KR20200022410A - Flexible display apparatus and display method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a flexible display device capable of activating or inactivating at least part of the display area according to bending. The flexible display device comprises: a flexible display unit; a sensing unit sensing bending of the flexible display unit; and a control unit determining a screen activation area and a screen inactivation area among areas of the flexible display unit based on the detected bending and displaying a predetermined screen on the screen activation area.

Description

Flexible display device and display method thereof {FLEXIBLE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND DISPLAY METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a flexible display device and a display method thereof, and more particularly, to a flexible display device capable of bending and a display method thereof.

With the development of electronic technology, various types of display devices have been developed. In particular, display devices such as TVs, PCs, laptop computers, tablet PCs, mobile phones, MP3 players, and the like are widely used in most homes.

Recently, in order to meet the needs of users who want new and diverse functions, efforts have been made to develop display devices in newer forms. That's what's called the next-generation display.

An example of the next generation display device is a flexible display device. The flexible display device refers to a display device having a property that can be deformed like a paper.

The flexible display device can be used for various purposes because the user can bend the force to deform the shape. For example, it may be implemented as a portable device such as a mobile phone or a tablet PC, an electronic picture frame, a PDA, an MP3 player, or the like.

On the other hand, the flexible display device is characterized in that it is flexible, unlike the conventional display device. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of using the characteristics in various ways for the operation of the display apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the above-described necessity, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible display device and a display method thereof capable of activating or deactivating at least a part of a display area according to bending.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a flexible display apparatus includes a flexible display unit, a sensing unit sensing a bending of the flexible display unit, and a display area of the flexible display unit based on the detected bending. And a controller configured to determine a screen activation area and a screen deactivation area, and to display a predetermined screen on the screen activation area.

The controller may determine an area formed by the bending line formed by the bending and at least two sides of four sides of the flexible display unit as the screen activation area and determine the remaining area as the screen deactivation area.

The controller may determine an area where the bending line meets two adjacent points of the first and second sides adjacent to the flexible display unit and a vertex where the adjacent first and second sides meet as the screen activation area, and the remaining area. May be determined as the screen deactivation area.

The controller may further include a second point at which the bending line meets opposing third and fourth sides of the flexible display unit and a fifth side connecting the opposing third and fourth sides and the third and fourth sides. An area formed by two vertices that meet each other may be determined as the screen activation area, and the remaining area may be determined as the screen deactivation area.

When the bending is performed while the original screen is displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit, the controller may reconfigure the original screen and display the screen on the screen activation area according to the size and shape of the activation area. A screen portion corresponding to the size and shape of the screen activation area of the original screen may be displayed on the screen activation area.

The apparatus may further include a storage unit configured to store information on a plurality of functions and information on priorities assigned to the plurality of functions. The control unit may further include: when the screen activation area is determined, the size of the screen activation area and Determine the number of executable functions based on the shape, and execute the determined number of functions among the plurality of functions based on the priority to generate the screen including objects corresponding to the executed functions. Can be.

Here, the priority may be differently determined for each position of the screen activation area.

The apparatus may further include a storage unit in which information on at least one function matched for each region of the flexible display unit is stored. The controller may execute a function matching the position of the screen activation region when the screen activation region is determined. The screen can be generated.

The storage unit may further store information on priorities assigned to each function, and the controller may be configured to include a size and a shape of the screen activation area when an area where a plurality of functions are matched is included in the screen activation area. Determine the number of functions to be executed according to the plurality of functions, and sequentially execute the determined number of functions among the plurality of functions based on the priority order to generate the screen including objects corresponding to the executed functions. have.

The controller may be configured to, when one application is executed and an execution screen of the application is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit, when a notification message related to another application is received, the notification message in one region of the execution screen. When the area in which the notification message is displayed is bent, the execution screen of the application may be displayed in the remaining areas except the bending area, and the full text of the notification message may be displayed in the bending area.

The controller may be configured to execute another application and display an execution screen for the other application when the flap manipulation of the bending area is extended while the full text of the notification message is displayed in the bending area. It can be displayed in the entire area of the negative.

On the other hand, the display method of the flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, detecting the bending of the flexible display unit provided in the flexible display device, the screen activation in the display area of the flexible display unit based on the detected bending Determining an area and a screen deactivation area, and displaying a screen on the screen activation area.

The determining of the screen activation area and the screen inactivation area may include determining a screen activation area as an area formed by at least two sides of a bending line formed by the bending and four sides of the flexible display unit, and displaying the remaining area as the screen activation area. It can be determined as an inactive area.

The determining of the screen activation area and the screen deactivation area may include determining a region where two bending points of the bending line meet with adjacent first and second sides and a vertex where the adjacent first and second sides meet. The screen activation area may be determined, and the remaining area may be determined as the screen inactivation area.

The determining of the screen activation area and the screen inactivation area may include: two points at which the bending line meets opposing third and fourth sides of the flexible display unit; And an area formed by two vertices of the fifth side connecting the fourth side as the screen activation area and the remaining area as the screen inactivation area.

In the displaying of the screen, when the bending is performed while the original screen is displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit, the screen is activated by reconfiguring the original screen according to the size and shape of the screen activation area. A screen portion corresponding to the size and shape of the screen activation area among the original screen may be displayed on the screen activation area.

The displaying of the screen may include determining the number of executable functions based on the size and shape of the screen activation area when the screen activation area is determined, and determining a plurality of functions that may be executed in the flexible display device. Executing the determined number of functions among the plurality of functions on the basis of the preset priority, and generating the screen including an object corresponding to each executed function and displaying the screen in the screen activation area. Steps.

Here, the priority may be differently determined for each position of the screen activation area.

The displaying of the screen may include, when the screen activation area is determined, identifying a function matching the location of the screen activation area among information on at least one function that is matched and stored for each area of the flexible display unit. And generating the screen by executing the checked function, and displaying the generated screen on the screen activation area.

The displaying of the screen may include determining a number of functions to be executed according to the size and shape of the screen activation area when an area where a plurality of functions are matched is included in the screen activation area. Sequentially executing the determined number of functions from among the plurality of functions based on priorities assigned to each of the plurality of functions, generating the screen including objects corresponding to the executed functions, and generating the generated screens. Displaying a screen on the screen activation area.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, it is possible to efficiently manage the power of the flexible display device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure of a flexible display unit constituting a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 to 5 are views for explaining a bending sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 and 7 are diagrams for describing a method of detecting bending in a flexible display apparatus using a bend sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a view for explaining a method of determining the degree of bending according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view for explaining a method of determining the degree of bending according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 and 11 are diagrams for describing a method of sensing a bending direction using an overlapping bend sensor.
12 illustrates a state in which two bend sensors are disposed on both sides of the flexible display unit.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing an embodiment in which one or two bend sensors are disposed.
14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of detecting bending using a plurality of strain gauges.
FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a method of sensing a bending direction by using an acceleration sensor as an example of such sensors.
16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a flexible display apparatus for explaining an operation according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
17 is a diagram for describing a detailed configuration of the controller illustrated in FIG. 16.
18 is a diagram illustrating a software structure of a storage unit for supporting an operation of a controller according to the above-described various embodiments.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a display method of a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment.
20 is a diagram illustrating a method of determining an activation area according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
20 is a diagram for describing a screen activation area recognition method according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a method of displaying a screen on an activation area according to a bending manipulation method according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG.
23 is a diagram illustrating a display method according to a form of a screen activation area according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
24 and 25 are diagrams for describing a display method according to a size and a location of a screen activation area, according to an exemplary embodiment.
26 and 27 are flowcharts illustrating a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.
28 is a diagram for describing a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.
29 is a diagram for describing a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.
30 is a view for explaining a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.
31 is a diagram illustrating a screen activation area adjusting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
32 is a diagram for describing a display method according to adjustment of a screen activation area according to one embodiment of the present invention.
33 and 34 are diagrams for describing a screen deactivation method, according to another exemplary embodiment.
35 is a view for explaining a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.
36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form of a flexible device built into a main body.
FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a flexible device in which the power supply unit 180 may be detachable.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 1, the flexible display apparatus 100 includes a flexible display 110, a detector 120, and a controller 130.

The flexible display unit 110 displays a screen. The flexible display apparatus 100 including the flexible display unit 110 has a bendable characteristic. Accordingly, the flexible display unit 110 should be made of a structure and a material that can be bent. The detailed configuration of the flexible display unit 110 will be described later.

The sensing unit 120 may detect bending of the flexible display unit 110. Specifically, the sensing unit 120 may bend / fold position, bending / folding direction, bending / folding angle, bending / folding strength, bending / folding speed, bending / folding count, bending / folding using a bend sensor or a pressure sensor. When the folding operation occurs, the bending / folding holding time may be recognized.

In addition, the sensing unit 120 may recognize the bending strength by measuring the radius of curvature R of the bending position through a change in the resistance distribution output from the bend sensor or a change in the pressure distribution detected by the pressure sensor.

In addition, the sensing unit 120 may recognize the bending speed based on the change state of the bending position and the intensity detected through the resistance value distribution output from the bend sensor or the pressure distribution detected by the pressure sensor.

In addition, the detector 120 may detect a change in the bending state. Specifically, the bending / folding position change, the bending / folding direction change, the bending / folding angle change, the bending / folding intensity change, and the like can be recognized.

The controller 130 determines a screen activation area and a screen deactivation area of the display area of the flexible display 110 based on the bending detected by the sensor 120.

The controller 130 determines a screen activation area and a screen deactivation area of the display area of the flexible display 110 based on bending of the output sensing signal. In detail, the controller 130 may classify the screen activation area and the screen inactivation area based on the bending line formed by the bending.

Meanwhile, the controller 130 may detect the bending line through a change in the resistance value output from the bend sensor constituting the detector 120 or a change in the pressure distribution detected by the pressure sensor. Here, the bending line may be a point where the bending degree is the largest on the bending area. For example, a virtual line connecting a bending point (or bending coordinate) having a maximum resistance value output from the bend sensor may be detected as a bending line. In addition, when the bend sensor is implemented as a sensor (for example, a strain gauge) that is individually located at a plurality of points, the bending point may be a point where each sensor is located, and connects between sensors that output the maximum resistance value. One virtual line may be a bending line.

Subsequently, the controller 130 may display the screen in the determined screen activation area and change the screen inactivation area to the standby state. Here, the screen standby state may be a screen off state, a screen lock state, a security screen state, or the like. Here, the screen off state is a state in which the screen is turned off and the input using information displayed on the screen is impossible, and the screen lock state is a state in which the screen is turned on but other functions cannot be used unless a specified input is made. Status refers to the status that the user must make a specified input in order to switch to screen activation.

For example, in the case of OLED, since light emitting elements exist for each pixel, the OLED can be turned on and off in each pixel unit. By default, when power is not supplied to the OLED light emitting device, it is displayed in black, so the screen inactive area may be displayed in black.

In addition, in the case of LCD, a grid-type backlight that enables backlight ON / OFF by grid unit for the screen inactive area may be applied, or various methods that may control the backlight ON / OFF for each area may be applied. .

Also, in some cases, the controller 130 may switch the inactive area to the turn-off state, where the turn-off state may mean a state in which all inputs and outputs are stopped while the power is turned off .

Meanwhile, in the above-described example, the deactivation state has been described as being an optional one of a turn off state, a screen off state, a screen lock state, and a security screen state. However, this is only an example, and at least two or more states may be used simultaneously. It is also possible to implement. For example, the screen off state and the security screen state may be simultaneously applied in an inactive state.

Meanwhile, when the bending / folding operation detected by the sensing unit 120 satisfies a preset condition, the controller 130 may recognize the operation as an operation for converting the screen deactivation area into the screen activation area.

