The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Samsung two distinct folding smartphone patents earlier this month. The first patent is a utility patent that describes a completely new component that they simply call the flexible electric connection that both powers and controls both displays to work with Android so that a user could multitask with two different display panels displaying different content or apps. The second granted patent is for another foldable smartphone design, except this time the fold isn't evenly proportioned and adds a clear component that allows the user to view a large lip area that exposes either app icons or live alerts of incoming email or text messages.
Samsung's patent FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a foldable display apparatus #100 according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the foldable display apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the foldable display apparatus of FIG. 1.
The Flexible Electric Connection
One of new ideas Samsung brings to a dual display smartphone concept is the "flexible electric connection" noted in the center of patent FIGS. 1 and 3 above in blue. Samsung further notes that the connection members may include an anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
The flexible electric connection unit #150 is disposed between the first and second display panels DP1 and DP2, and electrically connects the first and second display panels DP1 and DP2. Since the flexible electric connection unit is formed of a flexible material overlapping with the folding line BL, the angle between the first and second display panels DP1 and DP2 can therefore be easily adjusted by folding the flexible electric connection unit.
As part of the construction, a shielding layer is formed covering the first and second test regions so as to prevent the first and second test regions from being contaminated by foreign matters and gases. The shielding layer SR is formed of an insulating material. For example, the shielding layer SR may be a solder resist.
Samsung's granted patent was originally filed in the U.S. in Q2 2014 and published this month by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
A Note for Tech Sites Covering our Report: We ask tech sites covering our report to kindly limit the use of our graphics to one image. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.
Foldable Smartphone Design Patent
Back in November, Patently Mobile posted a report titled "Samsung Wins a Design Patent for a Slick Foldable Smartphone." Earlier this month the U.S. Patent Office granted Samsung another design patent for the same concept with one exception. The folded smartphone can expose app icons or live messages on the right side of the smartphone as illustrated below in patent FIG. 8. The edge of the smartphone fold-over segment is covered with a clear or glass-like edge or window so users could see any activity on their devices in respect to messages.
Patently Mobile presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Mobile reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.
Comments