Samsung Galaxy S6 edge (Photo : REUTERS/GUSTAU NACARINO)
The patent application from Samsung aims to revolutionize the use of smartphone gadgets and rumors have it that the Samsung Galaxy Edge smartphone will be the first to have this option.
According to Patently Mobile, the patent will incorporate new touch controls but it is unknown if the new control will or will not have to be presented with a certain intensity of grip. However, the grip will have to incorporate the user's palm and one thumb, as well as the fingers.
The specific grip combination will activate the smartphone's backside control, which users can use in turning the volume up or down, scrolling up and down, scrolling fast and slow, or zooming in and zooming out.
Another set of controls might be initiated with a different grip combination. Additional features will be activated with the application of thumb taps or both palms on the device's display sides. Touching both sides of the device at the same time will initiate the popup of the virtual keyboard.
Samsung had filed for a smartphone backside touch controls patent in 2013. However, the 2013 patent included backside touch controls for devices which have transparent displays.
Other mobile companies, such as LG, have also offered volume and power buttons on the backsides of their devices, but the new approach involves a touch panel, which will bring more flexibility to the user. The backside option may be a feature that will attract more users of the new Samsung Galaxy Edge.
According to Ubergizmo, the new patent will allow Samsung to create bigger smartphones and tablets. The back portion of the phone or tablet will allow users access to apps that would otherwise take two hands. With the invention, users will not have problems to handle big phones and apps with only one hand.
In addition to these patents, Samsung officially published the so-called Sensor Pads on July 9. The sensor pads are invisible buttons that can be used for apps like video games and cameras. The invention recognizes input on the side surface of an electronic device and controls apps with this input.
Another invention is the New Hybrid Notebook Tablet, also called 2-in-1. In order to increase the usability of the device, Samsung has noted they will issue an additional keyboard unit, an auxiliary battery pack, a charging unit, and other devices. Users will be able to connect these devices with the keyboard or the display using the connectors in the tablet computer.
