Qualcomm applies for a multi-fold display patent

MOBILE CHIP DESIGNER Qualcomm has registered a patent application at the US Patent and Trademark Office for a mobile device with a multi-fold screen.

The patent has been registered as a "Multi-fold mobile device with configurable interface."

Qualcomm claims it applied for the patent because, traditionally, mobile devices are limited by their fixed size and small display screens. It looks like Qualcomm intends to use the technology to create a flexible display screen that can be unfolded or even extended depending on the use.

The description reads, "When fully extended, the device may provide a panorama view, similar to widescreen televisions. When fully folded, the device may provide a small form factor with an abbreviated view similar to cellular telephones."

Here's where Qualcomm gets smart. The user interface (UI) on its multi-fold display also has the ability to change depending on the configuration of the device. The patent application says, "the UI may be a panorama UI, a desktop UI, an application UI, a web browser UI, an alarm clock UI, a media player UI, or some other UI."

So how long before this patent application flashes up on Apple's news feed and Qualcomm gets a call from Steve Jobs? µ