Patent Description:
A display device is a device having a function of receiving, processing, and displaying a video that a user may watch. For example, the display device receives a broadcast selected by the user from broadcast signals transmitted from a broadcasting station, separates a video signal from the received signals, and displays the separated video signal on a display.

In recent years, because of a development of a broadcasting technology and a network technology, functions of the display device have also been considerably diversified, and a performance of the device has been improved accordingly. That is, the display device has been developed to provide not only broadcast contents but also various other contents to the user. For example, the display device may provide game play, music listening, internet shopping, user customized information, and the like using various applications as well as programs received from the broadcasting station. In order to perform such extended functions, the display device may be basically connected to other devices or networks using various communication protocols, and may provide the user with a ubiquitous computing environment. In other words, the display device has evolved into a smart device that enables connectivity to a network and continuous computing.

Recently, a flexible display that can be greatly deformed with sufficient elasticity has been developed. The display of the mobile terminal can be changed in size due to the deformability of the flexible display.

On the other hand, recent mobile terminals can perform multitasking in which two or more applications can be simultaneously executed. As multitasking is executed, execution screens of two or more applications can be displayed together on the display of the mobile terminal.

<CIT> discloses electronic devices including a flexible display with a resizable display area. While the screen of the first application is displayed, an event related to a second application may occur in the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may overlay and display a notification message to indicate the occurrence of the second application-related event on at least a portion of the screen of the first application. The electronic device may identify whether the area of the flexible display expands within a designated time of the display of the notification message. For example, when the area of the flexible display expands within the designated time, the electronic device may display the execution screen of the second application on the expanded portion of the flexible display. When the area of the flexible display shrinks, the execution screen <NUM> of the second application may be undisplayed, an image (e.g., an icon) related with the second application may be displayed.

<CIT> discloses a method of operating a flexible device capable of providing a user with various graphic user interfaces and various control methods for controlling the flexible device based on a bending characteristic of the flexible device. The execution screens of the plurality of applications may be displayed on the first window, the second window, the third window, and the fourth window, respectively. When generation of an event for bending of the flexible device is detected, the processor of the flexible device may perform control to display a currently activated application in a main area and other applications in a sub area.

<CIT> discloses a flexible display device capable of being extended or reduced by a simple operation according to a request of a user. When the screen of the display unit is in a state of being extended by as much as the areas, if it is detected that one side of the display unit is reduced in a first axis direction and another side of the display unit is reduced in a second axis direction opposite to the first direction, the control unit may display only the window in the size of the display unit is reduced.

<CIT> discloses a display device, wherein the size of the display device is adjusted according to the size of the information.

<CIT> discloses a mobile terminal capable of reducing or extending a display screen.

Conventional display devices with a changeable display area are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminal in which a layout of execution screens of two or more applications displayed together can be automatically changed to be suitable for the user's viewing as the display size of the mobile terminal is changed.

A mobile terminal according to the present invention is set forth in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile terminal includes a body, a display coupled to the body such that a display region visible on a front surface of the body is changeable as a display mode is switched between the extended display mode and the contracted display mode, and a controller configured to control a layout for two or more application execution screens simultaneously displayed on the display to be changed in response to switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode.

The body may include a first frame, and a second frame extending from the first frame and coupled to the first frame so as to be contractible to the first frame. The display may include a flexible display capable of surrounding a front surface, a side surface, and a back surface of the body. The controller may operate in the extended display mode as the second frame is extended, and may operate in the contracted display mode as the second frame is contracted.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, which does not form part of the present invention but includes information useful for understanding the present invention, a mobile terminal may include a display, and a controller. The controller may control two or more application execution screens to be displayed together according to a first layout. In response to a first user command, the controller may control at least one execution screen from among the two or more application execution screens not to be displayed. In response to a second user command, the controller may control the two or more application execution screens to be re-displayed according to a first layout.

The effects of the mobile terminal according to the present disclosure will now be described.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as the mobile terminal switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, the layout of two or more application execution screens displayed together on the display of the mobile terminal can be automatically changed to be suitable for the user's viewing.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the contracted display mode of the mobile terminal, the user who uses the mobile terminal can quickly and conveniently select a desired application execution screen from among the two or more application execution screens.

In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the extended display mode of the mobile terminal, the layout of the two or more application execution screens can be changed to be suitable for the user's viewing.

However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same components may be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. In general, a suffix such as "module" and "unit" may be used to refer to elements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. In the present disclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected with" another element, the element can be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected with" another element, there are no intervening elements present.

The terminology used in the present disclosure is used only to describe specific embodiments, not intended to limit the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal <NUM> is shown having components such as a wireless communication unit <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, a sensing unit <NUM>, an output unit <NUM>, an interface unit <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a power supply unit <NUM>. Referring now to <FIG>, the mobile terminal <NUM> is shown having wireless communication unit <NUM> configured with several commonly implemented components. It is understood that implementing all of the illustrated components is not a requirement, and that greater or fewer components may alternatively be implemented.

The mobile communication module <NUM> can transmit and/or receive wireless signals to and from one or more network entities. Typical examples of a network entity include a base station, an external mobile terminal, a server, and the like. Such network entities form part of a mobile communication network, which is constructed according to technical standards or communication methods for mobile communications (for example, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multi Access (CDMA), CDMA2000(Code Division Multi Access <NUM>), EV-DO(Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized or Enhanced Voice-Data Only), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet access (HSDPA), HSUPA(High Speed Uplink Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE) , LTE-A(Long Term Evolution-Advanced), and the like).

Such cameras <NUM> may process image frames of still pictures or video obtained by image sensors in a video or image capture mode. The processed image frames can be displayed on the display unit <NUM> or stored in memory <NUM>. In some cases, the cameras <NUM> may be arranged in a matrix configuration to permit a plurality of images having various angles or focal points to be input to the mobile terminal <NUM>. As another example, the cameras <NUM> may be located in a stereoscopic arrangement to acquire left and right images for implementing a stereoscopic image.

The sensing unit <NUM> is typically implemented using one or more sensors configured to sense internal information of the mobile terminal, the surrounding environment of the mobile terminal, user information, and the like. For example,, the sensing unit <NUM> may alternatively or additionally include other types of sensors or devices, such as a proximity sensor <NUM> and an illumination sensor <NUM>, a touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scan sensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (for example, camera <NUM>), a microphone <NUM>, a battery gauge, an environment sensor (for example, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detection sensor, a thermal sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), and a chemical sensor (for example, an electronic nose, a health care sensor, a biometric sensor, and the like), to name a few. The mobile terminal <NUM> may be configured to utilize information obtained from sensing unit <NUM>, and in particular, information obtained from one or more sensors of the sensing unit <NUM>, and combinations thereof.

The controller <NUM> typically functions to control overall operation of the mobile terminal <NUM>, in addition to the operations associated with the application programs. The controller <NUM> may provide or process information or functions appropriate for a user by processing signals, data, information and the like, which are input or output, or activating application programs stored in the memory <NUM>.

To drive the application programs stored in the memory <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may be implemented to control a predetermined number of the components mentioned above in reference with FIG. Moreover, the controller <NUM> may be implemented to combinedly operate two or more of the components provided in the mobile terminal <NUM> to drive the application programs.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment. Further, <FIG> shows perspective views respectively illustrating a first state and a second state viewed from one side of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment. Further, <FIG> shows rear face views respectively illustrating a first state and a second state of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment. Further, <FIG> shows cross-sectional views respectively taken along a line A-A and a line B-B of <FIG>. In these drawings, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show a first state of the mobile terminal, and <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show a second state of the mobile terminal.

