Electronic device, unlocking method thereof, and zooming and toggling control method thereof

An electronic device includes a flexible touch screen including a display unit configured to display an image and a bending unit configured to sense a user bending input and a body part disposed below the flexible touch screen and including a controller configured to control a transition from a lock state to an unlock state of the flexible touch screen based on the user bending input and a memory configured to store a predefined bending action used to transition from the lock state to the unlock state of the flexible touch screen.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0058597, filed on May 23, 2013, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C §119, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to electronic devices, unlocking methods thereof and zooming and toggling control methods thereof. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to an electronic device capable of performing an unlocking, zooming and toggling operation using a bending action.

(2) Description of the Related Art

In recent, electronic devices such as a handheld terminal have become daily necessities of modern people. Such an electronic device generally includes a touch screen that displays graphics and text while sensing touches.

In a typical electronic device employing a touch screen, locking and unlocking functions are implemented to effectively prevent a touch error. As an exemplary embodiment of locking and unlocking functions, a touch screen displays a guide image for transition from a lock state to an unlock state and, after touching a handler included in the guide image, a user performs a moving operation in the guided direction to unlock the electronic device.

Flexible touch screens, which are bendable due to use of a flexible substrate, are under development. Since flexible touch screens are advantageous in easy deformation, various studies have been conducted to employ the flexible touch screens for next-generation electronic devices.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an electronic device, an unlock method of the electronic device, and a zooming and toggling method of the electronic device.

An electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a flexible touch screen and a body part. The flexible touch screen and the body part may be flexible and include a substantially flat shape.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible touch screen may include a display unit configured to display an image and a bending unit configured to sense a user bending input.

In an exemplary embodiment, the body part may include a controller configured to control a transition from a lock state to an unlock state of the flexible touch screen based on the user bending input and a memory configured to store a predefined bending action used to transition from the lock state to the unlock state of the flexible touch screen.

In an exemplary embodiment, the predefined bending action may include at least one of bending one side of the flexible touch screen and bending opposite sides of the flexible touch screen.

In an exemplary embodiment, the predefined bending action may include at least one of bending the flexible touch screen once and bending the flexible touch screen two or more times. Bending the flexible touch screen two or more times may include at least one of bending the flexible touch screen two or more times in the same direction and bending the flexible touch screen two or more times in different directions.

In an exemplary embodiment, the predefined bending action may include at least one of concavely bending the flexible touch screen and convexly bending the flexible touch screen.

An electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a flexible touch screen and a body part. The flexible touch screen is flexible, while the body part is not flexible.

In an exemplary embodiment, at least one side of a top surface of the body part may be spaced apart from the flexible touch screen in a thickness direction. The flexible touch screen may have a flat shape, and the at least one side of the top surface of the body part may be curved.

An electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a flexible touch screen and a body part. The flexible touch screen is flexible, while the body part is not flexible.

In an exemplary embodiment, at least one side of a top surface of the body part may be spaced apart from the flexible touch screen in a width or length direction. The at least one side of the top surface of the body part may be curved, and at least one side of the flexible touch screen corresponding to the least one side of the top surface of the body part may be curved along the least one side of the top surface of the body part.

An unlock method of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may include setting an electronic device including a flexible touch screen to a lock state; detecting bending of the flexible touch screen; transitioning the electronic device to an unlock state when the detected bending corresponds to an unlock action; and maintaining the electronic device in a lock state when the detected bending does not correspond to the unlock action.

A zooming and toggling control method of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may include displaying a target image on an electronic device including a flexible touch screen; sensing occurrence of an interrupt that is an action to bend the flexible touch screen; determining whether the interrupt requests a zoom mode; determining whether the interrupt request a toggle mode; performing zooming control on the target image when the interrupt request the zoom mode; and performing toggling control on the target image when the interrupt request the toggle mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The advantages and features of the invention and methods of achieving them will be apparent from the following exemplary embodiments that will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and may be implemented in various forms. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are provided only to disclose examples of the invention and to let those skilled in the art understand the nature of the invention.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 2is a block diagram of the electronic device100.

The electronic device100may have a plurality of user interface states. A user interface state is a state in which the electronic device100responds in a predefined manner to user input. In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of user interface states includes a user-interface lock state and a user-interface unlock state. In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of user interface states includes states for a plurality of applications.

