Foldable Display Screen Orientation Control via Dual Inertial Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
When an electronic device with a foldable display is switched from a folded state to an unfolded state, there is a phenomenon where the direction of the screen viewed by the user does not align with the screen displayed on the main display.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device determines its posture based on sensing information from inertial sensors in both housings and time information related to the angle change between the housings, then sets the screen direction to a display mode corresponding to the determined posture and displays it on the main display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the device uses a foldable display that transitions between folded and unfolded states, then the portability and display area are improved, but the screen direction alignment between user view and main display deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the folding state through sensors (flex sensors, gyro sensors, acceleration sensors) and provides feedback to the processor, which then adjusts the display direction accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the display direction always matches the user's viewing angle regardless of folding state.
Solution Approach 2:
The display direction is made dynamic and adjustable based on the folding state. The system transitions between different display modes (portrait/landscape) automatically as the device moves between folded and unfolded states, rather than using a fixed display orientation.
2Loss of information
If the device determines posture using sensing information from multiple inertial sensors and time information, then the screen direction alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial sensors (gyro sensors, acceleration sensors) serve multiple functions: they detect both the folding state changes and the device's posture/orientation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensor systems, thereby managing complexity while achieving accurate screen direction alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that integrates data from multiple sensors (flex sensors, gyro sensors, acceleration sensors) and time information to determine the folding state and posture. This central coordination simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a single point of decision-making rather than distributed control.
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
This solution ensures that the direction of the screen displayed on the main display aligns with the user's view when the device is switched from a folded to an unfolded state, preventing incorrect recognition of the screen direction and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
determine a posture of the electronic device based on first sensing information on a first inertial sensor, second sensing information on a second inertial sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device comprises: a first housing connected to a hinge module comprising a hinge; a second housing connected to the hinge module and configured to be foldable with respect to the first housing; a first display; a second display; a first inertial sensor arranged in the first housing; a second inertial sensor arranged in the second housing; a memory; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to: determine, based on detecting the electronic device being switched from a folded state to an unfolded state, a posture of the electronic device based on first sensing information of the first inertial sensor, second sensing information of the second inertial sensor, and time information during which an angle between the first housing and the second housing is changed to a designated angle; and set a direction of a screen into a display mode corresponding to the determined posture of the electronic device and display the screen on the first display.