Samsung patents this week covered an XR Headset with adjustable lenses, SIM & more + smartphones with expandable displays
Apple is working with Carnegie Mellon University on a new system known as 'ARMOR' that assists humanoid robots see their surroundings better

Microsoft is rethinking Foldable Devices with a new Hinge Patent published this week


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Microsoft killed off their dual display device known as "Surface Duo" in October. While it was an honest dive into foldable devices, Microsoft chose the wrong form factor. Instead of following the trend that Samsung established with the Galaxy Z fold having o large single flexible display that folded, Microsoft chose to go with two displays with a noticeable and awkward hinge in the middle. Android developers didn't want to support this oddball design.

 

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This week the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a patent application from Microsoft that reveals a new foldable device hinge for a different style of foldable, likely one in tune with industry trends.

Hinged Device with Flexible Hinge

Microsoft's patent relates to hinged devices that have flexible displays. The company notes that consumers prefer compact devices, especially preferring thinner devices to thicker devices. As a result, many device components have to be positioned in a limited space. The present concepts provide a technical solution of a hinge assembly that occupies less device space than previous designs while satisfying hinge design parameters.

One example can include a hinge assembly securing a first portion and a second portion through a range of angular orientations. The example can include a flexible display extending over a major surface of the first portion across the hinge assembly and over a major surface of the second portion. The hinge assembly can include a pair of hinge sub-assemblies that include elongate slider links that extend along a length from proximal ends that are rotationally secured to the hinge assembly to distal ends that are slideably secured to the first portion. The hinge assembly can also include an auxiliary hinge sub-assembly interposed between the pair of hinge sub-assemblies and comprising a truncated elongate slider link that extends along a length that is less than the length of the elongate slider links and extends from a proximal end that is rotationally secured to the hinge assembly to the distal end that is slideably secured in the first portion.

Microsoft's patent FIG. 1A below shows the first and second portions and the hinge assembly at a 180-degree orientation. In this implementation, 180 degrees is a fully open orientation. The hinge assembly #106 is shown in ghost in FIG. 1A to indicate that it would not normally be visible because it is obstructed by other components.


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For those interested in Microsoft's possible future foldable device with a new hinge mechanism, check out patent application 20240426335.

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