Samsung has patented a Galaxy smartphone with a surround display, support for S Pens, virtual game buttons, and numerous operating scenarios.
The patented Samsung Galaxy phone has a large flexible display that covers the front, side, and back of the phone. At the top you can see a relatively wide frame edge that can accommodate the necessary sensors and cameras. The power button is located at the top - because there is no room on the side to place the physical button.
As a result, the volume keys have been replaced by virtual keys. The document also talks about installing virtual game keys and shoulder buttons. The shoulder buttons are located on the side and are easily used when playing in landscape mode.
Icons and shortcuts are displayed on the right. Status symbols such as time, battery indicator, and network strength can be displayed, on the other hand. This can also be reversed by settings – depending on whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.
One or more cameras are placed in front of and behind. For 3D rendering, let's assume one front camera and three rear cameras – comparable to Samsung's current high-end models.
Since there are displays on both sides of the phone, both cameras can be used for selfies as well as regular photo and video recording. The monitor is used as a viewfinder to determine the correct composition.
With a simple swipe, the user can move the content from the front display to the rear screen and vice versa. Depending on the app, content can also be displayed on both sides. For example, consider looking at Photo Gallery. One side shows the full photo gallery, while the other side can display a selected photo. Of course, this doesn't just apply to photo gallery. The patent documents mention many operational scenarios, including Internet browsers, messaging applications, watching videos, etc. The phone can detect how the user holds the device to adjust the interface accordingly.
It also mentions using medical sensors to measure your blood sugar levels, as well as your heart rate and blood pressure. Of course, not all of these features need to be included. Still, Samsung is working on all the possibilities — in order to be able to integrate the most valuable features.
Samsung's surround display smartphones also support wireless charging. Wired charging is of course also an option. The USB Type-C connection is placed on the bottom along with the speaker and microphone.