As shown, a mobile terminal <NUM> in a first state is contracted, and has a smaller size than the mobile terminal <NUM> in a second state. In addition, a size of a display unit <NUM> located disposed on a front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> also becomes smaller than that of the display unit <NUM> in the second state. The mobile terminal <NUM> of the first state is expanded in a first direction D1 to be in the second state. In the second state, the size of the mobile terminal <NUM> and a size of a front face of the display unit <NUM> are larger than those in the first state. In a following description, a direction in which the mobile terminal <NUM> and the display <NUM> thereof are extended or enlarged is referred to as a first direction D1, a direction in which the mobile terminal <NUM> and the display <NUM> thereof are contracted or retracted, or reduce to be converted into the first state from the second state is referred to as a second direction D2, and a direction perpendicular to the first and second directions D1 and D2 is referred to as a third direction.

The mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure may be converted from the first state in which the display unit <NUM> is positioned on the front face of a bar-shaped mobile terminal as shown in <FIG> into the second state as shown in <FIG> by enlarging a screen thereof. In the second state, an area of the front face of the display unit <NUM> is enlarged, and an area of a rear face of the display unit <NUM> is reduced as shown in <FIG>. That is, the display unit <NUM> positioned on a rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the first state moves to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the second state.

As such, the display unit may use a flexible display unit <NUM> that may be bent such that the position of the display unit may be varied. The flexible display is a lightweight, unbreakable, and durable display that is built on a thin and flexible substrate that may be bent, crooked, folded, twisted, or rolled while retaining properties of a conventional flat panel display.

In addition, an electronic paper is a display technology to which properties of general ink are applied. The electronic paper may be different from the conventional flat panel display in using reflected light. The electronic paper may change information using a twisted ball or electrophoresis using a capsule.

In a state in which the flexible display unit <NUM> is not deformed (e.g., a state of having an infinite curvature radius, hereinafter referred to as a basic state), a display region of the flexible display unit <NUM> becomes flat. In a state in which the flexible display unit <NUM> is deformed by an external force from the basic state (e.g., a state of having a finite radius of curvature, hereinafter referred to as a deformed state), the display region may become a curved face. As shown, information displayed in the deformation state may be visual information output on the curved face. Such visual information is implemented by independently controlling light emission of sub-pixels arranged in a matrix. The sub-pixel refers to a minimum unit for implementing one color.

The flexible display unit <NUM> may be in a curved state (e.g., a vertically or horizontally curved state) rather than a flat state in the basic state. In this case, when the external force is applied to the flexible display unit <NUM>, the flexible display unit <NUM> may be deformed into the flat state (or a less curved state) or more curved state.

The flexible display unit <NUM> may be combined with a touch sensor to implement a flexible touch screen. When a touch is made on the flexible touch screen, the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) may perform control corresponding to such touch input. The flexible touch screen may be configured to detect the touch input in the deformed state as well as in the basic state.

The touch sensor detects the touch (or touch input) applied on the touch screen using at least one of various touch schemes such as a resistive film scheme, a capacitance scheme, an infrared scheme, an ultrasonic wave scheme, a magnetic field scheme, and the like.

As an example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied on a specific portion of the touch screen, capacitance generated at the specific portion, or the like into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured such that a touch object applying a touch on the touch screen may detect touched position and area on the touch sensor, a pressure during the touch, a capacitance during the touch, and the like.

Further, the mobile terminal <NUM> may have a deformation detection means for detecting the deformation of the flexible display unit <NUM>. Such deformation detection means may be included in the sensing unit <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The deformation detection means may be disposed in the flexible display unit <NUM> or a case (first to third frames <NUM> to <NUM> to be described later) to detect information related to the deformation of the flexible display unit <NUM>. In this connection, the information related to the deformation may include a direction in which the flexible display unit <NUM> is deformed, a degree of the deformation, a deformed position, a deformed time, an acceleration at which the deformed flexible display unit <NUM> is restored, and the like. In addition, the information related to the deformation may be various information that may be detected due to the bending of the flexible display unit <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may change information displayed on the flexible display unit <NUM> or generate a control signal for controlling a function of the mobile terminal <NUM> based on the information related to the deformation of the flexible display unit <NUM> detected by the deformation detection means.

The state conversion (first or second state) of the flexible display unit <NUM>, e.g., the size change at the front and rear faces of the mobile terminal <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> based on the size change of the mobile terminal <NUM> may be performed manually by a force applied by the user, but may be not limited to such manual scheme. For example, when the mobile terminal <NUM> or the flexible display unit <NUM> is in the first state, the mobile terminal <NUM> or the flexible display unit <NUM> may be converted into the second state by the user or an application command without the external force applied by the user. As such, in order for the flexible display unit <NUM> to be automatically deformed without the external force, the mobile terminal <NUM> may include a driving unit <NUM> to be described later.

The flexible display unit <NUM> of the present disclosure is bent <NUM> degrees while being rolled on one of both sides of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Thus, a portion of the display unit <NUM> is disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> based on such side, and the other portion thereof is disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>. A portion of the display unit <NUM> located on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> may be fixed to the front face so as not to move. Further, the other portion thereof located on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> may be movable to the rear face.

In addition, the display unit <NUM> may be rolled on or released from the side. Accordingly, the portion disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> moves, so that the size of the portion disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> may be adjusted. Since the area of the flexible display unit <NUM> is determined and the flexible display unit <NUM> is formed of one continuous body, an area of the portion on the rear face decreases as an area of the portion on the front face increases. Such a display unit <NUM> may be rolled in a second frame <NUM>, which is movable relative to a first frame <NUM> to be described later, more correctly, on one of sides of the second frame <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> may be withdrawn or pulled out from or inserted or pushed into the second frame <NUM> while being rolled in the second frame <NUM> along a moving direction of the second frame <NUM> to adjust the area of the display unit <NUM> on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Such operation will be described in more detail below along with other relevant components of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

Typically, an antenna is disposed in the case or the housing of the mobile terminal <NUM>, but a portion where the antenna is installed in the case or the housing may be limited because of the flexible display unit <NUM> that covers not only the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> but also the rear face thereof. For this reason, the antenna may be implemented on the flexible display unit <NUM>. An antenna on display (AOD) is an antenna in which a transparent film is formed by stacking an electrode layer and a dielectric layer that have patterns engraved thereon, respectively. The antenna on display may be implemented thinner than an antenna implemented using a laser direct structuring (LDS) technology using a conventional copper nickel plating scheme, so that the antenna on display may not be exposed to the outside without affecting a thickness. In addition, the antenna on display may transmit and receive a signal directly to or from the display unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the antenna on display may be used in the mobile terminal <NUM> in which the display unit <NUM> is located on the both faces of the mobile terminal <NUM> as in the present disclosure.

With reference to <FIG>, a detailed configuration of the mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure will be described in detail below. A following description will be achieved basically with reference to <FIG> illustrating an overall configuration. <FIG> are referred to to explain detailed features of corresponding components in the first and second states of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

The mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure includes a main frame in which components are mounted, and the main frame of the present disclosure may vary in size in the first direction as shown in <FIG>. One or more frames move relative to each other, and sizes thereof may vary in the first direction. Electronic components are mounted in the main frame, and the flexible display unit <NUM> is located out of the main frame.

