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Fujifilm Files Patent For Smartphone—It’s Foldable, But The Camera Is A Mystery
By Ell Ko, 16 Sep 2021
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Image via ID 20243897 © Zllgzxy894 | Dreamstime.com
Japanese camera conglomerate Fujifilm seems to be interested in carving out its own spot in the booming mobile phone and tech industry with a patent for its very own smartphone.
In a US-filed patent, which was discovered by LetsGoDigital, the firm details all the components of the phone, including the stylus it’ll be compatible with. However, in a rather strange move, nothing was mentioned about the back or front camera.
As pointed out by PetaPixel, to design a smartphone without a camera is already unusual. But the fact that it’s Fujifilm—a company with longstanding reputation as a camera manufacturer—makes this even weirder.
Fujifilm foldable phone looks like the Galaxy Foldhttps://t.co/yMUN6NCcIi
— LetsGoDigital - Mark Peters (@letsgodigitalNL) September 13, 2021
Digital camera and lens manufacturer Fujifilm seems to be ready to join the foldable revolution.
And guess what it features a stylus pen 🖌️
3D product renders created by @TechnizoConcept 👍#Fujifilm pic.twitter.com/Ix1O4F41HK
Apart from this, the phone’s design appears strikingly akin to the latest Samsung Z Fold 3 in concept and structure. It can be used unfolded to resemble a tablet with a larger screen, or remain closed in half to be used more like a regular smartphone.
Image via Fujifilm
Fujifilm has also detailed the varying interfaces and control options the phone will have in the patent document, which spans 51 pages. There’s also one interface that appears to change based on what angle the phone is folded at, which is, again, reminiscent of Samsung’s Flex Mode.
Image via Fujifilm
Image via Fujifilm
Like many other patents, the presence of this one does not guarantee that the product will ever see light of day. Rather, it acts more as an expression of interest from the company.
However, if the phone does come to production, it would be interesting to see how the camera—or lack thereof—will function.
Image via Fujifilm
[via PetaPixel, images via ID 20243897 © Zllgzxy894 | Dreamstime.com and Fujifilm]
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