Have repeatedly reported that Apple plans to use new technology for the production of displays for its devices. The company has more than 24 patents for OLED displays, and today the Bureau of patents and trademarks U.S. has published a new Apple patent describing the production of flexible OLED panels. The patent provides for the use of such displays in smartphones, tablets, iPods, smart watches, smart glasses, and laptops.
The document describes a mobile gadgets, the design of which provides for the application can deform OLED screens. In particular, for the exterior parts can be used flexible panels with a flexible protection. In addition, the electronic “stuffing” of the device may include flexible printed circuit boards, batteries, etc.
As planned by Apple, the design of a smartphone with a flexible OLED panel will allow to increase the useful area of the screen, keeping the same dimensions. In addition, this design will improve the stability of gadgets to external influences — for example, will increase the probability of maintaining operability in case of a fall.
From the published document we can conclude that Apple intends to switch to using displays based on organic LEDs. The company noted that due to the design flexibility OLED it will be possible to implement new control interfaces.
On the possible timing of the commercialization of the development, unfortunately, not reported. According to rumors, Apple implements the technology of OLED screens in the next generation iPhone in 2017.
