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Samsung patents several new devices, including a Galaxy Round-like phone and a Moto 360-like smartwatch

posted by Chris P. / Aug 20, 2014, 7:16 AM

Samsung patents several new devices, including a Galaxy Round-like phone and a Moto 360-like smartwatch

A number of design patents, describing new Samsung devices, have been awarded to the company yesterday, August 19. While these on their own are usually not enough to indicate a given device is on path to commercial release, they do provide us with a glimpse into Samsung's plans.

To start off, the world's largest smartphone vendor appears to be working on a sequel to its Galaxy Round smartphone, for the device illustrated has the same concave display. What's more, while we'll be the first to admit that judging a device's screen based on renders is anything but an exact science, it does look like the device in question will be pretty large.

Galaxy Round-like Samsung device

Another interesting design patent Samsung was awarded illustrates a device very much alike to Motorola's Moto 360 smartwatch and appears to sport a camera on its clasp. The wearable in question has a circular display, so Samsung is obviously thinking of covering all its bases as far as the new form factor is concerned. Whether this is the rumored Galaxy Solo remains unknown.

Moto 360-like Samsung smartwatch

The third design patent Samsung received is real interesting. The device in question features a circular Home button on its bottom front bezel, which reminds a whole lot of the Apple iPhone's.

iPhone-like Samsung phone design patent

The fourth new Samsung design patent shows us a device that, while not as interesting as the trio above, is curious in that it appears to be a part of something bigger. Indeed, one of the images illustrates how you can dock the phone into what appears to be tablet

Samsung ASUS PadFone-like design patent

View more + 2 images

Next on the list is a device that isn't striking in any particular way, with the exception of perhaps one. The below device looks quite ordinary, though it does have a stripe mid-section on its rear and what appear to be at least two speakers on the sides.

Samsung phone design patent

View more + 1 image

The last design patent Samsung was awarded illustrates a phone that appears to be of the budget type, though we obviously can't be sure. The device itself looks fairly standard, though its profile does gain weight towards the bottom. Check it out.

Samsung phone design patent

Do keep in mind that design patents are sometimes awarded post-factum, meaning that the illustrated device could be already commercially available. Anything caught your attention?

source: USPTO

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38 Comments

1. Mxyzptlk unregistered

And they wonder why they get sued.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 7:28 AM 10

7. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Yes, they patented iPhone, so that they can't be sued. :) BTW this time they gonna ditch Capacitive keys IMO.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 8:04 AM 2

31. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Interesting.... since they were the first to use capacitive buttons on a phone in SGH-Z610 in January 2006. Why doesn't Samsung sue others over that or the fact that same phone had the first single round HOME button 3.5" touchscreen smartphone w/ gestures no less.... a year before iPhone was even announced! .....so who copied who? Apple naturally... because they spent a 10th of what Samsung spends on R&D and nothing on actual CAPEX on Factories they don't own themselves!

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6:25 AM 0

9. tedkord

Posts: 17469; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

This is brilliant. They're using Apple's own tactic against them - take advantage of the broken patent system by getting patents for the work of others - while also calling attention to the fact that the system is so broken. They finally really did copy Apple. Apple's shady strategy.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 9:01 AM 3

14. Iodine

Posts: 1504; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

Yeah when Apple does something to protect their intellectual property it is shameless, unlawfull, dishonest, anti-android and god knows what else. But when samsung fills a patent that will help them copy something (moto 360) without penalty, suddenly it's brilliant. Current anti-Apple generation is amusing. They will make a patent troll from a company that is ironically the most frequent target of patent trolls and support samsung's strategy of shameless ripoffs and downright court trolling to stretch the verdict making process as long as it's possible and get the lowest penalty possible, even patent something they are about to copy to reduce the penalty and complicate the verdict even more, even though they are saying that Apple is the one that does that, and hate those things so much.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 9:57 AM 2

15. nebsif

Posts: 37; Member since: Jul 27, 2014

they dont protect, they attack others for meaningless details. Microsoft is also a pro patent troll, rockstar consortium and all.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 11:53 AM 3

29. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Apple is their fellow Rockstar Consortium member and if Congress is smart, they'll ban these consortiums that make all their members money off 1000's of bogus patents that should never have been granted in the first place. But hey try to tell that to this ignorant phonearena non-technical tech writer. They can't even seem to notice that fact that if they're granted that means Samsung can't be sued over them. Especially since most of them were applied for years ago. These so called tech writers should really think about getting a brain that actually works!

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6:13 AM 0

17. tedkord

Posts: 17469; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

The one problem with your logic is that Apple constantly files patents that are copies of others work. The majority the sue others with are on things Apple stole from others, like slide to unlock. This patent getting through brilliantly illustrates the problem with the patent system. The very fact that you defend Apple for doing the exact same thing while decrying Samsung shows clearly where you're coming from.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 12:26 PM 4

38. nithyakr

Posts: 161; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

Can you please do illustrate when did Apple Copied another smartphone for a patent. Not starting a fight. Just for my knowledge. Cz I'm an Apple fan and I've never heard apple patenting a technology of another manufacturer.

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 7:00 AM 0

20. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

You do know Apple started this BS. I don't think anyone in the actual technology business sued anyone for a rectangle screen with rounded corners EVER.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 1:12 PM 2

37. nithyakr

Posts: 161; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

Apple was right to sue Samsung because even the Samsung's Lawyers could not identify the iPad from Samsung tablet during the trial. 'Nuff said!!

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 6:58 AM 0

30. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Samsung actually filed that patent years ago and they are the only screen fabricator who can manufacture ROUND AMOLED SCREENS in the FIRST PLACE!!! Besides...... if the USPTO.... here granted them, that means they're not a COPY of any other PATENT!!!! .....think about that and this; most of the patents granted were applied for years ago! haha....

