Foldable Speaker Control by Hinge Angle and Device Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to address the challenge of enhancing mobility and controlling multiple speakers based on the size and orientation of electronic devices with reduced volumes and increased functionality, particularly in a flexible display and audio output based on the device's posture and direction.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a first and second housing connected by hinge assemblies, a flexible display, and sensors to identify angles of folding, controlling speakers based on these angles to adjust audio channels and output accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size and volume of the electronic device are reduced to enhance mobility, then the device becomes more portable, but the display size must be increased to visualize more information and support more functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible display that can dynamically change its configuration between folded and unfolded states. The display transitions from a compact folded form factor to an extended planar surface when unfolded, allowing the device to maintain a small volume for portability while providing a large display area when needed for visualizing information and supporting functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display is nested within the device housing in a folded state, where the display surface is contained within the compact form factor. When unfolded, the display extends outward from the nested configuration, effectively increasing the display area without permanently increasing the device volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic device supports increased number of functions, then the functionality is enhanced, but the display size must be increased to visualize more information
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible display dynamically adapts its surface area based on the operational context. When multiple functions require visual information, the display is unfolded to provide a large area for visualizing information. When the device is used for functions requiring portability, the display is folded to minimize the form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display serves multiple functions by transitioning between different configurations. It can function as a compact display when folded and as an extended display when unfolded, supporting various applications from portability-focused uses to functionality-focused uses without requiring separate display systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hinge assemblies are added to enable flexible display, then the device can change shape for mobility, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple housing sections connected by hinge assemblies. This segmentation allows the display to be divided into movable segments that can flex relative to each other, enabling the display to change shape while distributing the mechanical complexity across multiple simpler hinge connections rather than requiring a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assemblies utilize flexible structural elements that allow the housing segments to bend and flex smoothly. The flexible display itself acts as a thin film that can conform to different shapes, reducing the need for rigid structural support and simplifying the overall mechanical design while maintaining shape flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing, a first speaker positioned at the first housing, a second housing, a first hinge assembly for rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing, a third housing, a second speaker positioned at the third housing, a second hinge assembly for rotatably connecting the second housing and the third housing, a flexible display disposed from the first housing to the third housing crossing the first hinge assembly, the second housing and the second hinge assembly, one or more sensors memory comprising one or more storage media storing instructions, and at least one processor including processing circuitry wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to in a state displaying a video in the flexible display, identify, by using the one or more sensors, a first angle by which the first housing and the second housing are folded based on the first hinge assembly and a second angle by which the second housing and a third housing are folded based on the second hinge assembly, and based on at least one of the identified first angle and the second angle, control the first speaker to output a first audio channel corresponding to the first speaker and control the second speaker to output a second audio channel corresponding to the second speaker.