Technology - - Nov 30,2016
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Apple recently received its 2014’s patent for “flexible display devices”, and they might be trying to bring back the razor
Apple (AAPL, Tech 30) has recently been granted a patent for a “flexible display device” that could fold into half. Though, Apple does file patents for technology that is never heard of, or never see the daylight; the patents indeed provide a window to what the tech giant is thinking of the future.
Apple filed this patent for a flexible phone back in July 2014, the ‘device’ which features a touchscreen smartphone and carries the design popularized by ‘clamshell’ or ‘razor’ phones. The patent also highlights how the device’s screen features a flexible OLED display that could bend to face each other or fit back-to-back. Additionally, some hinges could accommodate different ways of folding the device too; say bending the device into thirds.
It is not very likely that we would see such phones any time soon, but a flexible screen? Well that’s not impossible. Apple has been showing interests in a “flexible screen” since quite some time now, earlier this month, Apple was granted its first patent for a foldable flip phone, one that can open and close like a notebook does. However, this patent did not talk of the screen but described how “carbon nanotubes” can bend to form the center hinge.
Though the patent for a ‘flexible screen’ was granted in 2016 itself, it was entailed with the description of a flexible components on an iPhone-like device that could withstand bending, warping or dropping.
Other recent patents in the name of Apple include a ‘360-degree screen’ that would wrap itself entirely around a phone and a ‘smart glass’ to compete with Google’s failed attempt of a ‘Glass product’.