/Patent Tracker
SamsungPatent applicationPhones & computersInterest 6/10

Samsung patents foldable phone that charges wearables via cover display

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Samsung has filed a patent for a foldable electronic device that uses a coil on its back to wirelessly charge wearable items like smartwatches. When the device is folded, the cover display detects the wearable and shows a charging interface, allowing the phone to act as a charging pad.

Why it mattersThis design could simplify charging routines by turning a standard foldable phone into a convenient dock for other devices without needing a separate charger.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a foldable housing which can be folded or unfolded, a main display disposed on the first surface of the foldable housing, a cover display disposed on the second surface of the foldable housing, a coil disposed toward the second surface and configured to wirelessly receive power from the outside or transmit power to the outside, a communication circuit, memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the main display, the cover display, the coil, the communication circuit and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to determine whether a wearable device is placed in a charging area corresponding to the coil, identify one or more of a user of the wearable device or the device name thereof through the communication circuit, perform control to display based on determining that the wearable device is placed in the charging area, and determining that the cover display faces a specific direction, and transmit power to the wearable device on the basis of charging settings and display a user interface regarding the charging of the wearable device.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a foldable housing configured to be folded or unfolded; a main display disposed on a first surface of the foldable housing; a cover display disposed on a second surface of the foldable housing; a coil disposed to face the second surface and configured to receive power wirelessly from the outside or transmit power to the outside; communication circuitry; memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the main display, the cover display, the coil, the communication circuitry and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to: determine whether a wearable device is placed in a charging area corresponding to the coil, identify one or more of a user of the wearable device or a device name thereof through the communication circuitry, perform control to display, based on determining that the wearable device is placed in the charging area and determining that the cover display faces a specific direction, using the cover display, a user interface related to the wearable device on the cover display, and transmit power to the wearable device based on charging configuration and display a user interface regarding charging of the wearable device.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER INTERFACE
Publication number
US20260322912A1
Application number
19684300
Filed
May 21, 2026
Published
Oct 15, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
20

Classified under

H04M 1/724095 Electricity & electronicsG06F 1/189 Physics & computingH02J 50/10 Electricity & electronicsH02J 50/90 Electricity & electronicsH04M 1/72412 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

More from Samsung in Phones & computers

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.