Honor Patent Application Hints at Device With Multi-Directional Foldable Screen

Honor is working on a groundbreaking foldable technology that could lead to the creation of a device featuring a multi-directional foldable display. Details of this technology have emerged in a patent document, which provides insight into how such a device would operate. The design relies on several components working together, including multiple hinge mechanisms, housings for smaller internal parts, and a central piece connecting the various components. This complex mechanism could enable the device to fold in more than one direction, offering greater flexibility and versatility compared to current foldable smartphones.

Although it remains uncertain whether Honor will bring this technology to market in the near future, the patent indicates the company’s efforts to push the boundaries of foldable device design. As foldable smartphones continue to gain traction, with clamshell-style and book-style foldable displays becoming more common, companies are seeking to innovate further. Notably, Huawei recently introduced the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, and other manufacturers, including Honor, are expected to follow suit. The patent, spotted by 91Mobiles, provides a glimpse into what could be a significant leap forward for foldable technology, potentially shaping the future of smartphone design and functionality.

The patent includes drawings that show the use of various display components
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ CNIPA

The aforementioned hinge mechanisms are located on the back of the foldable screen, according to the details in the patent document. As they are located in the centre, the attached displays can be folded along various axes, depending on the number of hinges.

Honor has also envisioned the use of a single connecting piece located in the middle of the device and connects all the hinge mechanisms together. It can primarily be folded along two axes (along its width and its length, thus providing the benefits of a compact clamshell-style foldable, while also delivering a larger screen when needed, just like a book-style folding phone.

In order to ensure that the device is flexible but durable, Honor’s patent document describes the use of materials like rubber, fibre, or metal. It also suggests specific designs for the middle connecting piece and the housings for components, to make sure the device’s structural integrity is protected.

It’s worth keeping in mind that manufacturers are finally confirming the arrival of tri-fold smartphones, after years of foldable phones with a single hinge. Such an advanced foldable system could improve not just foldable phones but also tablets, laptops, or even wearables. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that a device such as the one mentioned in the patent would potentially take years to arrive as a consumer product.