Samsung patent shows a foldable display that works with the S Pen

by Georgi Zarkov / Oct 08, 2019, 9:20 AM

Samsung patent shows a foldable display that works with the S Pen

After a lengthy delay, Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is now shipping to customers around the world but the company is already looking towards the next iteration of the device. Rumors about it are already circling the internet and today we’re getting a hint of what else we might expect from the next Fold.

Found in a patent application submitted by Samsung, and spotted by LetsGoDigital, is a method for accurate detection of finger and stylus gestures on foldable touch-sensitive displays. The patent focuses specifically on parts of the display that are subject to folding.

This area requires special attention for a couple of reasons. First, the area of the display that bends has worse support because of the hinge and other moving parts that are behind it. This makes it more delicate and sensitive to pressure, especially when it comes to something like the S Pen which has way smaller contact area with the display than a finger. And while that issue can be resolved with improved materials and better design, the other one requires a more complicated solution.

Currently, when using the S Pen the Galaxy Note detects where it is even when you hold it slightly above the display which helps users with precision when using it. Naturally, the indicator is positioned exactly below the tip of the S Pen where the display is closest. With foldable devices, however, there could be multiple points that are equally distanced from the S Pen with neither of them being the correct one for practical use.

Different use cases of the S Pen with a foldable device

To correct that, the device must be capable of determining the exact state of the display, whether it’s unfolded, folded (outward folds are supported as well) or semi-folded and if the S Pen is within the folding area of the display. Then the algorithms determine where the correct position of the cursor should be for an intuitive behavior of the device. While that seems like a trivial problem to solve apparently figuring out the correct hovering point of the S Pen is something so complex that it’s worth patenting the solution.

It’s interesting to note that the illustrations in this patent show a device with two hinges that folds in a Z pattern, something that was present in other leaks as well. The addition of the S Pen to the fold could be a sign that Samsung might merge the two lines and create a Galaxy Note Fold (or Fold Note?). With its large display, a future Fold device fits perfectly with what the Note line has been all about: productivity. With the addition of the S Pen, Samsung can take that to another level.

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15 Comments

1. gadgetpower

Posts: 283; Member since: Aug 23, 2019

Whatever gimmick they put on their phone won’t work. Just price their flagships below $500 and it will sell like hotcakes.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 9:54 AM 1

2. Rampage_Taco

Posts: 1079; Member since: Jan 17, 2017

Having the fold with S-Pen compatibility makes more sense than the fold without it. It turns your device into a Digital Notebook with all the same standard functions of a Smartphone and Tablet

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 10:48 AM 8

3. rsiders

Posts: 1972; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

That was exactly my argument against the 1st generation Fold. I think the Surface Duo put a little heat under Samsung's behind even though its a totally different product.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 10:53 AM 2

5. Rampage_Taco

With all of the teases for the Fold up until the official reveal, I've assumed it would essentially become the Successor of the Note Line. I see the logical flow of the Galaxy line up having 2 S-Series phones, 1 Note (for those who want the S-Pen without the fold), and the Fold

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 11:13 AM 2

4. rsiders

Now we're cooking!

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 10:54 AM 1

6. Rocket

Posts: 669; Member since: Feb 24, 2014

A foldable note phone without an stupid notch would be cool.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 12:01 PM 1

7. darkkjedii

Posts: 31293; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

The S-Pen is the king of productivity. Apple needs to get on board, before they can truly call the iPhone a Pro. Add more RAM too, cause those reloads suck.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 1:04 PM 3

8. gadgetpower

You suck because you can’t buy an ipad pro that can do whatever you want. there’s a reason why apple is still selling millions of ipads and that is people like to use pencil on bigger screen. If your Note is a true innovation then why it lags sales just like your galaxies.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 5:23 PM 0

9. darkkjedii

I own an ipad Pro 12.9, and I also have an Apple Pencil. normally, I don't respond to you, cause you're nothing more than a stupid ass simple troll, but I thought you'd like to know I own an iPad. My wife bought it for me in 2016 for Xmas. Oh yeah, the reason the iPad is so good, is cause Apple copied several key Note features. Split view, PIP. tap to note, side scrubber, and the Apple Pencil itself...all copied from the Note. Bye troll.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 6:04 PM 3

12. mackan84

Posts: 548; Member since: Feb 13, 2014

I thought that was a real fun way to respond. But haven’t all these things been in products before Note and of course iPad? At least a predecessor-functionality like it. Everything in tech has a past somewhere else and something has always been done before in some way. Google and discussions have taught me that :)

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 7:39 PM 1

13. darkkjedii

I never once said Samsung created them, but samsung did make them very popular, then Apple copied them like they always do. Apple is the biggest copycat out there. Don't act coy dude.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 9:03 PM 1

10. darkkjedii

https://youtu.be/i_vHUITbEs4 I don't lie, and don't have to troll.

posted on Oct 08, 2019, 6:14 PM 2

14. darkkjedii

I know you saw my video lol. you just won't admit, you had to put both feet in your mouth. It's ok, now you know LMAOOO! Nite Note, oops I meant nite Nite 10+ lol.