In detail, when the bending operation is performed at the designated position, when the bending operation is performed at the designated position or more, the controller 130 may perform the bending operation for the specified number of times. When there is a bending operation in the, a bending operation of more than a specified speed or strength at a designated location, a bending operation is maintained for a specified time or more at a designated location, etc., the screen deactivation area may be switched to the screen activation area.

For example, there may be a case in which the user folds the flexible display apparatus 100 in half. In this case, the operation in which the flexible display 110 is folded in half may be stored so as not to be recognized as an operation for converting the screen inactive area into the screen active area.

In addition, when the sensing unit 120 for detecting the bending in the screen turn-off state, the screen off state, or the like is in an inactive state, the controller 130 automatically generates a current due to the bending when a bending with a preset strength / angle is input. The sensing unit 120 for recognizing the bending motion may be activated.

Alternatively, the controller 130 may activate the sensing unit 120 in an inactive state according to a user command through a specific button input.

On the other hand, the controller 130 may control to perform a different function on the area that is switched to the screen activation state according to the type of the screen inactivity state. For example, the controller 130 may display an application icon in a screen lock state, and display an application icon displayed in an activated area when a partial area is switched to an activated state by bending. However, this is only an example, and it is also possible to display a background image, an object separate from the background image, and the like in the screen lock state.

In addition, when the execution screen of the application corresponding to the screen activation area is larger than the size of the screen activated area, the controller 130 may display the execution screen of another application corresponding to the size of the activation area.

In addition, when the GUI element displayed in the screen activation area moves along the bending direction, the controller 130 may execute an application in the area where the GUI element is moved. For example, when a GUI element is moved while a plurality of application icons are displayed in the screen activation area, when the GUI element and a specific application icon overlap or are located within a preset distance range according to the movement of the GUI element, An application corresponding to the application icon can be executed.

Determination of the screen active area

The controller 130 may determine an area formed by at least two sides of the detected bending line and the four sides of the flexible display 110 as the screen activation area and determine the remaining area as the screen deactivation area.

For example, the controller 130 determines the area where the detected bending line forms two vertices where the first and second sides meet with adjacent first and second sides of the flexible display 110 as the screen activation area. The remaining area may be determined as the screen inactive area.

Alternatively, the controller 130 may include a fifth line connecting the third and fourth sides, the third and fourth sides facing the two points where the bending line meets the opposing third and fourth sides of the flexible display unit 110. An area formed by two vertices where the sides meet may be determined as the screen activation area, and the remaining area may be determined as the screen inactivation area.

In addition, the controller 130 may determine an area where a position movement is detected by a bending operation among areas divided based on a bending line as the screen activation area, and determine the remaining area as the screen inactivation area. Specifically, an area where a position movement is detected by a folding and hold operation, an area where a position movement is detected by a folding and flap operation, an area where a position movement is detected by a folding and flap operation, and At least one of the other areas where contact is made may be determined as the screen activation area.

Here, the area where the position movement is detected by the folding and hold operation may be the front surface of the flexible display unit 110, but may be the rear surface, and in the case of the rear surface, the flexible display unit 110 may be implemented as a double-sided display. have. Specific examples of determining the screen activation area and the screen inactivation area will be described later with reference to the drawings.

Display for active area

Meanwhile, the controller 130 may determine a screen activation area corresponding to the bending and control the screen corresponding to the determined screen activation area to be displayed. For example, the controller 130 is fitted to the edge or the corner of the portion where the (0.O) point is to be bent, and activates the graphic from the point to the portion where the bending line is generated. Can be controlled to be activated.

In addition, the controller 130 may display information optimized for the size of the determined screen activation area.

In detail, the controller 130 may rescale and display an image to match the size of the screen activation area by using a vector graphic technology. That is, in the vector GUI, since the image is not damaged even when the image size is changed, the image may be rescaled to display information optimized for the size of the screen activation area.

In addition, in case of text-centric information, the controller 130 may optimize the text line and the number of texts included in one line according to the size of the screen activation area. In addition, the controller 130 may change the text size to match the size of the screen activation area, for example, within a preset minimum size and maximum size range.

In addition, the controller 130 may rearrange and display contents corresponding to the screen activation area in consideration of the shape, location, direction of the bending line, and the like.

In addition, the controller 130 may convert the corresponding contents into various layouts in consideration of the inclination angle of the flexible display apparatus 100 as well as the form of the screen activation area of the flexible display apparatus 100. For example, activating the bending area can cause shadows due to the angle of view so that the brightness of the display can be automatically adjusted in consideration of the bending angle.

In addition, the controller 130 may convert and display corresponding contents in various layouts in consideration of a radius of curvature R due to bending. For example, since a layout shape suitable for a user's view considering content readability and the like may vary according to the radius of curvature R, a suitable layout may be provided in consideration of an inclination angle.

In addition, when the screen activation area is determined, the controller 130 may display information corresponding to a function having a high priority among a plurality of functions in the determined screen activation area. In detail, the controller 130 may display a widget having a high priority or an application that is frequently used in the screen activation area. Here, the priority may be determined here, and the priority may be determined based on the number of times of use, duration of use, and the like. For example, a clock, weather, news clip, application information received by Noti, a button of a frequently used application, and recently used application information may be displayed. In particular, in the case of a message application, only recently received message information may be displayed in the activation area. When there are many message contents, the message contents may be changed at regular time intervals, or the information may be changed when there is a user operation (for example, touch or touch and drag) on the screen activation area.

Specifically, the controller 130 determines the number of executable functions based on the determined size and shape of the screen activation area, executes a predetermined number of functions among the plurality of functions based on the priority, and executes each function. A screen that includes an object corresponding to may be generated. In this case, the information on the plurality of functions and the information on the priority assigned to the plurality of functions may be stored in advance or may be received from the outside. In addition, the priority may be determined differently for each position of the activation area.

In addition, information on at least one function matched for each area of the flexible display unit 110 may be stored in advance. When the screen activation area is determined, the controller 130 may provide a function that matches the location of the screen activation area. Run it to create a screen. In this case, the information on the priority assigned to each function may be further stored. If the area where a plurality of functions are matched is included in the activation area, the controller 130 may be configured according to the size and shape of the screen activation area. The number of functions to be executed may be determined, and the number of functions determined from the plurality of functions may be sequentially or simultaneously executed based on the priority, thereby generating a screen including objects corresponding to the executed functions.

Also, although the screen is in the standby state, the controller 130 may control to execute a function designated in the screen activation area due to bending when a specific application is running. In this case, the designated function may be a function related to a running application, but may be a basic function such as a notification function, an RSS feed check, a clock, a calendar, a schedule, and Noti information. For example, when a specific application is running against a background of a standby screen, a lower function of an application running in a screen activation area due to bending may be executed, or another related application may be executed. That is, the music control button when the music is playing, the release button when the network connection, etc. may be displayed. Alternatively, the designated function may be a function preset by the user. For example, a user may map a photo application to a screen activation area, and in this case, a picture previously stored in the screen activation area, a picture added to an SNS, or a popular picture on the Internet may be automatically played. .

In addition, the controller 130 may display a screen for releasing the locked state in the screen activation area. For example, when a password is input by displaying a button in the screen activation area and the bending is released, the flexible display unit 110 is activated, or when the bending is released while there is at least one touch in the screen activation area, the flexible display unit ( 110 may be activated. In this case, it is also possible to display a GUI for inducing or guiding a touch on the screen activation area.

In addition, when there is unconfirmed Noti information, the controller 130 may display in the activation area together with the application information having the corresponding Noti in text form.

In addition, when there is multi bending, the controller 130 may display a screen corresponding to the plurality of activation areas determined according to the multi bending.

In addition, when a partial region is bent while the screen is already activated, the controller 130 may reactivate the corresponding bending region to another screen.

In addition, when bending is performed while the original screen is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit 110, the controller 130 may reconfigure the original screen according to the size and shape of the screen activation area and display the active screen. have.

Alternatively, when the bending is performed while the original screen is displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit 110, the controller 130 displays a screen portion corresponding to the size and shape of the screen active area on the active area of the original screen. can do.

In addition, when one application is executed and an execution screen of the application is displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit 110, when the notification message related to another application is received, the controller 130 notifies one area of the execution screen. The message can be displayed.

In addition, when the area where the notification message is displayed is bent, the controller 130 may display the full text of the notification message in the bending area while displaying an execution screen of the application in the remaining areas except the bending area.

In addition, when the flap manipulation of bending the bending area is detected while the full text of the notification message is displayed in the bending area, the controller 130 executes another application to display an execution screen for the other application in the entire flexible display unit 110. It can be displayed in the area.

In addition, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is rebended while the execution screen for another application is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit 110, the controller 130 may be rebended among lower functions that can be executed in another application. You can execute the lower level function corresponding to.

In addition, when the notification message is re-bent in the opposite direction to the bending direction of the displayed area, the controller 130 deletes the displayed notification message and displays the execution screen of the application on the entire area of the flexible display 110 again. Can be.

In addition, the controller 130 may display different information according to the position of the bending area. For example, for corner bending, display the image centered around the widget, such as clock and weather information, not text-based information. If textual display is required, use one or more lines adjacent to the bending line. I can display it.

In addition, when the bending region returns to the flat state, the controller 130 may switch to the standby state.

Expansion of the screen activation area

In addition, when bending is started from one end of the flexible display unit 110, the controller 130 returns the screen activation area to the entire area of the flexible display unit when the one end is bent to contact the other end and then returns to the original flat state. Can be extended with

Meanwhile, the controller 130 determines the screen activation area and the screen inactivation area based on the bending line, and touches and drags the touch line and drags the touch line to another location while the screen is displayed on the screen activation area. When a touch and drag operation is detected, the activation area may be extended to the position where the bending line is moved.

In addition, the controller 130 determines the screen activation area and the screen deactivation area on the basis of the bending line, and the bending line is continuously moved through the bending operation instead of the touch operation while the screen is displayed on the screen activation area. In addition, the screen activation area may be extended to the position where the bending line is moved. Here, the positional movement of the bending line may be determined by whether the coordinate value of the bending line that outputs the maximum resistance value is continuously changed in a specific direction.

Meanwhile, when the screen activation area is extended, the controller 130 may enlarge and display contents previously displayed on the screen activation area or display other information in addition to the information previously displayed on the extended screen activation area.

Another embodiment

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that there is only one bending line. However, this is only an example, and two or more bending lines may be provided. When two or more bending lines are detected, at least one of the screen activation area and the screen deactivation area may include two or more divided areas. For example, a first area formed of two points where the first bending line meets adjacent first and second sides of the flexible display unit 110 and a vertex where the first and second sides meet is a first activation area, and The second active area may be a second area formed by two bending lines where the bending line meets adjacent third and fourth sides of the flexible display unit 110 and a vertex where the third and fourth sides meet, and the remaining area is a screen. It may be an inactive area. Alternatively, the first and second regions may be inactive regions, and the remaining regions may be screen activation regions.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a case in which some regions are switched to an active state according to bending in a deactivated state of the screen of the flexible display unit 120 has been described, but this is only an example. As a result, some areas may be deactivated in bending when the screen is activated.

For example, when a partial area is folded while the screen is activated, contents displayed on the inner side of the folding area may be moved to the non-folding area and displayed, and the folding area may be deactivated. In this case, some of the contents may disappear on the screen while the contents originally displayed in the unfolded area are also moved and displayed in the bending direction. Alternatively, all of the contents originally displayed in the unfolded area may disappear on the screen.

Alternatively, the contents displayed on the inner side of the folding area may not be displayed on the screen, and only the contents displayed on the non-folding area may be displayed.

Alternatively, a function associated with the contents displayed in the non-folding area may be performed in the activation area regardless of the contents displayed in the folding area.

