Apple, one of the few major smartphone manufacturers that has not yet released a device with a foldable screen, has recently been associated with a famous patent. According to CNMO, on September 5, the Tianyancha app filed a new patent to Apple Inc. Titled “Electronic device with durable foldable screen”.

Safety first: How does the screen protect itself from knocks?

A unique feature of this patent is its safety feature: the screen folds slightly when hit or vibrated. This increases durability by ensuring that the screen does not directly hit a hard surface when the device is dropped. The design is centered around the bending axis on which the screen is folded, and the display panel is equipped with a series of pixels that project images across the overlay layer of the screen.

An important part of this technology is the screen coating, which consists of a glass layer. This layer has a characteristic notch running along the fold axis. This notch forms a flexible, thinner portion of the glass sheet that allows it to be folded or bent about an axis. The corners and edges of this coating layer are thickened for added impact resistance.

The inclusion of screen hinges and other structural adjustments ensures that the screen stays flat when fully open. However, it can automatically bend around its axis to protect the screen during unexpected drops or vibrations.

While the release of this patent has sparked excitement and curiosity among Apple enthusiasts, it should be noted that this does not guarantee that a foldable phone from Apple will be released soon.

The company also recently filed a patent for a device with a rotating or sliding screen; which suggests that future products such as the iPhone, iPad and MacBook may have this innovation. With all that said, it definitely shows Apple’s most cutting-edge research and development in foldable display technology.