# US 12,112,609 B2 · Flexible electronic device and method for operating same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,112,609 B2
- Document ID: US12112609B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/291,461
- Filed: 2019-11-05
- Published: 2022-01-06
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-05
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jonghyun Han; Younghak Oh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112609B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/1423: {controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display}
- G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence)
- G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- G06F 1/1677: {for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units}
- G06F 3/1446: {display composed of modules, e.g. video walls}
- G06F 3/147: using display panels
- G08B 5/22: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold}
- G06F 2203/04803: Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
- G06F 2203/04804: Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
- G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user
- G09G 2360/04: Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
- G09G 2380/02: Flexible displays
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00)

## Abstract

A flexible electronic device for sensing folding includes a processor that senses folding of the electronic device based on an angle sensed through a sensor circuit, determines, based on the folding history of the electronic device, the possibility that the durability of the folding area will degrade and controls output of a durability notification in response to determining that there is a possibility that the durability of the folding area will degrade.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a hinge;
a first housing comprising a first surface facing in a first direction and a third surface facing in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction;
a second housing comprising a second surface facing in the first direction and a fourth surface facing in the second direction, the second housing being rotated with respect to the first housing with reference to the hinge according to a folding type selected from a plurality of folding types including an in-folding type and an out-folding type, wherein at least one of the third surface of the first housing or the fourth surface of the second housing comprises a sub display;
a flexible display extended from the first surface to the third surface;
a memory;
at least one sensor circuit configured to detect an angle formed by the first housing and the second housing; and
a processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to control to:
detect folding of the electronic device based on an angle detected through the sensor circuit;
determine a folding area in which the folding is detected and a possibility that durability of the folding area is degraded, based on a folding history of the electronic device; and
output a durability notification in response to it being determined that there is the possibility that the durability of the folding area is degraded,
wherein the durability notification comprises a first durability notification informing occurring of the durability of the folding area being degraded and a second durability notification indicating a position of the folding area where the durability is degraded;
determine a displaying method of the durability notification based on the folding type of the electronic device, wherein the folding type of the electronic device includes the in-folding type by which a portion of the electronic device is folded in the first direction, and the out-folding type by which the portion of the electronic device is folded in the second direction which is the opposite direction of the first direction,
display, on the flexible display, the first durability notification on an area which is different from the folding area on the flexible display and the second durability notification on the folding area on the flexible display, according to the displaying method determined based on the portion of the electronic device being folded by the out-folding type, and
display, on the sub display, the first durability notification, without displaying the second durability notification, according to the displaying method determined based on the portion of the electronic device being folded by the in-folding type.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to control to output guide information for inducing a flat state of the electronic device which is folded in a first type, and to change a display position of the second durability notification to the folding area of the flexible display in response to the flat state of the electronic device being detected.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to control to acquire additional information regarding the folding area in response to it being determined that there is a possibility that durability of the folding area is degraded, and to output the durability notification based on the additional information, and
wherein the additional information comprises a pressure applied to the folding area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to control to identify a folding state of the electronic device in response to it being determined that there is a possibility that durability of the folding area is degraded, and to output the durability notification based on the identified folding state, and
wherein the folding state comprises a weak folding state in which an angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is included in a first state range, and a strong folding state in which the angle formed by the first housing and the second housing is included in a second state range.

### Claim 5

An operating method of an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting folding of the electronic device based on an angle detected through at least one sensor circuit;
identifying a folding history of the electronic device in response to the folding of the electronic device being detected;
determining a folding area in which the folding is detected and a possibility that durability of the folding area is degraded, based on the folding history;
outputting a durability notification in response to it being determined that there is the possibility that the durability of the folding area is degraded,
wherein the durability notification comprises a first durability notification informing occurring of the durability of the folding area being degraded and a second durability notification indicating a position of the folding area where the durability is degraded;
determining a displaying method of the durability notification based on a folding type of the electronic device, wherein the folding type of the electronic device includes an in-folding type by which a portion of the electronic device is folded in a first direction, and an out-folding type by which the portion of the electronic device is folded in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction,
displaying, on the flexible display, the first durability notification on an area which is different from the folding area on the flexible display and the second durability notification on the folding area on the flexible display, according to the displaying method determined based on the portion of the electronic device being folded by the out-folding type, and
displaying, on a sub display, the first durability notification, without displaying the second durability notification, according to the displaying method determined based on the portion of the electronic device being folded by the in-folding type.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein outputting the durability notification comprises:
outputting guide information for inducing a flat state of the electronic device which is folded in a first type; and
changing a display position of the second durability notification to the folding area of the flexible display in response to the flat state of the electronic device being detected.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein outputting the durability notification comprises:
acquiring additional information regarding the folding area in response to it being determined that there is the possibility that durability of the folding area is degraded; and
outputting the durability notification based on the additional information, and
wherein the additional information comprises a pressure applied to the folding area.