Various functions provided in the screen activation area

The function provided in the screen activation area of the flexible display apparatus 100 may take various forms according to the type of the flexible display apparatus 100.

For example, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is a mobile phone, the controller 130 may activate a screen activation area among various functions such as telephone connection, rejection, menu display, text transmission, application selection and execution, web browser execution and termination, and the like. It can perform a function corresponding to. As another example, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is a TV, a function corresponding to an activation area may be performed among various functions such as channel selection, volume adjustment, brightness adjustment, color adjustment, contrast adjustment, and the like. In addition, the flexible display apparatus 100 may be implemented as various types of display apparatuses such as PDAs, electronic picture frames, e-books, electronic notebooks, MP3 players, tablet PCs, laptop computers, monitors, and the like. Various functions can be performed according to the characteristics.

Meanwhile, as described above, the flexible display unit 110 should be manufactured in a form in which bending is possible. The detector 120 may detect a bending state in various ways.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the flexible display unit 110 and a bending sensing method thereof will be described in detail.

<Structure of Flexible Flexible Display and Examples of Bending Sensing Method>

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure of a flexible display unit constituting a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment. According to FIG. 2, the flexible display unit 110 includes a substrate 111, a driver 112, a display panel 113, and a protective layer 114.

The flexible display apparatus 100 refers to a device that can be bent, bent, folded, or rolled like a paper while maintaining display characteristics of a conventional flat panel display apparatus. Therefore, the flexible display device must be manufactured on a flexible substrate.

Specifically, the substrate 111 may be implemented as a plastic substrate (eg, a polymer film) that can be deformed by external pressure.

The plastic substrate has a structure in which a barrier coating is treated on both sides of a base film. In the case of the base material, it may be implemented in various resins such as polyimide (PI), polycarbonateite (PC), polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). In addition, the barrier coating is performed on surfaces facing each other in the base material, and an organic film or an inorganic film may be used to maintain flexibility.

In addition to the plastic substrate, the substrate 111 may be formed of a material having flexible characteristics such as thin glass or metal foil.

The driver 112 functions to drive the display panel 113. In detail, the driver 112 applies a driving voltage to a plurality of pixels constituting the display panel 113, and may be implemented as an a-si TFT, a low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) TFT, an organic TFT (OTFT), or the like. have. The driver 112 may be implemented in various forms according to the implementation form of the display panel 113. For example, the display panel 113 may be formed of an organic light emitting body including a plurality of pixel cells and an electrode layer covering both surfaces of the organic light emitting body. In this case, the driver 112 may include a plurality of transistors corresponding to each pixel cell of the display panel 113. The controller 130 applies an electric signal to the gate of each transistor to emit light of the pixel cell connected to the transistor. Accordingly, an image may be displayed.

Alternatively, the display panel 113 may be implemented as an EL, an electrophoretic display (EPD), an electrochromic display (ECD), a liquid crystal disply (LCD), an AMLCD, a plasma display panel (PDP), and the like. However, in the case of LCD, a separate backlight is required in that it cannot emit light by itself. In the case of an LCD without a backlight, ambient light is used. Therefore, in order to use the LCD display panel 113 without a backlight, a condition such as an outdoor environment having a large amount of light must be satisfied.

The protective layer 114 functions to protect the display panel 113. For example, a material such as ZrO, CeO 2, Th O 2, or the like may be used for the protective layer 114. The protective layer 114 may be manufactured in the form of a transparent film to cover the entire surface of the display panel 113.

Meanwhile, unlike FIG. 2, the flexible display unit 110 may be implemented as an electronic paper. Electronic paper is a display in which the characteristics of general ink are applied to paper, and the use of reflected light is different from that of a general flat panel display. On the other hand, the electronic paper can change the picture or text by using a twist ball or electrophoresis using a capsule.

On the other hand, when the flexible display unit 110 is made of a transparent material, it can be implemented as a display device capable of bending and having a transparent property. For example, when the substrate 111 is formed of a polymer material such as plastic having a transparent property, the driver 112 is formed of a transparent transistor, and the display panel 113 is formed of a transparent organic light emitting layer and a transparent electrode, transparency Can have.

The transparent transistor refers to a transistor manufactured by replacing opaque silicon of a conventional thin film transistor with a transparent material such as transparent zinc oxide or titanium oxide. In addition, the transparent electrode may be a new material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or graphene. Graphene refers to a material that has transparent properties by carbon atoms connected to each other to form a honeycomb planar structure. In addition, the transparent organic light emitting layer may be implemented with various materials.

3 is a view for explaining a bending sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The flexible display apparatus 100 may be bent by external pressure to change its shape. Bending may include all cases of normal bending, folding, and rolling. Here, normal bending refers to a state in which the flexible display device is bent.

Folding refers to a state in which the flexible display device is folded. Here, the folding and the general bending may be classified according to the degree of bending. For example, when bending is performed above a certain bending angle, the bending state may be defined. When bending is performed below the bending angle, the bending may be defined as general bending.

Rolling refers to a state in which the flexible display device is rolled up. Rolling may also be determined based on the bending angle. For example, rolling may be defined as a state in which bending over a certain bending angle is detected over a certain area. On the other hand, folding may be defined as a state in which bending below a certain bending angle is detected in a relatively small area compared to rolling. The general bending, folding, rolling, and the like described above may be determined based on the radius of curvature in addition to the bending angle.

In addition, rolling may be defined as a state in which the cross-section in which the flexible display apparatus 100 is curled is almost circularly or elliptical regardless of the radius of curvature.

However, the definitions of the various shape modification examples as described above are merely examples, and may be defined differently according to the type, size, weight, or characteristic of the flexible display device. For example, when bending is possible to the extent that the surfaces of the flexible display apparatus 100 may be in contact with each other, folding may be defined as a state in which the device surfaces are in contact with each other simultaneously with bending. On the other hand, rolling may be defined as a state in which the front and rear surfaces of the flexible display device contact each other due to bending.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it will be described by assuming a general bending state according to an embodiment of the present invention as a bending state.

The flexible display apparatus 100 may detect bending in various ways.

For example, the sensing unit 120 may include a bend sensor disposed on one surface, such as the front or the back of the flexible display 110, or a bend sensor disposed on both surfaces. The controller 130 may detect bending by using a value sensed by the bend sensor of the detector 120.

Here, the bend sensor is a sensor that can be bent by itself and has a characteristic that a resistance value varies according to the degree of bending. The bend sensor may be implemented in various forms such as an optical fiber bend sensor, a pressure sensor, a strain gauge, and the like.

The sensing unit 120 senses a resistance value of the bend sensor using the magnitude of the voltage applied to the bend sensor or the magnitude of the current flowing through the bend sensor, and the bending state at the position of the bend sensor according to the magnitude of the resistance value. Can be detected.

3 illustrates a state in which the bend sensor is embedded in the front surface of the flexible display unit 110, this is only an example, and the bend sensor may be embedded in the rear side of the flexible display unit 110 or may be embedded in both surfaces. It may be. In addition, the shape, number and arrangement positions of the bend sensors may be variously changed. For example, one bend sensor or a plurality of bend sensors may be coupled to the flexible display unit 110. Here, one bend sensor may sense one bending data, but one bend sensor may have a plurality of sensing channels for sensing a plurality of bending data.

3 illustrates an example in which a plurality of bar-shaped bend sensors are disposed in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to form a lattice.

According to FIG. 3, the bend sensor includes bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 arranged in the first direction and bend sensors 22-1 to 22-5 arranged in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. . Each bend sensor may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

In FIG. 3, five bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 and 22-1 to 22-5 are arranged in each of the horizontal and vertical directions, but this is merely an example, and according to the size of the flexible display device, etc. Of course, the number of bend sensors can be changed. As described above, since the bend sensor is disposed in the horizontal and vertical directions in order to detect bending made throughout the flexible display device, only a part of the flexible sensor or a device that needs to detect a bend of a part of the flexible display device may be required. In this case, the bend sensor may be disposed only in the corresponding part.

Each bend sensor 21-1 to 21-5 and 22-1 to 22-5 may be implemented in the form of an electrically resistive sensor using an electrical resistance or a microfiber sensor using a strain of an optical fiber. Hereinafter, a case in which the bend sensor is implemented as an electric resistance sensor will be described for convenience of description.

In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the central region positioned at the center of the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent downward, the bend sensors having the tension due to the bending are disposed in the horizontal direction. 21-1 to 21-5). Accordingly, the resistance values of the bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 arranged in the horizontal direction are changed. The detector 120 may detect a change in the output value output from each of the bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 to detect that the bending is performed in the horizontal direction based on the center of the display surface. In FIG. 4, the center area is bent in a vertical downward direction (hereinafter, referred to as Z-direction) with respect to the display surface, but is vertically upward relative to the display surface (hereinafter referred to as Z + direction). Even when the sensor is bent, it may be detected based on a change in the output values of the bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 in the horizontal direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when the shape of the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent such that a central region located at the center thereof is directed upward with respect to the upper and lower edges, the bend sensors 22-with the tension disposed in the vertical direction. 1 to 22-5). The detector 120 may detect the shape deformation in the vertical direction based on the output values of the bend sensors 22-1 to 22-5 arranged in the vertical direction. Although FIG. 5 illustrates bending in the Z + direction, bending in the Z-direction may also be sensed using the bend sensors 22-1 to 22-5 arranged in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, in the case of the shape deformation in the diagonal direction, since the tension is applied to both the bend sensors arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, the shape deformation in the diagonal direction is also detected based on the output values of the bend sensors arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions. Can be.

Hereinafter, a specific method of sensing each deformation form such as general bending, folding and rolling by using a bend sensor will be described.

6 and 7 are diagrams for describing a method of detecting bending in a flexible display apparatus using a bend sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the flexible display apparatus 100 when the flexible display apparatus is bent.

When the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, the bend sensors disposed on one or both sides of the flexible display apparatus are also bent together and have a resistance value corresponding to the strength of the applied tension, and output an output value corresponding thereto.

For example, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent as shown in FIG. 6, the bend sensor 31-1 disposed on the rear surface of the flexible display apparatus 100 is also bent, and the resistance value according to the magnitude of the applied tension is applied. Output

In this case, the strength of the tension is increased in proportion to the degree of bending. For example, when bending is performed as shown in FIG. 6, the degree of bending in the center region is the largest. Therefore, the largest tension acts on the bend sensor 31-1 disposed at the a3 point, which is the center area, and thus the bend sensor 31-1 has the largest resistance value. On the other hand, the degree of bending weakens toward the outside. Accordingly, the bend sensor 31-1 has a resistance value that is smaller than the a3 point toward the a2 and a1 points, or toward the a4 and a5 points based on the a3 point.

When the resistance value output from the bend sensor has a maximum value at a specific point and the resistance value gradually decreases in both directions, the detection unit 120 determines that the area where the maximum resistance value is detected is the largest bending area. can do. In addition, the sensing unit 120 may determine that a region in which the resistance value does not change is a flat region without bending, and a region in which the resistance value is changed by a predetermined size or more may be a bending region in which a slight bending is performed. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a method of defining a bending area in an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. In the case of FIG. 7, the bend sensors arranged in the vertical direction are not illustrated since the flexible display device is a diagram illustrating a case in which the flexible display device is bent in the horizontal direction with respect to the front surface. In addition, although the reference numerals of the bend sensors are given differently for each drawing for convenience of description, in practice, bend sensors such as the structure shown in FIG. 3 may be used as they are.

The bending area refers to an area in which the flexible display device is bent and bent. Since the bend sensor is bent together by bending, the bending area can be defined as any point where the bend sensor is arranged to output a resistance value different from that in the original state.