In the user-interface lock state (hereinafter referred to as “lock state”), the electronic device100is powered on and operational but ignores most, if not all, user input. That is, the electronic device100takes no action in response to user input and/or the electronic device100is effectively prevented from performing a predefined set of operations in response to the user input. The predefined set of operations may include navigation between user interfaces and activation or deactivation of a predefined set of functions. The lock state may be used to effectively prevent unintentional or unauthorized use of the electronic device100or activation or deactivation of functions on the electronic device100. When the electronic device100is in the lock state, the electronic device100may be said to be locked. The electronic device100that is in the locked state may be described as a locked device100. In some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device100in the lock state may respond to a limited set of user inputs, including input that corresponds to an attempt to transition the electronic device100to the user-interface unlock state or input that corresponds to power the electronic device100off. In other words, the locked device100responds to user input corresponding to attempts to transition the electronic device100to the user-interface unlock state or power the electronic device100off, but does not respond to user input corresponding to attempts to navigate between user interfaces.

In the user-interface unlock state (hereinafter referred to as “unlock state”), the electronic device100is in its normal operating state, detecting and responding to user input corresponding to interaction with the user interface. The electronic device100that is in the unlock state may be described as an unlocked device100. An unlocked device100detects and responds to user input for navigating between user interfaces, entry of data and activation or deactivation of functions.

The electronic device100may include various types of information, communication and multimedia devices such as a mobile terminal, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a portable multimedia player (“PMP”), a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a smart phone and an MP3 player, for example, but is not limited thereto.

The electronic device100may include a flexible touch screen200and a flexible body part300.

In an exemplary embodiment, while the electronic device100is in the lock state, the flexible touch screen200is inhibited from responding to touch and bending. At this point, the flexible touch screen200operates in the lock state. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible touch screen200may still respond to the touch and bending within a limited range during the lock state of the electronic device100. The limited range includes touch and bending corresponding to a trial to allow the electronic device100to transition to a user interface unlock state.

While the electronic device100is an unlock state, the flexible touch screen200detects and responds touch and bending corresponding to navigation between user interfaces, entry of data and activation or deactivation of functions. At this point, the flexible touch screen200operates in the unlock state.

InFIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary embodiment where the flexible touch screen200has a shape of rectangle having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides in a plane view and is provided in a form of a flat plate when no force is applied to the flexible touch screen200.

Hereinafter, a horizontal direction will be defined as an extending direction of the short side of the flexible touch screen200, a vertical direction will be defined as an extending direction of the long side of the flexible touch screen200and a width direction will be defined as a direction perpendicular to both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. When a top surface of the flexible touch screen200is bent to protrude, the flexible touch screen200will be defined as being convexly bent. When the top surface of the flexible touch screen200is bent to subside, the flexible touch screen200will be defined as being concavely bent.

The flexible touch screen200is flexible. Even when the flexible touch screen200is flexible, all components of the flexible touch screen200need not be flexible.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible touch screen200includes a display unit210, a touch unit220and a bending unit230.

The touch unit220and the bending unit230are input units configured to receive user input, and the display unit210is an output unit configured to display data according to the user input.

The display unit210displays images. The display unit210may be a various types of display panels such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel, an organic light emitting display (“OLED”) panel, a plasma display panel, an electrophoretic display panel or an electrowetting display panel, for example. The display unit210may visually provide various types of information of the electronic device100such as a menu, input data and function setting information, for example, to a user.

The touch unit220senses a touch input of a user. The touch unit200may include various types of touch sensors such as capacitive overlay, resistive overlay, infrared beam or a pressure sensor, for example, but is not limited thereto, and any type of sensor capable of sensing a contact or an input of an object may constitute the touch unit220according to the invention. The touch unit220senses the user's touch input to generate a touch sensing signal and transmits the touch sensing signal to a control unit300. The touch sensing signal includes coordinate data where the user inputs a touch. When the user inputs a touch position shift operation, the touch unit220generates a sensing signal including coordinate data of a touch position moving path and transmits the sensing signal to the control unit300.

The bending unit230senses a bending input by a user. The bending unit230may include at least one of a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor and a tilt sensor. The bending unit230senses a user bending input to generate a bending sensing signal and transmits the bending sensing signal to the control unit300. The bending sensing signal includes data with regard to a bent region, a bent direction and a bent strength of the flexible touch screen200.

The body part300includes an element for driving the flexible touch screen200. The body part300includes a controller310, a memory320and a power supply330. The body part300may further include a mold frame (not shown) in which a storage space is formed. The controller310, the memory320and the power supply330may be stored in the storage space.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the body part300may have a flat shape.

The controller310controls an overall operation of the flexible touch screen200.

