Abstract:
A mobile device includes a housing; a flexible display positioned in the housing; an actuator coupled to the flexible display; an energy generation device coupled to the flexible display; a battery to receive current from the energy generation device in a charging mode; a processor; and a computer readable medium with computer-executable instruction stored thereon, that when executed by the processor cause the processor to initiate operations including: determining that charging mode has been entered; and generating a command signal to the actuator to create a protrusion on the flexible display in response to determining that charging mode has been entered.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to mobile devices, and more particularly, to charging a mobile device having a flexible display. 
     Mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, etc.) need to be charged periodically. While AC to DC chargers are prominent in the field, such chargers require a user to be at a source of AC power. A variety of self-charging technologies (e.g., solar cells, piezoelectric devices) are known in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments include a mobile device comprising a mobile device including a housing; a flexible display positioned in the housing; an actuator coupled to the flexible display; an energy generation device coupled to the flexible display; a battery to receive current from the energy generation device in a charging mode; a processor; and a computer readable medium with computer-executable instruction stored thereon, that when executed by the processor cause the processor to initiate operations including: determining that charging mode has been entered; and generating a command signal to the actuator to create a protrusion on the flexible display in response to determining that charging mode has been entered. 
     Other exemplary embodiments include a method of operating a mobile device having a flexible display and an energy generation device, the method including: determining that a charging mode has been entered; and in response to charging mode being entered, applying a command signal to an actuator coupled to the flexible display, the actuator forming a protrusion on the flexible display. 
     Other exemplary embodiments include a computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, for operating a mobile device having a flexible display, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: determining that a charging mode has been entered; and in response to charging mode being entered, applying a command signal to an actuator coupled to the flexible display, the actuator forming a protrusion on the flexible display. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a mobile device with a flexible display in an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a flexible display in an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a flexible display in another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a system diagram of a mobile device in an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate bending of a mobile device in charging mode in an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  depicts wearing a mobile device in another exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process for manipulating a flexible display in an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a mobile device  10  with a flexible display  14  in an exemplary embodiment. Mobile device  10  may be a phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, etc., equipped with communications components (e.g., cellular, wireless LAN, NFC, Bluetooth, USB) for communicating over wireless or wired communications mediums. Mobile device  10  includes a housing  12  that supports flexible display  14 . Flexible display  14  may be any known type of flexible display such as a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display of flexible liquid crystal diode (LCD) display. 
     Mobile device  10  includes a microphone  16 . Microphone  16  is used for voice communications and for receiving spoken commands from a user. A camera  18  may be located on a back side of housing  12 . A speaker  20  provides audio output to the user. Mobile device  10  also includes one or more buttons  24  for controlling the device. Buttons  24  may be permanent components built into housing  12  or may be virtual buttons, presented on flexible display  14 , activated by touching flexible display  14 . One or more sensors  22  are positioned on housing  12  to sense various parameters such as contact, temperature, motion, etc. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a flexible display  14  in an exemplary embodiment. A plurality of actuators  30  are positioned on a back side of flexible display  14 . Actuators  30  may be implemented using known force transmitting devices (e.g., electromagnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical, etc.). Actuators  30  may also be coupled to other portions of the mobile device  10 , such as a housing  12  positioned around flexible display  14 . Actuators  30  operate to manipulate the shape of flexible display  14  and/or other components of mobile device  10 , in response to command signals from a processor, as described in further detail herein. In exemplary embodiments, actuators  30  include tension wires, which change shape when the appropriate electrical current is applied. Actuators  30  may be interconnected by links  32  (e.g., wires, pins, etc.) to provide support for display shapes. Since the positional arrangement of actuators  30  is known, the necessary command signals required to create a desired display shape can be calculated by a processor. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 2  is an energy generation device  33  that may be mounted on a back side of flexible display  14 . Energy generation device  33  converts physical movement of flexible display  14  into an electrical current. More than one energy generation device  33  may be mounted on the back side of flexible display  14 . Energy generation devices  33  may be positioned in a pattern corresponding to desired locations of motion of flexible display  14 . Energy generation device  33  may be implemented using a piezoelectric member that produces an electrical current upon physical movement of flexible display  14 . As described in further detail herein, actuators  30  produce one or more protrusions on flexible display  14  during charging mode. The one or more protrusions control bending of flexible display  14  during charging mode. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a flexible display  14  in another exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, actuator  30  positioned on a back side of flexible display  14  includes a mesh actuator  30 . The actuator  30  may include a grid of tension wires, which change shape when the appropriate electrical current is applied. Actuator  30  may also be coupled to other portions of mobile device  10 , such as a housing  12  positioned around flexible display  14 . Actuator  30  operates to manipulate the shape of flexible display  14  and/or other components of mobile device  10 , in response to command signals from a processor, as described in further detail herein. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3  is an energy generation device  33  that may be mounted on a back side of flexible display  14 . Energy generation device  33  converts physical movement of flexible display  14  into an electrical current. More than one energy generation device  33  may be mounted on the back side of flexible display  14 . Energy generation devices  33  may be positioned in a pattern corresponding to desired locations of motion of flexible display  14 . Energy generation device  33  may be implemented using a piezoelectric member that produces an electrical current upon physical movement of flexible display  14 . As described in further detail herein, actuators  30  produce one or more protrusions on flexible display  14  during charging mode. The one or more protrusions control bending of flexible display  14  during charging mode. 
