Time for a new Microsoft patent for a foldable device that talks about a third screen region at the hinge. This is a new development as far as Microsoft’s patents about the Surface Andromeda device are concerned. Until now most of them have featured only two displays with the connecting hinge working as a smart connector with features like detachable hinge and free-stop 360-deg mechanism.
This is how the patent abstract is described,
Techniques are described herein that are capable of making a state-based determination of information to be displayed on a screen region of a hinge that is coupled to other screen regions. For instance, a state of a hinge that is coupled between a first screen region and a second screen region may be determined. Information that is to be displayed on a third screen region that is provided on the hinge may be determine based at least in part on the state of the hinge.
Check some of the patent images below.
When we go to the Patent claims we learn that the information to be displayed of the third screen will be dependent upon things like “hinge angle” and “detection of a gesture”.
1. A device comprising: a plurality of screen regions, including at least a first screen region, a second screen region, and a third screen region; a hinge coupled between the first screen region and the second screen region, the third screen region provided on the hinge; and determination logic configured to determine information to be displayed on the third screen region based at least in part on a state of the hinge.Â
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the determination logic is configured to determine the information based at least in part on a hinge angle between a first surface of the first screen region and a second surface of the second screen region.Â
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the determination logic is configured to determine one or more virtual controls to be displayed on the third screen region based at least in part on the hinge angle being greater than zero degrees and less than 180 degrees; and wherein at least one of the one or more virtual controls is configured to enable a user of the device to provide an input to control an application that is displayed on at least one of the first screen region or the second screen region.Â
4. The device of claim 2, further comprising: gesture logic configured to detect a gesture that is directed to the third screen region; wherein the determination logic is configured to determine an interface element to be displayed on the third screen region based at least in part on the hinge angle being greater than zero degrees and less than 180 degrees and further based at least in part on detection of the gesture.Â
5. The device of claim 2, wherein the determination logic is configured to determine a notification to be displayed on the third screen region based at least in part on the hinge angle being either a) greater than zero degrees and less than 180 degrees or b) greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees.
Surface Phone/Andromeda device Features, Specs, UI & other details:
You can read our exclusive coverage of Surface Phone/Mobile top features/specs/UI design, photos & other details here. We posted some evidence that shows that Microsoft is already working to curate Apps collections for the Surface Phone/Mobile.
A recent job opening has revealed that Microsoft may be working on a 1st-party hardware (Surface device/phone) powered by just announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.
We had exclusively reported that 2018 may see Surface Mobile (Surface Phone) & Windows mobile devices from top vendors too. In a recent poll, our readers selected Surface Phone as the most appealing name for the ultimate mobile device from Microsoft. Surface Mobile and Note names came at 2nd and 3rd rank.
We earlier posted a tip from some of our retail sources about Microsoft talking to channel partners about a new Surface category of devices. The tip had claimed that Microsoft may be on fast-track to at least talk about Surface Phone/Andromeda device hardware in H1 2018 and a possible release in H2 2018.
