Apple applies for a new patent: related to the foldable screen

Sina Technology News Beijing time on August 3 afternoon news, according to the US Patent and Trademark Office revealed on Thursday, Apple applied for a new patent, this patent is related to the folding cover of the electronic device and the folding screen layer, which implies that Apple Future devices will have a foldable screen.

The patent document details the use of the screen layer and the overlay, depending on the variant, the transparent substrate and the filling material. According to Apple's design, the folding screen can be used on smartphones and flats, with mechanical hinges, but Its scope of application is not limited to this.

In the basic form, the design consists of a cover layer and a screen layer. The cover layer is laminated with the screen. The cover layer has a folded area with ceramic materials that together form the outer surface of the electronic device. The curved cover layer is stretched along the folded area. , the screen layer and the overlay layer can be switched between folding and unfolding. When the screen is folded, the folding area needs to bear a lot of pressure.

According to the document, according to this design, an ultra-thin screen that can be folded in various ways can be manufactured, such as folding from the middle like a book, or folding like a booklet, revealing only one-third of the screen, hiding other parts, even Can make the screen roll up.

320 represents the screen layer, 310 is the cover layer, and 330 is equivalent to the support layer. In order to resolve the extrusion pressure generated during the bending, the material in the partial groove can be removed, and the transparent filler can be replaced, and the filler can ensure the surface is flat. If extrusion and stretching occur, the screen will bend in a thinner place, and the pressure-resistant material will provide support for the thinner part of the screen.

The cover layer is less dependent on the filler material, it is also affected by the folding pressure, and can also determine the position of the fold. For example, the cover layer can be composed of multiple panels, and the panel drifts when folded, thus folding at intervals It will be easier. The manufacturer can choose the most ideal position to fold the screen and design more freely.

1902 is the base, 1904 and 1905 are the buffers, 1906 is also the buffer, but the size is different, the buffer will fill the non-rigid material. Apple has been studying the folding concept screen, in July, a patent document shows that Apple seems to want to use flexibility Materials against screen pressure. In October 2017, Apple applied for a patent. At the time, there were rumors that Apple was considering working with LG to produce a flexible screen OLED iPhone before 2020. The two just coincided. In November 2016, Apple won one. The patent, the document suggests that Apple wants to make a folding smartphone with a hinged, metal-shell flexible OLED panel that can be clipped to the phone when it is not in use.

Not only that, but Apple has also invested heavily in researching MicroLED technology, a screen technology that combines tiny LEDs into screens that may be used to make flexible screens.