14 DAY TRIAL // Patent applications show the many creative ideas and directions that manufacturers could adopt in upcoming products. Samsung recently filed two patent applications, describing new designs and features for products that are already available on the market.
The first patent application filed at the USPTO shows a wearable device that resembles a smartwatch, with the exception of a camera in the middle of its circular display. The camera appears to have optical zoom capabilities, which allow it to protrude outside the surface of the display when zooming in. It does look like something from Bond movies, although we doubt it’s that subtle.
Since the smartwatch’s display was replaced by a camera lens, the secondary screen is located right on the watch band. The sketches that accompany the patent application reveal the wrist band’s functionality that resembles that of edge panels on Galaxy S8 phones. It appears to come with quick-launch icons for a number of apps, including music, email, clock and settings.
A Samsung tablet with a rollable display
The second patent application that Samsung filed reveals a tablet with a rollable display. The flexible screen would have the capacity to roll on one side, while the device will be able to determine the active area on the display. Still, the sketches accompanying the description rather hint towards a stretchable display that Samsung recently unveiled. The OLED display is quite flexible and has the capacity to stretch as much as 12 millimeters when pressure is applied, while keeping its high degree of resolution.
It’s unclear whether Samsung actually plans to start work on these two projects, and manufacturers often file patent applications for new ideas, although they don’t go into development. Some patent applications do see the light of day as actual products, but that usually happens after a long period of time.
Before Samsung can start work on a tablet with rollable display, the company must unveil the Galaxy X with foldable OLED screen, which will have the capacity to fold into half and thus transform from a tablet into a smartphone.