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KR-20260067265-A - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING OPTICAL MEMBER

KR20260067265AKR 20260067265 AKR20260067265 AKR 20260067265AKR-20260067265-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible display (130) that folds or unfolds in response to a hinge operation of a foldable housing; a first optical member (210) disposed in a first housing along a first portion of the edge of the flexible display (130) when the flexible display is folded and configured to transmit light output from the edge of the flexible display (130) to the outside; a second optical member (220) disposed in a second housing along a second portion of the edge of the flexible display and configured to transmit light output from the edge of the flexible display (130) to the outside; and at least one processor (920) electrically connected to the flexible display. It may include a memory (930) that stores at least one instruction, and the at least one instruction may be executed collectively or individually by the at least one processor (920) so that the electronic device may provide at least one notification to the user corresponding to a specific event of the foldable electronic device using light transmitted through at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member when the flexible display is folded.

Inventors

  • 이형민
  • 정광채

Assignees

  • 삼성전자주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241223
Priority Date
20241105

Claims (20)

  1. In a foldable electronic device, A foldable housing comprising a first housing (110), a second housing (120), and a hinge structure (140, 140-1) connecting the first housing and the second housing; A flexible display (130) disposed on the first housing and the second housing over the hinge structure and folded or unfolded in response to hinge operation, wherein the flexible display includes a first region and a second region facing each other when the flexible display is folded; A first optical member (210) disposed in a first housing along a first portion of the edge of the flexible display (130) and configured to transmit light output from the edge of the flexible display (130) to the outside; A second optical member (220) disposed in a second housing along a second portion of the edge of the flexible display and configured to transmit light output from the edge of the flexible display (130) to the outside; At least one processor (920) electrically connected to the flexible display; and It includes a memory (930) that stores at least one instruction, and The above at least one instruction is executed collectively or individually by the above at least one processor (920) to enable the electronic device to provide a notification corresponding to a specific event of the foldable electronic device to the user of the foldable electronic device using light transmitted through at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member when the flexible display is folded, and An electronic device in which, while the above-mentioned specific event occurs, at least one of the intensity of light, the color of light, or the magnitude of light is changed according to at least one attribute of the above-mentioned specific event.
  2. In Article 1, The specific event of the foldable electronic device includes the user's voice input and the audio output of the foldable electronic device, and A foldable electronic device in which, while the voice input is being received or the audio output is being output, at least one of the intensity of light, color of light, or size of light is changed according to at least one of the pitch, volume, or tone of each of the voice input and the audio output.
  3. In Article 1, The above instructions are, the processor (920), Based on the voice input of the above user, the location of the above user is obtained, and Using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the acquired location of the user, a first notification indicating the reception of the user's voice input is displayed, and A second notification is displayed indicating the process of processing the user's voice input using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the acquired user's location, and An electronic device configured to display a third notification indicating the output of feedback for the voice input using light transmitted through a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the acquired user's location.
  4. In Article 1, The above instructions are, the processor (920), The location of the microphone (103) receiving the voice input of the above user and the speaker (102) adjacent to the microphone is obtained, and Using light transmitted through a portion of the adjacent first optical member (210) and second optical member (220) at the location of the microphone (103) obtained above, a first notification indicating the reception of the user's voice input is displayed, and Using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220), a second notification indicating the process of processing the user's voice input is displayed, and An electronic device configured to display a third notification indicating the output of feedback for the voice input by using light transmitted through a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the position of the acquired speaker (102).
  5. In Article 3 or Article 4, An electronic device in which the length of the first notification is proportional to the volume of the user's voice.
  6. In Article 3 or Article 4, An electronic device in which the length of the second notification is proportional to the processing rate of the voice input.
  7. In Article 3 or Article 4, An electronic device in which the length of the third notification is proportional to the audio size of the feedback.
  8. In Article 1, The above instructions are, the processor (920), In response to the fingerprint authentication event of the above user, a first notification guiding the location of the fingerprint sensor (651) is displayed using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the fingerprint sensor (651). Using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the fingerprint sensor (651), a second notification indicating the reception of a user's touch input to the fingerprint sensor (651) is displayed, and An electronic device configured to display a third notification regarding the result of the fingerprint authentication using light transmitted through a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220).
  9. In Article 8, An electronic device in which the third notification regarding the success of the fingerprint authentication and the third notification regarding the failure of the fingerprint authentication are displayed in different colors.
  10. In Article 1, The above instructions, the processor, In response to an operation event of an audio device that outputs sound, a first notification guiding the position of the key button (652) is displayed using light transmitted through a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the key button (652). Using light transmitted through a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the key button (652), a second notification confirming the user's input for the up area of the key button (652) is displayed, and An electronic device configured to display a third notification confirming the user's input to the down area of the key button (652) by using light transmitted through a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the key button (652).
  11. In Article 10, The above second notification is displayed for a longer duration in proportion to the number of pressurizations and/or the pressurization time of the above up area, and The above third notification is an electronic device that displays briefly in proportion to the number of pressurizations and/or the pressurization time of the down area.
  12. In Article 1, The above instructions are, the processor (920), In response to a connection event of the connector port (107) and the charging cable (2110) of the electronic device, a first notification indicating a charging mode is displayed using light transmitted through at least a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220) adjacent to the connector port (107). An electronic device configured to display a second notification indicating the charge amount of the electronic device using light transmitted through at least a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220).
  13. In Article 12, If the above charging mode is fast charging, the above first notification is displayed in a first color, and An electronic device in which, if the above charging mode is normal charging, the above first notification is displayed in a second color different from the above first color.
  14. In Article 12 or Article 13, The above second notification is an electronic device that is displayed in proportion to the charge amount of the electronic device.
  15. In Article 1, The above instructions, the processor, A first notification indicating a specific event among a phone event, an alarm event, a timer event, a message event, a file transfer event, and an update event is displayed using light transmitted through at least a part of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220), and An electronic device configured to display a second notification indicating the progress of at least one of the above file transfer event and the above update event using light transmitted through at least a portion of the first optical member (210) and the second optical member (220).
  16. In a foldable electronic device, A plurality of housings that can be formed to fold relative to each other based on at least one folding axis; A flexible display disposed in the plurality of housings above; A first optical member and a second optical member disposed between the edge of the plurality of housings and the flexible display and transmitting light from the flexible display to the outside of the electronic device; A processor electrically connected to the above flexible display; and It includes memory that stores at least one instruction, and The above at least one instruction is executed collectively or individually by the processor, causing the electronic device: When the flexible display is folded, at least one notification corresponding to a specific event of the foldable electronic device is provided to the user of the foldable electronic device using light transmitted through at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member. An electronic device in which, while the above-mentioned specific event occurs, at least one of the intensity of light, the color of light, or the magnitude of light is changed according to at least one attribute of the above-mentioned specific event.
  17. In Article 16, The above flexible display is A folding area corresponding to the above folding axis; A first region located on one side based on the above-mentioned folding region; and It includes a second region located on the other side relative to the above-mentioned folding region, and The above-mentioned at least one notification is an electronic device that displays light transmitted from at least one of the border region of a first region adjacent to the optical member and the border region of a second region.
  18. In Article 17, The above optical member (200) is an electronic device formed of a transparent material or formed of at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material.
  19. In Article 17 or Article 18, The above optical member (200) is, A first portion (2711) disposed at the edge of each of the plurality of housings; and It includes a second part (2712) connected to the first part and positioned to cover at least a portion of the edge of the flexible display, and An electronic device in which the first part (2711) is formed of a transparent material and the second part (2712) is formed of an opaque material.
  20. In Article 17 or Article 18, The above plurality of housings further comprises a third housing, and The first housing and the second housing are positioned on both sides with respect to the first folding axis, and The second housing and the third housing are electronic devices positioned on both sides based on the second folding axis.