The controller310according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention controls a process of transition from a lock state to an unlock state of the flexible touch screen200. While the flexible touch screen200operates in the lock state, the controller310receives the bending sensing signal and determines whether the flexible touch screen200transition to the unlock state, based on the bending sensing signal. Specifically, the controller320makes the flexible touch screen200transition to the unlock state when the bending sensing signal corresponds to a predefined bending action stored in the memory320and makes the flexible touch screen200remain in the lock state when the bending sensing signal does not corresponding to a predefined bending action.

When the flexible touch screen200operates in the lock state, the controller310controls a black image or an unlock image to be displayed on the flexible touch screen200. When the flexible touch screen200operates in the unlock state, the controller310controls a user interface object associated with a typical operation to be displayed on the flexible touch screen200.

The memory320may store a program and data used for an operation of the electronic device100and may be divided into a program area and a data area. The program area may be provided to store a program for controlling the overall operation of the electronic device100, an operating system (“OS”) for booting the electronic device100, an application program used to play multimedia contents and an application program used for other optional functions such as a camera function, a sound play function and an image or video play function of the electronic device100, for example. The data area is an area which stores data generated as the electronic device100is used. The data area may store various types of data such as images, video data, phone books and audio data, for example.

A predefined bending action used for transition from the lock state to the unlock state of the flexible touch screen200may be stored as data in the memory320according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. In some exemplary embodiments, the predefined bending action may include, for example, a bending action in which a user bends the left side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the right side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the right side and the left side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the flexible touch screen200in a multiple bending manner, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user horizontally bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after vertically bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user concavely bends the flexible touch screen200and a bending action in which a user convexly bends the flexible touch screen200. However, the predefined bending action is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions and may include a combination of the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions.

The power supply330may supply power to the flexible touch screen200and the controller310. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply330may include a rechargeable battery. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply330may be removably coupled to the mold frame (not shown).

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a course of transition from a lock state to an unlock state of an electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

While an exemplary embodiment of a flow (S0) described below includes a number of operations that appear to occur in a specific order, these processes can include more or fewer operations, which can be executed in series or in parallel using parallel processors or a multi-threading environment, for example.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, the electronic device100is set to a lock state (S1). The electronic device100may be set to the lock state when satisfying at least one lock condition (i.e., full transition to the lock state from another state). The lock condition may include a predefined deactivation time elapse and an event such as entry into active call or power-on of a device, for example. The lock condition may include user intervention, i.e., user's locking of a device by a user input. In some exemplary embodiments, a user may specify an event functioning as a lock condition. A user may allow the electronic device100to transition to a lock state not during power-on of the electronic device100but during the predefined deactivation time elapse, for example.

In some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device100operating in the lock state displays at least one visual cue for an unlock action, in which a user may perform an unlock operation, on the flexible touch screen200(S2). The visual cue provides a hint of the unlock action to the user. The visual cue may be a text, graphic or a combination thereof. In some exemplary embodiments, the visual cue is displayed when a specific event occurs while the electronic device100operates in the lock state. A specific event allowing the display of visual cue to be started may include another event that requires an incoming call or message or user's attention. In some exemplary embodiments, the visual cue may be displayed during a specific user input such as interaction of a user with a menu button, contact of a user with the flexible touch screen200operating in the lock state and/or interaction of a user with another input/control device. When the electronic device100operating in the lock state does not display a visual cue, power consumption of the flexible touch screen200is reduced, thereby improves power conservation. In one exemplary embodiment, a screen saver or another object such as user's interested information such as a battery level, date and time, network strength, for example, may be displayed on the flexible touch screen200.

An unlock action includes bending the flexible touch screen200. In some exemplary embodiments, the unlock action is a predefined bending action. The predefined bending action is an action to change the flexible touch screen200from a flat state to a bent state. Exemplary embodiments of the predefined bending action may include, for example, a bending action in which a user bends the left side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the right side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the right side and the left side of the flexible touch screen200, a bending action in which a user bends the flexible touch screen200in a multiple bending manner, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user horizontally bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after vertically bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen200at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen200at least once, a bending action in which a user concavely bends the flexible touch screen200and a bending action in which a user convexly bends the flexible touch screen200. However, the predefined bending action is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions and may include a combination of the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions.

While the flexible touch screen200operates in the lock state, a user may start to bend the flexible touch screen200(S3). In an exemplary embodiment, a user may bend the flexible touch screen200using at least one finger of at least one hand, for example, but is not limited thereto, and the flexible touch screen200may be bent using any part of a body such as two fingers, two hands, for example. In one exemplary embodiment, the flexible touch screen200may be bent using any suitable objects or belongings.

