Apple has applied for a patent for a foldable mobile phone display, according to a new report from the US Patent & Trademark Office.
The patent application seeks protection for “an electronic device” that ” may have a flexible portion that allows the device to be folded.
“The device may have a flexible display. The flexible display may have a bending region that allows the display to bend along a bend axis when the device is folded.
Apple was rumored to be working on a foldable display almost a year ago, working with LG on the new technology. Last month, it was revealed that Apple would be working with LG on investing in a plant for production of a foldable display.
“Display may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of pixels formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies (sometimes referred to as micro-LEDs), an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies. Examples in which display has been formed from organic light-emitting diode pixels or micro-LED pixels may sometimes be described herein as an example).”
Although the new patent application is an exciting revelation, it’s important to remember that Apple files patents for a whole host of reasons. It remains to be seen whether the foldable technology will be included in a future iPad or iPhone release, or whether this is just another string Apple wants to add to its impressive patent portfolio.
