Foldable Lid Angle Detection Using Sleep-State Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lid angle detection solutions for foldable electronic devices are costly and consume high power, and they fail to accurately determine the lid angle when the device is in an upright position or a non-steady state.
Innovation Solution
A device with low-powered first and second sensor units, each equipped with multiple sensors, performs lid angle detection while the device is in a sleep state, and a high-powered application processor estimates the lid angle using the calculated orientations upon awakening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current lid angle detection solutions are used, then lid angle can be detected, but the device incurs high cost and high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing orientation data using low-powered sensor units during sleep mode. The sensor units continuously measure acceleration and angular velocity, and the system pre-determines lid orientations before the high-powered application processor needs to wake up. This allows the main processor to quickly estimate the lid angle upon awakening without needing to continuously run high-power detection algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lid angle detection system into two distinct components: low-powered sensor units that continuously monitor orientation using accelerometers and gyroscopes, and a high-powered application processor that performs comprehensive angle calculation only when needed. This segmentation allows continuous monitoring at low power consumption while maintaining accurate detection capability when the full processor power is available.
2Measurement precision
If current lid angle detection solutions are used, then lid angle can be detected, but the device incurs high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing sensor units that perform multiple functions: they track device orientation, monitor lid angle, and provide data for both sleep-mode and awake-mode operations. The same accelerometer and gyroscope components serve dual purposes of maintaining device orientation awareness and enabling lid angle detection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lid angle sensors and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by leveraging existing orientation data from accelerometers and gyroscopes to derive lid angle information. Instead of using expensive dedicated lid angle sensors, the system copies and processes data from already-present motion sensors, calculating the relative orientation between lid components through software algorithms that analyze acceleration and angular velocity patterns.
3Reliability
If lid angle detection is always running to manage upright and non-steady states, then accurate detection is maintained, but power consumption becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the high-powered application processor wake up at regular intervals or upon specific events to perform comprehensive lid angle calculations, while low-powered sensor units continuously collect orientation data between these periods. The system periodically resets orientation processing logic when the device is fully open and steady, maintaining reliability without requiring continuous high-power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the processing logic adaptive and state-dependent. The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on device state: low-powered continuous monitoring during sleep mode, periodic comprehensive calculations when awake, and selective resetting of orientation logic based on detected device states (fully open, closed, or intermediate). This dynamic approach maintains reliability across varying conditions while optimizing power consumption.
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
Provides accurate, low-cost lid angle detection that functions in upright and non-steady states, reducing power consumption by keeping the sensor units active during sleep mode.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor unit including a first accelerometer, a first gyroscope, and a first processor, the first processor configured to determine a first orientation of the first housing based on measurements by the first accelerometer and the first gyroscope
Implementation Method 2
a first sensor unit including a first accelerometer, a first gyroscope, and a first processor, the first processor configured to determine a first orientation of the first housing based on measurements by the first accelerometer and the first gyroscope
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a device and method for lid angle detection that is accurate even if the device is activated in an upright position. While the device is in a sleep state, first and second sensor units measure acceleration and angular velocity, and calculate orientations of respective lid components based on the acceleration and angular velocity measurements. Upon the device exiting the sleep state, a processor estimates the lid angle using the calculated orientations, sets the estimated lid angle as an initial lid angle, and updates the initial lid angle using, for example, two accelerometers; two accelerometers and two gyroscopes; two accelerometers and two magnetometers; or two accelerometers, two gyroscopes, and two magnetometers.