Since the mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure includes the flexible display unit, the flexible display unit <NUM> may be combined in a form surrounding a front face and a rear face of the main frame. The main frame may include first to third frames <NUM> to <NUM>. The main frame may include the first frame <NUM>, the second frame <NUM> moving in the first direction with respect to the first frame <NUM>, and the third frame <NUM> moving in the first direction with respect to the second frame <NUM>. The first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> include front portions, a rear portions, and side portions, respectively, and are coupled to each other. Thus, the mobile terminal <NUM> may have a hexahedral outer shape by such coupled first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM>. In consideration of an illustrated configuration of the first to third frames <NUM> to <NUM>, movements of the second and third frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be a slide movement.

First, the first frame <NUM> corresponds to a main body of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and may have a space therein for accommodating various components. In addition, the first frame <NUM> may accommodate the second frame <NUM> movably coupled to the first frame <NUM> in such a space. More specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first frame <NUM> may include a first front portion <NUM> disposed at a front portion of the mobile terminal <NUM> and a first rear portion <NUM> and a second rear portion <NUM> disposed at a rear portion of the mobile terminal.

Such first front portion <NUM>, first rear portion <NUM>, and second rear portion <NUM> may be respectively formed of plate-shaped members that are generally flat. The first rear portion <NUM> and the second rear portion <NUM> may be respectively formed of separate members coupled to each other or may be formed of one member as shown. The first front portion <NUM> and the first rear portion/second rear portion <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined spacing to define a predetermined space therebetween, and may be connected to each other by a side portion <NUM>. The controller <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> may be accommodated as components of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the space in the first frame <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may be a circuit board including a processor and an electronic circuit for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal, and the power supply unit <NUM> may be a battery and related components. In addition, the second frame <NUM> and the driving unit <NUM> to described later may also be accommodated in the first frame <NUM>.

As described above, the display unit <NUM> has the continuous body, and thus, may be disposed on both the front face and the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> while being rolled in the mobile terminal <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> may include the front face positioned at the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, the rear face positioned at the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the side face positioned between the front face and the rear face thereof and surrounding the side face of the mobile terminal. The front face and the rear face of the display unit <NUM> are flat, and the side face of the display unit <NUM> may form a curved face. When the flexible display unit <NUM> may be damaged when being bent. Thus, the flexible display unit <NUM> may be formed to be bent with a predetermined curvature.

The display unit <NUM> may be divided into a fixed portion and a variable portion. The fixed portion means a portion fixed to the frame. Because of being fixed to the frame, the fixed portion maintains a constant shape without changing a bending degree. On the other hand, the variable portion means a portion in which a bending angle or a position of the bent portion changes. The variable portion in which the position or bending angle of the bent portion changes requires a structure for supporting a rear face of the variable portion in response to the change.

In one example, as shown in <FIG>, various physical input units <NUM> for manipulation of the mobile terminal <NUM> and sensing units <NUM> may be located on the first rear portion <NUM>, and the display unit <NUM> may be disposed only on the second rear portion <NUM>. Since the first rear portion <NUM> does not overlap the flexible display unit <NUM> regardless of the state of the mobile terminal, and is always exposed to the outside, the input unit <NUM> such as various buttons, switches, the camera <NUM>, and a flash, and the sensing unit <NUM> such as a proximity sensor <NUM> may be arranged on the first rear portion <NUM>. In a conventional bar-shaped terminal, a display unit is provided only on a front face of the terminal. Therefore, a main camera is placed on a rear face of the terminal in order for the user to capture an object at an opposite side while looking through the display unit <NUM>. On the other hand, an additional auxiliary camera is required to be disposed on the front face of the terminal in order for the user to capture himself or herself while viewing himself or herself through the display unit <NUM>.

However, the display unit <NUM> is positioned both the front face and the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure. Therefore, when the user captures himself or herself, a display unit on the same face as the camera <NUM>, that is, the portion of the display <NUM> on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the drawing may be used. Further, when the user captures the object on the opposite side of the user, a display unit on the opposite face of the camera <NUM>, that is, the portion of the display unit <NUM> on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the drawing may be used. For this reason, the mobile terminal <NUM> may capture the object on the opposite side of the user and capture the user using the single camera <NUM>. The camera may include a plurality of cameras having different angles of view, such as wide angle, super wide angle, and telephotographic cameras. In addition to the camera, a proximity sensor sound output unit may be positioned on the first rear portion <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM> may be installed on the first rear portion <NUM>.

The side portion <NUM> may extend along edges of the first front portion <NUM> and the first rear portion/second rear portion <NUM> and <NUM> to surround the first frame <NUM>, and may form the outer shape of the mobile terminal <NUM>. However, as mentioned above, since the second frame <NUM> is accommodated in the first frame <NUM> and is movably coupled thereto, in order to allow the movement of the second frame <NUM> relative to the first frame <NUM>, a portion of the first frame <NUM> needs to be opened. As shown in <FIG>, as an example, the second frame <NUM> is movably coupled to one of both side portions of the first frame <NUM>, so that the side portion <NUM> may not be formed on the same side portion, and thus, the portion of the first frame <NUM> may be opened. Accordingly, the first frame <NUM> may include a substantially closed first side portion 101a and a second side portion 101b, which is disposed to be opposite to the first side portion 101a and is opened. The side portion <NUM> is exposed to the outside of the mobile terminal <NUM>, so that an interface unit <NUM> for connecting a supply port or an ear jack, the user input unit <NUM> such as a volume button, or the like may be disposed on the side portion <NUM>. When containing a metal material, the side portion <NUM> may serve as an antenna.

The second rear portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM> may be covered by the display unit <NUM>, but may be disposed on the front face of the display unit <NUM> using a transparent material.

The second frame <NUM> may include a second front portion <NUM> disposed at the front portion of the mobile terminal <NUM> and a third rear portion <NUM> disposed at the rear portion of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Like the first front portion <NUM> and the first rear portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, the second front portion <NUM> and the third rear portion <NUM> may be formed of plate-shaped members that are generally flat. In addition, the second frame <NUM> also accommodates various components, and should not interfere with the components accommodated in the first frame <NUM> during the movement. Accordingly, the second front portion <NUM> and the third rear portion <NUM> may be coupled to each other in a state of being spaced apart from each other to define a predetermined space therebetween, and may have shapes that do not interfere with the components in the first frame <NUM>.

In addition, the display unit <NUM> may be bent <NUM> degrees while being rolled in the second frame <NUM> to be disposed on both the front face and the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>. For such an arrangement of the display unit <NUM>, the second frame <NUM> may include a roller <NUM> rotatably disposed therein. The roller <NUM> may be disposed at any position inside the second frame <NUM>. However, the display unit <NUM> should be spread flat on the front face and the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> to provide a good quality screen to the user. Further, for such spread, a proper tension should be provided on the display unit <NUM>. In order to provide the proper tension, the roller <NUM> may be disposed at a first directional end of the second frame <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may extend in the third direction, and may be rotatably coupled to the second frame <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> may be rolled around the roller <NUM> while being gently bent with a predetermined curvature. The flexible display unit <NUM> may include a first face on which a video is output and exposed to the outside and an inner face facing the frame at the opposite side. The roller <NUM> may be installed to rotate freely in the second frame <NUM> while being in contact with the inner face of the display unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the roller <NUM> may actually move the display unit <NUM> in a lateral direction of the mobile terminal <NUM>, that is, in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. As will be described later, when the second frame <NUM> slides, because of the tension applied by the second frame <NUM>, the display unit <NUM> moves to the front face or the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in different directions (e.g., the first direction D1 or the second direction D2) relative to the second frame <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may guide such movement while rotating.