The sensing unit 120 is a bending that changes the size of the bending line, the direction of the bending line, the position of the bending line, the number of bending lines, the number of bendings, and the shape of the bending line based on the relationship between the points where the resistance value change is detected. The speed, the size of the bending area, the location of the bending area, the number of bending areas, and the like can be detected.

Specifically, when the distance between the points where the resistance value change is detected is within a predetermined distance, the points outputting the resistance value are detected as one bending area. On the other hand, if there is a point in which resistance distance change is detected and the distance therebetween is greater than a predetermined distance, it may be defined by dividing into different bending areas based on these points. Refer to FIG. 7 for a more detailed description.

7 is a diagram for describing a method of detecting one bending area. As shown in FIG. 7, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, from the a1 point to the a5 point of the bend sensor 31-1, from the b1 point to the b5 point of the bend sensor 31-2, the bend sensor 31- From point c1 to point c5 of 3), from point d1 to point d5 of the bend sensor 31-4, and from point e1 to point e5 of the bend sensor 31-5, it has a different resistance value from the original state.

In this case, the points where the resistance value change is detected in each of the bend sensors 31-1 to 31-5 are continuously disposed within a predetermined distance from each other.

Therefore, the detection unit 120 is a1 to a5 points in the bend sensor 31-1, b1 to b5 points in the bend sensor 31-2, and c1 to c5 points in the bend sensor 31-3. Up to the point, the area 32 including all the points d1 to d5 in the bend sensor 31-4 and points e1 to e5 in the bend sensor 31-5 is sensed as one bending area.

Meanwhile, the bending area may include a bending line. The bending line may be a line connecting different points outputting a maximum value from the bend sensor. That is, the bending line may be defined as a line connecting the points where the largest resistance value is detected in each bending area.

For example, in FIG. 7, the point a ₃ outputs the largest resistance value in the bending area 33, the point b ₃ outputs the largest resistance value in the bend sensor 31-2, and the bend sensor 31-3. connecting the points c _3, e ₃ d ₃ points to point and outputting the greatest resistance value in the bend sensor (31-4) and output the greatest resistance value in the bend sensor (31-5) for outputting a large resistance value The line 33 may be defined as a bending line. In FIG. 7, a bending line is formed in a vertical direction in a central area of the display surface.

8 is a view for explaining a method of determining the degree of bending according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to FIG. 8, the flexible display apparatus 100 determines the degree to which the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, that is, the bending angle, by using a magnitude change of a resistance value output at a predetermined interval from the bend sensor.

In detail, the controller 130 calculates a difference between a resistance value at a point at which the bend sensor outputs the largest resistance value and a resistance value output at a point spaced a predetermined distance from the point.

In addition, the controller 130 may determine the degree of bending using the calculated difference in resistance values. In detail, the flexible display apparatus 100 may divide the degree of bending into a plurality of levels, and match and store resistance values having a predetermined range for each level.

Accordingly, the flexible display apparatus may determine the bending degree of the flexible display apparatus according to a level belonging among a plurality of levels divided according to the degree of bending the calculated resistance value difference.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the resistance value output at the point a5 outputting the largest resistance value from the bend sensor 41 provided on the back of the flexible display apparatus 100 and the point a4 spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The degree of bending may be determined based on the difference in the resistance values output from the.

In detail, among the plurality of stored levels, the level to which the difference in resistance calculated in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 belongs may be checked, and the degree of bending corresponding to the checked level may be determined. Here, the degree of bending may be expressed as a bending angle or bending strength.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, when the degree of bending increases, the difference between the resistance value output at the bend sensor a5 point and the resistance value output at the a4 point is larger than the difference in the existing resistance value. Accordingly, the controller 130 may determine that the bending degree is greater.

Meanwhile, as described above, the bending direction of the flexible display apparatus 100 may be changed as in the Z + direction or the Z- direction.

9 is a view for explaining a method of determining the degree of bending according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the degree of bending may be determined by changing the bending radius R. FIG. Since the size of the bending radius R can be determined based on the difference in resistance values of the bend sensors as shown in FIG. 8, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The layout of the screen activation area may vary according to the size of the bending radius R as described above.

Meanwhile, the bending direction may also be sensed in various ways. For example, by bending two bend sensors, the bending direction may be determined according to the difference in the magnitude of the resistance value of each bend sensor. 10 and 11, a method of sensing a bending direction by using an overlapping bend sensor will be described.

According to FIG. 10, two bend sensors 61 and 62 may overlap each other on one side of the flexible display 110. In this case, when bending is performed in one direction, resistance values of the upper bend sensor 61 and the lower bend sensor 62 are differently detected at the bending point. Therefore, by comparing the resistance values of the two bend sensors 61 and 62 at the same point, the bending direction can be known.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in the Z + direction, at a point A corresponding to the bending line, the flexible display apparatus 100 has a greater intensity than that of the upper bend sensor 61. Tension is applied.

On the contrary, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in the rearward direction, a tension of greater intensity is applied to the upper bend sensor 61 than the lower bend sensor 62.

Therefore, the controller 130 may detect the bending direction by comparing the resistance values corresponding to the A points in the two bend sensors 61 and 62.

10 and 11 illustrate a state where two bend sensors overlap each other on one side of the flexible display unit 110, but the bend sensors may be disposed on both sides of the flexible display unit 110.

12 illustrates a state in which two bend sensors 61 and 62 are disposed on both surfaces of the flexible display unit 110.

Accordingly, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in a first vertical direction (hereinafter, Z + direction) from the screen, the bend sensor disposed on the first surface of both surfaces of the flexible display 110 receives a compressive force. On the other hand, the bend sensor disposed on the second surface is subjected to tension. On the other hand, when bending in a second direction opposite to the first direction (hereinafter referred to as Z-direction), the bend sensor disposed on the second surface is subjected to a compressive force, while the bend sensor disposed on the first surface has a tension. Will receive. As described above, values sensed by the two bend sensors are detected differently according to the bending direction, and the controller 130 may distinguish the bending direction according to the detection characteristic of the value.

Meanwhile, although the bending directions are sensed using two bend sensors in FIGS. 10 to 12, the bending directions may be distinguished only by the strain gauge disposed on one surface of the flexible display 110. That is, the strain gauge disposed on one surface is subjected to a compressive force or a tensile force according to the bending direction, so that the bending direction can be known by checking the characteristics of the output value.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example of a configuration in which one bend sensor is disposed on one surface of the flexible display 110 to sense bending. According to FIG. 13A, the bend sensor 71 may be implemented in the form of a closed curve forming a circle, a rectangle, or a polygon, and may be disposed at the edge of the flexible display unit 110. The controller 130 may determine a bending area at a point where the output value change is detected on the closed curve. In addition, the bend sensor may be coupled to the flexible display unit 110 in the form of an open curve such as an S-shape, a Z-shape, or other zigzag.

FIG. 13B illustrates an embodiment in which two bend sensors are arranged to cross each other. According to FIG. 13B, the first bend sensor 71 is disposed on the first surface of the flexible display unit 110, and the second bend sensor 72 is disposed on the second surface of the flexible display unit 110. do. The first bend sensor 71 is disposed in the first diagonal direction on the first surface of the flexible display unit 110, and the second bend sensor 72 is disposed in the second diagonal direction on the second surface. Accordingly, the bending of the first and second bend sensors 71 and 72 may be performed according to various bending conditions such as when each corner region is bent, when each edge region is bent, when the center portion is bent, or when folding or rolling is performed. Since the output value and the output point are different, the controller 130 may determine what type of bending is performed according to the output value characteristic.

Meanwhile, in the above-described various embodiments, a bend sensor having a line shape is used, but bending may be detected using a plurality of fragmentary strain gauges.

14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of detecting bending using a plurality of strain gauges. Strain gages use metals or semiconductors whose resistance varies greatly with the magnitude of the applied force, and detect the deformation of the surface of the measurement object in accordance with the change of the resistance value. In general, a material such as a metal has a property that the resistance increases as the length increases with the force from the outside, and the resistance decreases when the length decreases. Therefore, when the resistance value change is detected, it may be determined whether bending is performed.

According to FIG. 14, a plurality of strain gauges are disposed in an edge region of the flexible display 110. The number of strain gauges may vary according to the size, shape, preset bending detection resolution, etc. of the flexible display 110.

In a state where the strain gauges are arranged as shown in FIG. 14, the user may bend any point in any direction. Specifically, when one corner region is bent, a force acts on the strain gauge overlapping the bending line among the strain gauges 80-1 to 80-n arranged in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the output value of the strain gauge is larger than the output value of the other strain gauges. In addition, among the strain gauges 80-n, 80-n + 1, and ˜80-m arranged in the vertical direction, a force acts on the strain gauge overlapping the bending line, and the output value is changed. The controller 130 may determine that a line connecting two strain gauges whose output value is changed is a bending line.

Alternatively, unlike the description of FIGS. 11 to 14, the flexible display apparatus 100 may detect the bending direction by using various sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a method of sensing a bending direction by using an acceleration sensor as an example of such sensors. According to FIG. 15, the flexible display apparatus 100 includes a plurality of acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2.

The acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 are sensors capable of measuring the acceleration and the direction of the acceleration when the motion occurs. Specifically, the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 output sensing values corresponding to the gravitational acceleration that change according to the inclination of the device to which the sensor is attached. Therefore, when the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 are disposed in both edge regions of the flexible display device, the output values sensed by the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 when the flexible display device is bent, respectively. Is changed. The controller 130 calculates a pitch angle and a roll angle using output values sensed by the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2. Accordingly, the bending direction can be determined based on the degree of change in the pitch angle and the roll angle detected by the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2.

Meanwhile, although FIG. 15 illustrates a state in which the flexible display apparatus 100 has the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 disposed on both side edges in the horizontal direction with respect to the front surface, the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81 are illustrated. -2) may be arranged in the longitudinal direction. In this case, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in the vertical direction, the bending direction may be detected according to the measured values detected by the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment, the acceleration sensor may be disposed on both the upper, lower, left and right edges, or may be disposed in the corner region.

As described above, the bending direction may be detected using a gyro sensor or a geomagnetic sensor in addition to the acceleration sensor. The gyro sensor is a sensor that detects the angular velocity by measuring the force of Coriolis acting in the velocity direction when a rotational movement occurs. According to the measured value of the gyro sensor, it is possible to detect in which direction it is rotated, so that the bending direction can be detected. Geomagnetic sensor is a sensor that detects the azimuth angle using a two-axis or three-axis fluxgate. When implemented as a geomagnetic sensor, the geomagnetic sensor disposed at each edge portion of the flexible display apparatus 100 is moved in position when its edge portion is bent, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the geomagnetic change. The controller 130 may calculate the yaw angle using the value output from the geomagnetic sensor. Accordingly, various bending characteristics such as a bending area and a bending direction may be determined according to the calculated yaw angle.

As described above, the flexible display apparatus 100 may detect bending by using various types of sensors. The above-described sensor configuration and sensing method may be applied to the flexible display apparatus 100 individually or in combination with each other.

In addition to the bending, the sensing unit 120 may also detect an operation in which the user touches the screen of the flexible display 110.

Specifically, the sensing unit 120 may sense a touch using a contact capacitance method, a pressure resistive film method, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integrated tension measuring method, a piezo effect method, or the like.

Here, the contact capacitive type refers to a method of sensing a position by sensing a change in capacitance when a finger touches it.

In addition, the pressure-resistive film method is the upper and lower surfaces are contacted through the pressing operation to change the resistance value, and the change of voltage also occurs by the current flowing at both ends. do.

In addition, the infrared detection method is an object that blocks light such as a finger on a monitor equipped with an Optp-Matrix frame. When the screen is touched, the light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode is blocked so that the opposite photo transistor is not detected. This is how you sense your location.

