Multi-Foldable Display Transition Control Across Folding States

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with multi-foldable housing structures face challenges in improving usability by effectively managing display and sound output when the state of the housing structure is switched during application execution.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device includes multiple housings, hinge assemblies, displays, sensors, and a processor to detect folding states and control the display and sound output accordingly, allowing seamless transitions and adjustments of application execution based on housing configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the housing structure is made multi-foldable to improve adaptability, then the versatility of the device is improved, but the device complexity increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is divided into multiple foldable sections (first housing, second housing, third housing) connected by hinge assemblies, allowing the device to be segmented into different configurations (folded, unfolded, partially folded) to achieve versatility while managing complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates dynamic housing structures that can change configuration between folded and unfolded states through hinge assemblies, enabling adaptability to different usage scenarios while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through controlled movement mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the display and sound output are continuously monitored during state transitions to improve usability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoidtransition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processor proactively detects housing state transitions using sensors before the user completes the folding action, and pre-prepares the appropriate display and sound output configurations, reducing the time required for state transitions while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates sensors that continuously monitor housing state and provide real-time feedback to the processor, which automatically adjusts display and sound output accordingly, improving usability through responsive behavior while minimizing transition time through continuous monitoring rather than reactive adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4675394A1Multi-foldable electronic device that controls execution of application
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4675394A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4675394A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4675394A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Provided is an electronic device having a multi-foldable housing structure. The electronic device may: display an execution screen of an application on a second display when the application is executed in a state in which a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing are folded; identify that the first housing and the second housing are switched from a folded state to an unfolded state on the basis of data received from a sensor while the application using the second display is being executed; temporarily pause execution of the application on the basis that the first housing and the second housing are switched to the unfolded state; identify that the second housing and the third housing are switched from the folded state to the unfolded state on the basis of data received from the sensor; and execute the temporarily paused application, using a first display, on the basis that the second housing and the third housing are switched to the unfolded state.