In addition, the roller <NUM> is disposed on a first side portion 102a of the second frame <NUM>, and the first side portion 102a actually corresponds to an outermost side portion of the mobile terminal <NUM>. When the first side portion 102a of the second frame <NUM> is exposed, the display unit <NUM> rolled on the roller <NUM> may be damaged. Accordingly, the second frame <NUM> may include a side frame <NUM> disposed on the first side portion 102a.

The side frame <NUM> extends in the longitudinal direction of the second frame <NUM> to cover the first side portion 102a, thereby protecting the roller <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> rolled thereon. That is, the side frame <NUM> covers the side face of the display unit <NUM>, and the side face thereof is located in the third region. The first to third regions are at specified positions on the flexible display unit and do not change in size or position, but the sizes of the front face and the rear face, and the position of the side face are determined based on the state of the main frame.

Because the side face is rolled by the roller, the side face is bent with the predetermined curvature, and an inner face of the side frame may include a curved face corresponding to the curvature of the side face.

The first region and the second region correspond to the fixed portion described above. The third region corresponds to the variable portion described above, and may vary in position depending on the state of the mobile terminal. Because of the side frame <NUM>, the second frame <NUM> may have the substantially closed first side portion 102a, and the side frame <NUM> may substantially form the outer shape of the mobile terminal <NUM> together with the side face <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>. In addition, the second frame <NUM> may include a second side portion 102b that is disposed opposite the first side portion 102a to minimize interference with the components within the first frame <NUM> during the movement, and is opened.

Such a second frame <NUM> is movably coupled to the first frame <NUM>, and thus may slide in the predetermined first or second direction D1 or D2 relative to the first frame <NUM>. More specifically, the second frame <NUM> may be movably coupled to the first frame <NUM> through the side portion of the first frame <NUM>, more precisely, through the opened second side portion 101b, as shown. More specifically, the second side portion 102b of the second frame is disposed relatively adjacent to the first side portion 101a of the first frame <NUM> which is closed. Accordingly, the first side portion 102a of the second frame may be disposed to be opposite to the first side portion 101a. Accordingly, the second side portion 102b is inserted into the first frame <NUM> through the side portion of the first frame, that is, the second side portion 101b thereof. The first side portion 102a is not inserted into the first frame <NUM> but is always located outside the first frame <NUM>, thereby forming the outer shape of the mobile terminal <NUM> as described above. However, when necessary, such first side portion 102b of the second frame <NUM> may also be inserted into the first frame <NUM>.

Because of such positional relationship, the second frame <NUM> may extend from or contract to the first frame <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. That is, the first and second directions D1 and D2 may basically be directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. Further, the first and second directions D1 and D2 may also be described as the lateral direction or the horizontal direction of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. In addition, during the movement in the first direction D1, the second frame <NUM> extends from the first frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the first direction D1 may be a direction in which the second frame <NUM> moves away from the first frame <NUM>, that is, moves outwardly of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. On the other hand, during the movement in the second direction D2, the second frame <NUM> contracts to the first frame <NUM>. Thus, the second direction D2 is a direction opposite to the first direction D1, so that the second direction D2 may be a direction in which the second frame <NUM> moves to become closer to the first frame <NUM>, that is, moves inwardly of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. When being moved in the first direction D1, such second frame <NUM> extends and applies a force to the portion of the display unit <NUM> disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, so that the portion of the display unit <NUM> may be disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and a region for such additional arrangement may be defined. Thus, the second frame <NUM> may convert the mobile terminal <NUM> into the second state with the display unit <NUM> with the relatively extended front face by moving in the first direction D1. On the other hand, when being moved in the second direction D2, the second frame <NUM> contracts into an original state thereof, and applies a force to the portion of the display unit <NUM> disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> to return to the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> again. Thus, the second frame <NUM> may convert the mobile terminal <NUM> into the first state with the display unit <NUM> with the relatively contracted front face by moving in the second direction D2. Accordingly, the second frame <NUM> selectively exposes the display unit <NUM> to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> depending on the moving direction (e.g., the first or second direction D1 and D2). Accordingly, the mobile terminal <NUM> may be converted into the first or second state defined above.

During the expansion and the contraction in such first and second directions D1 and D2, the second frame <NUM> may overlap the first frame <NUM>, more precisely, the first front portion <NUM> and the first rear portion <NUM> thereof so as not to interfere with the first frame <NUM>. More specifically, the display unit <NUM> may be coupled to and supported by the first front portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, as described above. Accordingly, the display unit <NUM> does not need to be additionally supported by the second front portion <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>. Rather, when the second front portion <NUM> is interposed between the first front portion <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>, the display unit <NUM> may be deformed or damaged because of friction with the second front portion <NUM>, which is repeatedly moved. Thus, the second front portion <NUM> may be disposed below the first front portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. That is, a front face of the second front portion <NUM> may face the rear face of the first front portion <NUM>. In addition, the rear face of the first front portion <NUM> may be in contact with the front face of the second front portion <NUM> to stably support the movement of the second frame <NUM>.

The third rear portion <NUM> of the second frame <NUM> may be disposed below the second rear portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>. That is, the front face of the third rear portion <NUM> may face the rear face of the second rear portion <NUM>. In addition, the rear face of the second rear portion <NUM> may be in contact with the front face of the third rear portion <NUM> to stably support the movement of the second frame <NUM>. Because of such arrangement, the third rear portion <NUM> may be exposed to the outside of the first frame, more precisely, of the second rear portion <NUM>, and may be coupled to the display unit <NUM>.

Alternatively, when the second rear portion <NUM> is made of a transparent material, the second rear portion <NUM> may form an outer shape of the rear face of the mobile terminal. The second rear portion <NUM> may be positioned rearward of the third rear portion <NUM> of the second frame, and the flexible display unit may be disposed between the second rear portion <NUM> and the third rear portion <NUM> in the first state.

When the second rear portion <NUM> is made of a material such as a transparent glass to form the outer shape of the rear face of the mobile terminal, the first rear portion <NUM> may be implemented using the same member as the second rear portion <NUM>. That is, the camera <NUM>, the flash or the sensing unit <NUM>, and the like may be arranged by partially coating the plate-shaped member of the transparent glass material to not allow the internal components to be visible and by not coating only a required portion.

