A new U.S. patent granted to Apple describes a foldable iPhone with a “self-healing” layer on the screen that will automatically fill in dents or other bruises.
The patent for Electronic Devices with Flexible Display Cover Layers shows us what Apple may be trying to do to really help any potential foldable iPhone stand out. Like other foldables, this device would have a hinge and a flexible display cover layer. These displays on phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Flip and Fold 5, the Pixel Fold, or the OnePlus Open are thinner than what you’ll usually find on a flagship phone, allowing them to flex. This also causes them to be far more susceptible to bumps or scratches. Apple, for its part, shares a few details about how the phone could have a “self-healing material” coating on top of the screen that “may fill the dent even without external intervention.”
Jack Purcher for Patently Apple:
The layer of self-healing material may be formed across the entire display cover layer or may be formed only in the flexible region of the display cover layer. The display cover layer may include a layer of elastomer in the flexible region of the display cover layer for increased flexibility. The layer of self-healing material may cover the layer of elastomer in the flexible region.
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.
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MacDailyNews Take: Keep in mind:
This will, if its ever released to the mass market, fix – self-heal – only shallow scratches, not the totally cracked displays your butter-fingered cousin always seems so capable of producing right after unwrapping his new iPhone. – MacDailyNews, October 17, 2023
Foldables will be a thing as soon as Apple does it:
Consumers will be interested in foldable smartphones the day the foldable iPhone is unveiled. – MacDailyNews, October 1, 2020
As with fingerprint and facial recognition, when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, then foldable smartphones will have been done right. — MacDailyNews, January 17, 2019
We’ll see a mess of weird attempts before Apple shows how it’s to be done, as usual. — MacDailyNews, January 23, 2019
If and when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, they’ll be showing the world how it should be done and what to copy going forward. As usual. — MacDailyNews, February 27, 2019
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I’m not sure I’d want one. If I had one in my hand.
If they released one, I would take a look sure.
It would be nice to see Apple try something new.
Foldable? Another non-first from Tim Cook’s Apple.
Yeah it’s a non first. I have no doubt it will be better at hiding the line vs samscum foldable knockoffs.
Hopefully they’ve actually created a prototype before patenting. I would imagine any self healing material that will be used for a display will have to not mar the image or change the color where the ‘healing’ occurs.
“done right” but with Samsung displays and the experience in consumer tech THEY pioneered, not Apple. It’s the me-too approach, like with AI: https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240509PD216/apple-samsung-display-foldable-mobile-devices.html