Samsung patent talk explores televisions made wireless

Samsung patent talk explores televisions made wireless
Credit: WO/2019/039684

Cut. Unshackle the cords that burden the real family ties, aka late-night shows and morning cartoons. Certain dreamers at a TV maker think that home entertainment sets need to cut the cords so that TV sets can look like more attractive components of keep-it-simple decor, without messy cables.

Samsung is the name and it may delight its customers with a solution, if a Samsung filed ever makes its way to real product. If so, you may sit on the sofa of the future gazing at your show of shows on a completely wireless TV.

Last year, Samsung Electronics filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) for a wireless transceiver and display apparatus. The patent was just published last month, on February 28.

According to the patent text, "The disclosure relates to a wireless power transceiver. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a wireless power transceiver that can be used in a thin display apparatus."

LetsGoDigital was mentioned by numerous tech-watching sites as the spot that eyed the patent. The site showed images of the design. Six inventors were named on the patent, titled "Wireless power transceiver and display apparatus with the same."

The patent abstract describes the components: "a wireless power transceiver including a magnetic body formed in a rod shape with a groove in a middle portion thereof, a solenoid coil wound around the middle portion of the magnetic body in which the groove is formed, and a dual coil disposed substantially perpendicular to the solenoid coil and wound around portions of both sides of the groove of the magnetic body, the dual coil being wound in directions opposite to each other."

Translation from patent talk: To power the set, this concept involves a thin electromagnetic bar that sits between the TV and the wall. Then, there is a base power station. That station also acts as a soundbar.

Rub Thubron in TechSpot: "Placed between the TV and the wall is a thin bar, which acts as a receiver that powers the television. The unit, which would house a double coil wound in both directions, draws current from the electromagnetic field generated by a base station."

All in all, the concept of a TV delivered as wireless resonates with a minimalist trend in design, adopted by space-thirsty apartment dwellers. Even in larger homes, there is a taste trend of uncluttered rooms that pay homage to shape and structure.

Wireless TVs would be a boost in that direction, appealing to consumers finicky about avoiding unattractive wires hanging and dangling.

Nonetheless, Gizmodo's Andrew Liszewski interrupted the general euphoria with another reaction: "In a way, it's laughable that so much additional hardware would be needed to replace a thin wire that's just a few feet long."

Where does one go from here? Patents are, after all, patents, and not product announcements. It may take less or more time than expected, depending on your guess for how and when this technology would be developed. Outside of Samsung, some watchers guessed at announcements at events by next year. Opinions were divided, though. Some even said don't hold your breath, that it was not a product leak but rather patent talk.

Also, some reader comments in TechSpot may be worth noting as an indication that not every home entertainment consumer thinks alike over a wireless TV idea.

One visitor said, "I'm quite happy with a single cable to the TV that does everything, specially that both Samsung and LG have made the cable very thin and easy to hide."

Another TechSpot comment raised exposure concerns over all these wireless devices entering in the home and electromagnetism.

Another comment said, "Problem is, you can't take the stuff outside and it will be like Independence Day 4 when the alien ship doesn't work till the mothership comes back."

More information: patentscope.wipo.int/search/en … 1259&maxRec=73978524

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