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SamsungGranted patentPhones & computersInterest 7/10

Samsung patents phone that shrinks screen when it gets hot

Samsung describes a device with a flexible screen that can slide into its body using a motor. The phone uses temperature sensors to detect heat and automatically adjusts the motor's power to shrink the visible screen area if needed.

Why it mattersThis design offers a physical way to manage overheating by reducing the active screen size, which could help protect the device during heavy use.

In the filing’s own words

According to various embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a first housing; a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing; a flexible display disposed on a surface formed by the first housing and the second housing; a motor for inserting the flexible display into the second housing, or retracting same from the second housing; an integrated circuit for controlling the voltage related to the motor; at least one sensor; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: identify data on the temperature related to the flexible display; identify the voltage to be applied to the motor through the integrated circuit; and change the display area of the flexible display.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a first housing; a second housing slidably coupled to the first housing; a flexible display disposed on a surface formed by the first housing and the second housing, which is insertable in the second housing or extractable from the second housing; a motor configured to insert the flexible display in the second housing or extracting the flexible display from the second housing; a first integrated circuit configured to control voltage related to the motor; at least one sensor; and at least one processor operably coupled with the flexible display, the motor, the first integrated circuit, and the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify, through the at least one sensor, data of temperature related to the flexible display, determine, based on the identified data of the temperature, voltage to be applied to the motor through the first integrated circuit, and change a display area of the flexible display by controlling the first integrated circuit to apply the determined voltage to the motor.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Electronic device and method for changing display area of display
Patent number
US12732574B2
Application number
18754179
Filed
Jun 26, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
20

Classified under

H04M 1/0268 Electricity & electronicsG06F 1/1624 Physics & computingG06F 1/1652 Physics & computingH04M 1/0237 Electricity & electronicsH04M 2250/12 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.