January 23, 2024 – In a recent development, Samsung has been granted a design patent by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last Thursday, hinting at a potential new form factor for smartphones.
Included in the patent are illustrative diagrams, with Figure 1 depicting a perspective view of the display device and Figure 2 showing the device in an expanded state.
According to the patent, Samsung’s innovative design features a structurally simple configuration that prevents the rebound effect of the metal layer at the end of the sliding display device. This not only mitigates the issue of panel cracking when the display is compressed into a curved shape but also enhances the device’s impact resistance.
It’s worth noting that Samsung’s patent solely focuses on the display structure, without delving into the marketing or end-use aspects of a potential rollable display device. Given Samsung’s extensive work in the field of rollable or foldable smartphones, it is evident that this patent describes the mechanical underpinnings of a smartphone based on a micro-sliding display.
The patent marks a significant step forward in Samsung’s ongoing exploration of alternative smartphone form factors, indicating that the tech giant is continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the mobile device landscape.
