Apple Presents A Novel Solution For Creases On Foldable Devices

Apple might be preparing for its own foldable phone after learning from Samsung and Huawei’s mistakes.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has recently granted the iPhone maker a patent for a new hinge mechanism for devices with a flexible display. The highlight of the design is two movable flaps that work to prevent crease on the display when it is folded up.

The patent fixes the exact flaw that Samsung’s device has and has not figured out how to deal with it.

The movable flaps create projecting supports for the foldable screen. Since the stress on the display is what causes creases, Apple plans to minimize this by making the two folding parts bow slightly, creating a curve to prevent them from lying flat on each other.

When the user unfolds the phone, the flaps will support the entire display to make sure that the screen is perfectly flat. There is also support for the middle section to further prevent creases.

Here is what Apple explains in the patent. According to the iPhone maker, the device may have a foldable display that covers part of an axis. A housing might be in place to support the display and it may have first and second portions rotating relatively about the above axis.

An unfolded configuration might accommodate the housing to provide the display in a planar state. When the first and second portions are rotated relatively to each other, the housing might be placed in an unfolded configuration.