Versatile Display: Samsung’s Patent Reveals Square-Shaped Smartphone With Extendable Sliding Display Capable of Opening from Either Direction
Samsung appears to be exploring innovative design possibilities with a patent revealing a potential square-shaped smartphone featuring an extendable display. The patent showcases a compact square device with a unique extendable display that smoothly pops out from either end of the device through a sliding motion.
Notably, this patent surfaces approximately a month after the documentation of two Samsung technologies—Flex Magic and Flex Magic Pixel—in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), describing them as “expandable screen for smartphones.” While the US patent shares similarities, it refrains from explicitly using these terms.
The discovery of this patent was made by Website Rating in collaboration with tipster David Kowalski from xleaks7. The PDF of the patent, associated with the United States Patent Application Publication, attributes the application to Samsung Display with a filing date of June 22, 2023. The patent outlines Samsung’s pursuit of registering a novel display technology capable of extension from multiple directions.
The noteworthy aspect of Samsung’s display innovation lies in its approach to preventing the spring-back action of a metal layer at the end of a sliding display. This mechanism addresses potential issues such as panel cracking caused by repetitive strikes of the metal layer against the display panel, enhancing the device’s durability and longevity. The patent also highlights the versatility of this technology by indicating its compatibility with both OLED and LCD displays, showcasing Samsung’s commitment to advancing display technologies.
Samsung appears to be exploring cutting-edge design concepts, as hinted by a recent patent that suggests the development of a square-shaped smartphone featuring an extendable display. While the patent documentation itself refrains from explicitly labeling the device as a square-shaped smartphone, a recent report has interpreted it as such.
However, the wording in the patent remains somewhat ambiguous, allowing for speculation about its potential application in various devices beyond smartphones. The extendable display technology showcased in the patent could find applications in smart TVs, augmented reality (AR) devices, smartwatches, or even an entirely new category of gadgets. As of now, Samsung has not officially confirmed the existence of a square-shaped smartphone with an extendable display, and there have been no public announcements regarding this potential innovation.
In a comparative analysis with a previous GizmoChina report on the Flex Magic Pixel patent, similarities between the patents are noted, but significant differences also stand out. The earlier Flex Magic patent explicitly described the technology as an “expandable screen for smartphones” and envisioned “smartphones in the shape of a watch.” In contrast, the language used in the new patent avoids such explicit categorizations, adding an element of mystery to Samsung’s design aspirations.
While the report draws parallels, it underscores that the unique features of the new patent may set it apart, potentially introducing novel advancements in display technology. The patent’s filing date of June 22, 2023, aligns with Samsung’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of display innovation, and further developments in this space will be eagerly awaited.