In addition, the second frame <NUM> may expand and contract the size of the mobile terminal <NUM> itself, particularly the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> by the expansion and the contraction in the first and second directions D1 and D2. Thus, the display unit <NUM> should move by such extended or reduced front face size to obtain the intended first and second states. However, when being fixed to the second frame <NUM>, the display unit <NUM> may not be moved smoothly to be adapted for the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> that is expanded or contracted. For this reason, the display unit <NUM> may be movably coupled to the second frame <NUM>. More specifically, the display unit <NUM> may include a first side edge (or side end) 151d disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> and a second side edge 151e opposite to the first side edge 151d and disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>. The first side edge <NUM> may be disposed on the front face of the first frame <NUM>, that is, the front face of the first front portion <NUM> thereof, and may be disposed adjacent to the side portion of the mobile terminal <NUM>, that is, the first side portion 101a of the first frame. On the other hand, since the second side edge 151e is adjacent to the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> and the third rear portion <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, the second side edge 151e may is be coupled the third rear portion <NUM> of the second frame <NUM> to be movable in the first and second directions D1 and D2. In addition, since the display unit <NUM> is not structurally strong, a third frame <NUM> may be coupled to the second side edge 151e. The third frame <NUM> may be formed of a plate-shaped member extending in the longitudinal direction of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Accordingly, the third frame <NUM> may be coupled to the second frame, that is, the third rear portion <NUM> thereof to be movable in the first and second directions D1 and D2 instead of the second side edge 151e. In addition, the second frame <NUM> may include a slot <NUM> extending in the lateral direction of the mobile terminal <NUM> or the second frame <NUM>, that is, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, the third frame <NUM> may be stably moved while being guided by the slot <NUM>. The third frame <NUM> may include, for example, a projection inserted into the slot <NUM> for the movement along the slot <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in connection with such configuration of the first to third frames <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the display unit <NUM> may include a first region <NUM> extending from one side thereof, that is, the first side edge 151d toward the second side edge 151e by a predetermined length, and a second region <NUM> disposed opposite the first region <NUM>, and extending from the second side edge 151e toward the first side edge 151d by a predetermined length. In addition, the display unit <NUM> may include a third region <NUM> disposed between the first and second regions <NUM> and <NUM>. Such first to third regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be connected to each other, and may form a continuous body of the display unit <NUM>. In addition, as described above, for the movement of the third region <NUM> toward the front face or the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> depending on the moving direction of the second frame <NUM>, the first region <NUM> may be fixed so as not to move to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the second region <NUM> may be provided to be movable on the rear face of the mobile terminal. The first region and the second region corresponds to the fixed portion described above, and the third region corresponds to the variable portion described above.

Such configuration of the display unit <NUM> will be described in more detail below. The first region <NUM> may be disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, more specifically, the first frame <NUM>, that is, on the front face of the first front portion <NUM>. The first region <NUM> is fixed to the first frame <NUM>, that is, the front face of the first front portion <NUM> so as not to be moved during the movement of the second frame <NUM>, and thus, the first region <NUM> may always be exposed to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM>. The third region <NUM> may be adjacent to the first region <NUM>, and may extend into the second frame <NUM> and rolled on the roller <NUM>. The third region <NUM> may consecutively extend out of the second frame <NUM> again and partially cover the second frame <NUM>, that is, the rear face of the third rear portion <NUM>. Further, the second frame <NUM>, that is, the third rear portion <NUM>, is adjacent to the first frame <NUM>, that is, the second rear portion <NUM> and together forms the rear case of the mobile terminal <NUM>, so that it may be described that the third region <NUM> is also disposed on the rear face of the first frame <NUM>.

The second region <NUM> may be adjacent to the third region <NUM> and may be disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, more specifically, on the second frame, that is, the rear face of the third rear portion <NUM> thereof. The second region <NUM> may be coupled to the third frame <NUM> without being directly coupled to the second frame <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the slot <NUM> extending in the lateral direction (e. g, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mobile terminal <NUM>) to the second frame <NUM>, that is, to the third rear portion <NUM> is defined. Further, the third frame <NUM> may move along the slot <NUM>. In <FIG>, it is shown that the slot <NUM> is defined in the rear face of the second frame <NUM>, but may be defined in the side face of the second frame <NUM>. Although the second region <NUM> may move in the first or second direction D1 or D2 with respect to the second frame <NUM> together with the third frame <NUM>, the movement of the second region <NUM> may be restricted within the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> by the slot <NUM>. That is, the second region <NUM> does not move out of the second frame <NUM> even when the second frame <NUM> is extended or contracted, and may move along the slot <NUM> within the second frame <NUM> by the extended or contracted distance of the second frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the second region <NUM> may always be exposed to the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

As a result, the first region <NUM> may be disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> and may be always exposed to the front face regardless of the movement of the second frame <NUM>, and the second region <NUM> may be disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> and may be always exposed to the rear face regardless of the movement of the second frame <NUM>. In addition, the third region <NUM> may be disposed between the first and second regions <NUM> and <NUM>, and may be selectively placed on the front face or the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> depending on the moving directions D1 and D2 of the second frame <NUM>.

Because of such selective placement of the third region <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the second rear portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM> is covered by the second and third regions <NUM> and <NUM> and the third rear portion <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> in the first state, but the third region <NUM> moves to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the second state, and the third rear portion <NUM> also moves in the first direction D1, so that the mobile terminal <NUM> may be exposed to the outside. In addition, the second front portion <NUM> of the second frame <NUM> is disposed below the first front portion <NUM> of the first frame <NUM> in the first state, but is moved out of the first frame <NUM> and supports the third region <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> disposed on the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the second state.

Since the first and second regions <NUM> and <NUM> are always respectively arranged on the front face and the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM>, curvatures of the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> do not change, and the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> may be maintained in a flat basic state. However, the third region <NUM> may be rolled on the roller <NUM> and bent in the second frame <NUM>. When converting from the first state to the second state, the third region <NUM> may extend from the second frame <NUM> to the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> while being rolled on the roller <NUM> in one direction. On the other hand, when converting from the second state to the first state, the third region <NUM> may be retracted from the front face of the mobile terminal <NUM> to the second frame <NUM> while being rolled on the roller <NUM> in the opposite direction, and at the same time, may return to the rear face of the mobile terminal <NUM> from the second frame <NUM>. A specific location of the foldable mobile terminal in a form of being spread like a book is easily damaged because only the specific location is folded repeatedly. On the other hand, the deformed portion of the flexible display unit <NUM>, that is, a portion rolled on the roller <NUM>, may vary based on the first and second states of the mobile terminal <NUM>, that is, the movement of the second frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the mobile terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure may significantly reduce deformation and fatigue repeatedly applied to a specific portion of the display unit <NUM>, thereby preventing damage to the display unit <NUM>.

Based on the above-described configuration, overall operations of the mobile terminal <NUM> will be described as follows. As an example, the state conversion may be performed manually by the user, and an operation of the mobile terminal <NUM> during such manual state conversion will be described. However, operations of the first to third frames <NUM> to <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>, which will be described below, may be performed in the same manner when a power source other than a user's force is used, for example, when the driving unit <NUM> to be described below is applied.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which two or more application execution screens are displayed together on the display of the mobile terminal as described above will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Hereinafter, the term "extended (or enlarged) display mode" may refer to a mode in which the mobile terminal displays a lock screen, a home screen, or content (e.g., an application execution screen) while a second frame is extended from the first frame.

Hereinafter, the term "contracted (or retracted) display mode" may refer to a mode in which the mobile terminal displays a lock screen, a home screen, or content (e.g., an application execution screen) while the second frame is contracted toward the first frame.

Hereinafter, the term "front display region" for use in the extended display mode may refer to a region composed of a first region <NUM> and a third region <NUM> when the mobile terminal is in the extended display mode.

Hereinafter, the term "front display region" for use in the contracted display mode may refer to a region composed of the first region <NUM> when the mobile terminal is in the contracted display mode.

That is, the front display region for use in the extended display mode may be larger in width than the front display region in the contracted display mode.

