US 12,112,609 B2
Flexible electronic device and method for operating same
Jonghyun Han, Gyeonggi-do (KR); and Younghak Oh, Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, (KR)
Appl. No. 17/291,461
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
PCT Filed Nov. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/KR2019/014918
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 5, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/096324, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0005340 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/14 (2006.01); G08B 5/22 (2006.01); G08B 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 21/18 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1652 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01); G06F 3/14 (2013.01); G08B 5/22 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.