Microsoft Surface Phone tri-fold folding screen patent revealed

      According to onMSFT, Microsoft continues to develop dual-screen smartphones in 2021 and next year, but the company seems to want to attract users with three-screen phones in the near future.

　　A patent filed on June 23, 2020, was made public last week and recently discovered by Patently Apple, showing a concept of what the Surface Duo would look like if it had a second hinge to house a third screen.

　　This patent may seem laughable at a time when foldable phones have yet to take hold in the minds of consumers, but Microsoft's patent may actually help its vision of a foldable phone become a reality sooner than others.

　　The patent itself details the hinge degree, parallel axes, elongated magnets, magnetic shielding, Hall effect sensors, etc., and is accompanied by pictures. From the appearance, Microsoft hopes to add a 2/3 size display that can be used as a multi-function screen.

　　There's been mention of the screen acting as a keyboard, trackpad, or game controller in different use cases, however, its most useful function may just be an outward-facing screen, similar to the new hotspot on the Samsung Galaxy Fold.

　　IT Home learned that the Microsoft Surface Duo phone naturally competes with the Samsung Galaxy Fold phone, which does provide an external display for easier instant access to content, while the lack of an external display on the Duo phone has caused some controversy when viewing notifications.

　　This new patent, if executed properly, could help the Surface Duo keep pace with phones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, or even surpass them.

　　Since the three screens fold over each other, with the top screen acting as a more traditional single display, those who occasionally or frequently want a larger, tablet-style screen will have the most flexibility of any foldable currently on the market.

　　Microsoft has proven that it can make sturdy hinges, and while the hinges in this patent are one-way, unlike the two-way hinges on the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2, it’s safe to assume they’ll be fixed in place like the Surface Duo’s hinges.

　　Microsoft's patent has been visualized by the props team for the HBO show Westworld, and Microsoft's version will look a lot like it, minus the aspect ratio.

　　While exciting, there are still issues to consider, such as battery, weight, cooling, memory management, how the Microsoft Launcher or Android in general will present a three-screen experience, and so on.

　　However, in the form in which it is explained, the new patent will help Microsoft overcome what it sees as some of the shortcomings of the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2.