Back in 2009, Microsoft enflamed minds of consumers with concept named Courier, a foldable phone/tablet concept that was eventually cancelled later. Years later, a new patent implies Microsoft hasn't totally given up the idea.

According to the new Microsoft patent, which was approved on Tuesday, the company envisions a mobile device with a continuous viewing area that extends across the foldable region, quite similar is spirit to the Courier concept 7 years back.

It is believed to be an exciting idea, but there is one major drawback - This is the same patent from 2014 that was approved by the US Patent office, not the one Microsoft applied recently. Meanwhile, it shows Microsoft was eyeing an ambitious, foldable mobile device at a time when the landscape for mobile computing was more favourable for the company than it is today.

Despite all these things, Microsoft's patent is intriguing, to say the least, the reason being the Phablets represent a poor compromise, stradding the phone's 'pocketability' and the large, easy-to-read display of the tablet. Microsoft's patent suggests that a display could be stretched across a hinge so the users would have the option of a folded, phone-sized device that could be unfolded to reveal a large, thin screen.

The company has filed what might be called a 'broad' patent, clearly suggesting that this arrangement could be configured as both a desktop and displayed as a mobile, with connections to both an external display as well as an unexplained peripheral device.

Yet the patents haven't get into some technical details. Displays consumes power, and no current display can be partially turned off, it can be just darkened. Unless the company find its way to turn off a portion that is not in use, the phone will still be consuming power of a tablet.

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