Apple Applies For Flexible Display Patent

[DooKey]

Rumors have been going around the web that Apple is wanting to develop a new foldable phone and they are supposedly working with LG to try and bring it to market. I guess we can now say this might be true since Apple has applied for a flexible display patent. Also, they made sure to cover all the bases by including LCD, OLED, and microLED in the patent. However, we'll probably have to wait till 2021 or later before we see anything.

While reports have suggested that a foldable iPhone could reach us around the 2021 mark, that is nothing short of guesswork at this time. If such a time scale is anywhere near accurate however, it is possible Apple’s pursuit of microLED technology could have a part to play in such a foldable display.

 

[ZenDragon]

I find it hard to believe that nobody else has applied for patents for this already. Especially since I've heard of and been seeing announcements on things like this for a couple years now. Oh wait, this is Apple, our patent office seems to grant them things all the time that are not new.

 

[Kdawg]

it better not have a bezel down the middle if it's foldable.

it better have some invisible seam. maybe it's doable

 

[steakman1971]

Wonder if they will do anything with the patent. They bought a few interesting companies over the last 8-10 years and I'm not sure we ever see anything. Think they bought a company that had some kind of dynamic metal - people thought this might lead to some like a braille capable screen, customized buttons, etc. I will admit i'm going from memory that might not be accurate at this point...

 

[Spidey329]

I find it hard to believe that nobody else has applied for patents for this already. Especially since I've heard of and been seeing announcements on things like this for a couple years now. Oh wait, this is Apple, our patent office seems to grant them things all the time that are not new.

I find it hard to believe their supposed partner doesn't have a patent for it already.

I'm guessing this is just Apple filing so their legal team can work wonders with prior art / existing patents.

 

[Whach]

Well this sounds like another court room patent free for all set up.....I thought lg and Samsung already had this tied up?

 

[Web4Life]

Foldable LCD screen? Great.

The new iPhone using this will have a new $2k standard price.

 

[viper1152012]

Your folding it wrong

 

[mope54]

Wonder if they will do anything with the patent. They bought a few interesting companies over the last 8-10 years and I'm not sure we ever see anything. Think they bought a company that had some kind of dynamic metal - people thought this might lead to some like a braille capable screen, customized buttons, etc. I will admit i'm going from memory that might not be accurate at this point...

Liquid Metal back in 2010. They use it for the glass of the 8 and X, from what I've read.

 

[gxp500]

Well this sounds like another court room patent free for all set up.....I thought lg and Samsung already had this tied up?

There are ways of getting around patents, apple has the pinch to zoom patent yet android has it because its implemented differently. I'm sure samsung/lg also have patents on this that are done differently.

 

[Twisted Kidney]

There are a number of patents for flexible display materials all over the world. A couple of British companies have already demoed flexible displays.

This is an American patent, though, which means it's a patent on a concept. It's like peeing on the spot where someone might put a fire hydrant so you can claim the hydrant later.

 

[Logan321]

There are a number of patents for flexible display materials all over the world. A couple of British companies have already demoed flexible displays.

This is an American patent, though, which means it's a patent on a concept. It's like peeing on the spot where someone might put a fire hydrant so you can claim the hydrant later.

The patent system is totally broken in the U.S. There should be automatic dissolution of granted patents if no product is brought to market within a time frame and if prior art is provable by a competing product.