Patent Publication Number: US-2021191464-A1

Title: Electronic device with extensible display screen and control method therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technical field of electronic devices, and more particularly, to an electronic device with an extensible display and a control method therefor. 
     Description of Prior Art 
     Two-in-one tablets in daily life are mainly integrated for entertainment and office use, and cannot only meet the demands from entertainment sector, but also for basic office tasks. With a two-in-one tablet display in fixed orientation, to show content in a tablet to others requires turning the display to others, which may be user unfriendly during watching. Of course, a user may watch the display together with others from the same direction, but this is very inconvenient because everyone is crowded together in front of a small screen, and it is difficult to meet everyone&#39;s viewing requirements in large audience scenarios. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The invention is sought to solve technical problems and overcome shortcomings of existing technology, and provides an electronic device with an extensible display and a control method therefor. 
     For the above-mentioned objective, the present invention employs the following technical schemes. 
     An electronic device with an extensible display, comprising a mobile terminal, a protective sleeve, and a keyboard and an auxiliary display for communication with the mobile terminal respectively, the keyboard and the mobile terminal are arranged on the protective sleeve respectively, and the auxiliary display is arranged on a side opposing to a main display of the mobile terminal, thus to realize a dual display function of the mobile terminal and improve user experiences. 
     Further, the keyboard is provided with a first thimble which is operable to connect to a communication port of the mobile terminal using wireline connections to improve communication signaling. 
     Further, the mobile terminal is equipped with a power switch used to switch on and off the auxiliary display. 
     Further, the protective sleeve comprises a front cover, a first rear cover and a flexible part, wherein the flexible part is connected with the front cover and the first rear cover, and the first rear cover is rotatable relative to the front cover, the keyboard is arranged on an inner surface of the front cover, the mobile terminal is arranged on a surface of the first rear cover facing the front cover. 
     Further, the auxiliary display is arranged on a surface of the first rear cover facing away from the front cover. 
     Alternatively, the auxiliary display is arranged on the back of the mobile terminal, and a window is formed on the first rear cover, and the auxiliary display is arranged in the window. 
     A control method for an electronic device with an extensible display, comprising: 
     detecting whether a mobile terminal is in a communication state with a keyboard; 
     detecting whether a power switch is in a triggered state and determining whether duration of the triggered state reaches a preset value, and, when the duration reaches the preset value, selectively switching on or off an auxiliary display according to the detected communication state regarding the mobile terminal and the keyboard. 
     Further, the detecting as to whether the mobile terminal is in the communication state with the keyboard further comprises: 
     detecting signal level of a communication port on the mobile terminal, wherein if the signal level of the communication port is high, the mobile terminal is in a communicationally connected state with the keyboard. 
     Further, the auxiliary display is electrically connected to the keyboard and is disposed on a protective sleeve, and the auxiliary display on an outer surface of the first rear cover is switched on when the mobile terminal is detected to be in the communicationally connected state with the keyboard, as well as when duration for which the power switch is in a triggered state is detected as reaching the preset value. 
     Alternatively, the auxiliary display is electrically connected with the mobile terminal and disposed on the back of the mobile terminal, the auxiliary display on the back of the mobile terminal is switched on when the mobile terminal is detected as being in a communicationally disconnected state with the keyboard, as well as when duration for which the power switch is in a triggered state is detected as reaching the preset value, and a screen of a main display is transferred to the auxiliary display. 
     The invention discloses an electronic device with an extensible display and a control method therefor, by adding an auxiliary display on the other side of the mobile terminal, the front and back sides of the mobile terminal can be utilized for display simultaneously, which is suitable for multi-user scenarios, on the other hand, according to the different display contents of the mobile terminal, a specific display can be selected to obtain better display results. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural view of an electronic device of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a control method for an electronic device of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of another control method for an electronic device of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a structural view of an electronic device of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing a combination of a mobile terminal and an auxiliary display of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a control method for an electronic device of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to manifest the purposes, technical schemes and advantages of the present invention, the present invention is further detailed with drawings and embodiments in the following description. It should be understood that specific embodiments described herein is used only to explain the present invention and not intended to limit the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic device with an extensible display of an embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile terminal  10 , a protective sleeve  20 , a keyboard  30 , and an auxiliary display  40 . The mobile terminal  10  establishes communication with the keyboard  30  through a wireless connection or a wired connection. The mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30  are disposed on the protective sleeve  20  respectively. The auxiliary display  40  is disposed on the other side of the mobile terminal  10  opposing to a main display of the mobile terminal  10 , and is in communication with the mobile terminal  10 , enabling transferring of a screen on the main display to the auxiliary display  40 . 
