Microsoft: He didn’t get the success he expected with his Android-powered Surface Duo-series phones. The company has discontinued this line after the Duo 2. But, this does not mean that the company has stopped experimenting.
New: patent application: which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 29, indicates that the company is working on another foldable or dual-display phone. The patent application describes the company’s concept of a foldable mobile phone with a single hinge technology called a “spine cover plate”.
Then Microsoft’s smartphones could have a design like the Galaxy Z Fold
According to the patent application, the phone could have a “flexible display” in a book-style design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold. However, the whole focus is on the machine for the spine cover which aims to protect the system of one hinge of the device by covering the design.
The difference between the usual hinge and Microsoft’s design is that the back cover adjusts itself when opening and closing the phone to avoid unnecessary gaps around the hinge to protect it from dust and water. Meanwhile, Samsung’s design offers an IPX8 rating that makes their foldables waterproof.
The patent also claims that the new hinge mechanism could allow Microsoft to eliminate hinge creases that are less visible than what is available on the market.
In addition, Microsoft has mentioned ways that will allow them to reduce the overall thickness of the foldable phone by allowing the back cover to come closer to the hinge of the device when it is folded.
“By returning the spine cover towards the center of the spine as the first support frame and the second support frame is adjusted to face the face, the width of the folding device is reduced, thus making the device easy and comfortable, such as with one hand,” Microsoft said in the patent.
Interesting idea, but practicality is a question
The entire mobile phone market is looking for a way to remove the foldable crease from their phones. Some brands have already developed a water-smoothing solution to minimize the effect, but there’s nothing quite like a wrinkle-free curler out there. Apart from that, the durability quotient of the foldable is also important considering all the flexible parts these phones have.
That said, adding another layer or a flexible part on top of the entire folding system doesn’t seem like a smart move despite the added benefits and robustness Microsoft has outlined in the patent application.
