While recent developments regarding foldable mobile devices have all been about phones, it appears that Samsung something else planned. If this patent is anything to go by, the company could also have a foldable tablet in the works.
Unlike the phone which has one hinge where it folds, the patent shows that this tablet will have two. This means that the foldable tablet will have three segments, and as a result will also have three use-case scenarios.
If the standard size of the tablet it a tad too wide, the left segment can be folded to the back. Since it’s not in use in that position, that segment’s portion of the display will automatically be turned off. If it’s still too large, you can then fold in the right segment. This then, turns on the screen of the left segment that was folded in earlier, giving the entire device a phone-like form factor, albeit a lot thicker than the average phone.
As with all patents, just because it was granted to a company doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee that we’ll be seeing a consumer product based on it. However, depending on the reception of the brand’s foldable phone, it wouldn’t be unusual for Samsung to ride on the wave of its own success.
(Source: Mobiel kopen via PhoneArena)
