Expandable Display Unlocking via Expansion Degree

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable devices with expandable displays lack intuitive and unified unlocking methods, relying on complex input patterns and angle/folding thresholds, which can be cumbersome for users.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that control the unlocking of portable devices based on the expansion degree of the display, using touch input patterns and animation effects to provide a unified and intuitive unlocking interface, allowing unlocking via expansion length, angle, or additional display area, with customizable animation effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex input patterns and angle/folding thresholds are used for unlocking, then device security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice securityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the unlocking parameter from complex touch input patterns and angle thresholds to simple display expansion degree. The controller detects when the expandable display reaches a predetermined expansion state (full expansion or specific angle), which automatically triggers the unlocking function. This parameter change simplifies user operation while maintaining security through the unique physical action of expanding the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The unlocking function serves itself by being automatically triggered when the display reaches the predetermined expansion state. The system monitors the expansion degree and autonomously executes the unlocking operation without requiring additional user inputs or complex pattern recognition, making the device self-serve the unlocking function based on the expansion action alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If multiple unlocking methods are provided, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidunlocking interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display expansion action serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for initiating unlock and the triggering condition for the unlock itself. The same physical action (expanding the display) that changes the display state also serves as the authentication method, eliminating the need for separate unlock interfaces or multiple input methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the unlocking function from traditional complex input patterns and integrates it directly into the display expansion mechanism. By taking out the separate unlock interface and embedding the unlock trigger within the expansion action itself, the system reduces interface complexity while maintaining convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2965168B1Double unlocking apparatus of a portable device equipped with an expandable display and controlling method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2965168B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP2965168B1 patent drawingFigure 2b(1)~2b(3)
  • EP2965168B1 patent drawingFigure 3(1)~3(4)

AI summary

According to one embodiment disclosed to achieve the aforementioned object, the present specification provides a method of controlling a portable device including the steps of if the portable device is a first mode to lock the portable device, detecting an unlocking triggering signal, if the unlocking triggering signal is detected, converting the portable device to a second mode to display an unlocking interface in the expandable display, if a touch input signal for the unlocking interface is detected when the portable device is the second mode, recognizing a touch input pattern from the detected touch input, displaying the unlocking interface by reflecting to the touch input pattern and if the touch input pattern is matched with a pre-set pattern, converting the portable device to a third mode to unlock the portable device, and if the expandable display expands when the portable device is the second mode, displaying the unlocking interface by reflecting to an expansion of the expandable display and if a degree of expansion of the expandable display is greater than a threshold, converting the portable device to the third mode.