Rumors that Apple is planning to use a curved screen on the iPhone 6 won't go away. Now, there's even more evidence mounting showing that Apple is investigating curved displays, with a new patent awarded to the company.
Reported by Apple Insider, the new patent describes, "A method of forming a curved touch surface, comprising: depositing and patterning a conductive thin film on a flexible substrate to form at least one touch sensor pattern".
According to the patent information, Apple's method of creating a curved display is to first deposit a thin film over a flexible substrate, keeping all of the components flat. This is then joined to a forming substrate and heated to create the curved screen. According to Apple, this method stops any deformation in the screen.
With current techniques, the screen is put on to a curved surface and heated slowly to give it the bend without damaging or distorting it. Using Apple's technique, higher temperatures could be used, allowing the company to manufacture the screens faster.
With both Samsung and LG releasing curved smartphones, this type of display would allow Apple to make a rival product. As always, with patents, it remains to be seen when and if Apple intends to use the technology.
It's also not clear if Apple's technique would work with sapphire glass, which it is rumoured to be using to make super-tough, scratch-resistant screens for the iPhone 6. Given everything, we'd guess that Apple would rather have tough displays than curved displays, if only one could be achievable.
See also, Why the iPhone 6 won't have a Full HD display.
Reported by Apple Insider, the new patent describes, "A method of forming a curved touch surface, comprising: depositing and patterning a conductive thin film on a flexible substrate to form at least one touch sensor pattern".
According to the patent information, Apple's method of creating a curved display is to first deposit a thin film over a flexible substrate, keeping all of the components flat. This is then joined to a forming substrate and heated to create the curved screen. According to Apple, this method stops any deformation in the screen.
With current techniques, the screen is put on to a curved surface and heated slowly to give it the bend without damaging or distorting it. Using Apple's technique, higher temperatures could be used, allowing the company to manufacture the screens faster.
With both Samsung and LG releasing curved smartphones, this type of display would allow Apple to make a rival product. As always, with patents, it remains to be seen when and if Apple intends to use the technology.
It's also not clear if Apple's technique would work with sapphire glass, which it is rumoured to be using to make super-tough, scratch-resistant screens for the iPhone 6. Given everything, we'd guess that Apple would rather have tough displays than curved displays, if only one could be achievable.
See also, Why the iPhone 6 won't have a Full HD display.
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