Samsung just released its sixth generation foldables: the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (review) and the Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, the company is also working on a tablet-like device with a flexible, expandable screen that can change its dimensions on demand. The display, unlike on older rollable phones, can expand in either direction, making the design even more exciting.
Samsung Filed The Patent For A Expandable Screen Tablet In January
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Samsung Electronics filed the patent on January 2, 2024. The patent number granted for the design is “WO/2024/150990.” In the documentation, Samsung talks about the limitations of using conventional smartphones, including foldables. The company says that phones with a five-inch screen are easy to carry but don’t meet users’ growth for audio and video consumption. Similarly, large-screen phones aren’t that portable, and the same holds true for foldable phones.
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Here’s How The Patent Describes The Device
The pattern describes the device as follows: “Disclosed is a display device comprising a telescopic shell; a flexible screen arranged on the shell; and a driving unit, configured for driving the shell and the flexible screen to expand or shrink synchronously in the same plane.” The literature suggests that Samsung is working on some sort of a tablet with a screen that expands on demand. We’ve seen something similar with the Oppo X Rollable Concept, but its screen expanded only on the X axis.
However, as seen in the drawings published with the patent, the diagonal mechanism should be able to expand in either direction, i.e., the screen’s length or its width. While the expansion could occur simultaneously in both directions, users might be able to take manual control of the screen’s aspect ratio. As mentioned earlier, there’s a driving gear unit that consists of 10 gears on the base shell, 10 gears on the first side shell, five on the second side, and six and seven gears on the third or fourth side, respectively.
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What Problems Could The Expandable Screen Tablet Solve?
Samsung proposes the design as a solution to the company’s problems. The tablet-like device should be capable of increasing or decreasing its size significantly. So, whenever users want to go through their emails or spend time surfing the internet, they could probably decrease the size per their requirements. Then, when they want to watch their favorite movie or TV show, they can increase its size for a more immersive experience.
As with every other patent application, there’s no guarantee that the design will make it a consumer-grade device. However, it might not be a stretch to expect such a device from Samsung, the company that has led the foldable smartphone market for years with one of the most durable hinges and robust, flexible screens.
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