Hereinafter, the term "rear display region" for use in the extended display mode may refer to a region composed of the second region <NUM> when the mobile terminal is in the extended display mode.

Hereinafter, the term "rear display region" for use in the contracted display mode may refer to a region composed of a second region <NUM> and a third region <NUM> when the mobile terminal is in the contracted display mode.

That is, the rear display region for use in the extended display mode may be smaller in width than the rear display region for use in the contracted display mode.

The embodiment in which two or more application execution screens are displayed together according to the extended display mode and the contracted display mode described below does not have to be applied only to the mobile terminal in which the first frame and the second frame are combined as described above with reference to <FIG>. For example, if the display region is changeable in size, such as a foldable form factor, a sliding form factor, a rollable form factor, etc., the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to any type of mobile terminal.

Hereinafter, a layout change of two or more application execution screens displayed on the display of the mobile terminal according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method for changing the layout of two or more application execution screens displayed on the display of the mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal <NUM> can simultaneously execute two or more applications (S2410). That is, the mobile terminal <NUM> may execute the two or more applications through multitasking. Here, the term "simultaneous" in step S2410 indicates that the two or more applications of the mobile terminal need not always be started at the same time, and indicates that there is a need for the two or more applications to be executed together in the mobile terminal at any arbitrary time point.

When the mobile terminal <NUM> is in the extended display mode, the controller <NUM> may simultaneously display the execution screens of the two or more applications on the front display region (S2420). Here, the term "simultaneous" in step S2420 is the same meaning as described above, and indicates that the two or more application execution screens are displayed together at any arbitrary time point.

While the execution screens of the two or more applications are displayed on the front display region at the same time, the mobile terminal <NUM> can switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode (S2430). Switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode may be performed according to a user's manual operation (e.g., a touch input) of the mobile terminal. Alternatively, when a preset event (e.g., call reception, message reception, etc.) irrelevant to the above manual operation occurs in the mobile terminal, such switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode may also be performed.

As a result, the controller <NUM> may change the layout of the two or more application execution screens. , even if the user does not input a separate user command for changing the layout, the layout can be changed when the extended display mode is switched to the contracted display mode.

Here, the layout change may include changing at least one of a mutual location and an individual size of the two or more application execution screens, and preventing at least one of the two or more application execution screens from being displayed.

Hereinafter, the layout change of the two or more application execution screens will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating examples of a front display area for use in the extended display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating examples of a rear display area for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating examples of a front display area for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a front display region for use in the contracted display mode and a front display region for use in the extended display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As described above, the mobile terminal <NUM> is configured to execute two or more applications through multitasking. The two or more applications may be multitasked in the extended display mode, or may be multitasked in the contracted display mode.

For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a camera application and a gallery application are being executed in multitasking in the mobile terminal <NUM>. Instead of at least one of the camera application and the gallery application, another application may be executed through multitasking, or any other applications other than the above applications can also be executed as needed.

The two or more applications may be multitasked in the extended display mode. This means that multitasking of the two or more applications is started in the extended display mode, or means that, after the two or more applications are started in the contracted display mode, the contracted display mode is switched to the extended display mode.

In this case, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> divides the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode into two display regions, that is, a first display region 2000A and a second display region 2000B, and controls the execution screen of the first application and the execution screen of the second application to be displayed on the first display region 2000A and the second display region 2000B, respectively. That is, the execution screen of the camera application is displayed in the first display region 2000A, and the execution screen of the gallery application is displayed in the second display region 2000B, so that the two execution screens are simultaneously displayed as a horizontal layout on the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode. However, the camera application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen may be simultaneously displayed on the front display region <NUM> in different layouts. Image signals received by the camera <NUM> in real time may be displayed as a real-time preview image for photographing a picture or moving pictures on the camera application execution screen. In addition, various menus and shutter icons for photographing a picture may be displayed on a lower region of the camera application execution screen. A thumbnail list of pictures and/or images stored in the mobile terminal may be displayed on the gallery application execution screen.

The first display region 2000A may correspond to the first region <NUM> described above, and the second display region 2000B may correspond to the third region <NUM> described above. However, in the present disclosure, the first display region 2000A need not always be matched to the first region <NUM>, and the second display region 2000B need not always be matched to the third region <NUM>. The first display region 2000A and the second display region 2000B may be configured in a manner that the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode can occupy any two regions. The first display region 2000A and the second display region 2000B may also partially overlap each other.

A selfie mode icon <NUM> on the camera display execution screen may be touched and selected by the user.

However, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may display a guide graphic <NUM> for confirming switching to the selfie mode. While the guide graphic <NUM> is being displayed, the controller <NUM> may not display the preview image on the camera application execution screen. However, the preview image may also be continuously displayed as needed.

When the cancel menu <NUM> in the guide graphic <NUM> is touched and selected, the mobile terminal may return to the state of (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

The controller <NUM> may operate the driving unit <NUM> so that the controller <NUM> can switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode. Alternatively, the user may manually switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode using the user's force, after touching the confirmation menu <NUM> of the guide graphic <NUM>.

The rear display region when the display mode is switched to the contracted display mode will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As described above, a first rear unit <NUM> may be provided with a camera <NUM>. Therefore, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the user may take a selfie with the first rear unit <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM> facing the user.

That is, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the camera application execution screen to be displayed on the rear display region <NUM>. The camera application execution screen may display a real-time preview image for taking a selfie and various menus and shutter icons for taking a photograph. Accordingly, the user can take a selfie while viewing the real-time preview image displayed on the rear display region <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may display, on the rear display region <NUM>, icons respectively representing all applications being multitasked. That is, the gallery application icon <NUM> and the camera application icon <NUM> may be displayed on the rear display region <NUM>.

The gallery application icon <NUM> may be touched and selected.

Then, the controller <NUM> may control the rear display region <NUM> to display the gallery application execution screen instead of the camera application execution screen, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>. At this time, the gallery application icon <NUM> and the camera application icon <NUM> may be continuously displayed.

When the camera application icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> may control the rear display region <NUM> to display the camera application execution screen instead of the gallery application execution screen, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

That is, as the user selects any one of the gallery application icon <NUM> and the camera application icon <NUM>, the user can easily select which one of two or more applications that are being multitasked will be displayed on the rear display region <NUM>.

Although not shown, the icon corresponding to the execution screen being displayed on the rear display region <NUM> from among the gallery application icon <NUM> and the camera application icon <NUM> may be displayed to be visually distinguished from the remaining icons. Alternatively, the icon corresponding to the execution screen being displayed on the rear display region <NUM> from among the gallery application icon <NUM> and the camera application icon <NUM> may not be displayed.

On the other hand, the front display region when the display mode is switched to the contracted display mode will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> continuously displays the camera application execution screen on the front display region 2000A. That is, the controller <NUM> does not display the gallery application execution screen on the front display region 2000A. In other words, the layout is changed in a manner that the gallery application execution screen displayed on the second display region 2000B from among the camera application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen is no longer displayed on the second display region 2000B.

The controller <NUM> displays the gallery application icon <NUM> and the multitasking icon <NUM> together with the camera application execution screen. The multitasking icon <NUM> represents applications of the execution screens that were simultaneously displayed on the front display region just before switching to the contracted display mode. The function of the multitasking icon will be described later.

