Electronic device having flexible display and operating method thereof

Abstract

An electronic device having a flexible display and method of providing the same are disclosed herein. A flexible display is disposed on at least a portion of an area of the electronic device and configured to egress or ingress from at least one housing of the electronic device to alter an exposed area of the flexible display. At least one processor operatively coupled to the flexible display is configured to detect the exposed area of the flexible display altered by egress or ingress of the flexible display from the housing, detect a setting mode based on the altered exposed area of the flexible display; and execute at least one of changing a resolution setting, changing an operation mode, and changing a user interface setting of the flexible display based on the detected setting mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting an exposed area of a flexible display altered by egress or ingress of the flexible display from a housing of the electronic device;   detecting a setting mode based on the altered exposed area of the flexible display; and   performing at least one of a changing a resolution setting, changing an operation mode, and changing a user interface setting of the flexible display based on the detected setting mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the resolution setting comprises changing a current resolution to a new resolution corresponding to the altered exposed area of the flexible display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the operation mode comprises changing a present device mode to a new device mode including at least one of: a smartphone mode wherein the electronic device is configured to operate as a smartphone, and a tablet mode wherein the electronic device is configured to operate at a tablet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the user interface setting comprises at least one of changing an arrangement of icons displayed on the flexible display, changing an icon size of the icons displayed on the flexible display, and a changing of a number of icons displayed on the flexible display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the exposed area of the flexible display comprises at least one of:
 detecting a length of the flexible display in a direction the flexible display was altered,   detecting a pixel location of a current resolution based on horizontal and vertical pixel counts of the flexible display, and   detecting a pre-defined location on the flexible display through a sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the exposed area of the flexible display comprises detecting a tension in an area where the flexible display has egressed or ingressed from the housing of the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the exposed area of the flexible display comprises detecting an electromagnetic signal or mechanical signal in an area where the flexible display has egressed or ingressed from the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the setting mode comprises comparing the exposed area of the flexible display or resolution with a pre-defined setting value. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, when the setting mode is not within a pre-defined range of the pre-defined setting value, displaying on the flexible display a display readjustment request. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic device comprising:
 a flexible display disposed on at least a portion of an area of the electronic device and configured to egress or ingress from at least one housing of the electronic device to alter an exposed area of the flexible display; and   at least one processor operatively coupled to the flexible display, the processor configured to:   detect the exposed area of the flexible display altered by egress or ingress of the flexible display from the housing;   detect a setting mode based on the altered exposed area of the flexible display; and   execute at least one of changing a resolution setting, changing an operation mode, and changing a user interface setting of the flexible display based on the detected setting mode.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a sensor device comprising at least one of a tension sensor, a hall sensor, an illuminance sensor, an image sensor, and a variable resistance sensor, the sensor device configured to detect an extent to which the flexible display has egressed or ingressed from the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one housing comprises at least a first housing and a second housing, and an extent of egress or ingress of the flexible display from the first housing is different from the extent of egress or ingress of the flexible display from the second housing. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one support device disposed adjacent to the flexible display to structurally support the flexible display and provide actuation supporting egress of ingress of the flexible display from the at least one housing. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one housing comprises a first housing and a second housing, the support device further comprising:
 a first link rotatably coupled with the first housing and a second link rotating coupled with the second housing to structurally support the flexible display and enable egress and ingress of the flexible display from the first housing and the second housing; and   a third link rotatably coupled to the first housing and the second housing.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the first link, the second link, and third link operate according to the altered exposed area of the flexible display. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the first link comprises a recess, and the third link is rotatably coupled to the first link a connection member having a rotary body disposed within the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the third link is configured to transition from an overlapping configuration to an adjacent position relative to at least a portion of the first link. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide member disposed on at least one edge of the flexible display perpendicular to an axis of the at least one housing, configured to guide the flexible display during egress or ingress from the at least one housing. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the guide member comprises an electromagnetic plate or a magnetic substance that transitions from a flexible structure to a rigid structure upon application of voltage to the guide member. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the guide member comprises at least one chain in which a plurality of roller links coupled with one another in sequence and secured by roller pins, the chain including electromagnetic or mechanical means for receiving power to control pivotal movement between the roller links.