       FIG. 4  is a system diagram of mobile device  10  in an exemplary embodiment. A processor  40  is coupled to buttons  24 , camera  18 , microphone  16 , and sensors  22 . Processor  40  may be implemented using a general-purpose microprocessor executing a computer program stored in a computer readable storage medium  43  to execute the processes described herein. Processor  40  is also coupled to a communications unit  42  that handles communications between the mobile device  10  and other devices, such as cellular phone calls, NFC communications, Bluetooth, etc. Processor  40  may also execute a number of applications  41  that manipulate a shape of flexible display  14  during charging mode. Processor  40  also receives status signals from actuators  30  identifying a current position of flexible display  14 . Based on the various inputs, processor  40  generates command signals to one or more actuators  30  to manipulate a shape of flexible display  14  during charging mode. A battery  44  is charged by current from energy generation device  33  on flexible display  14 . Processor  40  may monitor state of charge of battery  44  and generate a prompt on flexible display  14  that charging mode should be entered. 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate an example of manipulating flexible display  14  during charging mode. As shown in  FIG. 5A , actuator  30  of mobile device  10  may be a mesh actuator positioned on the back of flexible display  14 . Energy generation device  33  is mounted in mobile device  10  to move with flexible display  14 . When processor  40  determines that charging mode is entered, command signals are provided to actuator  30  to manipulate flexible display  14  to form a protrusion  14 A at a first position of flexible display  14  and a protrusion  14 B at a second position of flexible display  14 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , the mobile device  10  is being bent to impart physical motion to energy generation device  33  to charge battery  44 . In one example, the ends of the mobile device  10  are bent towards each other to bend energy generation device  33  and produce a current. Flexible screen  14  is bent repeatedly back and forth. Protrusions  14 A and  14 B on flexible display  14  serve to focus movement of the flexible display  14  at a location corresponding to the energy generation device  33 . Protrusions  14 A and  14 B on flexible display  14  may be formed to limit deformation of flexible screen  14  at locations proximate to protrusions  14 A and  14 B. For example, protrusions  14 A and  14 B may include one or more ribs or ridges that resist bending, so that the bending motion is focused at energy generation device  33 . 
     As bending of mobile device  10  continues, protrusions  14 A and  14 B serve to limit the range of motion of flexible display  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5D , as flexible screen  14  is bent further, protrusions  14 A and  14 B contact each other to limit further bending. This protects both flexible screen  14  and energy generation device  33  from exceeding a bend radius limit that could result in damage to flexible screen  14  and/or energy generation device  33 . 
     The example of  FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate protrusions  14 A and  14 B on a single side of flexible display  14 . It is understood that flexible display  14  may be double sided. In such embodiments, both sides of flexible display  14  may be manipulated by actuator  30  to form one or more protrusions on both sides of flexible display  14  to focus bending at energy generation device  33  and limit the range of motion of flexible display  14 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of mobile device  10  being worn on part of a human body. In the example of  FIG. 6 , mobile device  10  is worn on the wrist. Charging mode may involve the wearer bending their wrist to impart motion to flexible display  14  and energy generation device  33 . During charging mode, processor  40  controls actuator  30  to manipulate flexible screen  14  so as to comply with anatomical motion of the body part where mobile device  10  is located. In the example of  FIG. 6 , flexible screen  14  is manipulated by actuator  30  to form one or more protrusions on flexible screen  14  that allow bending of flexible screen  14  consistent with the anatomical motion of the wearer&#39;s wrist. This ensures that flexible screen  14  allows motion to bend energy generation device  33  consistent with the anatomical motion where the mobile device  10  is worn. The wrist location is just one example, and it is understood that mobile device  10  may be worn at other body locations (e.g., knee) with one or more protrusions formed on flexible display  14  consistent with the anatomical motion of the body location. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process for implementing a charging mode in an exemplary embodiment. The process may be implemented by processor  40  in response to computer program code stored in storage medium  43 . The process begins at  100  where processor  40  determines if charging mode has been entered. Processor  40  may monitor state of charge of battery  44  and notify the user that charging is needed. The user may then place mobile device  10  in charging mode through an input. 
     Upon entering charging mode, at  102 , processor  40  determines how to manipulate flexible display  14  to form one or more protrusions on one or both surfaces of flexible display  14 . Processor  40  determines where to form the one or more protrusions, the size of the one or more protrusions, etc., based on a variety of factors. The location of energy generation device  33  may contribute to determining where the one or more protrusions are formed. Limits on the range of motion of flexible display  14  may contribute to where the one or more protrusions are formed. Further, if the mobile device is worn on the human body, the location and orientation of the mobile device may contribute to where the one or more protrusions are formed. Storage medium  43  may be preprogrammed to identity where to form the one or more protrusions, the size of the one or more protrusions, etc. based on mobile device  10  as manufactured. 
     At  104 , processor  40  generates one or more command signals to actuator(s)  30  to create the one or more protrusions on flexible screen  14 . The user can then manipulate flexible display  14  to cause physical movement of energy generation device  33 . Energy generation device  33  produces a current to charge battery  44 . At  106 , processor  40  determines if charging mode has ceased. End of charging mode may be determined based on an input from the user or a detection through one or more sensors  22  that manipulation of the flexible screen  14  has ceased. 
     When charging mode ends at  106 , flow proceeds to  108  where the process is terminated, and processor  40  returns flexible screen  14  to a planar state by terminating the command signals to actuator  30 . 
     As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor  40 . The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc., do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc., are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc., do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.