Pushing Foldables
Before we go into detail, we want to reinforce the concept that the filing of a patent application and the subsequent granting of same patent have no bearing on whether the device or concept shown in the patent will ever be produced commercially. In many cases such patents, they are filed to make sure that others do not commercialize the concept without acknowledging (paying) the applicant or the assignee, who did not originally intend to commercialize the idea. That said, many companies have filed patents for foldable mobile devices. There are 1,184 applications or granted patents in the US Patent Office database (1976 to date) under the heading “Foldable Electronic Device” and 783 in the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) database, so there is no shortage of basic foldable device applications and patents, and literally thousands more that are more specific as to displays, hinges, software, and system processes, rather than the whole device, so when we notice something unusual, we try to bring it to the attention of our client base.
Last month Chinese smartphone brand Vivo (pvt), a well-known smartphone brand that is owned by BBK Electronics (pvt), the same Chinese company that owns Oppo (pvt), OnePlus (pvt), RealMe (pvt), and iQQQ (pvt) brands that represented 46.4% of the Chinese smartphone market in 3Q and 28.6% of the global smartphone market, was granted a patent entitled “Terminal Device” by the USPO. What makes this patent a bit unusual is that it is not a device that folds like current foldable smartphones, but one that is a tri-folding device that can be used as a single screen device when closed and as an ultra-wide device when completely unfolded. The specifics as to whether the display portion of the device is a foldable single screen or three separate displays is not specified, but the mechanism for folding and unfolding the segments, and the mechanics of how they are locked in place when open is quite specific, but the patent goes further.
In typical use, most likely gaming, the screen is open to its full (3X) extent, which is ideal for game play or movie viewing but does not leave room for game or video controls, however embedded in the device are two projectors placed on either side of the open display, that project a keyboard or control space on the desk or table in front of the device. Since there are two projections of the same keyboard image, the placement of a finger or similar object on the virtual keyboard will cause sensors to detect that the projected image has been interrupted and will plot the location of that interruption. By calculating where on the virtual keyboard the projected image has been interrupted, the corresponding key or control movement can be determined and the system recognizes the users input.
How practical such a system is, not the folding device itself, although it is a mechanically complex device, but the ‘virtual keyboard’ and its accuracy and responsiveness, would need to be examined further as the type of surface and lighting characteristics could play into its operation, but you have to give Vivo credit for coming up with an ultra-wide display that dos not force the user to cover part of the image to work controls. Again, the odds are that Vivo will never produce such a device, but it is an interesting concept that would now be covered by the recent patent. It can’t hurt.
Last month Chinese smartphone brand Vivo (pvt), a well-known smartphone brand that is owned by BBK Electronics (pvt), the same Chinese company that owns Oppo (pvt), OnePlus (pvt), RealMe (pvt), and iQQQ (pvt) brands that represented 46.4% of the Chinese smartphone market in 3Q and 28.6% of the global smartphone market, was granted a patent entitled “Terminal Device” by the USPO. What makes this patent a bit unusual is that it is not a device that folds like current foldable smartphones, but one that is a tri-folding device that can be used as a single screen device when closed and as an ultra-wide device when completely unfolded. The specifics as to whether the display portion of the device is a foldable single screen or three separate displays is not specified, but the mechanism for folding and unfolding the segments, and the mechanics of how they are locked in place when open is quite specific, but the patent goes further.
In typical use, most likely gaming, the screen is open to its full (3X) extent, which is ideal for game play or movie viewing but does not leave room for game or video controls, however embedded in the device are two projectors placed on either side of the open display, that project a keyboard or control space on the desk or table in front of the device. Since there are two projections of the same keyboard image, the placement of a finger or similar object on the virtual keyboard will cause sensors to detect that the projected image has been interrupted and will plot the location of that interruption. By calculating where on the virtual keyboard the projected image has been interrupted, the corresponding key or control movement can be determined and the system recognizes the users input.
How practical such a system is, not the folding device itself, although it is a mechanically complex device, but the ‘virtual keyboard’ and its accuracy and responsiveness, would need to be examined further as the type of surface and lighting characteristics could play into its operation, but you have to give Vivo credit for coming up with an ultra-wide display that dos not force the user to cover part of the image to work controls. Again, the odds are that Vivo will never produce such a device, but it is an interesting concept that would now be covered by the recent patent. It can’t hurt.
Vivo Tri-Fold Smartphone Device with Virtual Keyboard – Source: USPO
Vivo Folding Mechanism - Source: USPO
Vivo Locking Mechanism (open) - Source: USPO
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