When the gallery application icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> controls the front display region 2000A to display the gallery application execution screen instead of the camera application execution screen, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>. In addition, the controller <NUM> displays the camera application icon <NUM> together with the gallery application execution screen instead of the gallery application icon <NUM>. The multitasking icon <NUM> may be continuously displayed.

If the camera application icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> controls the front display region 2000A to display the camera application execution screen instead of the gallery application execution screen, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

On the other hand, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) and (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when the gallery application icon <NUM> and the multitasking icon <NUM> are displayed or the camera application icon <NUM> and the multitasking icon <NUM> are displayed, the closing icon <NUM> can also be simultaneously displayed.

If the closing icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> may control at least one of the gallery application icon <NUM>, the multitasking icon <NUM>, and the camera application icon <NUM> not to be displayed.

The multitasking icon <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> controls the camera application execution screen to be continuously displayed on the front display region 2000A. This is as described above with respect to <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>).

The multitasking icon <NUM> can be touched and selected.

Then, after the multitasking icon <NUM> is touched, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> controls the mobile terminal <NUM> to switch from the contracted display mode to the extended display mode. That is, the controller <NUM> operates the driving unit <NUM> to control the mobile terminal <NUM> to switch to the extended display mode. The controller <NUM> controls the execution screens of the two or more applications being multitasked in the mobile terminal <NUM> to be displayed on the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode.

The execution screens of the two or more applications are displayed according to the original layout before change of the display mode. That is, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the camera application execution screen is displayed on the first display region 2000A, and the gallery application execution screen is displayed on the second display region 2000B, so that the camera application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen are simultaneously displayed as a horizontal layout on the front display region <NUM>.

As described above, in a situation where two or more applications are being multitasked in the mobile terminal and the execution screens thereof are simultaneously displayed, when the extended display mode is switched to the contracted display mode, the layout is changed in a manner that only a portion of the execution screens of the two or more applications displayed in the front display region according to the extended display mode is displayed on the front display region according to the contracted display mode.

However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the layout can also be changed in a manner that the execution screens of the two or more applications displayed on the front display region according to the extended display mode are not displayed on the front display region according to the contracted display mode. A detailed description thereof will be given with reference to <FIG> illustrates a front display region for use in the extended display mode and a front display region for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Two or more applications may be executed by multitasking in the mobile terminal <NUM> in the extended display mode. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the two or more applications include message applications and gallery applications for convenience of description.

That is, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> displays the message application execution screen on the first display region 2000A, and displays the gallery application execution screen on the second display region 2000B, so that the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen can be simultaneously displayed as a horizontal layout on the front display region <NUM>. Of course, the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen can also be simultaneously displayed on the front display region <NUM> in different layouts as needed.

In this case, a user command for switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode may be input to the mobile terminal <NUM> through the user input unit <NUM>. One example of the user command input through the user input unit <NUM> may be a preset touch input on the flexible display, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the user command may indicate that the user directly switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode using the user's force or the user's touch.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> controls the mobile terminal <NUM> to switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, and then controls the mobile terminal <NUM> to display the home screen on the front display region 2000A according to the contracted display mode. That is, as the display mode is switched to the contraction display mode, both the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen may not be displayed.

Although the above-described example has disclosed that the home screen is immediately displayed on the front display region 2000A as soon as the mobile terminal <NUM> switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. When an additional user command is input to the mobile terminal <NUM> through the user input unit <NUM> after the mobile terminal <NUM> switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, both the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen are not displayed and at the same time the home screen can be displayed.

The multitasking icon <NUM> may be displayed on the home screen. The multitasking icon <NUM> represents applications of the execution screens that were simultaneously displayed on the front display region just before the mobile terminal <NUM> switches to the contracted display mode.

The multitasking icon <NUM> may also be displayed together with both a guide graphic <NUM> for explaining the function of the multitasking icon <NUM> and a closing icon <NUM> for closing the multitasking icon <NUM> and the guide graphic <NUM>.

The multitasking icon <NUM> may be touched and selected.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the mobile terminal <NUM> to return from the contracted display mode to the extended display mode. That is, the controller <NUM> may operate the driving unit <NUM> to control the mobile terminal <NUM> to switch to the extended display mode. In addition, the controller <NUM> may control the execution screens of the two or more applications being multitasked in the mobile terminal <NUM> to be displayed on the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode.

Preferably, the execution screens of the two or more applications may be displayed according to the original layout before change of the display mode. That is, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the message application execution screen may be displayed in the first display region 2000A, and the gallery application execution screen may be displayed in the second display region 2000B, so that the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen can be simultaneously displayed in the front display region <NUM> in a horizontal layout.

In accordance with the above-described example, when a user command for switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode is input to the mobile terminal through the user input unit <NUM>, the mobile terminal <NUM> switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode and at the same time the home screen is displayed, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

For example, when a user command (e.g., a preset touch input on the flexible display) for displaying the home screen is input to the mobile terminal <NUM> through the user input unit <NUM> during the extended display mode, the mobile terminal <NUM> may automatically switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode and at the same time may display the home screen.

Referring to <FIG>, various other layout changes according to switching between the extended display mode and the contracted display mode will be described. <FIG> illustrates a front display region for use in the extended display mode and a front display region for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating examples of a front display region for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a front display region for use in the contracted display mode and a front display region for use in the extended display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

At least four applications may be executed by multitasking in the extended display mode in the mobile terminal <NUM>. It is assumed that the at least four applications include a first application, a second application, a third application, and a fourth application. Hereinafter, for purposes of explanation only, it is assumed that the first application is the Google search application, the second application is the gallery application, the third application is the Naver search application, and the fourth application is the YouTube application. Other applications (e.g., the camera application, the message application, the email application, the multimedia playback application, etc.) may correspond to at least one of the first to fourth applications.

In this case, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may divide the first display region 2000A into a first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> and a second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>, and may divide the second display region 2000B into a third sub-display region. 2000B-<NUM> and a fourth sub-display region 2000B-<NUM>. In addition, the controller <NUM> may control the first application execution screen to be displayed on the first sub-display region, may control the second application execution screen to be displayed on the second sub-display region, may control the third application execution screen to be displayed on the third sub-display region, and may control the fourth application execution screen to be displayed on the fourth sub-display screen. Here, the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> may correspond to the first display region 2000A described above, and the third sub-display region 2000B-<NUM> and the fourth sub-display region 2000B-<NUM> may correspond to the second display region 2000B described above.

That is, the first to fourth application execution screens may be simultaneously displayed as a (<NUM>×<NUM>) matrix layout on the front display region according to the extended display mode.

Then, the controller <NUM> controls the mobile terminal <NUM> to switch from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, and then controls only some parts of the first to fourth application execution screens to be simultaneously displayed on the front display region 2000A according to the contracted display mode.

For example, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the layout can be changed in a manner that the first application execution screen and the second application execution screen can be respectively displayed in the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> of the front display region according to the contracted display mode. That is, the third application execution screen and the fourth application execution screen may not be displayed. In this case, although the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>) can be identical in size to the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG>(<NUM>-<NUM>) can be identical in size to the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be noted that the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may also have different sizes, and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> shown in <FIG>(<NUM>-<NUM>) and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> may also have different sizes as needed.

Instead of displaying the third application execution screen, the controller <NUM> may control the third application icon <NUM> to be displayed together with the first application execution screen on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> according to the contracted display mode. In addition, instead of displaying the fourth application execution screen, the controller <NUM> may control the fourth application icon <NUM> to be displayed together with the second application execution screen on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> according to the contracted display mode.

