Apple Granted Patents for Shatter-Proof Foldable Display and Under-Screen Front-Facing Camera
Apple Shatter-Proof Foldable Display and Under-Screen Front-Facing Camera Patents In recent developments, Apple has been granted patents for two groundbreaking technologies set to revolutionize the display landscape – an under-screen front-facing camera and a foldable display technology designed to prevent glass shattering. These patents signal Apple’s commitment to advancing the visual experience on its devices while addressing practical challenges.
Apple Under-Screen Front-Facing Camera Patent Apple’s under-screen front-facing camera patent focuses on maximizing the display area by incorporating a black mask layer to conceal the camera lens on devices like iPhones and MacBooks. This approach enables a seamless, full-screen display while maintaining optimal sensor performance.
Key Features:
- High-Transmittance Areas: The patent describes a display with full-pixel and low-pixel areas, where a transparent window with high transmittance overlaps the sensor. This ensures efficient light transmission for enhanced sensor performance.
- Black Mask Layers: The display incorporates black mask layers forming a grid with holes, allowing patches to be added strategically to mitigate diffraction artifacts. Additionally, the patent introduces first and second-pixel removal regions with different layouts of black mask layers, effectively constructing an artifact-free image.
- Sub-Pixel Distribution: Apple proposes a method of evenly distributing sub-pixels by eliminating nearest neighbor sub-pixels of the same color. This arrangement contributes to creating areas of high transmittance in pixel removal regions, enhancing overall display quality.
Apple Shatter-Proof Foldable Display: The second patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office pertains to a foldable device technology designed to prevent glass breakage. Apple envisions this technology being applied to iPhones, hybrid tablets, and laptops, introducing a chemically created textured glass at the fold to enhance durability.
Key Features:
- Foldable Enclosure: The patent describes an electronic device equipped with a foldable enclosure, allowing the device to be folded and unfolded around a curved axis. This flexibility is complemented by a display panel capable of bending along the axis of curvature when the device is folded.
- Chemically Textured Glass: Apple introduces a chemical polymer placed in the recess, enhancing wetting and adhesion of the polymer in the fold. To minimize reflections, the inner surface of the thinned portion of the display cover is textured, providing additional structural integrity.
- Variable Thickness Portion: The thinned portion of the display cover incorporates a variable thickness, transitioning between a minimum thickness associated with the thinnest region and a maximum thickness associated with the non-thinned portion. This variability enhances the overall strength and resilience of the foldable display.
Apple’s recent patent approvals underscore the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of display technology. The under-screen front-facing camera and shatter-proof foldable display innovations promise to deliver enhanced user experiences, reaffirming Apple’s position as a leader in technological advancements within the consumer electronics industry. As these technologies are integrated into future Apple devices, users can anticipate a seamless blend of form and function, redefining the possibilities of modern displays.