Foldable Display Side Area Control for Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices with flexible displays, particularly those with foldable structures, lack effective methods for controlling and displaying visual information on their edge areas when in a folded state, limiting user interaction and application execution.
Innovation Solution
A portable device comprising a first and second body with a display unit, control input sensing unit, folding sensor unit, and processor that detects the folded state, displays an interface on the side area, and executes applications based on user input and triggering signals, allowing seamless transition between folded and unfolded states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a foldable structure with flexible display is used to increase mobility, then the portability and flexibility of the device is improved, but the method for controlling and displaying visual information on the edge area when folded is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into front display area and side display area, allowing independent control and display functions for each region. When folded, the side display area becomes accessible and can be used for control operations, resolving the contradiction by providing operational capability in the folded state through spatial segmentation of display functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the side area (edge dimension) of the folded device as an additional interaction dimension. Instead of relying solely on the front display area, the side display area provides a new dimension for control and information display, enabling ease of operation in the folded state while maintaining the foldable structure's mobility advantages.
2Ease of operation
If visual information is displayed on the side area when folded, then user interaction capability is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex with multiple bodies and integrated sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both the front display area for primary content and the side display area for control operations. The folding sensor unit and control input sensing unit are integrated into the existing structure, allowing the same hardware components to serve multiple purposes depending on the device state, thereby improving user interaction without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure dynamically adapts its functionality based on the folded state. The side display area is activated and becomes operational only when the device is folded, as detected by the folding sensor unit. This dynamic activation allows the system to provide enhanced user interaction capability only when needed, without maintaining permanent structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple display areas (front and side) are utilized, then application execution and control options are improved, but the complexity of managing display states and transitions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding sensor unit provides continuous feedback about the device's folded state to the processor. Based on this feedback, the processor automatically determines which display area (front or side) should be active and how to route control inputs. This feedback mechanism simplifies the management of multiple display states by using sensor data to automatically adjust display configuration, reducing the complexity of state management while maintaining versatile application execution options.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of detecting a folded state, wherein the first body is folded to the second body, displaying a first interface on a side display area, wherein the first interface is configured of a first part and a second part and includes multiple objects, detecting a first control input configured to select a first object included in the first interface, and displaying a first application respective to the first object, when a first triggering signal configured to shift the portable device from the folded state to an unfolded state is detected.