New Samsung patent reveals a hinge design that could be used to build a folding smartphone with a flexible display

Samsung has been under constant focus after a number of rumours popped up hinting that the company could be working on a new form-factor for the smartphone . [caption id=“attachment_4267327” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Image: Reuters[/caption] These rumours and reports range from a **foldable smartphone**  with a  **flexible screen** to a smartphone that can convert into a wristband as well. The rumours and reports range from  leaked model number references  to  **support pages** , reports from industry insiders, **patent applications** , alleged design renders and more. According to a recent report by LetsGoDigital, the company could be working on a new foldable device that employs the new hinge design along with a touch-enabled, flexible display. The problem with a flexible display is that it can’t be ‘folded’ beyond a certain point. The compressive and tensile forces on the inside and outside of the display must not exceed a certain value, and that’s where this new, patented hinge comes in. The patent essentially describes a metal form of sorts that limits the curvature of the display at the point of folding. [caption id=“attachment_4358433” align=“alignnone” width=“1224”] Image: LetsGoDigital[/caption] Samsung filed the patent on 29 May 2017 and it was published on WIPO on 15 February 2018. The report points out that the device specified in the patent application could be anything, a smartphone, navigation device, gaming console, laptop, tablet, or even a television.