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A folding iPhone? We have been talking for several months about the possibility that Apple will launch (or at least present) a foldable iPhone. However, after the celebration of the MWC in Barcelona, it could be said that the chances of this being the case are getting higher and higher. Although others probably think that the apple maker is late, since its main competitors have already submitted their proposals. But the patent office has made it clear that the Cupertino people are working on a foldable iPhone. Or at least they have been working on the idea for some time.
Today a new patent has come to light that reveals Apple's work on a possible folding iPhone. This last patent is focused on the folding system of the device. As indicated by the images and the text of the patent, Apple would be working on an internal heating system for the hinge that allows folding. Apparently, the company from the block indicates that this is necessary to avoid that the folding screens end up cracking due to the cold folding and unfolding movement.
According to the patent, the idea is to "heat a part of the screen that overlaps the flex axis selectively". This would make it easier to flex on the shaft without damaging it when the screen is cold. The text of the patent also indicates that "the axis of curvature can be self-heated by illumination of pixels in the part of the screen that overlaps the axis." Another option is to use a heating element or other heating structure that provides heat to the part of the screen that overlaps the axis of curvature.
Prevent the screen from bending if it is cold
Something curious that we can also read in the patent is that the device would include an “interlocking mechanism that prevents the opening and closing of the electronic device when the temperature of the part of the screen that overlaps the axis of curvature is below a temperature default ”. That is, if the mobile detects that the axis temperature is not correct, this mechanism prevents the screen from folding or unfolding. Obviously, either this system works perfectly, or it can create more than one problem.
With this patent, Apple shows that it is not at all clear about the viability of a folding mobile in the long term. According to the company, folding and unfolding could cause the screen to crack over time. Will Apple Finally Launch a Foldable iPhone? It is possible, but we think it will not be this year. The patent we have talked about dates from December 2017, so the apple company has been working on it for a long time. It remains to be seen how the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X behave in a real environment.