The roles of the third application icon <NUM> and the fourth application icon <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the third application icon <NUM> being displayed on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> can be touched and selected.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the third application execution screen instead of the first application execution screen. The third application execution screen may be displayed together with the second application execution screen displayed on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. Instead of not displaying the first application execution screen, the first application icon <NUM> may be displayed together with the third application execution screen on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. When the first application icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> may control the front display region according to the contracted display mode to return to the screen of <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>).

On the other hand, when the front display region according to the contracted display mode is displayed as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the fourth application icon <NUM> displayed in the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> can be touched and selected.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the fourth application execution screen instead of the second application execution screen. The fourth application execution screen may be displayed together with the third application execution screen displayed on the first sub-display region <NUM>. Instead of not displaying the second application execution screen, the second application icon <NUM> can be displayed together with the fourth application execution screen on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. When the fourth application icon <NUM> is touched and selected, the controller <NUM> may control the front display region according to the contracted display mode to return to the screen of <FIG> (<NUM>-<NUM>).

Hereinafter, a method for allowing the mobile terminal to restore (or return) from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when only some application execution screens are displayed on the front display region in the contracted display mode, a preset user command can be input to the mobile terminal through the user input unit <NUM>. One example of the user command activated through the user input unit <NUM> may be a preset touch input (e.g., a touch dragging gesture, a swiping gesture, and a flicking gesture, etc.) that is directed downward from the upper end of the flexible display), but is not limited thereto.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control a notification center window to be displayed on the front display region according to the contracted display mode. In the notification center window, an extended display icon <NUM> and a guide <NUM> querying the user whether to switch to the extended display mode may be displayed as one notification. The extended display icon <NUM> may be configured by combining icons of the first to fourth applications that have been multitasked in the extended display mode. When a preset touch input is made on the flexible display, the extended display icon <NUM> is not necessarily displayed only on the notification center window. If necessary, the extended display icon <NUM> may also be displayed regardless of the notification center window.

The extended display icon <NUM> may be touched and selected.

Then, the controller <NUM> may operate the driving unit <NUM> to control the mobile terminal to switch from the contracted display mode to the extended display mode, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>. In the front display region according to the extended display mode, the first to fourth application execution screens may be displayed as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>.

<FIG> have disclosed that, in the contracted display mode, the first to fourth application icons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed instead of the non-displayed application execution screens, and the non-displayed application execution screens are newly displayed through the first to fourth application icons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. However, it is not necessarily to newly display the non-displayed application execution screens only through the first to fourth application icons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. A detailed description thereof will be given later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate examples of a front display region for use in the contracted display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, as the mobile terminal switches to the contracted display mode, the controller <NUM> may control the front display region to display only the first application execution screen and the second application execution screen without displaying the third application icon <NUM> and the fourth application icon <NUM> on the front display region. Of course, the third application icon <NUM> and the fourth application icon <NUM> may also be displayed as needed.

At this time, a predetermined first type of touch input <NUM> may be performed in the first direction on the front display region. The predetermined first type of touch input <NUM> may be a touch dragging gesture, a swiping gesture, or a flicking gesture using two fingers of the user. The first type of touch input may be performed anywhere in the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> and the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the fourth application execution screen instead of the second application execution screen, while displaying the third application execution screen instead of the first application execution screen on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when the third application execution screen and the fourth application execution screen are displayed on the front display region, a predetermined first type of touch input <NUM> may be performed in a second direction on the front display region. Here, the second direction may be opposite to the first direction.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the second application execution screen instead of the fourth application execution screen, while displaying the first application execution screen instead of the third application execution screen on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>.

On the other hand, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when the first application execution screen is displayed on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> and the second application execution screen is displayed on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>, a predetermined second type of touch input <NUM> may be performed in a first direction on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. The predetermined second type of touch input may be a touch dragging gesture, a swiping gesture, or a flicking gesture using only one finger of the user.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the third application execution screen instead of the first application execution screen. The third application execution screen may be displayed together with the second application execution screen displayed on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. That is, the first application execution screen can be replaced with the third application execution screen only in the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>.

As shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, when the third application execution screen and the second application execution screen are displayed on the front display region, a preset second type of touch input <NUM> may be performed in a second direction on the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. The second direction may be opposite to the first direction.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM> to display the first application execution screen instead of the third application execution screen. The first application execution screen may be displayed together with the second application execution screen displayed on the second sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>. That is, the third application execution screen may be replaced with the first application execution screen only in the first sub-display region 2000A-<NUM>.

On the other hand, even in the contracted display mode as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the extended display mode shown in <FIG> may be displayed on the front display region according to a preset touch input on the flexible display. Of course, when the extended display icon is touched and selected, the mobile terminal can also be switched from the contracted display mode to the extended display mode.

As described above, the above-described examples have disclosed that the layout of the two or more application execution screens is changed when the mobile terminal switches from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Even when there is no transition between the extended display mode and the contracted display mode, the layout of the two or more application execution screens can be changed. A detailed description thereof will be given with reference to <FIG> illustrates examples of a front display region for use in the extended display mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Two or more applications can be executed by multitasking in the mobile terminal <NUM> used in the extended display mode. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the two or more applications include message applications and gallery applications.

That is, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may display the message application execution screen on the first display region 2000A, and may display the gallery application execution screen in the second display region 2000B, so that the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen can be simultaneously displayed as a horizontal layout on the front display region <NUM>. Of course, the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen may also be simultaneously displayed on the front display region <NUM> in different layouts as needed.

At this time, a user command (e.g., a preset touch input on the flexible display) for displaying the home screen may be input to the mobile terminal through the user input unit <NUM>.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the home screen to be displayed on the front display region <NUM> according to the extended display mode. That is, both the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen may not be displayed.

A multitasking icon <NUM> may be displayed on the home screen. The multitasking icon <NUM> represents applications of the execution screens that were simultaneously displayed in the front display region <NUM> just before the home screen is displayed.

Then, as shown in (<NUM>-<NUM>) of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control execution screens of the two or more applications to be displayed according to the original layout formed before the home screen is displayed. That is, the message application execution screen may be displayed in the first display region 2000A, and the gallery application execution screen may be displayed in the second display region 2000B, so that the message application execution screen and the gallery application execution screen can be simultaneously displayed as a horizontal layout in the front display region <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A mobile terminal (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a display (<NUM>) coupled to the body such that a display region visible on a front surface of the body is changeable as a display mode is switched between the extended display mode and the contracted display mode; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to, in response to switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, control a layout for two or more application execution screens simultaneously displayed on the display to be changed such that at least one of the two or more application execution screens is not displayed on the display region in the contracted display mode,
characterized in that the controller is further configured to:
in response to switching from the extended display mode to the contracted display mode, control a first icon (<NUM>) and a second icon (<NUM>) for re-displaying at least one from among the at least one application execution screen to be displayed on the display region in the contracted display mode,
in response to selection of the first icon (<NUM>), re-display an application execution screen corresponding to the first icon from among the at least one application execution screen, while maintaining the contracted display mode, and
in response to selection of the second icon (<NUM>), switch from the contracted display mode to the extended display mode, control the first icon (<NUM>) and the second icon (<NUM>) to disappear from the display region in the extended display mode, and at the same time re-display the two or more application execution screens according to the layout formed before execution of mode switching.