Foldable Wireless Charging Layout With Rear Sub-Display Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices face challenges in allowing users to view screens and identify charge states while supplying power to external devices, as the main display may be covered or turned off when the charger is facing upwards.
Innovation Solution
The device includes a housing with a main display visible in the unfolded state and a sub-display on the opposite side, equipped with a sensor module to detect the device's orientation and presence of an external device, turning on the sub-display for power supply and maintaining it on during charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the foldable electronic device is placed to allow the charger to face upward for power supply, then the power transmission function is improved, but the main display becomes covered and the sub-display may face the floor making it invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into a main display and a sub-display. The sub-display is specifically positioned on the rear surface to provide information display functionality when the device is in power transmission mode, while the main display remains on the front surface for normal viewing. This segmentation allows different display surfaces to serve different functions based on device orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The display functionality is extended from a single front surface to include the rear surface of the device. By placing the sub-display on the rear surface, the system utilizes the third dimension (depth/thickness of the device) to provide display capability in multiple orientations, solving the visibility problem when the charger faces upward.
2Loss of information
If the sub-display is positioned on the rear surface for power supply mode, then the display visibility during charging is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-display on the rear surface serves multiple functions: it displays information during power transmission mode when the charger faces upward, and it can also display information during normal operation. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile information display capability across different usage scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Users can utilize the sub-display while supplying power to another device, and the charge state is identifiable, enhancing usability and visibility during power transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor module to detect an orientation of the foldable electronic device and a presence of an external device
Implementation Method 2
wirelessly supply power to the external electronic device using the charger
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic apparatus having a folded state and an unfolded state. The electronic apparatus can be set to: use a sensor module to check whether the electronic apparatus is in the unfolded state; use the sensor module to check whether a first surface, which is concealed in the folded state and externally visible in the unfolded state, is lying on an external ground surface; check, in response to the electronic apparatus being in the unfolded state and the first surface lying on the external ground surface, whether the external electronic apparatus is present on a charging unit; turn on a screen of a sub display, which is facing in the opposite direction as the first surface, in response to the external electronic apparatus being present on the charging unit; use the charging unit to wirelessly supply electrical power to the external electronic apparatus; and keep the screen of the sub display on while electrical power is being supplied to the external electronic apparatus.