Flexible Display Application Management for Shape-Adaptive Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible electronic devices with expandable displays face challenges in dynamically adapting user interfaces to changing screen sizes during shape transformations, requiring innovative solutions to efficiently manage and display various applications across different screen configurations.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that expand the display area by sliding operations, allowing for the display of multiple application interfaces based on application attribute information, enabling seamless transitions and efficient use of expanded screen space by prioritizing and arranging applications accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the display area is expanded through shape transformation, then the screen output area is increased, but the user interface adaptation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoiduser interface adaptation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface dynamically adapts to different display areas by detecting the current shape state and automatically adjusting the layout and content presentation. The system transitions between different UI configurations based on whether the display is in a first shape state or second shape state, enabling seamless adaptation without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes display parameters such as resolution, color depth, and refresh rate based on the detected shape state. When transitioning between first and second shape states, the display parameters are adjusted to optimize performance and content presentation for each specific display area configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple applications are displayed simultaneously in expanded area, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidapplication management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into multiple regions when in the second shape state, allowing different applications to be displayed simultaneously in different segments. This enables productive multi-tasking while the system automatically manages the segmentation and reconfiguration when transitioning between shape states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4148543B1Electronic device providing execution screen of application, operating method therefor, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4148543B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4148543B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4148543B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An electronic device comprises a flexible display and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor may be configured to: control the display to display an execution screen of a first application on a first region of the display in a first arrangement state; in response to a transition from the first arrangement state to a second arrangement state, expand the display so as to include the first region and a second region; display at least one object representing an executable application on the second region on the basis of the expanded display; and, in response to selection of any one of the at least one object, set the execution screen of the first application so as to be displayed on the expanded display together with the execution screen of the application corresponding to the selected object.