New patent exposure of Apple folding iPhone: self-repairing crease

CTOnews.com, September 22 (Xinhua)-- Apple has obtained a patent that mentions "self-healing" technology for devices such as collapsible smartphones.

The patent describes a method that not only minimizes damage to foldable equipment, but also repairs when damage occurs. The patent shows that the device has a hinge that allows bending on the curved crankshaft. In order to bend around the curved crankshaft without damage, the display screen may include a display screen cover layer having a flexible portion.

The patent mentions a display overlay that may have self-repairing properties. This material can cover the entire display cover or only the flexible area of the display cover. "the display cover of an electronic device may be scratched or sunken during the operation of an electronic device," Apple said in the patent. In order to improve the beauty of electronic devices, it is best to minimize the presence of scratches and dents. To help reduce the number of dents, scratches, or other defects in the display cover layer, the display cover layer can contain a layer of self-repairing material. "

Apple says in its patent that self-repair can be done without hints and external intervention, or by applying external stimuli to initiate or accelerate the process. The patent indicates that the coating can be made of "elastomers" to further improve flexibility, and self-repair can be initiated or accelerated by "externally applied heat, light, current or another type of external stimulus". Self-repair can also be configured in a control circuit that will be started according to a predetermined schedule.

Apple said the technology could be used for everything from "computing devices such as laptops" to mobile phones, or even "smaller devices such as wristwatches, pendants, wearable or other types of micro devices".

CTOnews.com learned that although Apple has not yet launched foldable smartphones, its competitors Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi have already launched such devices on the market, and from the large number of patents exposed, Apple must be working on similar devices, but they are not ready to launch yet.