Microsoft he didn’t get the success he envisioned with Android Surface Duo series smart phones The company has discontinued the lineup after Duo 2. But that doesn’t mean the company has stopped trying.
A news patent application Filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 29, it shows that the company is working on another foldable or dual-use mobile device. The patent application describes the company’s foldable smartphone concept with a single hinge technology called a “spine cover plate”.
The next Microsoft smartphones could have a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold
According to the patent application, the phone could feature a “flexible display” in a book-style design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold. However, the full focus is on the spine cover plate mechanism, with the aim of protecting the device’s single-hinged system by covering the structural element.
The differentiating factor between the regular hinge and Microsoft’s design is that the spine cover automatically adjusts when opening and closing the phone to avoid unnecessary gaps around the hinge to protect it from dust and water. Currently, Samsung’s design offers an IPX8 rating, making the foldable only water-resistant.
The patent also mentions that the new hinge mechanism could allow Microsoft to eliminate the hinge slot that is not seen with the current options on the market.
Additionally, Microsoft has also mentioned techniques that could allow them to reduce the overall thickness of the foldable smartphone so that the spine cover plate can be brought closer to the hinge of the device when folded.
“By retracting the spine cover plate towards the central spine, while rotating the first frame with the display holder and the second frame with the display holder in a face-to-face orientation, the width of the folded computing device is reduced, thereby making the device easier and more comfortable to handle, such as with one hand,” Microsoft stated in the patent.
Interesting idea, but practicality is a question mark
The entire smartphone market is looking for a way to get rid of the folding screen on their smartphones. Some brands have already implemented a water drop folding mechanism to reduce it, but there is nothing like a non-folding foldable. In addition, the durability quotient of foldables is also important considering all the moving parts these phones have.
That said, adding another layer or movable part on top of the entire folding mechanism doesn’t seem like a smart move despite the advantages and added durability Microsoft has outlined in the patent application.
