display may be used to drive the sub-display in the folded state, and in the partially folded state, the DC / DC IC for the sub-display may be configured to change the power path for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in the lower display (1002). That is, in the partially folded state, the DC / DC IC for the sub-display may be used for supplying ELVdd or ELVss to the lower display (1002).

[0142] FIG. 12 is a drawing for illustrating a user interface screen with brightness adjusted in a partially folded state according to various embodiments.

[0143] Referring to FIG. 12, an electronic device (1200) according to various embodiments can determine whether a running application supports automatic brightness adjustment in response to a change in operating state. Automatic brightness adjustment may be a function in which the brightness of the running screen at the bottom is automatically adjusted based on the folded angle and user eye position information in response to a change in operating state. According to one embodiment, whether an application requires brightness adjustment may be recorded in the properties (or metadata) of the application, and the electronic device (1200) can determine whether the application supports automatic brightness adjustment based on the properties of the running application.

[0144] According to various embodiments, if the running application supports an automatic brightness adjustment function, the electronic device (1200) can change the voltage supplied to the pixels corresponding to the second display area (1202) to a specified voltage so that an execution screen is output in which the difference in brightness between the first display area (1201) and the second display area (1202) is corrected according to the user's eye position.

[0145] According to various embodiments, if the running application does not support an automatic brightness adjustment function, the electronic device (1300) can provide a user brightness adjustment function as shown in FIG. 13.

[0146] FIG. 13 is a drawing for illustrating a user interface screen for brightness adjustment in a partially folded state according to various embodiments.

[0147] Referring to FIG. 13, the electronic device (1300) can output an application execution screen to each of the first display area (1301) and the second display area (1302) in response to a change in the operating state. According to various embodiments, if the application being executed does not support an automatic brightness adjustment function, a guide (1310) can be provided to enable brightness adjustment for at least one of the first display area (1301) and the second display area (1302). For example, when an input such as touch and drag is detected while displaying an application execution screen using the first display area (1301) and the second display area (1302) in a partially folded state, the electronic device (1300) may consider this as a request to display a control interaction guide and display a guide (1310) for brightness adjustment.

[0148] Additionally, according to various embodiments, the electronic device (1300) can control that different application execution screens are displayed in the first display area (1301) and the second display area (1302) respectively when there are multiple applications running. In the case of multiple applications, a guide may be provided to enable brightness adjustment for each of the first display area (1301) and the second display area (1302). For example, the user may directly adjust the brightness of the desired display area in response to the degree of touch and drag. At this time, the electronic device (1300) may reflect the voltage corresponding to the adjusted brightness in the table value of Table 1. For example, if the user manually adjusts the brightness at a specific angle, the electronic device (1300) may pre-map and store the voltage corresponding to the brightness adjusted by the user at that specific angle. Accordingly, the electronic device (1300) may set the voltage mapped for each folded angle as the default value for the second display area (1302).

[0149] The electronic device according to the various embodiments disclosed in this document may be of various forms. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a consumer electronics device. The electronic device according to the embodiments of this document is not limited to the devices described above.

[0150] The various embodiments of this document and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of said embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, 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 each include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish said components from other said components and do not limit said components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order). Where any (e.g., 1st) component is referred to as “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., 2nd) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicationly,” it means that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0151] The term “module” as used in the various embodiments of this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be a component formed integrally, or a minimum unit of said component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0152] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., program (140)) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory (136) or external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., electronic device (101)) may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code that can be executed by an interpreter. The storage medium readable by the machine may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-temporary' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily.

[0153] According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM It can be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0154] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., module or program) of the components described above may include a singular or multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more of the components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Generally or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as those performed by the corresponding component among the multiple components prior to integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, program, or other components may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