The surface ultrasonic conduction method is a simple principle that uses the propagation characteristics of the sound that the ultrasonic wave propagates along the surface and the distance propagating at a certain time is constant. It senses the time interval of the sound reflected by the transmitter and reflector. That's the way it is.

Integral tension measuring method is that when the user presses one corner by hand, the tension measuring device on the pressed side receives the most force among the tension measuring devices provided at the four corners. In this case, the controller calculates the coordinate value by calculating the ratio of the electrical signal at the four corners.

The piezo effect method, when the user touches, varies in the degree of pressure received at the four corners according to the degree and position of the pressure, and is a method of determining the touch position by calculating the ratio of the electrical signals at the four corners.

For example, the sensing unit 120 may include a transparent conductive film such as indium-tin oxide (ITO) deposited on the substrate 111 in the flexible display unit 110 and a film formed thereon. Accordingly, when the user touches the screen, the upper and lower plates of the touched point are contacted to transmit an electrical signal to the controller 130. The controller 130 recognizes the touch point by using the coordinates of the electrode to which the electric signal is transmitted. Since the touch sensing method is known in various prior documents, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When bending is detected while the screen is in a deactivated state, the controller 130 may activate a bending area divided according to the bending line, or when bending is detected when the screen is activated, the controller 130 may deactivate the bending area divided according to the bending line. have. Since the specific function of the controller 130 has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

<Detailed Configuration Example of Flexible Display Device According to Various Embodiments of the Present Invention>

16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a flexible display apparatus for explaining an operation according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to FIG. 16, the flexible display apparatus 100 may include a flexible display 110, a detector 120, a controller 130, a storage 140, a communication unit 150, a voice recognition unit 160, and motion recognition. The unit 170, a speaker 180, an external input port 190-1 to 190-n, and a power supply unit 500 are included.

The flexible display unit 110 has a flexible characteristic. Since the detailed configuration and operation of the flexible display unit 110 have been described in detail in the above-described parts, redundant description thereof will be omitted.

The storage 140 may store various programs or data related to the operation of the flexible display apparatus 100, setting information set by a user, operating software, various application programs, and the like.

In addition, the storage 140 may store the information on the plurality of functions described above and the information on the priority assigned to the plurality of functions.

In addition, the storage 140 may store information on at least one function that is matched for each region of the flexible display 110. In addition, the storage 140 may store information about priorities assigned to each function.

The sensor 120 detects a user manipulation, particularly a bending manipulation, a touch manipulation, or the like, which occurs in the flexible display apparatus 100 including the flexible display 110. According to FIG. 17, the detector 120 includes a touch sensor 121, a geomagnetic sensor 122, an acceleration sensor 123, a bend sensor 124, a pressure sensor 125, a proximity sensor 126, and a grip sensor ( 127), and the like.

The touch sensor 121 may be implemented as capacitive or pressure sensitive. The capacitive touch sensor uses a dielectric coated on the surface of the flexible display unit 110 to sense and touch fine electricity excited by the human body when a part of the user's body is touched by the surface of the flexible display unit 110. It means the sensor of the method of calculating the coordinates. The pressure-sensitive touch sensor includes two electrode plates embedded in the remote control apparatus 200. When the user touches, the touch sensor detects that the upper and lower plates of the touched point are flowing and calculates touch coordinates. Means sensor. In addition, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integrated tension measuring method, a piezo effect method, and the like may be used to detect a touch manipulation.

Infrared detection method is an object where fingers can block light together on the monitor equipped with Optp-Matrix-frame. When the screen is touched, the light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode is blocked so that the opposite photo transistor is not detected. It is a way to sense.

The surface ultrasonic conduction method is a simple principle that uses the propagation characteristics of the sound propagating along the ultrasonic surface and the distance propagating at a certain time is constant, and senses the time interval of the sound reflected by the transmitter and reflector. That's the way.

In addition, in the integrated tension measuring method, when one of the four corner tension measuring devices is pressed by hand, the tension measuring device located at the pressed corner receives the greatest force, and accordingly, the electrical signal is changed to the controller according to the amount of the stretching force. Use the delivered configuration. In this case, the controller can determine the touch position by calculating the ratio of the electrical signals at the four corners.

In the piezo effect method, when the user touches, the pressures received at the four corners vary according to the degree and position of the touch pressure, and the controller calculates a coordinate value by calculating a ratio according to the degree of pressure.

As described above, the touch sensor 121 may be implemented in various forms.

The geomagnetic sensor 122 is a sensor for sensing a rotation state and a moving direction of the flexible display apparatus 100, and the acceleration sensor 123 is a sensor for sensing the inclination degree of the flexible display apparatus 100. As described above, the geomagnetic sensor 122 and the acceleration sensor 123 may be used for detecting bending characteristics such as a bending direction or a bending area of the flexible display apparatus 100, but, separately, the flexible display apparatus It may be used for the purpose of detecting the rotation state or the tilt state of the 100, and the like.

The bend sensor 124 may be implemented in various shapes and numbers as described above to detect the bending state of the flexible display apparatus 100. Since various examples of the configuration and operation of the bend sensor 124 have been described above, redundant description thereof will be omitted.

The pressure sensor 125 detects the amount of pressure applied to the flexible display apparatus 100 when the user performs a touch or bending operation and provides the pressure to the controller 130. The pressure sensor 125 may include a piezo film embedded in the flexible display unit 110 and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure. In FIG. 17, the pressure sensor 125 is separate from the touch sensor 121, but when the touch sensor 121 is implemented as a pressure sensitive touch sensor, the pressure sensitive sensor may also serve as the pressure sensor 150. It may be.

Proximity sensor 126 is a sensor for sensing motion approaching without directly contacting the display surface. Proximity sensor 126 forms a high frequency magnetic field to detect a high frequency oscillation type that senses a current induced by a magnetic field characteristic that changes when an object is approached, a magnetic type that uses a magnet, and a capacitance that changes due to an object's approach. It can be implemented with various types of sensors such as capacitive type.

The grip sensor 127 is a sensor that is disposed at the edge or the handle of the flexible display apparatus 100 separately from the pressure sensor 125 to sense a user's grip. The grip sensor 127 may be implemented as a pressure sensor or a touch sensor.

The controller 130 analyzes various sensing signals detected by the detector 120, and determines that the screen activation area and the screen deactivation area are determined based on the bending line when the bending operation occurs. Can be displayed.

For example, the controller 130 may process data acquired through communication with an external device or data stored in the storage 140 and through the screen activation area and the speaker 180 of the flexible display 110. Output operation can be performed. In this case, the controller 130 may communicate with an external device using the communication unit 150.

The communication unit 150 is a component that performs communication with various types of external devices according to various types of communication methods. The communicator 150 may include various communication modules such as the broadcast receiving module 151, the short range wireless communication module 152, the GPS module 153, and the wireless communication module 154. Here, the broadcast receiving module 151 may include a terrestrial broadcast receiving module (not shown) including an antenna, a demodulator, an equalizer, etc. for receiving a terrestrial broadcast signal, a DMB module for receiving and processing a DMB broadcast signal, and the like. Can be. The short range wireless communication module 152 is a module for performing communication with an external device located in a short range according to a short range wireless communication scheme such as Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or the like. The GPS module 153 is a module for receiving a GPS signal from a GPS satellite and detecting a current position of the flexible display apparatus 100. The wireless communication module 154 is a module connected to an external network and performing communication according to a wireless communication protocol such as WiFi or IEEE. In addition, the communication module 152 is a mobile communication module that performs communication by accessing a mobile communication network according to various mobile communication standards such as 3G (3rd Generation), 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), Long Term Evoloution (LTE), etc. It may further include.

The controller 130 may control the communicator 150 to receive content from an external device or transmit content to the external device according to a function performed in the screen activation area.

In addition to the bending operation or the touch operation, the controller 130 may recognize a voice input or a motion input and perform an operation corresponding to the input. In this case, the voice recognition unit 160 or the motion recognition unit 170 may be activated.

The voice recognition unit 160 collects a user's voice or external sound by using a voice acquisition means such as a microphone (not shown), and transmits the voice or external sound to the controller 130. When operating in the voice control mode, the controller 130 may perform a task corresponding to the voice of the user if the voice of the user matches the preset voice command.

Meanwhile, the motion recognition unit 170 acquires an image of the user by using an image capturing means (not shown) such as a camera, and provides the image to the controller 130. When operating in the motion control mode, the controller 130 analyzes the user's image and determines that the user has taken a motion gesture corresponding to the preset motion command, and performs an operation corresponding to the motion gesture.

 For example, various tasks such as channel zapping, device turn on, turn off, pause, play, stop, rewind, fast forward, mute, and the like may be controlled by voice or motion, but are not limited thereto.

In addition, the external input ports 1, 2 to n (190-1 to 190-n) may be connected to various types of external devices, respectively, to receive various data, programs, and control commands. Specifically, it may include a USB port, a headset port, a mouse port, a LAN port, and the like. The power supply unit 500 is a component that supplies power to each component of the flexible display apparatus 100. The power supply unit 500 may be implemented in a form including a positive electrode current collector, a positive electrode, an electrolyte portion, a negative electrode, a negative electrode current collector, and a coating portion surrounding the current collector. The power supply unit 500 is implemented as a secondary battery capable of charging and discharging. The power supply unit 500 may be implemented in a flexible form so as to be bent together with the flexible display apparatus 100. In this case, the current collector, the electrode, the electrolyte, the coating, etc. may be made of a material having a flexible characteristic. Specific shape and material of the power supply unit 500 will be described separately in the following section.

In FIG. 16, various components that may be included in the flexible display apparatus 100 are illustrated, but the flexible display apparatus 100 does not necessarily need to include all components, and is not limited to having only these components. That is, some of the components may be omitted or added according to the product type of the flexible display apparatus 100, or may be replaced with other components.

The controller 130 controls various components according to a user operation recognized through the above-described sensing unit 120, the voice recognition unit 160, the motion recognition unit 170, and performs various operations.

17 is a view for explaining the detailed configuration of the controller 130 shown in FIG.

According to FIG. 17, the controller 130 may include a system memory 131, a main CPU 132, an image processor 133, a network interface 134, a storage interface 135, and first through n-th interfaces 136-1. 136-n), an audio processor 137 and a system bus 140.

The system memory 131, the main CPU 132, the image processor 133, the network interface 134, the storage interface 135, the first to n interfaces 136-1 to 136-n, and the audio processor 137 ) May be connected to each other through the system bus 140, and may transmit and receive various data or signals.

The first to n interfaces 136-1 to 136-n support interfacing between various components including the sensing unit 120 and the respective components in the control unit 130. In FIG. 17, the sensing unit 120 is connected to only the first interface 136-1, but as shown in FIG. 16, when the sensing unit 120 includes a plurality of sensors of various types, each sensor Can be connected via an interface. In addition, at least one of the first to n interfaces 136-1 to 136-n may receive various signals from a button provided on a body portion of the flexible display apparatus 100 or an external device connected through external input ports 1 to n. It may be implemented as an input interface.

The system memory 131 includes a ROM 131-1 and a RAM 131-2. The ROM 131-1 stores a command set for system booting. When the turn-on command is input and power is supplied, the main CPU 132 copies the O / S stored in the storage 140 to the RAM 131-2 according to the command stored in the ROM 131-1, and the O / S. Run S to boot the system. When the booting is completed, the main CPU 132 copies various application programs stored in the storage 140 to the RAM 131-2 and executes the application programs copied to the RAM 131-2 to perform various operations. do.

As described above, the main CPU 132 may perform various operations according to the execution of the application program stored in the storage 140.

