Multi-Display UI Continuity During Device Reconfiguration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in maintaining application continuity when the device configuration changes, such as folding or sliding, resulting in reduced display area availability for users.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with multiple displays and a processor that activates a secondary display based on user input, identifying and generating a corresponding user interface (UI) to maintain application continuity by adjusting the UI size according to the secondary display's dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the housing configuration changes (folding or sliding), then the device can be compacted or transformed, but the display area available to the user is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into multiple independent display units (first display and second display) that can be activated separately. When the housing changes configuration, the system can activate only the necessary display unit, ensuring that the visible display area remains maximized even when the overall device is compacted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines which display unit to activate based on the current housing configuration and user input. The processor monitors configuration changes and adjusts display activation accordingly, ensuring continuous application functionality regardless of whether the device is in a compacted or expanded state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the display area is reduced due to configuration change, then the device adapts to compact form, but application continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice form factorVSAvoidapplication continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous application functionality by ensuring that when a user inputs on an active display, the corresponding application continues running on the appropriate display unit without interruption. The processor tracks user input and maintains application state across configuration changes, preventing disruption even when display area changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors user input and configuration changes in real-time, using this feedback to determine which display unit should be active and which application should continue running. This feedback mechanism ensures that application continuity is maintained regardless of housing configuration changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a single display is used for all configurations, then the device structure is simple, but the display cannot optimize for different usage scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structureVSAvoiddisplay optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display system is segmented into multiple independent display units (first display and second display) that can be activated based on usage scenario. This segmentation allows each display unit to be optimized for specific configurations while keeping the overall structure manageable through software-controlled activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display system provides multi-functionality by enabling either the first display or the second display to be activated based on housing configuration and user input. This universal display architecture allows the same physical displays to serve different functional purposes in different usage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250306742A1Electronic device comprising plurality of displays, and control method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may comprise at least one housing, at least one sensor, a memory, a first display visually exposed through a first portion of the at least one housing, a second display visually exposed through a second portion of the housing opposite to the first portion of the at least one housing, and at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the memory, the first display and the second display. The at least one processor may, based on activation of the second display within a preset time after receiving a user input through a first user interface (UI) capable of executing at least one function of an application, displayed on the first display, identify whether a second UI capable of executing at least one function of the application is disposed on the second display, based on the second UI being disposed, display the second UI on the second display, and based on the second UI being not disposed, generate the second UI corresponding to the first UI based on a size of the second display and display the second UI on the second display.