Scrollable TV
It was predicted that Samsung Electronics’ next-generation TV will be rolled up like a scroll. Recently, as Samsung applied for a related patent for the first time in the US, there is growing anticipation that this type of TVs will be used at homes.
According to the TV industry on November 9, it is said that Samsung Electronics filed a patent for a scrollable TV in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Samsung has consistently applied for patents on smartphones and tablets that are folded or rolled. The Korean tech giant raised people’s expectations for next generation smartphones with various patents such as those on scrollable and foldable smartphones. But this marked the first time that Samsung filed a patent application for a scrollable TV.
When the content of the patent is realized, users can roll TVs when they are not watching them and put it in cases and use them only when they want to watch them. This advanced TV is expected to be lighter and easier to move than current TVs, thus enhancing user convenience.
“This rollable display device can be used for TVs, monitors, game devices, multimedia devices and so on,” Samsung said. “Displays in devices can be liquid crystal display (LCD) displays, light emitting diode (LED) displays and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays.” However, the company did not mention specific functions such as automatic spreading and folding and smart TV functions among others.
The display industry is also working on developing technologies to make a rollable TV real. LG Display unveiled an 18-inch rollable display for the first time at the largest home electronics show CES 2016 in Las Vegas in January. Samsung Display also unveiled a rollable active organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display in May at the SID 2016 Exhibition in May. Rollable-type displays can be used like scrolls, so it is highly anticipated that they will be able to bring innovation to designs of various devices.