     Some specific embodiments are given in the following for detailed description of the technical scheme of the present invention. 
     First Embodiment 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the protective sleeve  20  comprises a front cover  21 , a first rear cover  22 , and a flexible part  23 . The flexible part  23  connects the front cover  21  and the first rear cover  22 , so that the first rear cover  22  is bendable to be in a certain supporting angle relative to the front cover  21 . The keyboard  30  is disposed on an inner surface of the front cover  21 . The mobile terminal  10  is disposed on a surface of the first rear cover  22  facing toward a surface of the front cover  21 . This further enables the mobile terminal  10  to establish a communication connection with the keyboard  30  through a wired connection. Specifically, a first thimble is disposed on a side of the keyboard  30  close to the mobile terminal  10 , and a communication port is disposed at a position of mobile terminal  10  corresponding to the first thimble. When the mobile terminal  10  is placed on a corresponding position of the keyboard  30 , the first thimble is inserted into the communication port to realize communication therebetween. A detection circuit in connection with the communication port is equipped in the mobile terminal  10 . When the first thimble is connected to the communication port, the detection circuit identifies that a signal level of the communication port is high. 
     Further, the auxiliary display  40  is located on a surface of the first rear cover  22  of the protective sleeve  20  facing away from the front cover  21 , and the auxiliary display  40  is electrically connected to the keyboard  30 , thus realizing the communication between the auxiliary display  40  and the mobile terminal  10 . The protective sleeve  20  also includes a second rear cover  24  in connection to the flexible part  23 , and the second rear cover  24  is on an outer side of the first rear cover  22 . When the protective sleeve  20  is closed, the second rear cover  24  covers the auxiliary display  40  for protection. 
     In other embodiments, a second thimble is disposed on the back of mobile terminal  10  to achieve an electrical connection between the auxiliary display  40  and the mobile terminal  10 . A through hole is formed on a position on the first rear cover  22  corresponding to the second thimble. The second thimble is in an electrical connection with a corresponding interface on the auxiliary display  40  through the through hole. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a power switch  11  and a plurality of physical keys are disposed on a side of the mobile terminal  10 . The power switch  11  in the embodiment is a button switch. The physical keys include a first function key  12 , a second function key  13 , and a third function key  14 . The power switch  11  is used to switch on and off the auxiliary display  40 . The first function key  12 , the second function key  13 , and the third function key  14  are respectively used to enable a forward page turning function, a backward page turning function, and a return function of the auxiliary display  40 . In alternative embodiments, the power switch  11  may be a touch switch. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a control method for an electronic device with extensible displays in the embodiment of the present invention includes the following: 
     In step  51 , detection is performed as to whether the mobile terminal  10  is in a communication state with the keyboard  30 . 
     Specifically, a signal level on the communication port of the mobile terminal  10  is detected. When the signal level is high, the first thimble is electrically connected to the communication port, then the mobile terminal  10  is in a communicationally connected state with the keyboard  30 . When the signal level is low, the first thimble is disconnected form the communication port, then the mobile terminal  10  is in a communicationally disconnected state with the keyboard  30 . 
     In step  52 , detection is performed as to whether the power switch  11  is in a triggered state, and determination is performed as to whether duration of the triggered state reaches a preset value. When the duration reaches the preset value, the auxiliary display  40  is selectively switched on or off according to the detected communication state of the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 . For example, the preset value is set to  5  seconds. 
