Our Patently Mobile report today covers a few of Samsung's more interesting granted patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for December 2019. The report covers a possible Galaxy Flip Phone; a new foldable display with flex center to better supporting folding; and lastly a Global Display for the desk that could generate holographic images of the world controlled by a touch screen menu.

1. Foldable Device: Galaxy Flip Phone

On December 24, Samsung was granted patent 10,514,879 for foldable Display that may be used in a future flip phone using a single display that could fold in addition to providing for dual 'edge' displays that could provide messaging information.  

2. Folding Phone: New Flexible Display at Fold

On December 24, Samsung was granted patent 10,516,119 for a 'Flexible Display Device.

Samsung's invention covers a flexible display device that may include: a flexible display panel having a folding area adapted to be folded with respect to an imaginary folding line extending across the flexible display panel in a first direction; a driver electrically connected to the flexible display panel; and a protection film (or protection layer) on the folding area of the flexible display panel. The protection film has a first surface facing the flexible display panel and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The flexible display device may include a folding reinforcement unit (or reinforcer) on the protection film in an area of the folding area having one or more discontinuous portions.

Samsung's patent FIG. 4 above illustrates a cross-sectional view illustrating a folded state of the flexible display device; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a protection film; FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a protection film; and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7.

3. Globe Display Device

The last granted patent of interest for December 2019 included a desktop Globe Display Device. The globe has been generally used in the past for various purposes such as geography or geology study, but basically has a fixed image only on its surface. Samsung's invention modernizes the classic world map globe. This possible future globe is a transparent touch display that could generate holographic imagery from an inside unit out to the surface of the globe and beyond with 3D imagery jetting through the globe into the air above the globe.

In a world with online Google and Apple Maps, a globe display seems a little gimmicky, though admittedly a cool one if given to you as a novelty gift.

Samsung's patent FIG. 1 below is a schematic perspective view illustrating a globe display device; FIG. 10B illustrates the globe that could sit on a stand that doubles as a charger; FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a globe display device on which a holographic image is displayed; FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a globe display device in which a home screen menu is displayed by user touch; FIG. 5 is a flow chart of usage.

Samsung's granted patent 10,503,119 was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on December 10. It was originally filed in the U.S. in 2015.