The electronic device100detects the bending of the flexible touch screen200(S4). When the bending does not correspond to a trial to perform the unlock action or a user stops the bending action (S5, No), the electronic device100remains in the unlock state (S6). In an exemplary embodiment, when the unlock action is predefined to an action to bend the flexible touch screen200in a width direction and the detected bending is an action to bend the flexible touch screen200in a length direction, for example, the electronic device100remains in the unlock state because the bending does not correspond to the unlock action.

When the bending corresponds to a successful unlock action and the user successfully performs the unlock action (S5, Yes), the electronic device100transitions from the lock state to the unlock state (S7). In an exemplary embodiment, when the unlock action is an action to bend the flexible touch screen200in the width direction and the detected bending is an action to bend the flexible touch screen200in the width direction, for example, the electronic device100transitions from the lock state to the unlock state.

In some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device100starts a process of transition from the lock state to the unlock state when the bending of the flexible touch screen200is detected and immediately stops the transition when the bending does not correspond to the unlock action or is determined to be a failed or stopped unlock action. In an exemplary embodiment, when the unlock action is predefined to bend the flexible touch screen200twice in the width direction, for example, the electronic device100starts a process of transition to the unlock state shortly after detecting a first bending, and continues to perform the transition while the first bending is performed. When the user stop the first bending before performing a second bending of the flexible touch screen200, the electronic device100stops the transition and remains in the lock state. When the user bends the flexible touch screen200twice in the width direction according to the predefined unlock action, the electronic device100terminates the transition to the unlock state. In other exemplary embodiments, the unlock action is predefined to horizontally bend the flexible touch screen200twice and the user bends the flexible touch screen200once in the length direction after bending the flexible touch screen200once in the width direction. In this case, the electronic device100transitions to the unlock state shortly after detecting the first bending of the flexible touch screen200but immediately stops the transition to the unlock state because the second bending of the flexible touch screen200does not correspond to the unlock action.

When the electronic device100is unlocked, the flexible touch screen200may display a user interface object corresponding to one or more functions and/or user's interested information. The user interface object constitutes a user interface of the electronic device100and may include a text, an image, an icon, a soft key (or virtual button), a pull-down menu, a radio button, a check box and a selection function list, for example, but is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the displayed user interface object may include a non-interactive object, an interactive object or a combination thereof. The non-interactive object transmits information related to looks and feels of a user interface and the interactive object interacts with a user.

While the electronic device100operates in the lock state, the user may contact the flexible touch screen200. However, the electronic device200in the lock state is inhibited from performing a predefined operation set in response to a detected contact until the electronic device200is unlocked. The inhibited predefined operation set may include navigation between a user interface and a user data input.

While operating in the lock state, the electronic device100may display at least one visual cue for the unlock action. In some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device100may display an unlock image together with the visual cue. The unlock image is an interacting graphic and interactive user interface object for unlocking the electronic device100. That is, the unlock action is performed according to the visual cue of the unlock image.

In some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device100provides non-visual feedback other than visual feedback to indicate termination of the unlock operation. The non-visual feedback may include audible feedback (e.g., sound) or physical feedback (e.g., vibration).

FIGS. 4A to 4Cillustrate a process of performing an unlocking action on an electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 4A, the flexible touch screen200operates first in a lock mode and a sleep mode and displays an unlock image IMG when being touched by a user. In an exemplary embodiment, the unlock image IMG may imply a direct meaning of bending. In an exemplary embodiment, the unlock image IMG may include a wording such as “Bend me,” for example. A user presses both sides of the electronic device100to start an unlock action. It is determined whether a trial is made to unlock the flexible touch screen200, based on the fact that the flexible touch screen200is bent, the electronic device100detects the bending and the user interacts with an unlock image IMG.

Referring toFIG. 4B, the user continuously presses both the sides of the electronic device100in the width direction to perform an unlock action. The unlock action may be predefined bending to bend the electronic device100one or more times. In an exemplary embodiment, the predefined bending may be performed two or more times to effectively prevent the electronic device100from being unintentionally unlocked while the user handles the electronic device100. In the above described exemplary embodiment, the user must bend the electronic device100two or more times for a predetermined time. When the predefined bending action is performed, the electronic device100is unlocked and the flexible touch screen displays a user interface object associated with a general operation in the unlock state.

