Foldable Phone Display for Easier Caller Information Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smartphones require user operation to view additional information about the second user during a call, as it is displayed on a large screen, which hinders operability.

Innovation Solution

A mobile phone device with a hinge mechanism allowing two display surfaces to switch between a small and large display state, displaying first information on one surface and additional second information on both surfaces during a call, with automatic adjustment of call mode and audio output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If information regarding the second user is displayed on a large screen during a call, then the user can know more about the second user, but the user needs to operate the smartphone in a large screen display state which reduces operability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about second userVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the display information into two segments: essential call information (phone number, name) displayed on the small screen during calls, and additional information (profile pictures, addresses, emails) displayed on the large screen when opened. This segmentation allows the phone to maintain good operability in closed state while providing comprehensive information in open state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic display adaptation where the display state automatically changes based on the physical state of the smartphone. When the smartphone is closed, only essential information is shown on the small screen. When opened, the system dynamically switches to display additional information on the large screen, eliminating the need for manual user operation to change display modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the smartphone is used with the main body closed during a call, then portability is maintained, but only limited information (phone number and name) can be displayed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoiduser information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the spatial dimension created by folding the smartphone to provide additional information display capacity. The same device can accommodate both a small screen for essential information and a large screen for detailed information, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to information presentation without increasing the phone's footprint when closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4164201B1Cellular phone
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4164201B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4164201B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4164201B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A mobile phone device (100A) includes: a display device capable of switching a display state between a first display state and a second display state; a communication unit (110A) that executes a call between a first user and a second user who makes a call using another phone device; an image generation unit (120A) that generates a first image indicating first information including a phone number of the another phone device based on identification information and generates a second image indicating second information related to the second user based on the identification information; a detection unit (130) that detects a switching operation by the first user to switch the display state of the display device from the first display state to the second display state; and, a display control unit (140) that changes the display state to the second display state and causes the display device to display the second image in a case where the switching operation is detected.