Motorola is fine-tuning its innovative Rizr concept smartphone that was presented earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), as revealed by a U.S. patent filed in November. The Rizr builds upon the company’s well-known Razr folding smartphones, introducing a motorized rollable display that allows users to expand or retract the screen to adjust the device’s size and viewing area.
The patent explores potential methods for unlocking the phone using a fingerprint sensor. Given that the display can change position, a single, fixed fingerprint sensor may not always be effective. To address this issue, Motorola is looking into utilizing multiple fingerprint sensors and an enlarged activation zone to enhance usability.
Included in the patent documentation are sketches that depict a standard fingerprint recognition area at the bottom of the front screen when it is fully extended, along with an additional recognition zone on the front when the screen is minimized. Notably, Motorola is also considering the design of the back of the phone when the display is retracted.
The design incorporates a fingerprint sensor nestled in the lower section of the retracted display, enabling unlocking from the back, akin to other devices with rear-mounted sensors, such as the Google Pixel 4a. However, as this sensor wouldn’t be visible or easily identifiable, Motorola appears to have broadened the recognition area for the sensor. The patent’s drawings suggest extra functionality just above the sensor, which may allow for swiping or tapping gestures, or serve as a ticker-style notification area on standby, mimicking similar features on the front of the phone.
While the patent does not specifically mention the Rizr smartphone, its design closely resembles the concept device shown by Motorola. This prototype featured a 5-inch touchscreen capable of extending to 6.5 inches, offering a fresh approach to compact folding smartphone design, akin to models like the Motorola Razr 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
When Motorola unveiled the Rizr, they described it as a work in progress, and this latest patent suggests that the company is diligently refining the design for better user experience. Although this advancement is promising, it does not necessarily mean that Motorola is on the verge of launching the Rizr as a commercial product. Nonetheless, the creative work being put into making the Rizr a practical smartphone is certainly commendable.