Much is said about a possible future iPhone foldable and, when you talk about it, a device with features similar to devices of the genre that have already been launched by other manufacturers comes to mind. But what if the Apple bring a completely new concept to what we know today as a foldable smartphone?
If it puts into practice the ideas conceived in a new patent granted to it, Apple will be able to launch a completely (or at least almost) touch-sensitive folding device — which differs from the current devices with that label, which are nothing more than a larger, conventional screen, only with the ability to be folded.
The “infinite touch” technology could be used in both a foldable device and a conventional iPhone – as shown in the two figures below. The first shows what an iPhone with this technology would look like, while the second shows a device with the same characteristics, but with one, two or even three folding parts.
As described by Apple, the technology could allow the touch sensitivity already present on the front of the device to extend both to the side and also to some portion/layer of touch sensitivity on the back. In the case of a foldable device, the difference is that it would also have one or more flexible parts, which would make it possible to join the flat parts.
Apple also provided, for the first time, details about the usefulness of a device with such characteristics. According to the company, the touch surface on the side could house, for example, sliding volume or brightness controls or even the camera — which could adapt depending on the application being used (hello, Touch Bar)!
In the case of the touch-sensitive rear, it could be quite useful in games or other applications that need to use some touch sensor on the rear surface while displaying visual information directly related to that action on the opposite front surface.
Apple also obtained the registration of another patent – this one, for an iPhone more similar to the one we have today. The difference is that it would not have physical buttons – just as it has been fanned in recent years.
While collecting touch input from users, the component would output a haptic response — as it does on iPhones with a Home button and trackpads on MacBooks.
Interestingly, both patents were applied for by Apple many years ago — the first one even a decade ago. This indicates that the company’s studies and efforts to implement these technologies in its devices come from a long time ago, although current technology makes the ideas much more tangible than they once were.
Will the next revolution in smartphones be promoted by Apple? Let’s wait…
via Patently Apple