Apple patent application reveals foldable iPhone with self-heating display, lock-out mechanism to protect against cold weather damage

“The foldable smartphone era is in full swing with the recent introductions of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X, and while it remains unclear if Apple will follow suit, the company has at least explored ideas related to foldable smartphones in patent applications over the past few years,” Joe Rossignol reports for MacRumors.
“In a patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today, titled ‘Electronic Devices With Flexible Displays,’ Apple explains that foldable smartphone displays could be prone to damage when bent in cold temperatures, and describes various heating methods to mitigate the issue,” Rossignol reports. “For example, Apple says the portion of the display that bends could be heated by lighting up the pixels in that area of the screen. Alternatively, a ‘heating element or other heating structure’ could be used, although Apple wasn’t specific.”
Foldable iPhone concept
 
Apple also notes that “the foldable smartphone could have a magnetic latching mechanism that would prevent the device from being folded or unfolded in very cold temperatures to avoid damage to the display,” Rossignol reports. “This would be in environments ‘significantly below room temperature.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: When it’s too cold out, the iPhone Nazi feature is triggered: No iPhone for you!
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