There’s growing evidence that Apple is making a foldable iPhone or iPad, and now the company has been granted a patent for a very particular problem with glass displays.
Detail of the patent showing where the thinned part of the screen would be.
Aside from a rather vague claim that Apple has simply given up on an iPhone Fold, the rumor mill is generally saying that it’s close. One report claimed that Apple was currently working on two models, and there have been countless patent applications on the topic.
Now, Apple’s patent application, titled “Electronic devices with durable foldable displays,” has been approved. It’s far from a complete blueprint for a foldable display, but it does cover a crucial part of how the two halves of a foldable screen can be joined together.
“A gap can form in the glass layer that extends along the curvature axis,” Apple says. “The gap can form a locally thinned, flexible portion in the glass layer that allows the glass layer to bend around the curvature axis.”
Apple’s idea is for the glass screen to taper towards the center. It’s possible that Apple is thinking of a foldable display that has two regular screens placed on either side of a hinge, but it would still be better if they were thinner at the key point.
Interestingly, most patents tend to focus on one key point, although they also try to give the impression that their idea covers a wide range of possible future uses of the proposal. There is some of that here, but the patent has two key themes.
The first is to make the glass thinner for the sections where it needs to be folded or crossed. But the second is to take that same screen and make the glass thicker.
“To ensure that the display cover layer exhibits satisfactory impact resistance during drops,” Apple continues, “corner portions of the display cover layer and other edge portions of the display cover layer may have a greater thickness relative to other portions of the display cover layer outside of the locally thinned portion.”
Patent detail showing where thinned glass would be needed on a foldable iPhone
An iPhone or iPad is likely to suffer more damage if it is dropped and one of its corners touches the ground. So this could be a case where Apple anticipated future needs and managed to address a current need.
Please note that Apple applies for thousands of patents each year. Even when a patent is granted, it doesn’t mean that a product will be manufactured under it.
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