Seamless Switching Control for Foldable Display Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable or flip devices experience a visibly discernible flash or black screen issue due to the secondary display being turned off during status changes, leading to a negative user experience.

Innovation Solution

A processor in a multi-display apparatus maintains power to the secondary display during status changes and switches both displays from a first state to a second state using backup pipes to minimize latency, ensuring seamless switching control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the secondary display is turned off during status change to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but a visible flash or black screen occurs degrading user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvisible flash or black screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining the secondary display in an on state during status changes, preparing it to avoid black screens. The processor continues supplying power to the secondary display throughout the transition period, ensuring it remains visible and ready for immediate use when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining uninterrupted power supply to the secondary display during status changes. This prevents the display from turning off and on again, eliminating visible flashes and ensuring continuous operation without interruption to the user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the secondary display status is changed during foldable device operation to adapt to different usage scenarios, then adaptability is improved, but display switching latency occurs affecting user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay status adaptationVSAvoiddisplay switching latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses backup pipes to prepare display content in advance during status changes. While the primary display is transitioning, the backup pipe pre-renders the next display frame, so when the status change completes, the pre-prepared content is immediately available, eliminating visible latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces backup pipes as intermediary elements that mediate between the primary display and the rendering pipeline. These backup pipes handle display content preparation and switching, acting as a buffer that smooths out transitions and eliminates perceptible latency during status changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4379500A1Seamless switching control for foldable or flip devices

Publication Date: 2024.06.05 MEDIATEK INC

Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3(A)~3(C)

AI summary

Techniques pertaining to seamless switching control for foldable or flip devices are described. A processor implemented in a multi-display apparatus having a primary display and a secondary display executes a status change with respect to the primary display and the secondary display by: -1- maintaining a power supplied to the secondary display during the status change (710); and -2- switching the primary display and the secondary display from a first state to a second state (720).