Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Monday September 16 2019, @10:42AM   Printer-friendly
from the fold-and-go dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow2718

Dual-screen and foldable Windows devices are on the way.

Microsoft has been working on a dual-screen Surface device that may well resemble the company's Courier concept. The software giant is expected to tease the device at its Surface hardware event next month, but new patents show that Microsoft's work goes far beyond just dual-screen hardware. A new patent, spotted by WindowsUnited, has surfaced that reveals Microsoft has been working on a special hinge that uses liquid to reduce the stress on flexible and foldable displays.

The liquid can be filled inside cavities around the flexible display to help it bend and move into different positions. Microsoft's example shows a device with two separate sides and a flexible OLED display that extends across the entire device. Microsoft has long been focused on complex and impressive hinge work with its Surface devices, and this particular hinge is described in a lot of detail in the patent filing.

[...] The most interesting part of this patent filing is that it's been filed by "Microsoft technology licensing," which could indicate the company will license this technology to other partners and PC makers. Microsoft is currently working closely with Intel and a number of OEMs to ready a new version of Windows, codenamed "Windows Lite," that will run on foldable and dual-screen devices. This new Windows version will be targeted toward dual-screen and foldable hardware. Microsoft has also previously licensed some of its Surface Pro hinge work to partners.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/13/20864462/microsoft-surface-dual-screen-foldable-liquid-hinge-concept-rumors-event


Original Submission

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
(1)
  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @01:25PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @01:25PM (#894592)

    I would rather Microsoft license a good hinge for 2-in-1s to ODMs than their operating system.

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by DannyB on Monday September 16 2019, @02:47PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday September 16 2019, @02:47PM (#894610) Journal

      Engineering, please step aside.

      Marketing, please take over.

      It needs endorsements from leading industry magazines and trade rags.

      The hinge needs a cool name for advertising.

      Engineering, please design the hinge so it requires cryogenic temperatures in order to work -- because that would be sooper cool (close to absolute zero cool).

      Another requirement: The device needs to fold eight times so that it is tiny enough to lose in your shirt pocket never to be found again. Better than George Jetson's flying car.

      Opening the hinge too rapidly should be recognized as the user signalling that they want their device to reboot instead of just wake up.

      Now we have a product truly worthy of the Microsoft brand name!

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @02:58PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @02:58PM (#894620)

        Microsoft LubeBender

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @06:38PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @06:38PM (#894753)

      It's a blue liquid specially designed so that when it fails it notifies you by spraying onto the screen. It's patented as Microsofts BSOD.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @01:06PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @01:06PM (#895118)

        You forgot to mention that the blue liquid is a topical toxin.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @09:48PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @09:48PM (#894833)

    It's a Trap!

(1)