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6:17 AM 0

36. nithyakr

Posts: 161; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

Well then why you all scream like little babies when Apple was granted Patents by USPTO. You'll bitch about 'The patent is a copy, not innovation' bla bla bla. Typical Fandroids! No straight word with you!

posted on Aug 22, 2014, 6:56 AM 0

35. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

What this writer fails to notice is this; over 72,000 patents have been searched for Samsung. That's 2nd only to IBM who is the MOTHER OF ALL PATENT APPLICATIONS ON TECHNOLOGY! Remember it's now "FIRST TO FILE" that wins the actual Patent Grant. Which all these patents Granted are. Since you can't Patent the same thing twice. Which also means Samsung is now rightful owner and can go out and SUE ALL THEIR COMPETITION OUT OF BUSINESS, WHO'VE STOLEN THESE PATENTS FROM THEM!!! ....and so yeah, I hope Apple is the first one they go after!!!

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6:49 AM 0

12. superguy

Posts: 471; Member since: Jul 15, 2011

Hard to sue the patent owner for infringement. Apple can argue that the patent's invalid and shouldn't have been granted, but they can't sue them for infringement.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 9:51 AM 2

21. Ashoaib

Posts: 3309; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

apple has started a full pandora.... slide to unlock, rubber band effect etc... now samsung is following the same foot prints and patenting designs of other's... this colonial/slavery system called patents should be banned and should be seized to exist... then this world will be free of big crocodiles like microsoft, apple, google, samsung etc no more patents plz

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 2:08 PM 2

23. MEeee

Posts: 440; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Apple borrowed the rounded button design from 2006 SAMSUNG SGH-Z610.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 4:12 PM 2

27. kdarling

Posts: 1; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

It helps to understand that design patents are about the entire design (e.g. the one with the not-so-iPhone front (with speaker notch) also looks quite different from the sides and back). More importantly, dashed lines are not part of a design patent. Almost all of the ines in the so-called Moto 360 clone design are dashed. All that's actually being claimed is the look of the wristband and camera lens on it.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 10:02 PM 0

28. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Getting sued by Apple is nothing new for their biggest and best competitors. It's the history of the Original iCopyist has had since suing Franklin Computer out of business. Look at Apple vs Microsoft; they stole no code and only stole the idea of a GUI and mouse, that Apple had stolen from Xerox PARC Labs. So naturally they lost that one! lol.... which almost put them out of business too! Now as the round button? Samsung's own SGHZ-610 had a single physical round button Home button doubling as the media Play Button out in January 2006. In fact they got smart not to use the round button prototype on Samsung 700 concept patented in November 2006 and instead went with rectangular design home (media play icon) button they're still using today! So who copied who? lol.... Seems Samsung has more of a right to go after Apple for stealing that design and look who's design is now more practical! ;-P As for Padphone? Come people they turned this up in a search of over 72,000 USPTO patents by Samsung that have been granted. While making over 100,000 patent applications. Which is 2nd only to IBM here in America. A huge number of patents are still pending and many of the patents just granted were from 3 to 10 years ago. Google hold the record for most patents submitted to the USPTO and not ever being granted even today! The US Patent System is completely BROKEN and and the rumors are rampant about why they have been known to grant Apple's patent applications, many times within days and the attorney they get assigned to for validation somehow able to get those granted within days of submission! .....it's obviously a very corrupt system that even cherry picks patents from mostly for Apple. Pretty insane when even local companies can't get patents passed submitted over 12 yrs ago and Apple gets them in a few days!

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 1:35 AM 1

2. nithyakr

Posts: 161; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

Samsung! Mother of all Copy cats! Shamesung indeed. And shamelessly they patented the designs too. The true colour of Samsung now revealed. Copying Companies like Apple and trying to patent the same thing. This is exactly why Apple must take action against the shameless copying spree of Samsung.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 7:29 AM 7

4. swayze91

Posts: 51; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

cause the ever so innovative folks at Apple have never copied anything before....ever.....

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 7:45 AM 4

10. tedkord

Posts: 17469; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Or patented the copied work *cough* slide to unlock *cough*. Or used said copied patents to try and ban competition.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 9:02 AM 3

13. superguy

Posts: 471; Member since: Jul 15, 2011

You mean like this?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU "We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas." and "Good artists copy; great artists steal."

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 9:56 AM 1

8. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 2011

haha poor ol desperate sammy

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 8:29 AM 1

34. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

I hope SAMSUNG with these newly granted patents (which means they legally own the designs) goes out and SUES the hell out of companies like Apple. Because new laws in effect make the date of submission of application the rightful date of ownership, when granted! Sue 'em Sammy!!! .....SUE 'em ALL RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS!!! lol...

posted on Aug 21, 2014, 6:41 AM 0

3. uchihakurtz

Posts: 428; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

Lol, the second one is like iPhone front and Nexus 4 back, dang man double sue. I wanna see the fourth one though, gonna be the first Samsung with softkey.

posted on Aug 20, 2014, 7:32 AM 1

33. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Yeah... and I hope Samsung goes out and SUES the CrAp out of Apple and Google for stealing designs they had first in January 2006! ...think about this; most of these patents were applied for ages ago. Now granted, Samsung can go out and SUE the hell of Apple and win. Their patent grant..... makes them VALID as first to Apply for a Patent. Which according to new laws, means the date of application, not the date they got final approval. It means they finished patents searches and SAMSUNG's Patent Stands as Legally granted! Hope Samsung goes out now and sues all their competitors who have violated these legally granted patents!!! hahaha..... will serve Apple right!!!