Smartphone evolving into flexible display

 

Converting to flexible display,

Smartphone manufacturers have continued research and development to develop display types. In particular, it is trying to change from a general flat display to a flexible display that can fold or roll the screen. This is because flexible displays have a smaller volume than general displays, and are made of special plastics instead of glass, which improves durability. In 2013, Samsung introduced the world's first Galaxy Round with a curved display. Since then, it has begun to market continuously developed products, such as releasing edge smartphones equipped with flexible displays that are curved at the corners of smartphones.

🔺 samsung.com

Foldable smartphone,

Six years after entering the flexible smartphone market with the Galaxy Round, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold, a folding smartphone. Fold was sold out worldwide, drawing attention from around the world. Flip and Fold 2, which were released in succession, also succeeded, solidifying their position in the foldable smartphone market. Since then, many foreign media have wondered what the next smartphone will be like. Samsung's next smartphone was indirectly found through Samsung's patent, which was released at the USPTO on the 19th. The published patent name is ‘Multi-Foldable electronic device’. The Folds and Flips released so far have been folded inward, but in this patent, they are folded both inside and outside. If the product is released in a form that can be folded several times as shown below, it is expected that the smartphone can be used like a tablet PC.

🔺 wipsglobal.com
< US 2020-0366770 >

Rollable display,

LG was the first to stand out in the rollable display market. In April 2019, LG filed a patent for a roll-slide mobile terminal, a smartphone-related patent with a rollable display. Consumers showed a lot of interest, such as giving the nickname ‘Rumor Phone’ by the predicted image created with the patent design. LG's rollable smartphone, which had only been rumored, was officially released in September of this year. On the last 12/2, an emulator containing the rollable smartphone specification was released on the Android developer site, and the product is expected to be released soon.

🔺 wipsglobal.com
< KR 2020-0117741 >

Future form of a smartphone?

Stretchable displays are drawing attention for the next generation display after rollable. Because it stretches like a rubber band and can be transformed freely, its application range and potential are endless.

🔺 wipsglobal.com
< KR 2019-0087886 >

The government has also determined that stretchable displays are a key driver for future growth, and has designated it as a national project to focus on research and development. I am curious to see what form the smartphone will appear next time, which is constantly changing.