Two new Microsoft patents published today and filed in 2016 offer more hope to those waiting for the Surface Phone/Mobile device with a foldable design. These patents focus on the camera setup on a foldable mobile device.
In the first patent, we see a foldable device with two camera modules/elements on each part adjusted in such a way that when folded both camera elements will face each other.
A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises an imaging unit and a magnet movably connected to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet fixed to the optical unit. The magnet movably connected to the imaging unit may be sliding along a guiding element. The body sections are also in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets, and in the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit. In the second mode the units are positioned apart from each other.
The second patent talks about a foldable device like the one shown in the above patent but here one of the parts comes with a mechanical flap. This flap can cover or uncover camera of one of the parts in a bid to conceal or reveal it.
A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a first camera element having an optical axis, and the second body section comprises a second camera element and a mechanical flap adapted to expose and conceal the second camera element. The first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the first and the second body sections are brought together, and the mechanical flap is adapted to expose the second camera element. In the second mode, the first and the second body sections are positioned such that the first and the second camera elements are positioned away from each other, and the mechanical flap is adapted to conceal the second camera element
In the above image, the mechanical flap is shown that can cover one of the parts of the foldable device and conceal its camera unit. But the below image again confirms that the foldable device shown in this patent too is similar to one we saw in the first patent.
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. That Microsoft is working on a foldable mobile device that will be powered by Andromeda, the full Windows 10 on ARM + Cshell has featured in lots of leaks/rumors recently.
We recently reported about some features/specs/UI design details about Surface Phone/Mobile exclusively. We also shared about how the Surface Mobile will be different from the earlier leaked Microsoft Courier concept. We had exclusively reported that 2018 may see Surface Mobile (Surface Phone) & Windows mobile devices from top vendors too.