Description

Electronic device including optical member One embodiment of the present document relates to an electronic device including an optical member. With the integration of communication technologies and advancements in display technology, portable electronic devices are now used by almost everyone as everyday electronic devices. Many users make calls with others or utilize web-based information search, collection, and information provision functions without being restricted by location or time. Currently, the majority of usage time for portable electronic devices is concentrated on information retrieval. Users feel the need for faster information retrieval and verification, and in this regard, they are demanding larger display panels. If the display panel becomes larger, the size of the portable electronic device must increase, which may lead to an increase in weight. Consequently, larger display panels can reduce the portability of the device and create vulnerabilities that make it susceptible to deformation or damage from external impacts. To address these issues, research is being conducted on various types of display panels. For example, foldable electronic devices allow the display to be unfolded or folded as needed, enabling the device to maintain portability while keeping its size below a certain threshold. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rear direction of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 including a hinge device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an example of an unfolded state of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing an example of a folded state of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 6a is a drawing showing a plurality of emission surfaces included in an optical member in a folded state of a first type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 6b is a drawing showing a display that generates light transmitted through the plurality of emission surfaces of FIG. 6a. FIG. 7a is a drawing showing a plurality of emission surfaces included in an optical member in a folded state of a second type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 7b is a drawing showing a display that generates light transmitted through the plurality of emission surfaces of FIG. 7a. FIG. 8a is a drawing showing a plurality of emission surfaces included in an optical member in a folded state of a third type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 8b is a drawing showing a display that generates light transmitted through the plurality of emission surfaces of FIG. 8a. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a drawing showing the operation method of a first type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 11a and FIGS. 11b are drawings illustrating the operation method of a second type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the operation method of a third type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 13a and FIGS. 13b are drawings illustrating the operation method of a third type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 14a and FIGS. 14b are drawings illustrating a method of operation based on a speaker and a microphone of a first type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 15a and FIGS. 15b are drawings illustrating a method of operation based on a speaker and a microphone of a second type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the operation method of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 17a and FIGS. 17b are drawings illustrating a method of operation based on a first key input member of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation method based on a fingerprint sensor of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 19a and FIGS. 19b are drawings illustrating a method of operation based on a second key input member of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation based on a second key input member of a foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIGS. 21a, FIGS. 21b, and FIGS. 21c are drawings illustrating a method of operation based on a connector port of a first type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation based on a connector port of a first type of foldable electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a method of