Tag: Rollable DIsplay

LG Is Working On A Flexible Smartphone With Rollable Display

The year 2019 has seen many new innovations and trends popularised in the mainstream mobile industry. One of such innovative buzzwords surrounded flexible or foldable smartphones. Samsung with the Galaxy Fold was one of the first to reveal a functioning smartphone with a flexible display despite all its flaws. Now, LG is also reportedly jumping on the bandwagon to introduce its own flexible smartphone which may have a rollable display.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

LG has trademarked the name ‘LG Rolling’ with the South Korean Intellectual Property Office. Earlier this year, the South Korean company had also trademarked names such as ‘Roll Canvas’, ‘Rotolo’, ‘The Roll’, ‘E Roll’, ‘Dual Roll’, ‘Signature R’, ‘R Screen’, ‘R Canvas’, and ‘Bi Roll’ with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Hence, it is speculated that an LG smartphone with a flexible rollable display is currently under development.

Foldable LG Phone Concept

Notably, LG has already used rollable displays in the past. The technology is currently employed on its Signature OLED TV R. As the name suggests, it is an OLED TV that was showcased at CES 2019. The Signature TV features a 65 inch OLED display that can roll back into the base when not in use. Previously, LG had confirmed that they were planning to work on a rollable and foldable smartphone after various reports and rumours surfaced.

The freshly granted patent suggests that LG’s rollable handset is currently in-development stages whiles its name is still undecided.

LG Signature OLED TV R

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Conclusively, LG may probably not end up calling the device ‘Rolling’ but use the moniker to represent its key feature. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Signature TV technology in smartphones is a great step in innovation for the mobile industry. Foldable smartphones have already been made and seen but a rolling device could be the next big trend for the arriving year. Unfortunately, concrete information is still lacking but more news is expected to arrive soon, so stay tuned.

July 31, 2019
LG Granted Patent For OLED TVs With Rollable Display

With the evolution of all forms of technology, TVs are not far behind. In the modern day, a TV is not only limited to its functions and features but it is also something that can improve the aesthetic value of a living room. Manufacturers like Samsung, LG and Sony have a strong grip over the market in terms of TVs. Although the focus from TVs has now shifted to smartphones and mobile devices, these handheld gadgets cannot replace a large screen TV entirely at least for now. LG was granted a patent for a futuristic television that has an unconventional rollable display.

LG Electronics filed three patents with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) in August 2018. The KIPO published the three patents on February 28, 2019, and they clearly depict a roll-up display that emerges from a housing.

Design And Features

LG unveiled its first rollable TV at the CES 2018 (Consumer Electronics Show). The company showcased a 65-inch 4K OLED TV called the LG Roled, or the LG Signature OLED R9. It retracts into a cuboidal shaped enclosure when not in use. The company previously stated that the rollable OLED TV will go on sale this year itself. This time, LG has moved past the rollable TV, instead, it is just including a rollable screen in a housing-cum-base for the device.

The flexible screen is housed in three different types of casings, as shown in the patent images. The housing sports a triangular design to prevent the flexible screen from bending over. All three housing designs are a bit different from each other. The reason for this is not clear, but it may be because LG is testing out the most stable base for the Roll-up screen.

The TV can also function as a speaker system if the display is not completely raised. Similar to LG’s TV at the CES, the upcoming TV may be equipped with a 100 Watt Dolby Atmos Speaker. The flexible screen can be completely rolled out to have a normally functioning television. In 2018, LG was granted a patent for a similar flexible display for its smartphone.

Availability

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No information regarding the futuristic television is available yet, although it seems that the company will take its time to polish the technology before releasing it in the market. As per reports, Samsung is also planning to release a rollable TV whose screen can be rolled towards the sides unlike LG’s design. The TV is expected to be placed at a higher price point too, owing to the technology implemented in the same.

March 20, 2019
LG Is Developing A Smartphone With Rollable Display According To A Patent

Smartphones with touchscreen displays were first launched in the late last decade. Brands across the globe have launched innumerable smartphones with this rectangular form factor. Although the size, thickness, weight of these devices vary from company to company; the overall design has not seen any radical changes. However, it is expected to change soon as manufacturers are developing smartphones with all new form factors. One notable form factor is smartphones with foldable displays that are about to launch soon. An LG patent reveals yet another type of smartphone form factor. According to WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office), LG has been granted a patent for a smartphone that has a rollable display.

Possibilities and Advantages Of A Rollable Display

LG’s patent provides a small pointer about the form factor of the future smartphones. It can open a whole new world of possibilities for a portable device. The concept smartphone from LG when in its rolled state will be small enough to easily fit inside a pocket which can be easily rolled out to reveal the main display. Although the LG device is quite small, due to its rollable form factor it can offer a similar experience to that of a large screen tablet. This type of device from LG will further blur the lines between a smartphone and a tablet as it will be capable to serve the purpose of both.

LG Patent Revelations

The patent for the LG smartphone with a rollable display was spotted by a Dutch website, Letsgodigital. The patent is detailed enough to reveal the functioning of the conceptual smartphone. LG has previously demonstrated a 77-inch transparent flexible OLED display which indicates that the company surely has the know-how of this technology. The patent reveals an intriguing device with two halves that are conjoined with a rollable display panel.

The left half of smartphone from the patent has a tall and narrow display which shows date, time and battery details. On the other hand, the right half seems to have a small circular button in the middle which might function as the home button. According to the patent, the rollable display can be stretched to multiple lengths. Each length showing a separate set of controls and icons. The left rear view of the device is completely free from any controls or buttons while the right half houses the volume controllers and another small circular button.

Expected Launch Date

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The patents are just an indistinct description of how LG conceptualises a smartphone with a rollable display. Therefore, it is hard to guess when such devices can make their way to the real world. However, LG can surprise the world by showcasing such a device at upcoming tech events like MWC, Design Thinking and Innovation Week.

December 29, 2018