The storage interface 135 is connected to the storage 140 to transmit and receive various programs, contents, data, and the like.

For example, when the screen activation area is determined according to a user's bending operation, the main CPU 132 accesses the storage 140 through the storage interface 135 to check the stored information to correspond to the screen activation area. Function, for example, a video playback function. In this state, when the user selects one piece of content, the main CPU 132 executes a moving image playback program stored in the storage 140. The main CPU 132 controls the image processor 133 to configure a video playback screen according to a command included in a video playback program.

The image processor 133 may include a decoder, a renderer, a scaler, and the like. Accordingly, the stored content is decoded, the decoded content data is rendered to form a frame, and the size of the configured frame is scaled to fit the screen size of the flexible display 110. The image processor 133 provides the processed frame to the flexible display unit 110 to display the processed frame.

In addition, the audio processor 137 refers to a component that processes audio data and provides the same to a sound output means such as a speaker 180. The audio processor 137 may perform audio signal processing such as decoding audio data stored in the storage 140 or audio data received through the communication unit 150, filtering noise, and amplifying the signal to an appropriate decibel. . In the above-described example, when the reproduced content is a video content, the audio processor 137 may provide the speaker 180 to process the demuxed audio data from the video content and output the same in synchronization with the image processor 133. Can be.

The network interface 134 is a part connected with external devices through a network. For example, the main CPU 132 accesses the web server through the network interface 134 when the web browser program is executed. When the web page data is received from the web server, the main CPU 132 controls the image processor 133 to construct a web page screen, and displays the configured web page screen on the flexible display 110.

As described above, when a bending operation is detected in the flexible display apparatus 100, the controller 130 detects a bending line according to the detected bending operation, and determines a screen activation area and a screen deactivation area based on the bending line. An operation corresponding to each area may be performed. The operation of the controller 130 as described above may be implemented by executing various programs stored in the storage 140.

18 is a diagram for describing a hierarchy of software stored in the storage 140. According to FIG. 18, the storage 140 includes a base module 141, a sensing module 142, a communication module 143, a presentation module 144, a web browser module 145, and a bending event handling module 146. The software including the event management module 147 and the service module 148 may be stored.

The base module 141 refers to a base module that processes a signal transmitted from hardware included in the flexible display apparatus 100 and transmits the signal to an upper layer module.

The base module 141 includes a storage module 141-1, a location based module 141-2, a security module 141-3, a network module 141-4, and the like.

The storage module 141-1 is a program module that manages a database (DB) or a registry. The main CPU 123 may read a variety of data by accessing a database in the storage 140 using the storage module 141-1. The location-based module 141-2 is a program module that supports location-based services by interworking with various hardware such as a GPS chip. The security module 141-3 is a program module that supports certification, request permission, and secure storage of hardware. The network module 141-4 is a program module that supports network connection. Modules include DNET module and UPnP module.

The sensing module 142 collects information from various sensors included in the sensing unit 110 and analyzes and manages the collected information. Specifically, the program module is configured to detect an operation attribute such as a coordinate value, a touch movement direction, a movement speed, a movement distance, and the like of a touched point. In addition, in some cases, the sensing module 142 may include a face recognition module, a voice recognition module, a motion recognition module, an NFC recognition module, and the like.

The communication module 143 is a module for communicating with the outside. The communication module 143 may be a messaging module 143-1 such as a messenger program, a short message service (SMS) & multimedia message service (MMS) program, an e-mail program, a call info aggregator program module, a VoIP module, or the like. It may include a telephone module 143-2 including a.

The presentation module 144 is a module for constructing a display screen. The presentation module 144 includes a multimedia module 144-1 for reproducing and outputting multimedia content, and a UI rendering module 144-2 for performing UI and graphic processing. The multimedia module 144-1 may include a player module, a camcorder module, a sound processing module, and the like. Accordingly, an operation of reproducing and reproducing a screen and sound by reproducing various multimedia contents is performed. The UI rendering module 144-2 includes an image compositor module for combining images, a coordinate combination module for generating coordinates on the screen to display an image, an X11 module for receiving various events from hardware, 2D or 3D. And a 2D / 3D UI toolkit that provides a tool for constructing a type UI.

The web browser module 145 refers to a module that performs web browsing to access a web server. The web browser module 145 may include various modules such as a web view module constituting a web page, a download agent module for performing a download, a bookmark module, a webkit module, and the like.

The bending event handling module 146 is a module for controlling an operation according to the bending gesture when a bending gesture occurs. The bending event handling module 146 includes an event handler module 146-1, a bending core module 146-2, and a plug-in module 146-3. The event handler module 146-1 receives various events from the flexible window management module 147-2 in the event management module 147 and classifies the events according to the priority of each event. Here, the event refers to an event in which a bending gesture is detected. The bending core module 146-2 queues the events classified by the event handler module 146-1 and matches the event with the corresponding program (application, widget, etc.). In addition, the bending core module 146-2 transmits a rendering event signal for rendering the screen matched with the event to the presentation module 144 through the plug-in module 146-3. The plug-in module 146-3 is connected to and loaded with the presentation module 144 or the flexible UI framework module (not shown).

The event management module 147 is a module for managing touch, bending gestures, and other various events. The event management module 147 includes a window management module 147-1 and a flexible window management module 147-2. The window management module 147-1 may detect a touch event sensed by the touch sensor or detect an input event input by other input means. The window management module 147-1 delivers the detected event to the presentation module 144 or the UI framework module (not shown) to perform an operation corresponding to the event. When the bending gesture is detected by the sensing unit 110, the flexible window management module 147-2 transmits a bending event to the bending event handling module 146.

 In addition, the service module 148 means an application module for providing various services. The service module 148 may include a program module for providing various services such as a navigation program module, a game module, an e-book module, a calendar module, an alarm management module, and the like.

The main CPU 122 displays the main screen when the flexible display apparatus 100 is turned on or unlocked. Various icons are displayed on the main screen. The main CPU 122 executes the UI rendering module 144-2 to provide the graphic processor 130 with various basic data for adjusting the display state of the bending interaction guide. The basic data may be various data such as the shape, position, size, color, display time, and the like of the bending interaction guide. Accordingly, as described above, the graphic processor 123 generates the bending interaction guide and adds the object to the object of the flexible display unit 150 to display it.

Various program modules illustrated in FIG. 18 may be partially omitted, modified, or added depending on the type and characteristics of the flexible display apparatus 100.

Meanwhile, in the above-described various embodiments, the flexible display apparatus 100 is illustrated as being in a flat form, but the flexible display apparatus 100 may be implemented in various forms. For example, the flexible display apparatus 100 may be embedded in a main body made of a non-flexible material.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a display method of a flexible display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to the display method of the flexible display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 19, the bending of the flexible display unit included in the flexible display apparatus is sensed (S1910).

Subsequently, the screen activation area and the screen deactivation area are determined from the display areas of the flexible display unit based on the detected bending (S1920). Specifically, the bending line formed by the sensed bending is detected. Here, the bending line may be defined as a line connecting points having the largest bending degree in the bending area. For example, a bending line may be a line connecting a bending point (or bending coordinate) having a maximum resistance value output from the bend sensor.

In addition, an area formed by at least two sides of the detected bending line and the four sides of the flexible display unit may be determined as the screen activation area, and the remaining area may be determined as the screen inactivation area. For example, a screen active area may be determined as a region where a bending line is formed at a vertex where two points where the bending line meets adjacent first and second sides and a first and second side adjacent to each other are determined as the screen inactivation area. have. As another example, an area where two points where a bending line meets opposite third and fourth sides of the flexible display unit and a fifth point where the opposite third and fourth sides and the fifth side connecting the third and fourth sides meet. May be determined as the screen activation area, and the remaining area may be determined as the screen inactivation area.

Thereafter, the screen is displayed on the active area (S1930). In addition, the inactive region may be turned off.

In this case, in step S1930, when bending is performed while the original screen is displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit, the original screen may be reconfigured and displayed on the screen activation area according to the size and shape of the determined screen activation area. Alternatively, a screen portion corresponding to the size and shape of the screen activation area among the original screens displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit may be displayed on the screen activation area.

In operation S1930, when the screen activation area is determined, the number of executable functions is determined based on the determined size and shape of the screen activation area, and based on a preset priority for the plurality of functions executable in the flexible display apparatus. As many functions as determined from among the plurality of functions can be executed. In addition, a screen including an object corresponding to each executed function may be generated and displayed on the screen activation area. In this case, the priority may be determined differently for each position of the screen activation area.

In operation S1930, when the screen activation area is determined, a function matching the location of the screen activation area may be checked among information on at least one function that is matched and stored for each area of the flexible display unit. Subsequently, the checked function may be executed to generate a screen, and the generated screen may be displayed in the screen activation area.

In operation S1930, when the region where the plurality of functions are matched is included in the screen activation area, the number of functions to be executed is determined according to the size and shape of the screen activation area, and the priorities assigned to each of the plurality of functions are determined. As a reference, a number of functions determined from among a plurality of functions may be sequentially executed. Subsequently, a screen including an object corresponding to each executed function may be generated and the generated screen may be displayed in the screen activation area.

In operation S1930, when an application is executed and the execution screen of the application is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit, when a notification message related to another application is received, the notification message may be displayed in one area of the execution screen. .

In addition, when the area in which the notification message is displayed is bent, the full screen of the notification message may be displayed in the bending area while displaying an execution screen of the application in the remaining areas except the bending area.

In addition, if a flap manipulation of bending the bending area is detected while the full text of the notification message is displayed in the bending area, the other application may be executed to display an execution screen for the other application on the entire area of the flexible display unit.

In addition, when the flexible display apparatus is rebended while the execution screen for another application is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit, the lower function corresponding to the rebended region may be executed among the lower functions that can be executed in another application.

In addition, when the notification message is rebended in a direction opposite to the bending direction of the displayed area, the notification message may be deleted and the execution screen of the application may be displayed on the entire area of the flexible display unit again.

In addition, when the bending area returns to the flat state, the bending area may be switched to the standby state.

In addition, when bending is started from one end of the flexible display unit, when one end is bent to contact the other end and then returned to the original flat state, the screen activation area may be extended to the entire area of the flexible display unit.

<Display Method According to Various Embodiments of the Present Invention>

20 is a view illustrating a screen activation area determination method according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 20A, when the bending area is folded and held in the flexible display unit, the screen activation area is defined as the area A formed by the bending line BL and two sides adjacent to the bending line BL. The remaining area may be a screen inactivation area. In the present embodiment, the flexible display unit will be divided into a case of a single-side display and a case of a double-sided display.

I) If the flexible display unit is implemented as a single-sided display, the surface including the screen activation area A becomes the front surface of the flexible display unit displaying the screen, and in the drawing, other regions except the area A are the display rear surface. In this case, the screen other than the surface A except for the area A may be the screen inactive area.

Ii) When the flexible display unit is implemented as a double-sided display, the screen activation area A may be a rear surface of the flexible display unit, and a rear area not shown may also be a screen inactive area. In addition, all areas of the front surface of the flexible display unit, that is, the regions not shown overlapping with the illustrated region and the region A, may be screen non-screen active regions.

As shown in FIG. 20B, when the bending area is folded and flap-operated in the flexible display unit, the screen activation area is defined as the area B formed between the bending line BL and two sides adjacent to the bending line BL. Can be. In this case, the remaining areas except for the area B may be screen inactivation areas.

As shown in FIG. 20C, when a bending area is folded and flap-operated in the flexible display unit, a position shift except for the area A where a position shift occurs due to bending among the areas where contact is made with other areas due to folding Only this area C that does not occur may become a screen activation area, and the remaining areas may be screen inactivation areas.

