PATENT FOR MICROSOFT SURFACE NOTEPAD IS HERE
It has been rumoured that Microsoft has been working on a foldable notepad-like device. A patent earlier this year provided an outline for such a device, but a new patent has emerged recently showing a lot more detail.
The patent, first spotted by MSPU, references a "hinged device" and has been filed by Microsoft Surface engineers that are responsible for creating various Surface hinges and devices.
The device appears to have two separate screens and sections that fold together or flat, much like the Lenovo Yoga Book. The images also show how the mysterious device could flip over and be used as a nightstand. While there is not much detail about the software for such a device, Microsoft appears to be using gear-like cogs to create this adjustable hinge, allowing the device to hold in different positions.
A virtual keyboard and trackpad can also be seen in one of the patent pictures, while the other has a weather broadcast running. None of the patent filing images shows a stylus with the device, but the filing does appear to be largely focused on what looks like a unique hinge for such a product.
It is not clear if such a product will ever make it to the market. Microsoft did, however, toy with the idea of a Surface Mini, but CEO Satya Nadella cancelled the project just weeks before it was due to be unveiled.
If Microsoft is truly preparing to launch a new mobile device, these patent images could be giving us an early look at what it has planned.
Patent images have been edited to remove labels for clarity.