Lenovo seems to be placing a major bet on foldable computing
devices and a new prototype device was recently announced
during a press briefing. Lenovo’s foldable ThinkPad X1 foldable
tablet prototype is precisely a tablet PC device with an OLED
2K display that is foldable and measures 13.3 inches in size.
Lenovo hasn’t shared all technical details of the foldable
device, but we’ve discovered two new patents detailing Lenovo’s
foldable device structure.
The first patent titled ‘Electronic device and mode switching
method’ filed by Lenovo and published by USPTO on April 16,
2019, details the mechanism of the folding display.
The patent states multiple methods that will allow the display
to fold and its form factor.
In the patent filing, Lenovo says the device includes a first
body having a first end and a second end; a connecting body
having a third end and a fourth end, with the third end being
connected to the second end. The device also includes the
second body having a fifth end and a sixth end, with the fifth
end being connected to the fourth end. The second body is at
least capable of rotating relative to the first body based on
the connecting body.
“The electronic device has at least a first mode, in which a
first surface of the first body is covered by the connecting
body and the second body, and a second mode, in which a surface
composed by the first surface of the first body and a first
surface of the connecting body is covered by the second body,”
the company explains.
The second patent titled “PORTABLE INFORMATION DEVICE” filed by
Lenovo and published by
USPTO earlier this month also details another foldable
device.
Unlike the first patent, the second application describes a
method that would allow the flexible device to sustain damage.
Lenovo says that flexible displays are very thin and
vulnerable to impact or the like. Therefore, it has developed a
solution where the display is stably supported on the inner
surface side of the chassis member which is movable to be
double-folded.
“A portable information device is capable of stably supporting
a foldable display. The portable information device has a
support plate which is fixed to the inner surface sides of a
first chassis member and a second chassis member and supports
the rear surface of a display. The support plate has a first
plate member disposed on the inner surface side of the first
chassis member, a second plate member disposed on the inner
surface side of the second chassis member, and a flexible
sheet-like member connecting the first plate member and the
second plate member so as to be foldable into a double-folded
state,” the filing reads.