As shown in FIG. 20 (d), when the bending area is folded and flap operated in the flexible display unit, the area D which is in contact with the area A where the position shift occurs due to the folding becomes the screen activation area and the remaining area is The screen may be an inactive area.

21 is a diagram for describing a screen activation area recognition method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 21A and 21B, when bending, a region in which a large number of bendings are formed around a bending line may be activated. In this case, the bending degree of each position may be determined through sensing information of the bend sensor disposed in the entire area, the edge area, the center area, or the like of the flexible display unit. Here, the bending line may be an imaginary line connecting the portions where the bending is most strongly made.

In the case of bending in the form as shown in FIG. 21A, the right side area in which the bending is performed around the bending line may be recognized as the screen activation area.

In addition, in the case of bending in the form as shown in FIG. 21B, an upper region where a lot of bending is performed around the bending line may be recognized as the screen activation region.

Meanwhile, in addition to the bend sensor described above, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, and the like may be used to recognize a screen activation area, and an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like may be applied to a specific area (eg, a corner area) of the flexible display apparatus 100. It is also possible to recognize the screen activation area by placing.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a method of displaying a screen on a screen activation area according to a bending manipulation method according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG.

As shown in FIG. 22A, when there is a folding and hold operation on a portion of the screen while the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is inactivated, the screen is displayed in the area A determined as the activation area by the folding and hold operation. Can be displayed. In this case, the displayed screen may be a screen corresponding to a function previously allocated to the area A. FIG. For example, when the clock function is allocated to the area A as shown, an application execution screen corresponding to the corresponding function may be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 22B, when there is a folding and flapping operation on a portion of the screen while the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is inactive, the screen is displayed in the area B determined as the screen activation area by the folding and flapping operation. Can be displayed. In this case, a screen corresponding to a function previously allocated to the corresponding area B may be displayed. For example, when the weather information providing function is allocated to the region B as shown, an application execution screen corresponding to the corresponding function may be displayed.

That is, when the area A shown in Fig. 22A and the area B shown in Fig. 22B are the same area (that is, the area A shown in Fig. 22A is shown in Fig. 20A). Even in the case of a single-side display, different functions may be executed depending on the bending operation method. That is, different functions may be executed and different screens corresponding thereto may be displayed depending on whether a folding and hold operation or a folding and flap operation is performed in the corresponding area.

23 is a diagram illustrating a display method according to a form of a screen activation area according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, the same elements constituting the screen may be rearranged and displayed according to the shape of the screen activation area.

That is, when the screen activation area 231 has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 23 (a), application icons may be sequentially displayed to suit the corresponding area. As shown in FIG. 23 (b), screen activation is performed. If the area 232 is a triangular shape, the application icons may be rearranged and displayed to fit the area.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 23C to 23E, the screen activation areas 233, 234, and 235 may have various shapes according to bending shapes, and correspond to the size and shape of the screen activation area. The application icons may be rearranged and displayed.

24 and 25 are diagrams for describing a display method according to a size and a location of a screen activation area, according to an exemplary embodiment.

24 and 25, it will be assumed that an activation area is determined due to a folding and flapping operation on some areas while the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is inactivated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the type, number, and execution screen of a function to be executed may vary depending on the size, shape, and location of the activation area.

As shown in FIG. 24A, when the screen activation area 241 is determined according to the folding and flap operation, a preset clock function is executed for the screen activation area 241, and a screen corresponding to the clock function is displayed. Can be. Here, the screen corresponding to the function may be a screen on which a corresponding application icon is displayed, an execution screen for a corresponding application, etc., but for convenience of description, the corresponding application icon 241-1 is displayed. do.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24B, when the size of the screen activation area 232 is larger than the size of the screen activation area 241 shown in FIG. 24A, the number of functions to be executed may also increase. have. For example, the message application icon 242-2, the phone application icon 243-1, and the like, as well as the clock application icon 242-1, may be displayed.

In this case, a function to be executed may be determined according to a previously stored priority. For example, if it is determined that three functions are executable in the screen activation area 232, first, three functions determined among the plurality of functions are executed on the basis of instantaneous order to display a screen including an object eeodmd in each function. Can be. The priority may be determined differently for each position of the screen activation area.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, when the screen activation area 243 is determined, the number of executable functions may be determined according to the priority of the determined screen activation area 243.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24C, when the size of the execution screen for the function having the second priority is large and the execution screen having the priority thereafter cannot be displayed, the screen activation area 243 is displayed. Only two functions with first and second priority may be executed.

In addition, when the position of the screen activation area 244 is different from the position of the screen activation area 241 shown in FIG. 24A as shown in FIG. 24D, the embodiment of FIG. 24A is executed. Functions different from the functions set may be executed. For example, a preset mp3 function may be executed in the screen activation area 243, and an mp 3 application icon 244-1 may be displayed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 24E, when the size of the screen activation area by the bending line BL is not suitable for displaying a screen for a corresponding function, for example, as shown in FIG. When the size of the screen activation area by BL is less than or equal to the preset size, the size of the screen activation area may be extended to display a corresponding screen. That is, as illustrated, the screen activation area 245 may be determined as an area exceeding the bending line BL.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the execution screen corresponding to the same function may also vary according to the size of the screen activation area.

As illustrated in FIG. 25A, when the size of the screen activation area 251 is less than the preset size, an application icon of a corresponding function may be displayed. For example, as illustrated, the message icon 251-1 may be displayed, and a message icon may be displayed through a subsequent operation of selecting the message icon 251-1, enlarging the size of the screen activation area 251, and the like. An execution screen for 251-1 may be displayed.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 25B, when the size of the screen activation area 252 is greater than or equal to a preset size, the application execution screen 252-1 of the corresponding function may be displayed. For example, as shown, an execution screen for a message application may be displayed.

In addition, a more detailed screen may be displayed than the execution screen through an operation of enlarging the size of the screen activation area 252. For example, in FIG. 25B, if the message sender is displayed to identify the sender of the message, a screen that provides the full message content may be displayed according to an operation of expanding the size of the screen activation area 252. Detailed operations of enlarging the size of the screen activation area 252 will be described later with reference to the drawings.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 25C and 25D, the size of information provided by an execution screen corresponding to the same function may also vary according to the size of the screen activation area. For example, when time information is provided in the screen activation areas 253 and 253-1, the size of time information displayed in the corresponding area may also vary according to the sizes of the screen activation areas 253 and 253-1.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 25E and 25F, the form of information provided by the execution screen corresponding to the same function may also vary according to the size of the screen activation area. For example, when the same time information is provided in the screen activation areas 254 and 255, the screen activation area 254 shown in FIG. 25 (e) provides the time information in the form of text, and FIG. 25 (f). In the screen activation area 255 illustrated in FIG. 1, time information may be provided in the form of a clock image.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 25G and 25H, the amount of information provided in the screen activation area may also vary according to the size of the screen activation area. Meanwhile, when a plurality of pieces of information are provided according to the size of the screen activation area, the plurality of pieces of information may be information on the same function, but may be information on different functions.

For example, the screen activation area 256 shown in FIG. 25G may provide time information, and the screen activation area 257 shown in FIG. 25H may provide time information and weather information. have.

 However, in the above-described embodiment, an embodiment in which some regions are activated by a bending operation in a state in which the screen is deactivated has been described. However, this is only an example, and in some cases, the bending may be performed in a state in which the entire screen is activated. It is also possible to apply the present invention in the form of maintaining the active state of the region and deactivating the remaining regions.

26 and 27 are flowcharts illustrating a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

26 and 27, a case in which the bending area is activated in another form while the screen is already activated in one form will be described.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 26, when a notification message related to another application is received while the execution screen 261 of a specific application is displayed, the notification message 262 may be displayed on one region of the execution screen. . For example, if a notification message related to a message application is received while a video playing screen 261 is being displayed by executing a video application, a notification message 262 indicating that a message is received may be displayed in one region of the execution screen. have.

Subsequently, if the flap operation is performed after the area where the notification message 262 is displayed is bent, the execution screen of the application is displayed in the remaining area 263 except the area 264 where the flap operation after the bending is detected, and the flap operation after bending The full text of the notification message may be displayed in the detected area 264. For example, the full text 264 of the received message can be displayed.

In addition, if a re-bending and flap manipulation in the opposite direction is detected in the region 264 in which the flap manipulation occurs after bending, the message message 264 displayed in the region 264 disappears, and the execution screen of the previous application is displayed in the entire region. The video playback screen 261 may be displayed again.

27 is a flowchart for explaining a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 27, when a notification message related to another application is received while the execution screen 271 of a specific application is displayed on a full screen, a notification message 272 is displayed on one region of the execution screen. Can be.

Subsequently, when the area where the notification message 272 is displayed is bent, the execution screen of the application is displayed in the remaining area 274 except the bending area 273 where the bending is detected, and the full text of the notification message is displayed in the bending area 273. Can be displayed.

When the flap manipulation to open the bending area is detected while the full text of the notification message is displayed on the bending area 273, the execution screen 275 for the other application may be displayed on the entire screen while the other application is executed.

In addition, when a part of the flexible display unit 276 is bent while the execution screen for another application is displayed in the entire area of the flexible display unit, the execution screen for another application is displayed in the bending area 276 and the remaining area 277 is displayed. ) May execute a lower function of a corresponding application execution screen. For example, when another application execution screen is a message application execution screen as shown, a keyboard keyboard function for inputting a message may be displayed in the remaining area 277.

In addition, when a flap manipulation of the bending area 276 on which another application execution screen is displayed is detected, the execution screen 275 of another application may be displayed on the entire screen again. For example, when a message is input through the keyboard screen 277, a screen reflecting the newly input message content 278 may be displayed.

28 is a diagram for describing a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, when a screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is in a screen off state and a partial region is changed to a bending state having a radius of curvature of a predetermined value or more, the corresponding region 281 corresponds to the corresponding region 281. An execution screen for the function may be displayed and the remaining area 282 may remain in the standby state. For example, an abbreviated screen corresponding to a music player function may be displayed in the corresponding area 281.

Subsequently, when a flap manipulation in which the bending area 281 is completely flattened is detected, the entire screen may be switched back to the standby state.

29 is a diagram for describing a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, when an operation of bending a portion of the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 in the standby state is detected, the corresponding bending area 291 is activated to correspond to the corresponding bending area 291. The execution screen for the display may be displayed, and the remaining area 292 may maintain the standby state.

Subsequently, when an operation of rebending another area is detected, the screen activation area may be expanded or reduced to the corresponding bending area 293, and a screen corresponding to the expanded or reduced screen activation area may be displayed. Specifically, when the screen activation area determined by the bending line by the rebending operation is enlarged than the screen activation area determined by the bending line by the initial bending operation, more information or details than the information previously displayed on the enlarged screen activation area. Information can be displayed. For example, as illustrated, more information may be displayed in the enlarged screen activation area 293 than the initial screen activation area 291.

Subsequently, when the bending state is released and returned to the flat state, the screen activation area 293 may be deactivated and the entire screen may be switched to the standby state.

30 is a view for explaining a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, when an operation of bending a portion of the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is in a standby state is detected, a function corresponding to the bending area 301 is activated while the corresponding bending area 301 is activated. The execution screen for is displayed, and the remaining area 302 may maintain a standby state.

Subsequently, when the bending area extends to the entire screen area according to a user manipulation, the corresponding screen may be displayed while the entire screen is activated. For example, if the user continuously moves the position of the bending line in the state where the user grips the bending line, the screen activation area may be extended to the movement area of the bending line.

In this case, as the screen activation area is expanded, the display state of the screen displayed on the screen activation area may be changed. Specifically, if the short screen of the music player is displayed in the screen activation area 301 according to the initial bending operation, the full screen of the music player and the currently playing music player are included in the extended screen activation areas 303 and 304 as the bending line moves. Detailed information corresponding to the extended areas 303 and 304 such as album information may be displayed.

