Apple May Be Developing a Brand New Foldable Display

Apple recently filed a new patent application that describes the inner workings of a self-healing display. When damaged, this display could repair itself automatically. From MacBooks to iPads, this type of technology has many different applications. Continue reading to see how Apple will likely use it to develop a foldable iPhone.

Apple’s patent describes a mechanism that prevents one of the significant issues with foldable displays — scratching. This damage happens when dust and debris get caught in the folds and can severely scratch the display.

To prevent this potential damage to a foldable display, Apple describes a self-healing screen that would initiate repairs independently. This regenerative power would be triggered by external stimuli such as heat, light, electric current, or other external stimuli.

During operation of an electronic device, the display cover layer for the electronic device may be scratched or dented. To improve the aesthetics of the electronic device, it may be desirable for the presence of scratches and dents to be minimized. To help mitigate the number of dents, scratches, or other imperfections in a display cover layer, the display cover layer may include a layer of self-healing material.

Self-healing may occur in the layer of self-healing material without prompting (e.g., when the self-healing coating is dented, the material of the coating may fill the dent even without external intervention). Alternatively, the self-healing may be initiated or expedited by externally applied heat, light, electric current, or other type of external stimulus.

Apple

Apple likely is looking into folding phones after Samsung revolutionized smartphones last year. The Korean company wowed the world with the introduction of its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold. The Fold turned out to be a failure, with reviewers and early adopters complaining about broken phones and malfunctioning displays. Samsung admitted it released the phone “before it was ready.”

Apple, on the other hand, takes its time to bring new technology to the market. The Cupertino company is innovative, but it doesn’t force technology into products before it is ready. As Samsung found out, pushing technology into the market ahead of its time can be “embarrassing,” to say the least.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]