Samsung patents tri-fold phone with separate battery control per section
Samsung has filed a patent for a foldable electronic device that uses three separate housing sections connected by hinges. Each section contains its own battery, charging circuit, and sensor that measures electrical current to independently manage power delivery to components in that specific area.
In the filing’s own words
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing in which a first charging circuit, a first battery, a first load, and a first sensing resistor are disposed, a second housing in which a second battery, a second load, and a second sensing resistor are disposed, a third housing in which a third battery, a third load, and a third sensing resistor are disposed, a first hinge rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing, a second hinge rotatably connecting the first housing and the third housing, a flexible display disposed in the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing, memory configured to store a program including instructions, and at least one processor. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, are configured to instruct the electronic device to control a first discharge power provided from the first battery to the first load on the basis of a first current of the first sensing resistor. The instructions, when executed by the at least one controller, are configured to instruct the electronic device to control a second discharge power provided from the second battery to the second load on the basis of a second current of the second sensing resistor. The instructions, when executed by the at least one controller, are configured to instruct the electronic device to control a third discharge power provided from the third battery to the third load on the basis of a third current of the third sensing resistor.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device comprising: a first housing in which a first charging circuit, a first battery, a first load, and a first sensing resistor are disposed; a second housing in which a second battery, a second load, and a second sensing resistor are disposed; a third housing in which a third battery, a third load, and a third sensing resistor are disposed; a first hinge rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing; a second hinge rotatably connecting the first housing and the third housing; a flexible display disposed on the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing; memory configured to store a program containing instructions; and at least one processor, wherein the instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to: based on a first current of the first sensing resistor, control a first discharge power provided from the first battery to the first load, based on a second current of the second sensing resistor, control a second discharge power provided from the second battery to the second load, and based on a third current of the third sensing resistor, control a third discharge power provided from the third battery to the third load.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
- Official title
- ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF
- Publication number
- US20260313815A1
- Application number
- 19461237
- Filed
- Jan 27, 2026
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H05K 5/0247 Electricity & electronicsH02J 7/575 Electricity & electronicsH02J 7/855 Electricity & electronicsH05K 5/0086 Electricity & electronicsH05K 5/0226 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung in Phones & computers
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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.