A patent application that was recently published reveals that Apple is exploring the idea of developing a foldable phone with a unique twist. Unlike the ones that have been released by its competitors, namely Samsung and Huawei, the iPhone maker also plans to include it with a self-healing display.
The patent was originally filed by Apple to the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in January, according to Patently Apple. The company described the self-healing display concept as being able to repair itself without user intervention. Which theoretically means that the process would trigger automatically when the foldable phone is idle, or is set to a predetermined schedule.
The application stated that the device’s screen cover may feature a layer of elastomer, a material that can lose and regain its shape to keep interior components protected. It is suggested that the phone would use heat, light or electric current to repair the protective layer.
Logically, the repairs would only be effective for minor bumps or scratches, but not severe damages such as screen cracks. Given that Apple is mulling on introducing this self-healing display along with a foldable phone, this suggests that the technology is intended to mainly ‘repair’ the formation of creases caused by folding.
Keep in mind that this is merely a patent, and there’s a chance that Apple may not go through with this idea at all. Rumours of the company developing a foldable phone have been circulating around the internet for a while now, with another patent discovered all the way back in February of last year.
(Source: USPTO via Patently Apple)
