Apple is reportedly working on a foldable iPhone and foldable iPad — and perhaps even a foldable Mac. The tech giant has applied for a patent for “Electronic Devices Having Folding Expandable Displays” that hints at feature for such devices.
About the patent filing
In the patent filing, Apple says displays on electronic devices may not offer sufficient screen real estate to display information of interest to a user. At the same time, it can be difficult to enlarge the size of electronic devices too much to accommodate larger displays, because this can make devices too bulky.
Apple’s solution: an electronic device with a foldable display supported by a foldable electronic device housing. First and second portions of the electronic device housing may be joined using hinge structures. The electronic device may have a flexible display such as an organic light-emitting diode display.
The flexible display may overlap the first housing portion, the hinge structures, and the second housing portion. A flexible supporting layer such as a layer of sheet metal may be used in supporting the display and may overlap the hinge structures.
And The bars and links or other moving members in the hinge structures may rotate relative to each other about virtual pivot points that lie outside of the hinge structures to relieve stress.
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “An electronic device has a foldable display. First and second portions of an electronic device housing for the device may be joined using hinge structures. A flexible display may overlap the first housing portion, the hinge structures, and the second housing portion. A layer such as a layer of sheet metal may be used in supporting the display and may overlap the hinge structures. The hinge structures may include gear teeth, belts, and/or other movement synchronization structures.
“The hinge structures may include members that move relative to each other during bending. The moving members may include bars and links with opposing curved bearing surfaces. Stop surfaces may prevent excessive rotation of the bars and links with respect to each other. The links may rotate about pivot points that lie within the thickness of the display without the hinge structure living within the thickness of the display.”
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