FIG. 4Cshows an exemplary embodiment of a user interface object displayed on the flexible touch screen200when the electronic device100operates in an unlock state. A user may interact with the user interface object to activate an application App1 to App3 or a specific function Fn1 to Fn3, for example, but is not limited thereto.

In some exemplary embodiments, the unlock image IMG may be used to indicate failure in performing an unlock action. When the user does not perform predefined bending, for example, the unlock action fails. According to user's option, the electronic device100may display an unlock image IMG implying bending the electronic device100while allowing the user to try to perform the unlock action one more time. The electronic device100returns to a sleep mode when the bending is not detected for a predetermined time.

FIG. 5Ais a perspective view of an electronic device101according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 5Bis a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ inFIG. 5A.

Referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B, the electronic device101includes a flexible touch screen201and a body part301. The flexible touch screen201and the body part301are different in structure compared with the flexible touch screen200and the flexible body part300described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. Hereinafter, the differences in structure will be specifically explained. Unexplained features of the flexible touch screen201and the body part301are similar to the exemplary embodiment of the flexible touch screen200and the flexible body part300described inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The flexible touch screen201is provided in a flat form. The flexible touch screen201may be bent by an external force due to its flexibility.

The body part301has no flexibility. A mold frame (not shown) determining the appearance of the body part301may be made of a hard material, for example.

The body part301is provided below the flexible touch screen201. At least one side of a top surface of the body part301may be spaced apart from the flexible touch screen201in a thickness direction. InFIGS. 5A and 5B, both sides of the top surface of the body part301are spaced apart from the flexible touch screen201in the thickness direction.

For achieving this, both side edge regions of the top surface of the body part301is provided in a curved shape. A spaced groove WL is formed between the both sides, e.g., edge regions, of the top surface of the body part301and the flexible touch screen201.

The electronic device101may further include a flexible material FM disposed at the spaced groove WL. The flexible material FM may be a porous flexible material.

A left edge of the body part301and the flexible touch screen201are spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction by a left spaced distance L1. In addition, a right edge of the body part301and the flexible touch screen201are spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction by a right spaced distance L2. The left spaced distance L1 and the right spaced distance L2 are spaces for bending the flexible touch screen201when a user presses both sides of the flexible touch screen201. That is, the left and right spaced distances L1 and L2 are not changed when the user does not press the flexible touch screen201and may be zero when the user presses both sides of the flexible touch screen201with a maximum force to make the top surface of the flexible touch screen201convex. In an exemplary embodiment, the left and right spaced distances L1 and L2 may be maximal when the user presses both sides of the flexible touch screen201with the maximum force to make the top surface of the flexible touch screen201concave.

The electronic device101senses change of the left and right spaced distances L1 and L2 to detect whether the flexible touch screen201is bent. When the change of the left and right spaced distances L1 and L2 is greater than a predefined value, the electronic device101may determine that the flexible touch screen201is bent.

When the left and the right spaced distances L1 and L2 are sensed to be greater than those before the bending, the electronic device101may determine that the flexible touch screen201is concavely bent. When the left and the right spaced distances L1 and L2 are sensed to be smaller than those before the bending, the electronic device101may determine that the flexible touch screen201is convexly bent.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device101may independently sense at least one of the change of the left spaced distance L1 and the change of the right spaced distance L2.

FIG. 6Ais a perspective view of an electronic device102according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 6Bis a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ inFIG. 6A.

Referring toFIGS. 6A and 6B, the electronic device102includes a flexible touch screen202and a body part302. The body part302is substantially identical to the body part301in the exemplary embodiment explained with reference toFIGS. 5A and 5Band will not be explained in further detail.

The flexible touch screen202is disposed on the body part302. The flexible touch screen202may include a left area ST1, a middle area ST2 and a right area ST3. Although the flexible touch screen202are divided into the left area ST1, the middle area ST2 and the right area ST3 for the convenience of explanation, the area ST1, the middle area ST2 and the right area ST3 may be integrally formed.

The middle area ST2 is disposed between the left area ST1 and the right area ST2 and not spaced apart from the body part302.

The left area ST1 is provided in a curved shape along a left edge area of a top surface of the body part302. The left area ST1 may be spaced apart from a left edge of the body part302in a width direction by a left spaced distance L3.

The right area ST3 is provided in a curved shape along a right edge area of the top surface of the body part302. The right area ST3 is spaced apart from a right edge of the body part302in the width direction by a right spaced distance L4.

A spaced groove WL is formed between the left edge area of the top surface of the body part302and the left area ST1 and between the right edge area of the top surface of the body part302and the right area ST3.

