Apple receives patent for “electronic devices with durable foldable displays”

Apple appears to be continuing its work on a foldable iPhone, receiving a patent for “electronic devices with durable foldable displays.”

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone, with many pundits and critics believing the company can’t ignore the form factor forever. However, in true Apple style, the company took its time releasing its first foldable device, waiting for the technology to mature enough to release a device that meets its exacting standards.

Apple’s summary includes some interesting details:

The electronic device may have a foldable housing. The housing may have first and second parts that are connected by a hinge for rotation about a folding axis.

The foldable display may be mounted on a foldable housing. The foldable display may have a display cover layer and a flexible display panel. The foldable display may flex about a flex axis. The display panel may have an array of pixels configured to display an image through the display cover layer.

The display cover layer may be formed from a glass layer. A recess may be formed in the glass layer that extends along the bend axis. The recess may form a flexible, locally thinner portion in the glass layer that allows the glass layer to bend about the bend axis. In order to ensure that the display cover layer exhibits satisfactory impact resistance during drops, corner portions and other edge portions of the display cover layer may have increased thickness relative to other portions of the display cover layer other than the locally thinner portion.

The hinge and/or other structures in the display may be configured to help keep the display flat when unfolded during normal use, while causing the display to fold slightly about the flex axis when the electronic device is jolted during a fall. This helps prevent the display from striking a hard surface when fully open.

Apple’s summary focuses mainly on addressing one of the biggest criticisms of many foldable devices, namely their fragility. Users have complained that the screens become unusable after minor falls, something Apple focuses on in its summary.

Apple has a long history of using fall detection measures. The company has been using Sudden Motion Sensor technology in its laptops since 2005. The feature was designed to detect a fall and instantly park the heads of traditional hard drives to prevent damage caused by falls. A decade ago, the company received a patent for the technology, which is supposed to help iPhones survive falls better.

In light of this history, it’s no surprise that Apple is focusing so much on ensuring that the foldable iPhone survives a drop intact.