Samsung Patents Desribe Foldable Phones
Samsung Electronics has once again applied for patents that describe a foldable phone, hinting at new devices that could succeed the Galaxy Edge series. The two patents have been submitted to the U.S. Patent Office. One of them is about connecting many plates into matrix type sceme and the formation of an "artificial muscle" that will be used to smartphones that bend in almost any shape, within some limits of course.The seond patent is a smartphone that folds in the half by pressing it with your fingers.
It is not clear whether Samsung has registered these patents in order to protect its technologies or commercialize them in the future. However, the Korean company is continuing to develop technologies that are related to the foldable phone concept. Last month, Forbes reported that registered patents on 'folding Smartphones into halves' with the U.S. Patent Office. These patents follow patents related to a 'scroll-type Smartphone' and an 'expandable display' that Samsung had applyied for last year.
Samsung Electronics is internally developing a new smartphone(s) as part of the 'Project Valley' project and plans to introduce at next year?s Mobile World Congress.
Apple has also registered many patents related to flexible displays. It is predicted that Apple will use flexible OLED displays for its 2017 iPhones.
LG Electronics has already introduced the G Flex 2 model, which uses a flexible display and bends. The release date of the G Flex 3 model is still undecided. However LG Electronics introduced the 'Rolly Keyboard' that implements a 'rollable' technology.
China?s Moxi Group is also planning to sell bendable smartphones that can be worn on wrists by bending them. These are expected to launch by end of the year. Lenovo has also introduced a prototype of a bendable Smartphone at the 'Tech World 2016' event.