The electronic device102may further include a flexible material FM disposed at the spaced groove WL. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible material FM may be a porous flexible material.

The electronic device102senses changes of the left and right spaced distances L3 and L4 to detect whether the flexible touch screen202is bent. When the change of the left and right spaced distances L3 and L4 is greater than a predefined value, the electronic device102may determine that the flexible touch screen202is bent.

When the left and the right spaced distances L3 and L4 are sensed to be greater than those before the bending, the electronic device102may determine that the flexible touch screen202is concavely bent. When the left and the right spaced distances L3 and L4 are sensed to be smaller than those before the bending, the electronic device102may determine that the flexible touch screen202is convexly bent.

The electronic device102may independently sense at least one of the change of the left spaced distance L3 and the change of the right spaced distance L4.

Hereinafter, a zooming control method based on a bending action in an electronic device according to exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating a zooming control method based on a bending action in an electronic device according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, the electronic device executes a selected mode (S101). The selected mode indicates an application that requires an object image to be displayed. In an exemplary embodiment, the selected mode may be a web page display mode in a web browser function or environment, a photo data display mode in a camera function or environment or a text display mode in a text viewer function or environment, for example. A target image is displayed on a flexible touch screen in a visual form.

The electronic device senses occurrence of interrupt (S103). The interrupt indicates a signal or instruction input through a touch screen or a special function key by a user to stop an application under execution. The interrupt may be a predefined bending action. In some exemplary embodiments, the predefined bending action may include, for example, a bending action in which a user bends the left side of the flexible touch screen, a bending action in which a user bends the right side of the flexible touch screen, a bending action in which a user bends the right side and the left side of the flexible touch screen, a bending action in which a user bends the flexible touch screen in a multiple bending manner, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen at least once, a bending action in which a user horizontally bends the flexible touch screen at least once after vertically bending the flexible touch screen at least once, a bending action in which a user vertically bends the flexible touch screen at least once after horizontally bending the flexible touch screen at least once, a bending action in which a user concavely bends the flexible touch screen and a bending action in which a user convexly bends the flexible touch screen. However, the predefined bending action is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions and may include a combination of the above described exemplary embodiments of the bending actions.

The electronic device determines whether the interrupt is to request a zoom mode (S105). The request for the zoom mode may be set as one of the predefined bending actions. Hereinafter, the request for the zoom mode will be explained based on a fact that a flexible touch screen is bent once for a predetermined time or longer.

When the interrupt is to request the zoom mode, the electronic device performs zooming control of the target image according to a user input (S107). This will be explained in detail later.

When the interrupt is not to request the zoom mode, the electronic device determines whether the interrupt request a toggle mode (S109). The request for the toggle mode may be set not as the request for the zoom mode but as one of the predefined bending actions. Hereinafter, the request for the toggle mode will be explained based on a fact that the flexible touch screen is bent successively twice.

When the interrupt is to request the toggle mode, the electronic device performs toggling control of the target image (S111). This will be explained in detail later.

When the interrupt is not to request the toggle mode, the electronic device performs another operation corresponding to the interrupt (S113). When the interrupt is to request a specific menu, for example, the electronic device displays the requested menu. In addition, when the interrupt is to select a specific icon, the electronic device performs a function assigned to the selected icon or executes an application assigned to the selected icon.

Hereinafter, a zooming control process of a target image in a zoom mode will be described.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, when the interrupt is to request a zoom mode, the electronic device activates the zoom mode (S211). At this point, the electronic device displays an overlay layer overlapping a target image on a flexible touch screen. The overlay layer is displayed to suitably receive a user input that will be explained later. The electronic device may also display a graphical element on the flexible touch screen such that a user intuitively recognizes activation of the zoom mode.

The electronic device determines whether a user input based on bending is detected (S212). At this point, the electronic device may measure time until the user input is detected after activation of the zoom mode. When the user input is not detected for the predefined time, the electronic device stops the zoom mode.

When the user input is detected, the electronic device determines whether the user input is a first bending event (S213). When the user input is not the first bending event, the electronic device determines whether the user input is a second bending event (S231). When the user input is neither the first bending event nor the second bending event, the flow proceeds to operation S212.

The first bending event and the second bending event may be one of the defined bending actions. In an exemplary embodiment, the first bending event may be to bend the flexible touch screen once, and the second bending event may be to bend the flexible touch screen twice, for example.

