A new patent shows a dual-screen design by Dell, potentially indicating a future device.
What you need to know
New patents by Dell show off a design for a flexible hinge and dual-screen devices.
The patents were filed earlier this year and published in August.
Lenovo has shown off similar technology in ThinkPad X1 foldable PC.
Two recently published patents show off designs from Dell that could be parts of a dual-screen device (via WindowsUnited). The patents illustrate a flexible hinge and a dual-screen setup for a PC. If Dell uses these patents in a future device, the company would be joining a dual-screen movement which includes a foldable PC from Lenovo and foldable phones from Samsung and Huawei.
Patent US20190243426 was initially applied for on February 2, 2019 and later published on August 8, 2019. The description from the filing outlines how multiple displays help deliver more information to users and how current hinge designs are not optimized for dual-screen devices.
The patent goes on to describe how a dual axes hinge helps solve problems facing dual-screen devices.
Patent US10394278 was applied for on March 3, 2019 and published on August 27, 2019. Notably, this patent was granted on August 27, 2019 as well. Patent US20190243426 does not list a grant date at this time. Patent US10394278 also discusses a flexible hinge. Its summary outlines how flexible sheets could be used in conjunction with a flexible hinge.
As with any patent filing, these designs may never see the light of day. Large corporations frequently file patents that don't end up in any commercially produced technology. If they are used in a future device, Dell will join Lenovo, Samsung, and Huawei in the current dual-screen movement.
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Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.