Patent Bolt has covered a great number of Samsung's patent applications regarding flexible displays over the last two years and for those interested in this area of technology you can always review our Flex Display Archives to get the bigger picture. In fact some of the basics behind all of Samsung's flexible displays can be found here where you'll read about all kinds of new bendable sensors and controls needed for this next generation of displays that are set to debut in the 2015-2016 time line. In today's report we cover three of Samsung's latest flexible display patents that cover a wide range of ideas including a wild and crazy polygonal 3D UI that can be seen in our cover graphic. Samsung wants to re-invent if not revolutionize the nature of computer displays and each new patent filing pushes Samsung's team to greater heights if not over the edge at times in trying to find purpose for their future flexible displays.
Samsung's Patent Background
The advanced electronic technology has enabled development and implementation of various display apparatus applications. For example, a variety of display kinds, such as Cathode ray tube display (CRT), Light-emitting diode display (LED), Electroluminescent display (ELD), Electronic paper (E-Ink), Plasma display panel (PDP), Liquid crystal display (LCD), High-Performance Addressing display (HPA), Thin-film transistor display (TFT), and Organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) displays have been developed which have been implements into various types of display apparatuses. Among the display apparatuses are included TVs, PCs, laptop computers, tablet PCs, mobile phones, or MP3 players which are widely distributed for use at homes as well as offices.
To meet various user's needs for newer and diversified functions, efforts are made to develop newer forms of display apparatuses. The "next-generation display" has been introduced in those efforts.
The flexible display apparatus is one example of the next-generation display apparatus. The flexible display apparatus mainly refers to a display apparatus which can change its form like a paper sheet.
Unlike other related art display apparatuses, the flexible display apparatus provides flexibility. In consideration of the above, a method is necessary, which can display an appropriate screen on a flexible apparatus which is changed in its form.
Samsung Invents Chameleon-Like Flexible Displays
Samsung's patent application relates to a flexible displaying apparatus and controlling methods, and more particularly, to a display apparatus having a display which is changeable in form and controlling methods.
According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a flexible display apparatus including a display that may be deformable and may be configured to display an object, a sensor configured to sense deformation of the display, and a controller configured to control the display to display an image, from among a plurality of multi-viewpoint images of the object, that corresponds to an arrangement state of the object being displayed on a plurality of sub-areas, in response to the display being bent and divided into the plurality of sub-areas.
The flexible display apparatus as used in this invention generally refers to an apparatus which can be bent, curved, folded or scrolled like a sheet of paper, while maintaining display characteristics of a planar display apparatus.
Accordingly, the flexible display apparatus is fabricated on a flexible substrate. That is, the substrate may be implemented as a plastic substrate (e.g., polymer film) that can deform in response to an external pressure.
The plastic substrate may be configured such that a base film is coated on both sides with barrier coating. The base material may be implemented as various resin including, for example, polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethyleneterephtalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polythylenenaphthalate (PEN), or fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The barrier coating may be done on the base material to be opposed to each other, and an organic or inorganic film may be used to maintain flexibility.
In addition to the plastic substrate, the substrate may be formed from a material with flexibility, such as, for example, thin glass or metal foil. The driver drives the display panel. The driver may apply a driving voltage to a plurality of pixels included in the display panel, and may be implemented as an a-si TFT, low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) TFT, or organic TFT (OTFT).
Alternatively, the display panel may take a form other than as an OLED, such as, for example, an electrophoretic display (EPD), an electrochromic display (ECD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an AMLCD, or a plasma display panel (PDP).
An LCD implementation may further require use of a separate backlight, or an LCD without backlight may use ambient lighting. Accordingly, an LCD display panel without a backlight may be used in particular environments such as outdoor environment where luminosity is abundant.
Samsung notes that the display may be implemented as an electronic paper (`e-paper`). The e-paper implements characteristics of general paper and ink, and thus is different from general planar display using reflective light. Meanwhile, the e-paper may change image or text with electrophoresis using twist balls or capsules.
Below are a series of example illustrations from Samsung that show us how future displays will be able to start off with a plain piece of paper-like appearance yet be able to shape-shift into a wide variety of shapes for tasks users need at a particular moment in time.
You may start your morning off with your tablet taken to a meeting. When you return to your office, you'll be able to fold your display so that it works as a digital photo stand or a calendar for your desk as shown further into our report. Where bendable or flexible displays could be going is simply mind bending.
A Wild and Crazy Polygonal 3D UI
In patent FIGS. 26A/B and 28 below we're able to see views that explain a method for displaying a screen according to arrangement state of the sub-areas, according to another exemplary embodiment.
The 3D UI illustrated is that of a polygonal 3D UI, which may display UI screens on respective planes. For example, the 3D UI may be a hexagonal shape as illustrated in FIGS. 26A and 26B, with respective UI planes displaying UI screens. Patent FIG. 26A illustrates the 3D UI from the front upper direction and FIG. 26B illustrates the 3D UI from the rear lower direction.
