The present invention relates to a foldable electronic device.
An example of a conventional mobile terminal is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0179236 A (hereinafter “Patent Document 1”). As described in Patent Document 1, in a mobile terminal including a bendable flexible display unit, it may be difficult for a user to operate a touch panel in a state where the flexible display unit is bent. Thus, the mobile terminal includes a flexible display unit, a sensing unit, and a controller, with the flexible display unit having a bendable structure. The sensing unit senses an angle at which the flexible display unit is bent. The controller changes transparency of a portion of the flexible display unit based on the angle sensed by the sensing unit. As described above, in the mobile terminal described in Patent Document 1, a display state of the flexible display unit is changed based on the angle at which the flexible display unit is bent.
In the mobile terminal described in Patent Document 1, the flexible display unit has a bendable structure. Thus, there are many types of use scenes of mobile terminals. However, a user of the mobile terminal desires that a video having an orientation suitable for a use scene is displayed on the flexible display unit.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device including a foldable first display and a foldable second display. In this aspect, the electronic device is configured to display a video and has an orientation suitable for a use scene.
In an exemplary embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a first display unit including a first display; a second display unit including a second display disposed on a side of the first display, with the second display unit being rotatable with respect to the first display unit about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction such that an angle formed by the first display and the second display changes. Moreover, the electronic device includes an angle and angular velocity acquisition unit configured to acquire the angle formed by the first display and the second display and angular velocity of the angle; and a control unit configured to, when a user rotates the second display unit with respect to the first display unit, determine whether a horizontal direction of a video to be displayed on the first display and the second display is made to match a vertical direction or a left-right direction based on the angle and the angular velocity acquired by the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit.
According to the exemplary embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a foldable first display and a foldable second display, such that a video can be displayed having an orientation suitable for a use scene.
[Configuration of Electronic Device]
A configuration of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, a thickness direction of the electronic device 10 is defined as a vertical direction. When viewed downward, a direction in which a folding line L of the electronic device 10 extends is defined as a front-rear direction. When viewed downward, a direction orthogonal to the folding line L of the electronic device 10 is defined as a left-right direction. The vertical direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction are orthogonal to each other in the exemplary aspect. In addition, it is noted that the vertical direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction in the present disclosure do not have to match the vertical direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction when the electronic device 10 is used.
As illustrated in
As shown, the first display unit 12 includes a first display 12a and a first display unit main body 12b. In operation, the first display 12a is configured to display a video (or image or sequence of images) for the user. The first display unit main body 12b includes a housing, a circuit board, a battery, a central processing unit (CPU), and the like. The housing of the first display unit main body 12b holds the first display 12a and incorporates the circuit board, the battery, and the CPU. The first display unit main body 12b has a general structure, and thus, description thereof will be omitted.
The second display unit 14 is disposed on a right side (although it is simply disposed on an opposing side of a folding line L as discussed below) of the first display unit 12. The second display unit 14 is connected to the first display unit 12. The second display unit 14 includes a second display 14a and a second display unit main body 14b. The second display 14a displays a video (or image or sequence of images) for the user. The second display 14a is disposed on a right side of the first display 12a. The second display unit main body 14b includes a housing, a circuit board, a battery, a CPU, and the like. The housing of the second display unit main body 14b holds the second display 14a. The housing of the second display unit main body 14b incorporates the circuit board, the battery, and the CPU. The second display unit main body 14b has a general structure, and thus, description thereof will be omitted.
The first display 12a and the second display 14a are collectively considered one flexible display. The first display 12a and the second display 14a are implemented by, for example, an organic EL display. The second display unit 14 can rotate with respect to the first display unit 12 about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction such that an angle θ formed by the first display 12a and the second display 14a changes. Specifically, a folding line L extends in the front-rear direction (e.g., a width direction of the device 10). In this exemplary aspect, the first display 12a is disposed on a left side of the folding line L and the second display 14a is disposed on a right side of the folding line L. Thus, the second display unit 14 can rotate (e.g., fold) about the folding line L with respect to the first display unit 12. As a result, the electronic device 10 can take a fully open state and a fully closed state. The fully open state is a state in which the first display 12a and the second display 14a form one plane (i.e., they are in the same plane). The fully closed state is a state in which the first display 12a faces the second display 14a. The angle θ is 0° in the fully closed state. The angle θ is 180° in the fully open state.
