Microsoft he didn’t get the success he expected with his Android Surface Duo series smart phones. The company discontinued the line after the Duo 2. But that doesn’t mean the company has stopped trying.
New patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 29, reveals that the company is working on yet another foldable or dual-screen mobile device. The patent filing describes the company’s take on a foldable smartphone concept with a single hinge technology called a “spine cover plate.”
Microsoft’s next smartphones could have a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold
According to the patent filing, the phone could feature a “flexible display” in a book-style design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold for decades. However, the entire focus is on the spine cover plate mechanism which is aimed at protecting the device’s single-hinged system by covering the structural element.
The factor that differentiates regular hinges from Microsoft’s design is that the spine automatically adjusts as the phone is opened and closed to prevent unnecessary gaps around the hinge to protect it from dust and water. Currently, Samsung’s design offers an IPX8 rating, making their foldables only water-resistant.
The patent further mentions that the new hinge mechanism could allow Microsoft to eliminate the fold of the hinge which is less visible than the current options available in the market.
Moreover, Microsoft also mentioned techniques that could allow them to reduce the overall thickness of the foldable smartphone by allowing the spine cover plate to move closer to the hinge of the device when folded.
“By pulling the spine cover plate toward the central spine as the first display support frame and the second display support frame rotate to a face-to-face orientation, the width of the folded computing device is reduced, thereby enabling easier and more comfortable handling of the device, for example, with one hand,” Microsoft said in the patent.
Interesting idea, but practicality is a question mark
The entire smartphone market is looking for a way to remove the folds from their smartphones. Some brands have already implemented a waterdrop folding mechanism to reduce it, but there’s nothing better than a crease-free folding. Additionally, the durability quotient of foldables is also important considering all the moving parts these phones have.
Still, adding another layer or movable part on top of the entire folding mechanism doesn’t seem like a wise move despite the added benefits and durability that Microsoft explained in the patent application.
