Just a few years back, Korean rivals LG and Samsung were competing on innovating foldable devices. The two phone makers then became mum when they had started to achieve success in designing flexible screens. Samsung hasn't definitely given up this dream yet as the Korean smartphone manufacturer filed at the USPTO are new patents for its three supposed innovations to perk one's interest.
Since the unveiling of Samsung's YOUM flexible OLEDs, Samsung has gone prominent for conveying the future of bendable smartphones and foldable tablets. Since the start of Galaxy Note Edge after releasing the Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung says nothing about new developments. The curved bezels of its mobile phones, however, were living proofs that Samsung can indeed make usable flexible screens.
The company is proud to announce the future of its latest innovations. Thankfully, it has created a solid curved screen that never was seen before. It also boasts of foldable displays, which they are trying to achieve in its patent.
The first design is likely the most unique for Samsung. The whole handset rolls into a tube unlike what LG has for its Rolly keyboard. When you unroll the device, you have to pull it out, while holding to an exposed section of the handset. On the other hand, one side of the tube depicts a standalone display strip with icons and notifications. When you press any of the app icons while pulling out the display, you can instantly open the app once it is fully unrolled.
The second design brings a different offering than the usual folding tablet / smartphone design. Instead of folding in the middle, it has an eccentric fold making the small area remain exposed once the handset is unfolded. Just like what is found in the previous design, the strip is utilized for app shortcuts, which make the selected app work once unfolded.
The third option is definitely absurd, nearly like a joke to Samsung. Here, the mobile phone bends upright from a predetermined degree, and not inevitably in the middle. It is supposed to be something next to a flap, where either front or back side can feature shortcuts. Inquisitively, who ever drew the diagram included an icon for iPod.
Certainly, these are all just concepts of what Samsung intends to innovate in the future. It provides no promises on what Samsung will implement in terms of latest developments. Samsung can indeed provide flexible displays, however, nobody knows what electronic parts it will use for the foldable device innovations.