Foldable Device Sensor Fusion for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices face challenges in consistent operation due to varying motion and arrangement states, leading to inefficient battery usage and increased power consumption, particularly when an auxiliary display is added.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with first and second sensors in its housings, a processor to determine movement and arrangement states, and a command system to control an application processor based on this information, optimizing power management and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary display is added to foldable electronic devices, then functionality and user experience are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the auxiliary display based on the folding state of the device. The processor determines whether to activate the auxiliary display by detecting the folding angle and comparing it with reference values, enabling the display to adapt its operation to different arrangement states (folded, unfolded, intermediate states). This dynamic approach ensures the auxiliary display provides enhanced functionality when needed while remaining inactive during states where it would consume unnecessary power, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to determine movement and arrangement states, then operational accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing function into multiple sensors positioned at different locations within the device (first sensor in the first housing, second sensor in the second housing). Each sensor independently detects movement information, and the processor combines these segmented measurements to determine the overall arrangement state and folding angle with high precision. This segmentation allows accurate measurement of complex folding states while keeping each individual sensor relatively simple, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors in the patent serve multiple functions: they detect movement information, determine arrangement states, identify folding angles, and trigger appropriate operational modes. By making the sensing system multi-functional, the patent achieves high operational accuracy without adding separate specialized components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining precision.
3Speed
If the processor continuously monitors movement information, then responsiveness is improved, but battery usage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processor implements periodic monitoring of movement information by comparing current sensor data with previously stored reference values at specific intervals. Rather than continuous monitoring, the system checks for changes in arrangement state at discrete moments, determining whether to activate the auxiliary display based on these periodic assessments. This periodic action maintains system responsiveness to state changes while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and energy loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided, which includes a first housing and a second housing, a first sensor, a second sensor, a display, a first processor, and a second processor. The first processor is configured to obtain, via the first sensor, first information about movement of the electronic device, obtain, via the second sensor, second information about the movement of the electronic device, determine a type of the movement of the electronic device based on the first information and/or the second information, determine an arrangement state of the electronic device, based on a comparison of the first information and the second information, and control the second processor based on the determined type of the movement and the determined arrangement state of the electronic device. The second processor is configured to perform a specified operation based on the command.