Apple Granted Patent for Folding iPhone with Full-Surface Touch Control

Apple Granted Patent for Folding iPhone with Full-Surface Touch Control According to the latest list published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Apple has been granted a new patent envisioning the design of a future folding iPhone. The patent, titled "Electronic device with display and touch sensor structure," features a foldable design and proposes touch-sensitive control on all surfaces, including solid-state buttons

Apple Granted Patent for Folding iPhone with Full-Surface Touch Control

According to the latest list published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Apple has been granted a new patent envisioning the design of a future folding iPhone. The patent, titled "Electronic device with display and touch sensor structure," features a foldable design and proposes touch-sensitive control on all surfaces, including solid-state buttons.

In the patent document, Apple acknowledges that user interaction with touch screen displays can be hindered when the user's hand obstructs the image displayed on the screen. Consequently, Apple envisions implementing touch-sensitive control across all surfaces of the device to enhance user input collection and deliver a more intuitive interactive experience. The patent details the technical principles behind achieving this full-surface touch control. It involves embedding thin metal wires (such as nano structures, potentially invisible to the naked eye) on the device's surface, enabling touch control on any part of the device. Moreover, the device's surface can incorporate opaque and transparent sections, utilizing materials like opaque plastics, metals, fiber composites, and multi-layered structures containing fibers, ceramics, and other opaque substances. The device also integrates control circuits, batteries, and other components internally to support the touch-sensitive control functionality.

Apple also provides several examples in the patent showcasing potential applications of this touch control functionality. Users could utilize the touch sensors on the back to input commands while simultaneously displaying corresponding visual information on the device's front screen. This would facilitate richer interactive experiences in gaming and other applications, allowing players to control the game using the back while observing game action on the front screen.

The foldable design mentioned in the patent hints at Apple's exploration of new form factors for future smartphones. Foldable screen technologies have gained significant traction in recent years and have been implemented in several high-end smartphone products. Apple's patent application signals its active research into foldable screen technology and its desire to develop a more convenient and innovative foldable iPhone.

While the actual implementation of this patented technology in a commercial product remains uncertain, the design principles and technical solutions presented in the patent document undoubtedly generate anticipation. If Apple successfully integrates this technology into future foldable iPhone models, users would benefit from a more convenient and innovative user experience.