Wired
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a patent filed by Apple on June 23, 2022, to make the folds of a foldable display less noticeable.
Rumors that folding iPhones, iPads, and folding MacBooks are under development
Apple is rumored to be developing a folding iPhone, a folding iPad, and a folding MacBook.
The patents published by the USPTO make creases less noticeable on those foldable displays.
OPPO Find N, which has less noticeable display creases than the Galaxy Z Fold 3, has a water-drop hinge.
The mechanism described in Apple’s patents is different, using polymers to make creases less noticeable.
Contents of the patent
Exhibit 2 below shows a device (10) with a folding display (14) with a hinge (30) in the center.
The cross section of the hinge part is shown in Chart 4 below, and the lower layer of the folding part (28) is thinner than the other parts (46) to ensure flexibility (44).
In the cross-sectional image of the thinned part (44) in Chart 7 below, you can see that the polymer (50) is inserted.
Patently Apple states that while the polymer acts as a support for the display, it can also be mixed with glass beads (60) to ensure some hardness.
This seems to be expected to withstand the pressure of the Apple Pencil while making the creases inconspicuous when the foldable display is unfolded.
Source: USPTO.report via Patently Apple
Photo: Apple Hub / Faccebook
(FT729)
Source: iPhone Mania