The touch sensor 16 is provided on the first display 12a and/or the second display 14a. In the present embodiment, the touch sensor 16 is provided on the first display 12a and the second display 14a. The touch sensor 16 covers the whole surface of the first display 12a and the whole surface of the second display 14a. The touch sensor 16 is an input unit that detects a position where a user's finger touches the touch sensor 16. In an exemplary aspect, the touch sensor 16 is, for example, a capacitive touch sensor. However, the touch sensor 16 may be a resistance film type touch sensor in another exemplary aspect. The touch sensor 16 has a general structure, and thus, detailed description of the touch sensor 16 will be omitted.
The angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20 acquires an angle θ formed by the first display 12a and the second display 14a and angular velocity ω of the angle θ. The angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20 includes an angle detection unit 22 that detects the angle θ, and an angular velocity calculation unit 24 that calculates the angular velocity ω based on the angle θ. The angle detection unit 22 is implemented by, for example, a combination of a sensor, such as a rotary encoder, a strain sensor and a piezoelectric film sensor, and a CPU of the electronic device 10. The CPU of the angle detection unit 22 is configured to calculate the angle θ based on an electric signal output from the sensor. As illustrated in
When the user rotates the second display unit 14 with respect to the first display unit 12, the control unit 18 is configured to dynamically determine an orientation of a video to be displayed on the first display 12a and the second display 14a based on the angle θ and the angular velocity ω acquired by the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20. In other words, when the user rotates the second display unit 14 with respect to the first display unit 12, the control unit 18 determines whether a horizontal direction of the video (e.g., a display orientation) to be displayed on the first display 12a and the second display 14a is made to match the vertical direction or the left-right direction based on the angle θ and the angular velocity ω acquired by the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20. In the present embodiment, when the angle θ is within a predetermined range and the angular velocity ω is greater than 0 and equal to or less than a positive predetermined value, the control unit 18 is configured to determine that the horizontal direction of the video matches the front-rear direction. Furthermore, when the angle θ is not within the predetermined range or the angular velocity ω is not greater than 0 and not equal to or less than the positive predetermined value, the control unit 18 is configured to determine that the horizontal direction of the video matches the left-right direction. The control unit 18 is implemented by, for example, a CPU of the electronic device 10.
[Operation of Electronic Device]
Operation of the electronic device 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In the electronic device 1010, when the user rotates a second display unit 1014 with respect to a first display unit 1012, a control unit determines whether a horizontal direction of the video to be displayed on a first display 1012a and a second display 1014a is made to match the front-rear direction or the left-right direction based on the angle θ acquired by an angle acquisition unit 1020. Specifically, as illustrated in
When θ1<0<θ2 (that is, in the intermediate state), the user often looks at the first display 1012a and the second display 1014a toward right direction. Thus, the control unit makes the horizontal direction of the video match the front-rear direction. On the other hand, when 0=180° (that is, in the fully open state), the user often looks at the first display 1012a and the second display 1014a in a forward direction (e.g., concurrently and collectively). Thus, the control unit 18 makes the horizontal direction of the video match the left-right direction.
However, in the fully opening operation illustrated in
Thus, in the electronic device 10, in the fully opening operation illustrated in
On the other hand, in the electronic device 10, in the intermediate operation illustrated in
In order to achieve the control as described above, the control unit 18 uses the angle θ and the angular velocity ω as will be described below. In particular,
In the fully opening operation, ω>ωth holds when θ1≤θ≤θ2. On the other hand, in the intermediate operation, ω≤ωth holds when θ1≤θ<θ2. As described above, the control unit 18 can identify the fully opening operation and the intermediate operation based on the angle θ and the angular velocity ω. It is noted that ωth is, for example, 300°/sec.