Claims

Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a housing having a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure; and a flexible display including a first display area and a second display area separated by the first housing and the second housing that are overlappable with each other. An electronic device comprising a processor provided inside the housing, wherein the processor obtains a folded angle of the flexible display when the flexible display is at least partially folded, corrects a brightness difference between the first display area and the second display area by adjusting the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information of the user, and increases the frequency of performing an operation to calculate a viewing angle for the second display area, the lower side of which contacts a contact surface, based on an attribute corresponding to the background color of a currently running application, wherein the viewing angle is calculated based on the folded angle and eye position information of the user, and is configured to adjust a voltage supplied to at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area according to the calculated viewing angle. Claim 2 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible display is configured to include a first wiring for supplying power to a first plurality of pixels included in a first display area and a second wiring for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in a second display area. Claim 3 An electronic device according to paragraph 2, wherein the processor is configured to supply different voltages through the first wiring and the second wiring, respectively, based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user during the execution of the application, and is configured to supply the same voltage through the first wiring and the second wiring when the flexible display is unfolded. Claim 4 In paragraph 3, the electronic device is configured such that the processor adjusts the brightness of the at least one display area by adjusting either ELVdd (electro luminescence voltage drain-to-drain) or ELVss (electro luminescence voltage source-to-source) through each of the first wiring and the second wiring. Claim 5 In paragraph 3, the processor is an electronic device configured to identify the attributes of an application to be executed when the flexible display is at least partially folded, and to identify whether to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area based on the attributes of the application. Claim 6 An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the processor identifies whether an application requires brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the application, and is configured to adjust the brightness of at least one display area if the application requires brightness adjustment. Claim 7 In paragraph 2, the processor is an electronic device configured to adjust the brightness of the second display area positioned on the lower side based on the folded surface through the hinge structure. Claim 8 An electronic device according to claim 7, further comprising a camera module, wherein the processor is configured to acquire a face image of the user using the camera module, acquire eye position information of the user from the face image at a predetermined period during the execution of the application, and adjust the brightness of the second display area based on the acquired eye position information. Claim 9 An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the processor calculates a viewing angle for the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user, and supplies a voltage corresponding to the calculated viewing angle for the second display area to the second display area through the second wiring by referring to a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set according to the viewing angle for the second display area. Claim 10 An electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to increase the brightness of the second display area by increasing the voltage supplied through the second wiring as the viewing angle of the second display area increases, by referring to the table. Claim 11 A method of operation of an electronic device, comprising: a first display area and a second display area separated by a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure so as to overlap each other, wherein the flexible display is in a state where the flexible display is at least partially folded, and the method comprises: an operation of obtaining a folded angle of the flexible display; and an operation of correcting a brightness difference between the first display area and the second display area by adjusting the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information of the user, wherein the method further comprises an operation of increasing the frequency of performing an operation of calculating a viewing angle for the second display area, the lower side of which contacts a contact surface, based on an attribute corresponding to the background color of a currently running application, wherein the viewing angle is calculated based on the folded angle and eye position information of the user; and an operation of adjusting a voltage supplied to at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area according to the calculated viewing angle. Claim 12 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area comprises supplying different voltages through each of a first wiring for supplying power to a first plurality of pixels included in the first display area and a second wiring for supplying power to a second plurality of pixels included in the second display area during the execution of the application. Claim 13 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising the operation of supplying the same voltage through the first wiring and the second wiring while the flexible display is unfolded. Claim 14 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising: an operation of identifying attributes of an application to be executed when the flexible display is at least partially folded; and an operation of identifying whether to adjust the brightness of the at least one display area based on the attributes of the application. Claim 15 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area comprises: an operation of identifying whether the application requires brightness adjustment based on the attributes of the application; and an operation of adjusting the brightness of the at least one display area if the application requires brightness adjustment. Claim 16 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area includes the operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area positioned on the lower side based on the folded surface through the hinge structure. Claim 17 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area comprises: an operation of acquiring a face image of the user during the execution of the application; an operation of acquiring eye position information of the user from the face image at a predetermined period; and an operation of adjusting the brightness of the second display area based on the acquired eye position information. Claim 18 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area comprises: an operation of calculating a viewing angle for the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information for the user; and an operation of supplying a voltage corresponding to the calculated viewing angle for the second display area to the second display area through the second wiring by referring to a table in which a voltage adjustment rate is set according to the viewing angle for the second display area. Claim 19 A method of operation of an electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the operation of adjusting the brightness of at least one display area includes, by referring to the table, increasing the brightness of the second display area by increasing the voltage supplied through the second wiring as the viewing angle of the second display area increases. Claim 20 In a storage medium storing commands, the commands are configured to cause at least one processor of an electronic device to perform at least one operation when executed by said processor, wherein the at least one operation comprises: an operation of obtaining a folded angle of a flexible display including a first display area and a second display area separated by a first housing and a second housing that rotate relative to each other around a hinge structure so as to overlap each other, in a state in which the flexible display is at least partially folded; and an operation of correcting a brightness difference between the first display area and the second display area by adjusting the brightness of at least one display area among the first display area and the second display area based on the folded angle of the flexible display and eye position information of the user, wherein the at least one operation comprises an operation of increasing the frequency of performing an operation of calculating a viewing angle for the second display area, the lower side of which contacts a contact surface, based on an attribute corresponding to the background color of a currently running application, wherein the viewing angle is calculated based on the folded angle and eye position information of the user; A storage medium further comprising an operation to adjust the voltage supplied to at least one of the first display area and the second display area according to the calculated viewing angle.

Images