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Mobile Devices and Apps | Mobile O.S's => Tablets | Foldables | Phablets│Hybrids => Topic started by: javajolt on March 22, 2018, 11:23:00 AM
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Samsung’s been working for years on a folding phone with a flexible display that can fold in half, letting you use a single mobile device as either a phone or a tablet. But it’s not clear if or when that device will make it to market.
It looks like the company may not be putting all its eggs in one basket though: the folks at Patently Mobile (http://www.patentlymobile.com/2018/03/samsung-files-a-patent-for-a-new-smartphone-that-could-provide-users-with-a-unique-expandable-display.html) noticed that Samsung has also filed a for a patent on a different type of phone/tablet hybrid.
Instead of a display that folds in half, this model has a rollable display that slides our when you pull from the sides, giving you more screen space when you need it.
(http://s7.postimg.org/f00qu2rob/slide_02.jpg)
Flexible displays are already pretty common. They’re used in phones with curved displays like Samsung’s recent Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models… but while the screens are flexible, the phones themselves are rigid. Designing a phone that actually folds around the display presents some pretty big challenges which could be sidestepped by a phone with a rollable display that slides out (you don’t need the batter or case to fold, for example).
That said, Samsung’s been working on its folding phone for a long time and I suspect the company isn’t ready to give up on the idea anytime soon.
Just because the company applied for a patent on a rollable design doesn’t mean Samsung will bring a phone with this type of expandable display to market. But it is an interesting idea.
(http://s7.postimg.org/nia6yjvnv/slide_03.jpg)
(http://s7.postimg.org/m38m9y4wb/slide_01.jpg)
Note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that patent seems to show a screen that rolls up rather than a device with three separate displays, where two slides out from behind the second screen).
source (http://liliputing.com/2018/03/samsung-patent-application-describes-phablet-with-slide-out-displays.html)