Motorola's New Patent: Electric Hinge Makes Foldable Phones Smarter, Simplifies Selfies and Calls

Motorola's New Patent: Electric Hinge Makes Foldable Phones Smarter, Simplifies Selfies and CallsOn October 10th, tech media outlet 91Mobile published a blog post reporting on a new foldable phone patent from Motorola titled Autonomous Form Control for Foldable Mobile Devices, approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 26th. The patent showcases a small folding screen phone with an innovative electric smart hinge technology that dynamically adjusts the folding angle based on the subjects position in the frame, addressing the challenges of finding the right shooting angle

Motorola's New Patent: Electric Hinge Makes Foldable Phones Smarter, Simplifies Selfies and Calls

On October 10th, tech media outlet 91Mobile published a blog post reporting on a new foldable phone patent from Motorola titled Autonomous Form Control for Foldable Mobile Devices, approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 26th. The patent showcases a small folding screen phone with an innovative electric smart hinge technology that dynamically adjusts the folding angle based on the subjects position in the frame, addressing the challenges of finding the right shooting angle.

Motorola's new patent leverages shape memory alloys and linear resonant actuators to achieve the smart hinge functionality. Shape memory alloys, initially used in aerospace, change shape when heated. Linear resonant actuators function like spring systems, responsible for the hinges linear motion. The combination of these two components enables Motorola's foldable phone to automatically adjust the folding angle according to user needs. For example, during selfies or video calls, the phone can automatically adjust the hinge angle to position the users face in the optimal shooting position.

The patent description highlights the functionality's particular suitability for selfies and video calls, solving the issue of finding the perfect shooting angle. For instance, during a video call, if the user moves away from the camera, the phone can automatically adjust the hinge angle to ensure the user remains in the center of the frame. This functionality is similar to Apples CenterStage feature, but Motorola's solution excels in handling changes in the subject's distance.

Additionally, the patent mentions a clip-on motor available as a separate accessory, capable of achieving the same smart adjustment functionality. This means even older foldable phones can gain similar features by adding this accessory.

Motorola's new patent undoubtedly opens up new possibilities for foldable phone design, not only addressing real-world problems users face with foldable phones but also guiding the direction of future foldable phone development. We eagerly anticipate seeing more such innovations in the future, making foldable phones smarter and more user-friendly.