When the user input is the first bending event, the electronic device determines whether the first bending event is a zoom-in action or a zoom-out action (S215). The zoom-in action and the zoom-out action may be different from each other while being compatible with the first bending event. In an exemplary embodiment, the zoom-in action may be to bend both sides of the flexible touch screen once for a predetermined time or longer, and the zoom-out action may be to bend both sides of the flexible touch screen for a time shorter than the predetermined time, for example. However, the zoom-in and zoom-out actions are not limited thereto, and the zoom-in action may be to convexly bend the flexible touch screen and the zoom-out action may be to concavely bend the flexible touch screen. Moreover, the zoom-in action may be to horizontally bend the flexible touch screen once and the zoom-out action may be to vertically bend the flexible touch screen once. That is, any two bending actions may be set as the zoom-in action and the zoom-out action, respectively.

When the first bending event is the zoom-in action, the electronic device zooms in the target image during the zoom-in action (S219). At this point, an image displayed on a middle of the flexible touch screen may be a center point of the zoom-in action. A zoom-in ratio of the target image may be in proportion to a time when the flexible touch screen is released from the zoom-in action.

When the first bending event is the zoom-out action, the electronic device zooms out the target image during the zoom-out action (S221). At this point, an image displayed on a middle of the flexible touch screen may be a center point of the zoom-out action. A zoom-out ratio of the target image may be in proportion to a time when the flexible touch screen is released from the zoom-out action.

While any one of the zoom-in and zoom-out actions is executed, the electronic device determines whether the flexible touch screen is released from the first bending event (S223).

When the flexible touch screen is not released from the first bending event, the electronic device returns to operation S213.

When the flexible touch screen is released from the first bending event, the electronic device holds the zoomed-in or zoomed-out target image until the flexible touch screen is released from the first bending event (S225).

When the user input is the second bending event, the electronic device provides the target image with a predefined default size (S233). That is, the electronic device converts the zoomed-in or zoom-out target image into a default-sized image prior to zoom-in or zoom-out. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second bending event may be set to successively bend the flexible touch screen twice within a predetermined time.

Hereinafter, a toggling control process of a target image in a toggle mode will be described.

Referring toFIG. 9, when the interrupt is to request a toggle mode, the electronic device checks a current scale factor of a target image displayed on the flexible touch screen (S301). That is, the electronic device finds out a ratio of a current size of the target image to a default size of the target image.

The electronic device determines whether the current scale factor is greater than or equal to a predefined default scale factor (S303). The predefined default scale factor is a specific scale factor that is commonly used when the electronic device displays the target image.

When the current scale factor of the target image is greater than or equal to the default scale factor, the electronic device zooms out the target image depending on a zoom-out ratio (S305). The electronic device displays the zoomed-out target image on the flexible touch screen (S307). That is, when receiving an interrupt to request a toggle mode while the target image is displayed at a specific scale factor that is equal to or greater than the default scale factor, the electronic device scales down the target image. The scaling down of the target image complies with the zoom-out ratio. When the zoom-out ratio is fixed to a minimum scale factor, the electronic device may obtain an effect to provide a preview image through toggling control. When a part of a text page is displayed at a default scale factor through a text view function, for example, the electronic device may zoom out the text page at a minimum scale factor according to a toggle mode request to display the entire text page.

The electronic device determines whether there is a request to stop a toggle mode while displaying the zoomed-out target image (S313). When there is the request to stop the toggle mode, the electronic device displays the zoomed-out target image after converting the zoomed-out target image into a conversion-sized target image (S315). At this point, the conversion size may be any one of a size before the target image is zoomed in or out, a size of a target image to which the default scale factor is applied and a size of the zoomed-in or zoomed-out target image.

That is, the electronic device displays the target image after converting the target image at the current scale factor detected in operation S301. However, the conversion is not limited thereto, and the electronic device may display the zoomed-out target image after converting the zoomed-out target image at the default scale factor or may display the zoomed-out target image without conversion.

When there is no request to stop the toggle mode, the electronic device determines whether there is a request for the toggle mode (S317). The operation S317is substantially identical to the operation S109inFIG. 7and will not be explained in further detail.

When there is a request for the toggle mode, the electronic device proceeds to the operation S301. After returning to the operation S301, the electronic device proceeds to operation S309through the operation S303. That is, since the target image is zoomed out through the operations S305and307, the current scale factor of the target image may be smaller than the default scale factor at the operation S303. In this case, the electronic device proceeds to operations S309and S311to perform an operation of zooming in the target image.

When the target image is zoomed out according to a request for a first toggle mode, the electronic device may restore the zoomed-out target image at a default scale factor or zoom in the zoomed-out target image at a scale factor greater than the default scale factor.

