Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
- Future Samsung foldable phones could double up as fitness tracking devices.
- The company is exploring options to equip its foldable devices with serious health tracking sensors.
- These sensors could measure blood pressure and other health metrics.
Samsung could be working on adding health sensors to its future foldable phones. A patent awarded to the company (h/t LetsGoDigital) shows that it’s developing tech to measure blood pressure and other health metrics through foldable phones with inward folding displays like the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2.
The patent document includes illustrations demonstrating how health tracking would work on Samsung foldable phones. They use a Galaxy Fold design with health sensors placed inside as well as outside the fold. A description reveals that the tech can also be applied to clamshell devices.
One of the images shows two sensors placed under the bottom part of the flexible screen. Placing an index finger on one or both sensors will give out health measurements. Apparently, the phone will grab an image, convert pixel intensity into pulse wave amplitude (a measurement of how blood flows through your finger), and gather health information using an amplitude conversion model.
The device will also calculate the pressure exerted by the finger. To do this, the finger will have to be clamped between the two foldable displays (see image above). The health data, in this case, will be displayed on the cover display of the foldable phone.
Alternatively, Samsung may also decide to place the health sensors on the outside of the foldable phone. Measurements can be taken by holding the palm against the device. There’s also a way to get measurements by grasping both ends of the phone.
According to the patent, several health metrics can be measured using this tech on foldable phones. These include measurements for blood pressure, vascular age, aortic pressure waveform, stress, fatigue levels, and more. Essentially, a lot of stuff that your smartwatches do right now.
There’s no word on when Samsung will implement these health tracking features on foldable phones. The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are good candidates, but there’s no way of knowing if they’ll get the new tech or not.
