14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has filed many patents over the years, some showcasing ingenious ideas for improving user experience, and others presenting futuristic ways in which the company could continue to bring innovation through its devices.
The latest patent was published on Thursday and reveals a portable device with a flexible OLED display that can retract into two casings. It shows that Apple is exploring alternative ways for flagship devices like the iPhone or iPad.
The patent application is called “Electronic devices with retractable displays” and it was published by the US Patent and Trademark Office, according to Apple Insider. The image shows two elongated housings which would incorporate the retractable screen, processing unit, cameras, and other components.
The display would be retractable and roll at both sides
Each of the housing could be made out of aluminum or other materials, like glass, ceramic, fiber composite or plastic. The cameras would be located inside the elongated chassis, placed behind optically transparent windows.
Speakers and microphones would be placed in an alignment with openings or microperforations. The patent also says that Apple imagined a retractable screen for this particular device, while left and right housings would be intentionally hollow and contain rollers for accommodating the flexible screen.
The mechanism would also consist of bistable metal components that would become rigid when forced into a flat state. The OLED display would be able to bend in shape when it would be rolled. Apple even mentioned a static or rotating brush to clear the display of debris before it would be rolled up.
Magnets would hold the display and other movable components into place when the device would be closed. While the device certainly looks interesting, it’s highly unlikely that it would be developed anytime soon. A flexible OLED display could potentially bend into shape and roll, but there are other components like the chipset and battery to take into consideration. We have yet to see the first mass produced smartphone with foldable display, so some time will pass until a phone with rollable display actually arrives.