Samsung has filed a patent for a multi-fold tablet as the Korean tech giant experiments with foldable display concepts.

Spotted by Patently Mobile, the patent shows Samsung continues to experiment with different types of displays for upcoming mobile devices. The tablet’s display shown appears to fold in two separate places, which could add extra functionality.

The patent suggests that multiple different configurations offer different functionality. For example, folding one flap out could act as a large keyboard with the top flap acting as a notification bar above the main display. Or the two additional displays folding in to create a smart cover for the main display.

What’s interesting is that the patent also briefly mentions the ability to make phone calls with the tablet via a third configuration. It’s not unheard of to have phone functionality in a tablet, but it is rare. Largely because a big, hefty tablet is too cumbersome for holding up against your face.

But this is why foldable technology is so important: phones can become tablets and tablets can become phones. And, as Samsung has demonstrated with this patent, flexible devices don’t necessarily have to have just one fold. Having multiple parts of the device that are flexible could open up a whole new avenue of form factors.

An unusual, experimental take on a tablet like this is exactly what Samsung needs to challenge Apple's dominance in the tablet area -and reinvigorate a shrinking market. But this, of course, is just a patent - so there’s no guarantee that it will ever make it to market. It’s not uncommon for companies to file patents, have them granted, and never act on them.

But, given Samsung’s very public statements about working on flexible OLED technology, and the fact that it demoed a very similar looking tablet back in 2013, I’d be surprised if a version of this tablet didn’t make it to market.

The problem is whether or not Samsung has the technology to launch this, or a more basic foldable phone. There have been conflicting reports about how ready Samsung is to release its first flexible phone. The Korean company could be facing delays because either the science of building a stable, foldable display hasn’t quite been cracked yet, or it’s still fiddling with the UI and UX of the Galaxy X.

Whatever the reason, there’s clearly a race amongst Android manufacturers - and Apple - to be the first to launch the next generation of smartphones. Samsung might not be the first, but it could easily be the best.

By: DocMemory
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