Thus, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 and 0<ω<ωth, the control unit 18 makes the horizontal direction of the video match the front-rear direction. Further, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 is not satisfied or 0<ω<ωth is not satisfied, the control unit 18 makes the horizontal direction of the video match the left-right direction.
Next, an example of operation to be performed by the control unit 18 will be described with reference to the drawings. In particular,
First, the control unit 18 determines whether or not θ≈0° (step S1). That is, in step S1, the control unit 18 determines whether the electronic device 10 is in a fully closed state. In a case where θ≈0°, the control unit 18 determines that the electronic device 10 is in the fully closed state. Thus, the processing proceeds to step S2. In a case where θ≈0° is not satisfied, the control unit 18 determines that the electronic device 10 is not in the fully closed state. Thus, this processing ends.
In a case where θ≈0°, the control unit 18 determines whether or not θ1≤θ≥θ2 is satisfied (step S2). When θ1≤θ≤θ2, the processing proceeds to step S3. As also shown, when θ1≤θ≤θ2 is not satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S6.
In a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2, the control unit 18 determines whether 0<ω<ωth is satisfied (step S3). In steps S2 and S3, the control unit 18 determines whether the fully opening operation or the intermediate operation is performed. In a case where 0<ω<ωth, the processing proceeds to step S4. In a case where 0<ω<ωth is not satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S6.
When 0<ω<ωth, the control unit 18 determines that the intermediate operation is performed. As illustrated in
In step S6, the control unit 18 determines that the fully opening operation is performed. As illustrated in
According to the exemplary embodiment of the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a configured as above, a video can be displayed on the electronic device 10 having an orientation suitable for a use scene. More specifically, when the user rotates the second display unit 14 with respect to the first display unit 12, the control unit 18 determines whether the horizontal direction of the video to be displayed on the first display 12a and the second display 14a is made to match the vertical direction or the left-right direction based on the angle θ and the angular velocity ω acquired by the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20. As a result, the control unit 18 can identify the intermediate operation and the fully opening operation. Thus, the control unit 18 can cause the first display 12a and the second display 14a to display a video having an orientation suitable for the intermediate operation and can cause the first display 12a and the second display 14a to display a video having an orientation suitable for the fully opening operation. As described above, according to the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a, a video can be displayed having an orientation suitable for a use scene.
According to the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a, it is possible to display a video having an orientation suitable for a use scene more accurately. More specifically, in the fully opening operation, ω>ωth holds when θ1<θ<θ2. On the other hand, in the intermediate operation, ω<ωth holds when θ1≤θ<θ2. In this manner, the control unit 18 can identify the fully opening operation and the intermediate operation based on the angular velocity ω when θ1≤θ<θ2.
Thus, when the angle θ is within the predetermined range and the angular velocity ω is greater than 0 and equal to or less than the positive predetermined value (that is, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 and 0<ω≤ωth), the control unit 18 is configured to make the horizontal direction of the video match the front-rear direction. Furthermore, when the angle θ is not within the predetermined range or the angular velocity ω is not greater than 0 and not equal to or less than the positive predetermined value (that is, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 is not satisfied or 0<ω<ωth is not satisfied), the control unit 18 is configured to make the horizontal direction of the video match the left-right direction. As a result, the control unit 18 can more accurately identify the fully opening operation and the intermediate operation. Accordingly, the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a is configured to display a video having an orientation suitable for a use scene more accurately.
