14 DAY TRIAL // A recent Microsoft patent provides us with a glimpse into how the company sees the future of its hardware lineup, including what could be an upcoming mobile device like the Surface Phone.
Before anything, it’s worth emphasizing that this is just a patent for the time being, which means that there are no plans to mass-produce the technology here just yet, though it’s very clear that Microsoft is at least considering it for future devices.
Called “Hinged Device,” the new patent describes a hinge that can be used on a variety of devices including notebooks, wearables, tablets, and even smartphones.
Microsoft has already launched a unique hinge on the Surface Book, and there’s a chance that the second-generation model could come with a new approach, though reports in this regard are sending mixed signals.
New Surface Book hinge?
First, if we are to judge from this patent, it looks like Microsoft might be planning a new hinge for its laptop, which, according to people familiar with the matter, should launch in the fall of this year.
Then, there is speculation that because of the criticism aimed at the first generation, Microsoft wants to give up on the unconventional hinge on the Surface Book and go for a more traditional approach, similar to the design of the recently-launched Surface Laptop.
On the other hand, today’s patent is interesting also because it could drop a hint into how Microsoft wants to build the Surface Phone, a device that Windows phones fans have always dreamed about, but which hasn’t even been confirmed by the software giant.
Interestingly, Microsoft says that the hinge can be used to connect not only a keyboard and a screen but also two different displays.
“Another example can include any combination of the above and/or below examples where the device further includes a processor that generates a single graphical user interface for collective presentation across the displays when the device is in the fully open angular orientation and separate graphical user interfaces when the device is in other orientations,” the patent reads.
Previous rumors indicated that the Surface Phone was developed to be more than just a typical smartphone, with Microsoft aiming for a new form factor that would make it a portable computer probably with the help of an accessory similar to a lapdock.