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General Category | GDPR - Important notice => Patents, Software Patents, Patent applications => Topic started by: javajolt on February 04, 2018, 04:39:04 PM
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(http://s9.postimg.org/t613cvcvz/Surface-_Phone-patents.jpg)
Microsoft patented original hinge mechanisms before, but here they are again with a fresh patent that refers to a foldable smartphone, which may just end up as a Surface Phone. It’s a Windows 10 machine for sure and it could be launched pretty soon.
We’ve seen Microsoft trying out a variety of formats, either inspired by the deceased Courier e-reader or not. This time we’re talking about 4 new patents, that show key parts of the hinge used by the Andromeda Project device, or the Surface Phone. One of the documents mentions a “Hinge with free stop function”, “Hinge mechanism” and “Hinge device with living hinge”.
(http://s9.postimg.org/7wdh29h8f/Surface-_Phones.jpg)
A “snap open lock” is also mentioned. It’s pretty clear that we’re about to see a dual display machine being realized, something like the ZTE Axon M, but with a better hinge. Using that mechanism and its ability to rotate, you’ll turn the device into a laptop, phone or tablet with ease. 360-degree rotation is available here. The display would be able to rotate around the other screen freely at 360 degrees.
(http://s9.postimg.org/rqziokbxb/new-patent-surface-phone-3.jpg)
The hinge mechanism comes with at least one flexible connection, that follows an S-shaped path when the screens are in tablet mode. Another patent focuses on the “Snap open” lock, fixed in a certain position when the mechanism reaches 180 degrees of rotation relative to the main screen. As usual, I feel the need to remind you that a patent is just that, a patent and doesn’t mean it’ll become 100% real.
The problem is that I’ve seen such documents before and they all predict the same thing: a ZTE Axon M with the hinge of a Surface Book or Lenovo Yoga Book. Expect a late 2018 release with the Andromeda CShell.
(http://s9.postimg.org/rfi2beii7/new-patent-surface-phone-2.jpg)
(http://s9.postimg.org/u9l7p0sfz/new-patent-surface-phone.jpg)
source (http://tablet-news.com/microsoft-files-new-patents-foldable-hinge-meant-potential-surface-phone/)