Microsoft Patents Novel Hinge Design, Hints at Foldable Phone Comeback

Microsoft is reportedly exploring a return to the foldable device market, despite the discontinuation of its Surface Duo smartphone line. A recently unveiled patent application suggests the tech giant is developing a novel hinge system aimed at improving the durability and aesthetics of foldable phones.

The patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, details a "spine cover plate" designed to protect the hinge of a foldable device. This design is intended to address common issues with current foldable phones, such as visible creases and vulnerability to dust and water.

The application describes a foldable smartphone concept featuring a single hinge and a flexible display, similar in style to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. However, the focus is on the spine cover plate mechanism, which aims to shield the hinge system.

According to the patent, the spine cover would automatically adjust as the phone opens and closes. This dynamic adjustment would prevent gaps around the hinge, providing enhanced protection against environmental elements. While Samsung's current foldable design boasts an IPX8 rating for water resistance, Microsoft's approach aims for a more comprehensive defense.

Furthermore, the new hinge mechanism has the potential to minimize the visibility of the hinge crease, a persistent challenge in foldable display technology.

Microsoft's patent also outlines methods for reducing the overall thickness of the foldable device. The spine cover plate could retract towards the central spine when the device is folded, resulting in a slimmer profile for improved handling.

In the patent, Microsoft stated, “By retracting the spine cover plate toward the central spine as the first display-supporting frame and the second display-supporting frame are rotated into a face-to-face orientation, the width of the folded computing device is reduced, thereby enabling easier and more comfortable handling of the device, such as with one hand”.

While the concept is intriguing, the practicality of the design remains uncertain. The smartphone industry is actively seeking solutions to eliminate the crease issue in foldable displays. Although some manufacturers have implemented water-drop folding mechanisms to mitigate the problem, a truly crease-free foldable phone has yet to emerge. The durability of foldable devices, given their numerous moving parts, is also a crucial consideration.

Adding another movable component on top of the existing foldable mechanism may not be the most straightforward approach, despite the potential benefits in durability and protection outlined in Microsoft's patent application.