When the current scale factor of the target image is smaller than the default scale factor, the electronic device zooms in the target image according to a zoom-in ratio (S309). Next, the electronic device displays the zoomed-in target image on the flexible touch screen (S311). That is, when receiving an interrupt to request the toggle mode while the target image is displayed at a specific scale factor smaller than the default scale factor, the electronic device scales up the target image. The scaling up of the target image complies with the zoom-in ratio. When the zoom-in ratio is fixed to a maximum scale factor, the electronic device may have an effect to use a magnifying glass through toggling control. When a page of document is displayed at a relatively low scale factor through a document viewer function, for example, the electronic device zooms in the page of document at a maximum scale factor according to a toggle mode request to display a part of the page of document.

The electronic device determines whether there is a request to stop the toggle mode (S313). At this point, the conversion size may be any one of a size before the target image is zoomed in or out, a size of a target image to which the default scale factor is applied and a size of the zoomed-in or zoomed-out target image.

When there is no request to stop the toggle mode, the electronic device determines whether there is a request for the toggle mode (S317).

When there is the request for the toggle mode, the electronic device proceeds to operation S305through the operation S303. After returning to the operation S301, the electronic device proceeds to the operation S305through the operation S303. That is, since the target image is zoomed in through the operations S309and S311, the current scale factor of the target image may be greater than or equal to the default scale factor. In this case, the electronic device may proceed to the operations S305and S307to perform an operation of zooming out the target image.

When zooming in the target image according to the request for first toggle mode, the electronic device may restore the zoomed-in target image at a default scale factor or zooms out the target image at a scale factor smaller than the default scale factor according to a request for second toggle mode.

When there is no request for toggle mode, the electronic device may perform another operation (S319). The another operation may be different from the zooming control and the toggling control. The another operation may be, for example, that the electron device displays a requested menu, executes a function assigned to a specific icon or executes an application assigned to the specific icon.

FIGS. 10A to 10Cillustrate a zooming control process in an electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 10A, the electronic device100displays a target image TI of specific contents in a selected mode. InFIG. 10A, specific image data displayed under an image viewer environment is shown as an exemplary embodiment of the target image TI.

Referring toFIG. 10B, a user bends a flexible touch screen200once by pressing both sides of the electronic device100to activate a zoom mode. At this point, the electronic device100may display an overlay layer OV overlapping the target image. The electronic device100may display a selectable zooming operation and a graphical element GI for instructing the zooming operation. The overlay layer OV and the graphical element GI may be optional according to user's setting.

Referring toFIGS. 10B and 10C, the electronic device100receives a zoom-in or zoom-out action from a user to zoom in or out the target image TI.FIG. 10Cshows an exemplary embodiment where the user convexly bend the flexible touch screen200to display a zoomed-in target image TI0 on the flexible touch screen200when the zoom-in action is set to convexly bend the flexible touch screen200.

FIGS. 11A to 11Cillustrate a toggling control process in an electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 11A, the electronic device100displays a target image TI of specific contents in a selected mode. InFIG. 11A, specific image data displayed under an image viewer environment is shown as an exemplary embodiment of the target image TI.

Referring toFIG. 11B, a user bends a flexible touch screen200twice by successively both sides of the electronic device100to perform first toggling control on the target image TI. At this point, the electronic device100zooms out the target image TI according to a zoom-out ratio when a current scale factor of the target image TI is greater than or equal to a default scale factor.FIG. 11Bshows an exemplary embodiment where the flexible touch screen200displays a zoomed-out target image TI1.

Referring toFIG. 11C, the user bends the flexible touch screen200twice by successively pressing both sides of the electronic device100to perform second toggling control on the zoomed-out target image TI1. Since the target image TI1 is zoomed out by the first toggling control inFIG. 11B, a current scale factor of the zoomed-out target image TI1 may be smaller than a default scale factor. The electronic device100zooms in the zoomed-out target image TI1 at a zoom-in ratio. The electronic device100may display the zoomed-out target image TI1 at any one of the default scale factor or a scale factor greater than the default scale factor.FIG. 11Cshows an exemplary embodiment where the flexible touch screen200displays a zoomed-in target image TI2.

As described so far, an electronic device can be unlocked by bending using flexibility of a flexible touch screen. In addition, an electronic device can be unlocked not only when the electronic device is flexible but also when some components of the electronic device are not flexible. Moreover, zooming control and toggling control of a target image can be performed based on a bending action.

While the invention have been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.