Microsoft Patent Shows New Details On Hinged Dual-Screen Surface Device

Microsoft has an idea for a hinged Surface device with dual screens that was seen in patent drawings back in July. This device would go a long way towards giving users more screen space while maintaining a portable form factor.

This week a new patent application has surfaced, and that it gives us another glimpse at what Microsoft is cooking up for its hinged, dual-screen device. The device would have a hinge in the center covered with a flexible display across the two sections of the machine; the hinge looks similar to what Microsoft is using for the Surface Book. Patent drawings show the device has features like a bezel and a camera inside that give it some smartphone-like components, blurring the line between the two device categories.

The name Kabir Siddiqui is listed on the patent documents; this is the same name that was listed on past patent documents for folding Surface devices. Siddiqui was also listed on other patent documents for key features of the existing Surface line and is credited with the Surface kickstand. This new patent application was filed on July 21, 2017, and was published this week.

A Surface Andromeda device has been rumored for a long time, and this may well be it. Surface Chief Panos Panay recently called a pocketable Surface is his dream device. “It’s absolutely my baby,” said Panay. “We will invent and we will create when products are right. We can’t bring new categories into the world and not be a place where customers need it.”