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SamsungGranted patentPhones & computersInterest 6/10

Samsung patents foldable phone that vibrates differently based on how you hold it

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This filing describes a foldable device with two separate vibration motors, one in each half of the phone. Sensors detect how the phone is folded and which part you are holding, then the system picks the right motor to vibrate so the feedback feels natural.

Why it mattersIt improves the user experience by making haptic feedback more precise and less intrusive depending on your grip.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes at least two housings rotatably coupled to each other; a flexible display disposed on the at least two housings, a first vibration motor disposed in a first housing among the at least two housings, a second vibration motor disposed in a second housing among the at least two housings and configured to vibrate in a different direction from the first vibration motor, at least one first sensor; at least one second sensor, memory, including one or more storage media, storing instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the flexible display, the first vibration motor, the second vibration motor, the at least one first sensor, the at least one second sensor, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to acquire at least one measurement value from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor, identify a folding state of the electronic device according to rotation between the at least two housings, based on the at least one measurement value measured from the at least one first sensor, identify a grip state with respect to at least one of the at least two housings, based on the at least one measurement value measured from the at least one second sensor, and operate the first vibration motor or the second vibration motor, based on the identified folding state and the identified grip state.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: at least two housings rotatably coupled to each other; a flexible display disposed on the at least two housings; a first vibration motor disposed in a first housing among the at least two housings; a second vibration motor disposed in a second housing among the at least two housings and configured to vibrate in a different direction from the first vibration motor; at least one first sensor; at least one second sensor; memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the flexible display, the first vibration motor, the second vibration motor, the at least one first sensor, the at least one second sensor, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to: acquire at least one measurement value from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor, identify a folding state of the electronic device according to rotation between the at least two housings, based on the at least one measurement value measured from the at least one first sensor, identify a grip state with respect to at least one of the at least two housings, based on the at least one measurement value measured from the at least one second sensor, and operate the first vibration motor or the second vibration motor, based on the identified folding state and the identified grip state.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Foldable electronic device and control method thereof
Patent number
US12769398B2
Application number
19286821
Filed
Jul 31, 2025
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
15

Classified under

G06F 3/016 Physics & computingG06F 1/1615 Physics & computingG06F 1/1641 Physics & computingG06F 1/1652 Physics & computingG06F 1/1677 Physics & computingG06F 2203/04102 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.