Samsung’s much-awaited and ambitious first-generation foldable smartphone, Samsung Galaxy Fold, made its global debut earlier this year in February and was all set to go on sale in April. However, issues related to the phone’s display, as pointed out by reviewers, forced the company to postpone its launch.
While the company has not yet announced the new launch date for the Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a new patent to Samsung relating to an alternative folding smartphone based on a ‘Fold-Out’ design.
The patent describes a foldable display apparatus that is adjustable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration includes a flexible display panel and a case. The first case supports the first side of the flexible display panel and a second case supports the second side of the flexible display panel.
There’s also a link member connecting the first case to the second case and a locking unit which is configured to prevent rotation of the first case and the second case in a folding direction when the foldable display apparatus is in the unfolded configuration.
The locking unit may include a slide cover rotatably coupled to the first case and slidably coupled to the second case. The slide cover may slide along a rail groove in the second case when the first case and the second case are rotated to move the foldable display apparatus between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration.
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Currently, Samsung is fixing the issues related to the Galaxy Fold smartphone. It is expected to tuck the protective display layer into the body and will also block the gaps at the top and bottom of the hinge to prevent debris from damaging the foldable display. While there’s no official confirmation yet, but the smartphone is expected to be available for purchase from next month.
(Via)