     Specifically, when the power switch  11  is selected as a key switch, detection is performed as to whether the power switch  11  is in a pressed state, and determination is performed as to whether duration of the pressed state reaches the preset value. When the duration reaches the preset value, the auxiliary display  40  is selectively switched on or off according to the detected communication state of the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 . Alternatively, when the power switch  11  is selected as a touch switch, detection is performed as to whether the power switch  11  is in a pressed state, and determination is performed as to whether duration of the pressed state reaches the preset value. When the duration reaches the preset value, the auxiliary display  40  is selectively switched on or off according to the detected communication state of the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the mobile terminal  10  is switched on, and then detects a communication state between the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 . When the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30  are in a communicationally connected state, a display mode of the mobile terminal is maintained. When the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30  are in a communicationally disconnected state, detection is performed as to whether duration for which the power switch  11  is in the triggered state reaches the preset value. When the preset value is not reached, a display mode of the mobile terminal is maintained. When the preset value is reached, the auxiliary display  40  on the surface of the first rear cover  22  is switched on, and a screen of the main display is transferred to the auxiliary display  40 . 
     The electronic device of the embodiment is suitable for a multi-user scenario. For example, when a user needs to share display with others, rather than having to separate the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 , the user triggers the power switch  11  for duration of the triggered state reaching the preset value, thus to transfer the screen of the main display to the auxiliary display  40  on the surface of the first rear cover. 
     Second Embodiment 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , what is different from the first embodiment is that the auxiliary display  40  is disposed on the back of the mobile terminal  10 , and the auxiliary display  40  is electrically connected to a circuit board in the mobile terminal  10 . The protective sleeve  20  comprises the front cover  21 , the first rear cover  22 , and the flexible part  23 , and the auxiliary display  40  is attached to an inner surface of the first rear cover  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a control method for the electronic device in the second embodiment includes the following: 
     The mobile terminal  10  is switched on, and detects the communication state between the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 . When the two are in a communicationally disconnected state, a display mode of the mobile terminal is maintained. When the two are in a communicationally connected state, detection is performed as to whether duration for which the power switch  11  is in the triggered state reaches the preset value. When the preset value is not reached, a display mode of the mobile terminal is maintained. When the preset value is reached, the auxiliary display  40  on the back of the terminal  10  is switched on, and a screen of the main display is transferred to the auxiliary display  40 . 
     A scenario of the communicationally disconnected state between the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30  is to separate the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30 , and detach mobile terminal  10  from the protective sleeve  20 . The auxiliary display  40  may be a display of electronic ink. An electronic ink display has real paper like display effect, which is more suitable for text reading. When reading text using the mobile terminal  10 , a user can take the mobile terminal  10  out of the protective sleeve  20 , then trigger the power switch  11  for duration of the triggered state reaching the preset value, thus to switch a screen of the main display to the auxiliary display  40 , and may enable the forward page turning function, the backward page turning function, and the return function using other function keys on the side of the terminal  10 . 
     Further, a window  22   a  is formed on the first rear cover  22  and arranged over the auxiliary display  40  to expose the entirety of the auxiliary display  40 , so that the terminal  10  needs not to be detached from the protective sleeve  20  when a screen of the main display is transferred to the auxiliary display  40 . Specifically, the protective sleeve  20  is closed, the communication port on the mobile terminal  10  is disconnected from the first thimble on the keyboard  30  while both of the mobile terminal  10  and the keyboard  30  are in the protective sleeve  20 . When the power switch  11  is triggered for duration of the triggered state reaching the preset value, a screen of the main display screen is transferred to the auxiliary display  40 . The mobile terminal  10  also has a sensor for detecting whether the mobile terminal  10  is closed in the protective sleeve  20 . When the mobile terminal  10  is detected as being closed in the protective sleeve  20 , the main display of the mobile terminal  10  is switched off. 
     The invention discloses an electronic device with an extensible display and a control method thereof, which may carry out synchronized display with the provision of an auxiliary display screen on the other side of the mobile terminal, and thus the electronic device is suitable for multi-user scenarios. Additionally, a specific display screen may be selected according to different display content of the mobile terminal so as to obtain a better display effect. 
     Even though the foregoing specific embodiments of the present disclosure are detailed in the above description, as is understood by persons skilled in the art, however, various modifications and improvements can be made unto the embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present disclosure, and should be protected in the scope of the claimed invention.