14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung is one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in many countries around the world and it's no wonder that the company is continuously working on bringing innovative features and components to its flagship phones. This is the main reason why the South Korean company often patents concepts and ideas.
Patently Mobile has just come across a new patent application filed by Samsung, portraying a foldable tablet that incorporates a built-in keyboard and stand. The patent application was published by the US Patent Office this week, but the request was filed last year.
Usually, patent applications come with sketches illustrating concepts and ideas that are being registered. This is the case with this latest patent application as well, and the images show a foldable tablet, with one of the three foldable segments being a built-in keyboard.
The tablet transforms into a large display
When opened, the three segments form a large display for watching videos and playing games. The stand definitely comes in handy, seeing as the tablet could successfully replace a regular display.
As expected, the report doesn't reveal any details on the materials that Samsung would use in order to create this tablet or what components it will incorporate. Nevertheless, the patent application does offer a rather detailed representation of the foldable tablet.
One thing to remember is that patent applications are simply registrations of concepts and they don't necessarily mean that the projects will become reality. However, Samsung is said to be working on an upcoming foldable smartphone, which only goes to show that the company is very much interested in foldable mobile devices.
Just recently, another Samsung patent application surfaced, one that showed a device that turns into a phone, watch or tablet. In addition, rumors say that the Galaxy X foldable smartphone could arrive as early as next year and might feature a 4k flexible display.
The phone might be part of the company's highly anticipated Project Valley. It remains to be seen when and if Samsung will release a foldable tablet to the market, but the concept of such a device is surely appealing.