Apple to work on folding iPhone, as per new patent
HIGHLIGHTS
- Apple is joining the league of the folding phone revolution
- Probably won't be called the Apple Turnover
- The foldable iPhone may launch in the year 2020
We all are aware that mobile manufacturers are eyeing on foldable phones as the next big progression in smartphone design, with upcoming devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X fairing well of showing customers what the future has in store for them.
Now, it looks like Apple is joining the league of the folding phone revolution, with the US Patent Office publishing a patent filing that offers further proof that a folding iPhone is currently under progress, as reported by Patently Apple.
The latest patent application is concentrated exclusively on an internal heating system for a folding device's hinge. Actually, the Cupertino firm is trying to prevent cold foldable displays from cracking by bringing warmth into the mix.
According to the Apple's application, which can be read on Justia Patents says, "To facilitate bending about the bend axis without damage when the display is cold, a portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis may be selectively heated."
As per the application, "the bend axis may be self-heated by illuminating pixels in the portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis or may be heated using a heating element or other heating structure that provides heat to the portion of the display overlapping the bend axis."
Fascinatingly, the patent also describes a "latching mechanism that prevents opening and closing of the electronic device when the temperature of the portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis is below a predetermined temperature," which may result in some frustration if not implemented perfectly.
Obviously, there's no way of confirming whether any of this will actually be used, as the patent application's submission dates back to December 2017. That told, a previous rumour from last year predicts a foldable iPhone to launch in the year 2020.