Apple's Future Foldable iPhone May Withstand Drops—How?

Trisha Kae Andrada, Tech Times 17 March 2023, 09:03 am

Apple is developing technology that would enable iPhones or iPads with flexible displays to recognize when they are being dropped and automatically fold up on their approach to the ground. This is expected to reduce the likelihood of damage.

'Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques'

Foldable iPhones and iPads have been an area of interest for Apple for some time now. The company has also considered rollable screens. Both methods aim to showcase a more sizable screen on a compact gadget but may compromise its durability in the process.

A recently published patent application titled "Self-Retracting Display Device And Techniques For Protecting Screen Using Drop Detection" details methods for securing such gadgets.

AppleInsider's report explained the tech giant suggests the screen may opt to detach from the base chassis, which could be accomplished in a number of ways, including folding at a hinge or pulling the screen out. The display may fold or detach in a manner that protects the screen, eliminating the need for a hinge or other potentially fragile attachment to the device.

In particular, it could carry this out whenever the necessity arose, which means if it senses a drop.

Hoon Sik Kim and Michael B. Wittenberg are listed as co-inventors on this patent application. Both have experience with the design of a folding iPhone and the implementation of geared hinges.

What Does it Mean?

According to the patent application, foldable and rollable mobile devices may identify whether or not they have been dropped by using a sensor to measure vertical acceleration, like acceleration with respect to the ground). The foldable gadget may partly retract to prevent the delicate display from hitting the ground if the sensor determines that the mobile device has fallen.

The screen may be retracted or released at this point.

Apple elaborates, saying that when the vertical acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, "[the process] can include activating a release mechanism for a hinged connection between a first display and a second display of the electronic device," with the result that "an angle between the first display and the second display is reduced below a threshold angle."

As a folding iPad or iPhone is technically two gadgets hinged together, this solution makes perfect sense. Apple reportedly claims it can fold the display back if the feature is not available on a certain device.

It adds that even if the screen is folded less than 180 degrees, it will still provide some protection since the corners of the phone will absorb the impact. Lastly, a rollable device may retract the display if certain acceleration thresholds are surpassed.

Of course, this is conditional on how quickly the gadget can detect a fall. Yet, the height from which it was dropped also has a role.

Foldable and rollable smartphones are inherently more delicate than standard devices because of the moving parts; therefore, these recommendations would aid that.