Just a few weeks ago we heard about Samsung’s Project Valley which was rumoured to be a dual display, foldable smartphone concept. To further that chain of rumours, we have word today that Samsung has taken out a number of design patents that design exactly that: a dual display, foldable smartphone. A coincidence? I think not.
The patent itself describes quite a lot about what a potential foldable smartphone would be capable of and what features it might have, including:
- “hovering” support for styluses (and fingers!);
- a stylus mounted camera, called “The Photographer”;
- remote camera operation using “The Photographer” as the camera and using the smartphone as a viewfinder;
- using the stylus as a scanner;
- A multi-directional hinge that will allow the dual displays to be folded in various configurations;
- dual display, foldable technology for tablets as well.
With this kind of size and the presence of a stylus, we’d say this kind of device would be most suited to the Galaxy Note family – then again, Samsung might need a whole new family for devices like this. For more pictorial examples, check out the images below (with appended notes thanks to Patently Mobile):
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- Image Credit: Patently Mobile
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- Image Credit: Patently Mobile
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- Image Credit: Patently Mobile
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- Image Credit: Patently Mobile
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- Image Credit: Patently Mobile
However, with all this wonderful hypothetical technology in mind, we would do well to remember that patents are just that: patents. Samsung may never bring this technology to market if it doesn’t see fit, though we have to say that if it does, it could be quite a long way ahead of its competitors.
What do you think about the dual display, foldable smartphone described in these patents? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Patently Mobile via SamMobile
