Qualcomm files patent for a foldable touchscreen

Bangalore: Qualcomm filed a patent that directs toward a type of tablet device, which makes use of up to three touchscreens or in the patent application's exact words, 'a multi-fold mobile device with a configurable interface'.

The language of the patent indicates that the inspiration behind the design of this tablet-like device is an emphasis on smaller form factor devices, which are 'limited' to having smaller display screens. The proposed device's ability to be 'folded' will allow it to retain the key points of being compact and portable while providing the user with a larger display, reports PC World.

The concept user interface in the patent application changes depending on its physical orientation. This is because the screens will be able to detect their orientation in relation to each other through the use of one or more 'accelerometers, inclinometers, or any combination."

Beyond the automatic detection of physical orientation, the language of the patent suggests that the screens could be orientated in just about any direction. The patent also says that a device may be configured to have a larger screen size or may be configured to have a small form factor for convenience and portability." That is, you could probably pick between how many screens you want to use at a time.

Unfortunately there is no particular, announced product at this time, so it simply remains a concept at best. It is unclear where exactly Qualcomm expects to take this patent but we can probably take a wild guess that it will catch people's eyes in whatever form it ends up taking.