Over the years Microsoft patents have shown us that they're working on a foldable device (01, 02 & 03) and code names like Andromeda have popped up describing such a device. There has been some great concept designs surface like the graphic below that was designed by David Breyer.
Then last October Intel revealed that they've been working with Microsoft on foldable dual display device prototypes that OEM's are able to pick up and run with. They technically could be smartphones but they don't have to be. In fact Microsoft's Panos Panay played that down altogether.
The dual display design like the Copper Harbor design of our cover graphic looks like many of the patent figures Microsoft has presented in the past. The impression out of CES 2019 was that these type of device could begin to roll out in 2020 or sooner.
In February Intel began to bang the drum at CES and news of a new hybrid CPU architecture known as 'Foveros' came to light that will power these next generation foldable devices.
Intel also pointed to Project Athena that could support dual displays or next-gen thin notebooks that are always on, come with built-in AI and more.
Earlier this month Microsoft was granted two patents relating to a future foldable device and their Surface Studio desktop system. The first granted patent covered is for their future foldable device.
Below in patent FIG. 2 we're able to see hinge assembly #106 that could be found right at the top center between the two display sides that includes a first hinge sub-assembly #204(1) and a second hinge sub-assembly 204(2).
A spine #206 extends between the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly. The spine can provide structural support to the hinge assembly. Further, the spine can include magnets #208 that can interact with the magnets #202 to predispose the device into specific angles, such as zero, 180°, and/or 360° among others.
Microsoft further notes that the first and second hinge sub-assemblies #204(1) and #204(2) can include first and second hinge arms #210A(1) and #210A(2) and #210B(1) and #210B(2).
As shown in FIG. 2, a flexible circuit #212 (such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) can pass through one or both of the hinge sub-assemblies #204. In this case, first flexible circuit #212A passes through the first hinge sub-assembly #204(1) and second flexible circuit #212B passes through second hinge sub-assembly #204(2).
Microsoft's patent FIG. 1 above shows an example foldable device #100 which has first and second portions #102 and #104 that are rotatably secured together by a hinge assembly #106. The first portion can extend from a hinge end #108 to a distal end #110.
The second portion can extend from a hinge end #112 to a distal end #114. The first portion can include opposing first and second major surfaces #118 and #120. Similarly, the second portion can include opposing first and second major surfaces 122 and 124 (hereinafter, first and second surfaces).
Microsoft's patent FIGS.3, 4, 8, 9 & 10 below show perspective views of hinge assembly examples.
This was first covered as a patent application in a Patently Apple patent report back in May 2017 titled "Microsoft continues to work on a Folding Smartphone while Samsung Wins Patent for a Scrollable Phone or Mobile TV." Earlier this month the U.S. Patent Office granted Microsoft this patent.
Surface Studio's Hinge-Clutch System
Earlier this month the U.S. Patent Office granted Microsoft patent 10,221,898 for a clutch hinge system that supports the 28" display of their Surface Studio desktop. To review the patent details check out the granted patent here.
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