Foldable Screen Gesture Control Using Folded-Angle Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional man-machine interaction modes for foldable screens are inadequate, limiting operations in the foldable area and failing to provide specialized functions, thus compromising user experience.

Innovation Solution

A gesture interaction method for foldable screens that detects user inputs on specific touch display areas, including a first, second, and third touch display area, determining the included angle and triggering corresponding operations based on input events, such as single-hand or two-hand holding, tapping, sliding, pressing, dragging, or scaling, to enhance functionality and control experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a foldable screen is used to increase display area, then the device functionality is enhanced, but the operation experience in the foldable area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidoperation experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different interaction modes for different areas of the foldable screen. The foldable area is divided into a first interaction area (when folded angle is within the first angle range) and a second interaction area (when folded angle is within the second angle range), each with customized gesture recognition and interaction functions. This allows the system to provide area-specific optimization without compromising the overall display area benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If conventional interaction modes are used, then the device structure is simple, but the operation experience in foldable area is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction modeVSAvoidoperation experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the interaction mode adaptive to the real-time folded state of the screen. The system dynamically switches between first and second interaction areas based on the folded angle detected by the sensor module. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to automatically adjust its interaction characteristics without requiring complex manual configuration, thereby improving operation experience while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If gesture recognition is added to the foldable area, then the functionality is enriched, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the foldable area into distinct interaction areas based on folded angle ranges. The processing module is configured to determine which interaction area is currently active and apply corresponding gesture recognition rules. This segmentation approach allows the system to implement rich functionality through modular, context-specific gesture handling rather than requiring a single complex universal gesture system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4024168B1Hand gesture interaction method and apparatus, and terminal device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4024168B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4024168B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4024168B1 patent drawingFigure 2c

AI summary

A gesture interaction method and apparatus are provided. The method is applied to a terminal device having a foldable screen, where the foldable screen of the terminal device in a folded state includes a first touch display area, a second touch display area, and a third touch display area, and the third touch display area is between the first touch display area and the second touch display area. The method includes: determining that an angle value of an included angle formed between the first touch display area and the second touch display area is less than a specified angle value (S601); obtaining an input event that acts on the third touch display area (S602); and triggering, in response to the input event, the terminal device to execute an operation instruction corresponding to the input event (S603). According to the method, a gesture operation that acts on a foldable area of the foldable screen of the terminal device can be responded to. This helps enrich functions of the terminal device and improve operation experience of the terminal device.