Surface Trio? Microsoft patents possible triple-screen smartphone design

Surface Duo 2022 Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

What y'all need to know

A new Microsoft patent shows a triple-screen device.
The patent was filed back in June 2022 only only became bachelor publicly.
The design could possibly solve one of the biggest complaints nigh Surface Duo.

Update 10 PM ET 12/27: Added more context regarding the hinges and how the device folds.

When Microsoft announced its dual-screened Surface Duo, the running joke was that the company should make a Surface Uno side by side — a revolutionary smartphone with a single display. The sense of humour went in the other direction, besides, with people remarking it could do a triple-screened handheld and call it Surface Trio.

Information technology turns out, Microsoft was thinking the aforementioned thing.

A new patent was posted on December 23, 2022 (filed on June 23, 2022), and spotted by Patently Apple tree, shows Microsoft has ideas on how a triple-screen smartphone (presumably) could work.

While the patent is quite long and technical, there is a single drawing (seen below) associated with the idea to illustrate the concept.

The device (1400) features 3 displays (1402, 1404, and 1408), all connected by 2 hinge areas (1406 and 1410).

So, basically, just Surface Duo's design plus an actress display.

What makes the concept interesting is since this is a hinged device, it can collapse in on itself to once again get a single-screen grade factor, east.k., with display 1408 facing outward all the time when "airtight."

A closer wait

Analsyis of why a 'Surface Trio' could work

Ms Patent Three Screens Surface Trio Microsoft'due south new three-screen patent. Source: USPTO / Windows Fundamental

Let me connect the dots for you lot on why this design could be significant.

I of the constant debates nigh Surface Duo right now is the "need" for an external brandish. While you tin can opposite-fold Surface Duo to betrayal both displays all the fourth dimension, like a standard phone, most people will close it when not in apply, leaving no screens exposed. That also limits what you can run into, and it is one reason I argued Microsoft should do a wearable to aid alleviate that limitation.

With Surface Duo 2, Microsoft introduced the Glance Bar to help with notifications and more than info when Surface Duo is airtight. All the same, it's still non ideal for many who want more glanceable (and interactive) data.

Surface Duo 2 Glancebar Surface Duo 2's Glance Bar. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

With this new patent, this device folds down into a single screen device with brandish 1408 constantly exposed. It effectively becomes just a single-screen telephone and solves the need for an external display, and you become a full, uncorrupted screen to use every bit yous would.

Withal, y'all tin at present unfold this device to reveal a triple screen device, which sounds a fleck weird to concur and utilise. Merely at that place is a good reason to think that you could get out displays 1404 and 1408 folded dorsum-to-back, leaving only brandish 1402 and 1404 (with 1408 behind it) exposed.

This configuration would finer create a dual-screen experience again.

It'southward all a scrap reminiscent of the tri-fold tablet seen in the HBO show Westworld:

Westworld Tablet Fold Source: HBO

Indeed, looking more closely at the image, section 1402 seems thicker than both 1404 and 1408. In fact, it looks twice equally thick. That would make sense since near of the "guts," including the battery and camera, could be in section 1402, while the other displays (1404 and 1408) could be thinner with just a few components and wiring.

When folded back-to-back, both 1404 and 1408 would, ideally, equal the thickness of 1402, giving balance to the device.

It's likewise worth noting that these hinges appear to be unidirectional and not bidirectional like the current Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2. Since they practise non need to "reverse fold" with this design, at that place should be no gap between the displays, and instead, it would be one continuous screen with the glass edges coming together each other.

From the patent itself:

The first and third brandish panels 1402, 1408 may pin in any suitable pin range relative to the second display panel 1404, via the first and 2d hinges 1406, 1410. As 1 example, the first and 3rd display panels 1402, 1408 may pivot such that the multi-panel brandish device 1400 lies apartment with the starting time and tertiary display panels positioned adjacent the second display panel 1404. Every bit some other example, the outset and tertiary brandish panels 1402, 1408 may pin, such that the three display panels are stacked on top of each other in social club to reduce an overall grade cistron of the multi-panel brandish device 1400.

Of course, the big question is how (and what) a triple screen feel would be like were one to leave it lying apartment as the patent describes. I presume that display 1402 could exist simply all keyboards with the other two performance every bit screens, just it'due south not entirely clear every bit things get weird at this level.

Either mode, Microsoft is withal engaging in the thought of multi-display devices, which include smartphones and laptops, either of which could potentially benefit from this design.

However, whether Microsoft brings such a concept to the market remains to be seen. Similar many tech companies, Microsoft files for many patents, with just a few ever turning into bodily products.

Finally, while three screens seem odd, Samsung is rumored to be headed in the same direction.

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