Another round of Samsung patents reveal a revolutionary next-gen vehicle instrument panel that uses display imagery for gauges while simultaneously being able to provide drivers with unique live map imagery set on a different plane making it easier for drivers to follow turn-by-turn navigation on the dashboard as noted in our cover graphic. This is a vastly superior method for drivers instead of being distracted by having to look at a map on an infotainment system to the right of them at a different angle. Another round of design patents also reveal new camera phone designs from Samsung with removable backside modules.

Unlike "patent applications," design patents published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office don't reveal pertinent information about a particular design. We can look at the design and appreciate it for what it projects, but we'll never discover which materials may be used to construct the design. We'll never know what unique internal components may be hidden within the device or learn about any unique features that we could look forward to. All we get is the simple visual of what could be coming down the pipeline.

The camera phone patents further below are design patents that present no explanation whatsoever as to functions and the differentiation between camera phone designs. As noted earlier, design patents provide no information beyond the patent figures.

With that said, the first patent that we cover below is a for a next generation in-vehicle instrumentation display within a dashboard that could be altered for other applications for ship and airline displays or even a future medical device, according to Samsung.

The image below illustrates a driver looking at a vehicle instrument panel within a dashboard that could provide 3D/stereoscopic images. The example below is excellent because it shows standard gauges like speedometer and tachometer as live imagery rather than physical instruments along with a center display on a different angle that provides a visual of a 3D map so that drivers only have to take a quick glace down to see directions rather than having to look sideways at a live map found on an infotainment system display. I think that this could be a hit in the not-too-distant future.

Three Camera Phone Design Patents

After scouring through hundreds of Google images of Samsung's earlier phone camera designs, it appears as though Samsung is thinking of updating their design.

The maddening part to this is that these are design patents and not utility patents. So we have no real indication as to what part of the backside cameras can be removed. The first design may show us that the user can interchange camera lenses.

As for styles two and three of the camera phone, it's not that clear if it's only about exchanging lenses. Could the backside module also double as a battery or extra battery? This is the frustration of seeing a unique feature in a design patent. There's absolutely no information describing features of any kind. If you have an idea about this feature, then send in your comments below in our comment section.

















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