Flexible Display Multi-App Power Management for Foldable Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unnecessary power consumption and degradation of user application usability occur when application execution screens are displayed in unused areas of flexible displays, and folding or moving the display reduces the display area available for active applications.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a flexible display uses a processor to manage multiple application screens by switching inactive screens to a low-power mode based on predefined events and adjusting screen sizes, maintaining usability by displaying partial contents or objects indicating applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If application execution screens are displayed in unused areas of the flexible display, then the display area utilization is improved, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display mode of different areas based on their usage status. The processor identifies unused areas of the flexible display and changes their execution screens to a low-power mode, while maintaining full display functionality in used areas. This localized differentiation allows the system to reduce power consumption in specific regions without compromising the overall display utility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible display is folded or moved into the electronic device, then the display size can be changed as needed, but application execution screens fail to be displayed on the reduced display area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the display mode of execution screens changeable based on real-time conditions. When the flexible display is folded or moved, the processor dynamically adjusts the display mode of execution screens in the reduced display area. This dynamic adaptation ensures that applications remain usable despite changes in display configuration, resolving the contradiction between display size adaptability and application usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively changing execution screens to low-power mode before the display area is fully reduced. The processor monitors the display state and preemptively adjusts the display mode when it detects that the flexible display is being folded or moved, ensuring smooth transition and maintaining application usability without requiring full display area.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If execution screens are changed to low-power mode to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but application usability may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality differentially. Not all execution screens are changed to low-power mode uniformly; instead, the processor selectively identifies and changes only the execution screens corresponding to unused display areas to low-power mode. This localized approach reduces power consumption while preserving full usability for applications displayed in active areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously monitors user interaction and display state to determine which execution screens should be in low-power mode. This feedback loop ensures that applications with active user engagement maintain full display functionality, while inactive applications in unused areas are dimmed or reduced to low-power mode, balancing power consumption and usability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a flexible display and at least one processor. The at least one processor can display a first execution screen of a first application in a first area of the flexible display, display a second execution screen of a second application in a second area sharing at least one edge with the first area, obtain a pre-defined event associated with the second application, in response to the pre-defined event, change the second execution screen displayed in the second area to a low power mode while maintaining the first execution screen in the first area, and while the second execution screen is in the low power mode, output some selected content in the second execution screen of the second application in consideration of at least one of a type or the properties of the second application.