Another Apple patent hints at a foldable iPhone

Manufacturers ranging from Huawei to LG, Motorola, Xiaomi and others have announced foldable smartphones. Lots of folks, including Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak think Apple should release on ASAP.

It’s not going to happen any time soon — perhaps ever — but Apple is at least working on such a device behind closed doors. The tech giant has been granted another patent (number 20190069451) for “electronic devices with flexible displays.”

In the patent info, Apple says that many mobile device displays are typically formed from rigid planar substrates. The company says that, although satisfactory in many situations, rigid displays such as these may be difficult to integrate into certain devices, such as devices with bendable housings. Apple wants to change this.

Here’s the summary of the patent: “An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis without damage when the display is cold, a portion of the display that overlaps the bend axis may be selectively heated.