According to the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a, a video can be displayed having an orientation suitable for a use scene more accurately. More specifically, when the angle θ is within the predetermined range and the angular velocity ω is greater than 0 and equal to or less than the positive predetermined value (that is, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 and 0<ω≤ωth), the control unit 18 moves the video in the right direction while making the horizontal direction of the video match the front-rear direction. Consequently, the video is displayed at the center of the combined display of the first display 12a and the second display 14a. As a result, according to the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a, a video can be displayed having an orientation suitable for a use scene more accurately. Furthermore, when the angle θ is not within the predetermined range or the angular velocity ω is not greater than 0 and not equal to or less than the positive predetermined value (that is, in a case where θ1≤θ≤θ2 is not satisfied or 0<ω≤ωth is not satisfied), the control unit 18 moves the video in the right direction while making the horizontal direction of the video match the left-right direction. Consequently, the video is displayed at the center of the combined display of the first display 12a and the second display 14a. As a result, according to the electronic device 10 including the foldable first display 12a and the foldable second display 14a, a video can be displayed having an orientation suitable for a use scene more accurately.
(First Modification)
An electronic device 10a according to a first modification of the exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The electronic device 10a is different from the electronic device 10 in that an angular velocity detection unit 24a is provided instead of the angular velocity calculation unit 24. Thus, the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20 includes the angle detection unit 22 that detects the angle θ and the angular velocity detection unit 24a that detects the angular velocity ω. The angular velocity detection unit 24a is implemented by, for example, a combination of a sensor for detecting the angular velocity ω and a CPU. Other components of the electronic device 10a are the same as those of the electronic device 10, and thus, description thereof will be omitted. The sensor for detecting the angular velocity ω is, for example, an acceleration sensor or a piezoelectric sensor.
(Second Modification)
An electronic device 10b according to a second modification of the exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The electronic device 10b is different from the electronic device 10 in that an angle calculation unit 22a is provided instead of the angle detection unit 22. The angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20 includes the angular velocity detection unit 24a that detects the angular velocity ω and the angle calculation unit 22a that calculates the angle θ based on the angular velocity ω. The angle calculation unit 22a calculates the angle θ by integrating the angular velocity ω with time. The angle calculation unit 22a is implemented by, for example, a CPU. Other components of the electronic device 10b are the same as those of the electronic device 10, and thus, description thereof will be omitted.
According to the electronic device 10b, the electronic device 10b can be made smaller. More specifically, the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20 includes the angular velocity detection unit 24a that detects the angular velocity ω and the angle calculation unit 22a that calculates the angle θ based on the angular velocity ω. This eliminates the need for the electronic device 10 to include the sensor corresponding to the angle calculation unit 22a. As a result, the electronic device 10b can be made smaller.
It is generally noted that the electronic device according to the present invention is not limited to the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b and can be modified within the scope of the gist thereof. For example, it is also noted that the configurations of the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b may be combined.
In the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b, a piezoelectric sensor provided at the touch sensor 16 may be used as a sensor of the angle detection unit 22 or the angular velocity detection unit 24a according to exemplary aspects. The piezoelectric sensor includes a film of an organic material such as PLLA or PVDF as a piezoelectric body. This eliminates the need for addition of a new sensor in the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b. As a result, the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b can be made thinner.
It is also noted that the first display 12a and the second display 14a does not have to be one flexible display. For example, the first display 12a and the second display 14a may be two displays independent of each other.
Yet further, it is noted that in the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b, the processing in steps S5 and S7 in
It is noted that in the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b, the processing of determining whether the control unit 18 performs the intermediate operation or the fully opening operation is not limited to the processing described in steps S2 and S3. The control unit 18 may determine whether the intermediate operation or the fully opening operation is performed based on the angle θ and the angular velocity ω acquired by the angle and angular velocity acquisition unit 20.
In the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b, the touch sensor 16 is not essential. Further, the touch sensor 16 may be provided only on one of the first display 12a and the second display 14a.
It is further noted that in the electronic devices 10, 10a, and 10b, the first display 12a and the second display 14a are one flexible display, and thus, the second display unit 14 can rotate with respect to the first display unit 12. In other words, when the first display 12a and the second display 14a are bent, the second display unit 14 can rotate with respect to the first display unit 12. However, the first display unit 12 and the second display unit 14 may be connected by a hinge so that the second display unit 14 can rotate with respect to the first display unit 12.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-128894 | Jul 2020 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/025971, filed Jul. 9, 2021, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-128894, filed Jul. 30, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2021/025971 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 17835607 | US |