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Microsoft has patented yet another interesting design for mobile computing devices such as a smartphone and tablet computers. First discovered by us, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent titled “Flexible display extendable assembly” last week and it was originally filed by Microsoft in January 2016.

The patented design is supposed to extend the display of a mobile computing device. It explains a mobile or tablet device would be integrated with two display devices side-by-side to form the one larger display.

Microsoft explains that such a design is useful for those users who want a pocketable device with a larger display for easier viewing. In the background section of the patent, Microsoft gives an example of mobile devices that can be hinged to open two display devices side-by-side to form one larger display.

“In embodiments, the extendable assembly includes a slideable display guide integrated in a first housing part of an extendable electronic device. The extendable electronic device includes a flexible display that slide-engages into the first housing part of the extendable electronic device. The extendable assembly includes an extendable mechanism that is coupled in a second housing part of the extendable electronic device and to the slideable display guide. The first and second housing parts of the extendable electronic device slide-engage relative to each other. The extendable mechanism is implemented to extend as the first and second housing parts slide apart relative to each other, and also to retract as the first and second housing parts slide together relative to each other,” Microsoft explains the patented design.

“In other embodiments, a section of the flexible display extends from the first housing part of the extendable electronic device when the first and second housing parts slide apart relative to each other. The section of the flexible display also retracts into the first housing part of the extendable electronic device when the first and second housing parts slide together relative to each other. The extendable mechanism can include one or more extendable scissor mechanisms, or a rack-and-pinion mechanism, that extends in both of the first and second housing parts of the extendable electronic device when the first and second housing parts slide apart relative to each other. The extendable mechanism applies a force to the slideable display guide to extend the section of the flexible display from the first housing part of the extendable electronic device without tension applied to the flexible display. The extendable mechanism also applies a force to the second housing part that pulls the flexible display from the first housing part when the first and second housing parts of the extendable electronic device slide apart relative to each other,” the summary of the patent reads.

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