31 is a diagram illustrating a screen activation area adjusting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 31, when an operation of bending a portion of a screen while the screen of the flexible display apparatus 100 is in a standby state is detected, a region where bending occurs among a plurality of regions separated by a bending line is activated. Thereafter, the activation area 321 may be expanded or contracted according to a user manipulation of touching and dragging the bending line. For example, when the user touches the bending line BL and then performs a drag operation to move the position of the bending line BL, as shown in the drawing, the screen activation area ( 321 may be extended.

32 is a diagram for describing a display method according to adjustment of a screen activation area according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 32, when the activation area 321 is expanded according to a user's touch and drag operation in a state where a part of the screen 321 of the flexible display apparatus 100 is activated, the extended screen activation area 322 is extended. Detailed information of the existing display information may be displayed, or the size of the existing display information may be displayed in an expanded form.

For example, as shown in FIG. 32A, when the message icon 321-1 including the update mark 321-2 is displayed in the existing screen activation area 321, the expanded screen activation area ( In operation 322, details 322-1 of three messages corresponding to the update mark 321-2 of the message icon 321-1 may be displayed.

Alternatively, when the weather information 323-1 is displayed in the existing screen activation area 323 as shown in FIG. 32B, the size of the existing display information is expanded in the extended screen activation area 324. 324-1.

33 and 34 are diagrams for describing a screen deactivation method, according to another exemplary embodiment.

33 and 34, when a part of the screen is deactivated by bending, the remaining content may be displayed in the screen deactivation area or related content of the content displayed in the screen deactivation area.

For example, as shown in FIG. 33, the music player screen 331-1 and the information 331-2 of the album currently being played are displayed while the full screen 331 of the flexible display apparatus 100 is activated. Assume the case

Subsequently, when bending for bending the partial region 332 of the flexible display unit is detected, the music player screen 331-1 displayed inside the bending region 332 is moved to the area 333 where no bending occurs, and is displayed. Some information 331-3 of the album information 331-2 currently playing, which was originally displayed, may be moved to the remaining area and displayed. In this case, an inner screen corresponding to the bending area 332, that is, an area where the display screen is not exposed due to bending may be in an inactive state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 34, it is assumed that the video playback screen is displayed while the full screen 341 of the flexible display apparatus 100 is activated.

Subsequently, when a bending for bending the partial region 342 of the flexible display unit is detected, the moving image playback screen displayed in the area 343 where no bending occurs may disappear, and the moving image playback list screen may be displayed. However, in some cases, the video list may be displayed in the form of being overlaid on the video playback screen. Here, the video playlist may be related information about content that was previously displayed on the full screen or content that was displayed in the area 342 where the bending is detected. In this case, an inner screen corresponding to the bending area 342, that is, an area where the display screen is not exposed due to bending may be in an inactive state.

In this case, as the screen activation area is expanded, the display state of the screen displayed on the screen activation area may be changed. Specifically, if the short screen of the music player is displayed in the screen activation area 301 according to the initial bending operation, the full screen of the music player and the currently playing music player are included in the extended screen activation areas 303 and 304 as the bending line moves. Detailed information corresponding to the extended areas 303 and 304 such as album information may be displayed.

35 is a view for explaining a display method according to another exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 35, when a portion of the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, content displayed on the screen may be minimized or disappeared to the position of the bending region 321. For example, the contents displayed on the screen may be deleted according to the execution of the recycle bin function to provide the effect of discarding them to the recycle bin, or the previous content displayed on the screen may be lost to switch to another content.

36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form of a flexible device built into a main body.

Referring to FIG. 36A, the flexible display apparatus 100 may include a main body 3600, a flexible display unit 110, and a grip unit 3610.

The main body 3600 serves as a kind of case to accommodate the flexible display unit 150. When the flexible display apparatus 100 includes various components as illustrated in FIG. 36, the remaining components except for the flexible display 110 and some sensors may be mounted on the main body 3600. The main body 3600 includes a rotating roller for rolling the flexible display unit 110. Accordingly, when not in use, the flexible display unit 110 may be rolled around the rotating roller and embedded in the main body 3600.

When the user grips and pulls the grip 3610, rolling is rotated while the rotating roller rotates in the opposite direction of the rolling, and the flexible display 110 comes out of the main body 3600. The rotating roller may be provided with a stopper. Accordingly, when the user pulls the grip 3610 over a certain distance, the rotation of the rotating roller is stopped by the stopper, and the flexible display 110 may be fixed. Accordingly, the user may execute various functions by using the flexible display 110 exposed to the outside. Meanwhile, when the user presses a button for releasing the stopper, the rotation roller rotates in the reverse direction while the stopper is released, and as a result, the flexible display 110 may be rolled back into the main body 3600. The stopper may be a switch shape for stopping the operation of the gear for rotating the rotary roller. Since the structure used in the conventional rolling structure can be used as it is about the rotating roller and the stopper, detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the main body 3600 includes a power supply unit 180. The power supply unit 180 may be implemented in various forms such as a battery connection unit in which a disposable battery is mounted, a secondary battery that a user may charge and use a plurality of times, and a solar cell that generates power using solar heat. When implemented as a secondary battery, the user may charge the power supply unit 180 by connecting the main body 3600 and an external power supply by wire.

In FIG. 36A, the cylindrical body 3600 is illustrated, but the shape of the main body 3600 may be implemented as a quadrangle or other polygon. In addition, the flexible display unit 150 is not exposed to the outside by pulling in a state in which the flexible display unit 150 is embedded in the main body 3600, but may be implemented in a form surrounding the outside of the main body or in various other forms. .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 36B, the flexible display unit 110 may be implemented to be inserted into the main body 3700.

FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a flexible device in which the power supply unit 180 may be detachable. According to FIG. 37, the power supply unit 180 may be provided at one edge of the flexible device and be detachable.

The power supply unit 180 may be made of a flexible material and bend together with the flexible display unit 110. Specifically, the power supply unit 180 may include a negative electrode current collector, a negative electrode electrode, an electrolyte portion, a positive electrode, a positive electrode current collector, and a covering portion covering them.

For example, the current collector may be implemented with alloys such as TiNi-based, good metals such as copper, aluminum, copper metal, carbon-coated pure metals, conductive materials such as carbon, carbon fiber, conductive polymers such as polypyrrole, and the like. .

The negative electrode may be made of metals such as lithium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, hydrogen storage alloy, lead, nonmetals such as carbon, and negative electrode materials such as polymer electrode materials such as organic sulfur.

The positive electrode may be made of positive electrode materials such as sulfur and metal sulfides, lithium transition metal oxides such as LiCoO 2, SOCl 2, MnO 2, Ag 2 O, Cl 2, NiCl 2, NiOOH, and polymer electrodes. The electrolyte portion may be implemented in a gel form using PEO, PVdF, PMMA, PVAC, or the like.

The coating part can use a normal polymer resin. For example, PVC, HDPE or epoxy resin can be used. In addition, any material that can be bent or bent freely can be used as a coating part while preventing breakage of the yarn-shaped battery.

The positive electrode and the negative electrode in the power supply unit 180 may each include a connector for electrically connecting with the outside.

According to FIG. 37, the connector is formed to protrude from the power supply unit 180, and a groove corresponding to the position, size, and shape of the connector is formed in the flexible display 110. Accordingly, the power supply unit 180 may be coupled to the flexible display unit 110 by the combination of the connector and the groove. The connector of the power supply unit 180 may be connected to a power connection pad (not shown) inside the flexible display apparatus 100 to supply power.

In FIG. 37, the power supply unit 180 may be detachable from one side edge of the flexible display apparatus 100, but this is only an example, and the location and shape of the power supply unit 180 may vary depending on product characteristics. Can vary. For example, when the flexible display apparatus 100 is a product having a certain thickness, the power supply unit 180 may be mounted on the rear surface of the flexible display apparatus 100.

38 illustrates a case in which the flexible display apparatus 100 is implemented as a three-dimensional display apparatus, not a flat display apparatus. Referring to FIG. 38, the flexible display apparatus 100 is provided with the flexible display unit 110 on one side, and various hardware such as a button, a speaker, a microphone, an IR lamp, and the like are provided on the other surface.

The flexible display apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 38 may be flexibly bent because all or part of the exterior case is made of rubber or other polymer resin. Accordingly, the whole or part of the flexible display apparatus 100 may have flexible characteristics.

The flexible display apparatus 100 may perform a new operation different from the previous operation according to the bending. For example, while performing a remote control function for controlling an external device during normal times, when a bending gesture is made in one region, a phone function may be performed. When the remote control function is performed, the remote control button may be displayed on the flexible display unit 110, and when the telephone function is performed, the dial pad may be displayed on the flexible display unit 110.

39 illustrates a case where the flexible display apparatus 100 is implemented in a circular shape. Accordingly, the flexible display apparatus 100 performs visually and functionally different operations depending on how the flexible display apparatus 100 is placed or folded. For example, you can display a photo or other content when it is placed horizontally on the floor, and perform a table clock function when it is placed perpendicular to the floor. Or, if the core is bent about 90 degrees, it can function as a notebook PC. In this case, one of the folded areas can display a soft keyboard and the other can display a display window.

In addition, the flexible display apparatus may be implemented in various forms.

Meanwhile, various display methods according to the above-described various embodiments may be implemented as a program and provided to the flexible apparatus.

For example, detecting a bending, determining a screen activation area and a screen deactivation area among the display areas of the flexible display unit based on the detected bending, and displaying a screen in the screen activation area. A non-transitory computer readable medium may be provided.

In addition, a non-transitory readable medium may be provided that stores a program for performing various methods for determining the screen activation area according to the above-described various embodiments.

The non-transitory readable medium refers to a medium that stores data semi-permanently and can be read by a device, not a medium storing data for a short time such as a register, a cache, or a memory. Specifically, the various applications or programs described above may be stored and provided in a non-transitory readable medium such as a CD, a DVD, a hard disk, a Blu-ray disk, a USB, a memory card, a ROM, or the like.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiment, the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

110: flexible display unit 120: detection unit
130: control unit 140: storage unit

Claims (12)

In the flexible display device,
Flexible display;
sensor;
If the bending of the flexible display is detected by the sensor while the flexible display is deactivated, the controller controls the flexible display to activate one region of the flexible display divided into a plurality of regions based on the detected bending. Flexible display device comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
And controlling the one area to display an execution screen of a function corresponding to the activated area of the flexible display on the one area. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
And when the release of the bending is detected by the sensor, controlling the one region to deactivate the activated one region. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
The flexible display apparatus controls the flexible display to activate a small area among the plurality of areas divided based on the bending. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
If the bending is detected by the sensor while the flexible display is bent, the flexible display apparatus controls the flexible display to activate another region of the flexible display divided into a plurality of regions based on the detected other bending. . The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
If the bending of the flexible display detected by the sensor is a predetermined angle, the flexible display device to activate the one area. In the control method of the flexible display device,
Detecting bending of the flexible display while the flexible display is inactive; And
And activating one region of the flexible display divided into a plurality of regions based on the detected bending. The method of claim 7, wherein
And displaying an execution screen of a function corresponding to the activated one area of the flexible display in the one area. The method of claim 7, wherein
And if the release of the bending is detected, deactivating the activated one region. The method of claim 7, wherein
The step of activating the one area,
And a small area of the plurality of areas divided based on the bending is activated. The method of claim 7, wherein
Sensing another bending while the flexible display is bent; And
And activating another area of the flexible display divided into a plurality of areas based on the detected other bending. The method of claim 7, wherein
The step of activating the one area,
And when the bending of the flexible display is a predetermined angle, the one area is activated.

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