For example, the hexagonal UI #400 may include a first UI plane #410 including icons of applications installed in the flexible display apparatus a second UI plane #420 including thumbnail images of the videos playable on the video application, a third UI plane #430 including various widgets, a fourth UI plane #440 including images playable on a camera application, a fifth UI plane #450 including calendar for implementing on a calendar application, and a sixth UI plane #460 including album image for the music files executable on a music application.
Samsung notes that when the display rotates, the controller may determine the arrangement of the respective, rotated sub-areas, and detect the UI plane that corresponds to the arrangement state of the respective sub-areas on the 3D UI. That is, the controller may detect the UI plane that matches the arrangement state of the respective, rotated sub-areas.
A 3D or cubed smart device using a Polygonal 3D interface would be quite the office or home desk accessory if not an ideal device for your TV and/or recreational room(s). I think this could be quite the novelty.
Bending Displays 90 Degrees
In patent FIG. 28 noted below we see that the controller may determine that the first sub-area 110-1 is tilted vertically to a parallel relationship with the ground, while the second sub-area 110-2 is bent from the upper side of the first sub-area 110-1 to Z+ direction by 90.degree.
The controller may display the UI screen #460 including album image of the music files executable on a music application on the first sub-area 110-1, and display the UI screen #450 including calendar executed on the application on the second sub-area 110-2.
Other shapes that flexible displays are designed for are noted below in a series of patent graphic groups.
3D Display Gaming Application
In Samsung's patent FIGS. 29A and 29B noted below we're able to see views provided to explain a method for displaying a screen according to an arrangement state of the sub-areas, according to another exemplary embodiment. Patent FIGS. 29A and 29B are provided particularly to explain a method for displaying a game screen on a plurality of sub-areas. By creating sub-areas on the sides of the bent display, information about the game can be restricted to these areas – be it to tell gamers how many laps are remaining or how much ammunition or health you might have in reserve.
Welcome to the Matrix
In a second Samsung patent on flexible displays, we're stepping into the Movie the Matrix where you're able to bend reality. In Samsung's patent FIG. 9 noted below we're able to see view (A). In this state, when a concave area is formed by a pressing input of the user as shown in view (b) of FIG. 9, the controller may control the display to zoom out an object displayed on the concave area, and display the object. Also, when a convex area is formed by a pressing input of the user as shown in view (c) of FIG. 9, the controller may control the display to zoom in an object displayed on the convex area and display it.
The controller may reconfigure the object by displaying the object displayed on the concave area and upper menus on the object displayed on the concave area, considering the calculated height information. The upper menus on the object may be displayed in a descending order, in sequence.
Samsung further refers to patent FIG. 26 (B) above and notes that the user can select "Reset" from the menu to restore the flexible display apparatus to the original state as shown in patent FIG. 9 (A).
Samsung notes that the controller may control the display to move an application icon, which is displayed on the concave area formed by the pressing input of the user, to a specific area (e.g., a center), and to display menus "Delete App," "Setting Option," and "Run Now."
In different applications, hitting an icon will deform the display and an appropriate menu for that app will be called up for controls for a photo album, telephone call or productivity application for instance.
In gaming, deforming the display can provide a hiding place or a trap for those following a path. By deforming the display to form a huge hole on a road, for instance, you'll be able to make your competitor or enemy fall into it. Rather crazy, really, but I'm sure it'll be designed to be a lot of fun once you're using it.
As Samsung bends reality, they also seem to step over the bleeding edge and over a cliff wanting to use device bending and twisting to control anything and everything on a display. Where a simple swipe gesture moves a tablet user interface from one screen to another to view your app icons, Samsung wants you to bend your display instead to do that. To Change a channel on a TV you'll use a TV app and then bend your display to change the channel: Really? They want users to bend the tablet display 100 times to go from channel 1 to 100? Sure, why not, your bendable tablet will break faster and will need replacing, so why not. Changing a track from an album … yep you got it … just bend your tablet as noted below.
Samsung's entry into flexible displays is interesting in many ways and we've tried to provide you with a wide range of patent figures in this report so that you could see what Samsung's dreaming of for the future.
In today's report we covered three separate patent applications. It's apparent that Samsung must have some form of display breakthrough in this area as their teams are frantically filing a wave of patent applications like we've never seen before.
Samsung wants to patent every conceivable type of flexible display and the methods that could be used to control such displays. Yes, they're building a patent war chest to fend off future legal challengers if not use them offensively. In the end, Samsung has a few crazy ideas that just might fly in the future while others will be for those who weave baskets and smile all day.
Samsung filed their patent applications back in Q4 2013 in the US and earlier in Korea. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
A Note for Tech Sites covering our Report: We ask tech sites covering our report to kindly limit the use of our graphics to one image. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.
Patent Bolt presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. Revelations found in patent applications shouldn't be interpreted as rumor or fast-tracked according to rumor timetables. About Posting Comments: Patent Bolt reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments.
Comments