Apple has filed a patent application for an "Electronic device with wrap around display" which could make it possible to create an iPhone that's essentially flattened piece of glass.
The patent states glass or other suitable transparent material to house the device in a stable support while also allowing for maximum access to the screen and high aesthetic value. Some variations of the device embodiment can be bead-blasted or covered in ink to hide some of the unsightly internal elements. The radio transparency of glass would prove a key asset to internal wireless communication equipment if they use a glass tube, as noted by Apple Insider.
Google and Samsung are also all playing with a similar idea, so it will be see who comes out with a working device first. This technology definitely seems very exciting and something quite unbelievable that it could be a part of our daily lives very soon.
When I see patents like these it always gets me thinking about what else these companies have up their sleeves. It obvious that something like this patent wont become a full fledged product for years to come so it would be interesting to know what other concept products will become a reality is 5 or so years.
ReplyDeleteThese patents are reiterate the importance of R&D. Although this technology might not be currently or foreseeably marketable (economically feasible), R&D just needs to prove that it can be done with current technology to lay the claim on the patent, which will extend for 20 years!
ReplyDeleteWhile Apple has filed this patent, Samsung has for some time now been working on a flexible display which allows for similar abilities. They've actually already released a prototype and it has been shown off at tech events. This technology will probably hit the retail market within a year and will probably lead to more patent litigation between Samsung and Apple.
ReplyDeleteAs other commenters have stated, I'm curious as to learn what Apple's prior art citations might have been for this patent, given other companies' demonstrations of similar prototypes at industry trade shows and conferences in the past. It's clear that such a patent would hold a great deal of value, given that it seems to cover any all-glass phone design; however, I'm not so sure that it will eventually be granted, again given plethora of prior art that seems to exist.
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