Apple has obtained a patent that mentions "self-healing" technology for devices such as foldable smartphones. The patent describes ways to both minimize damage to foldable devices and repair damage when it occurs. The patent shows that the device has a hinge that allows for bending on a bending axis. In order to bend around the bending axis without damage, the display screen may contain a display cover layer with flexible portions.
The patent mentions a display overlay that may have self-healing properties. This material can cover the entire display cover or only the flexible area of the display cover. Apple said in the patent: "During the operation of the electronic device, the display cover layer of the electronic device may be scratched or dented. In order to improve the aesthetics of the electronic device, it is best to minimize the existence of scratches and dents. To help Mitigate the number of dents, scratches, or other defects in the display cover layer, which can contain a layer of self-healing material."
Apple claims in the patent that self-healing can occur without prompting and without external intervention, or by applying external stimuli to initiate or speed up the process. The patent suggests that the cover layer could be made of "elastomers" to further improve flexibility, and that self-healing could be initiated or accelerated by "externally applied heat, light, electrical current, or another type of external stimulus." Self-healing can also have control circuits configured in such a way that they will be activated according to a predetermined schedule.
Apple says the technology can be used in everything from "computing devices such as laptops" to mobile phones and even "smaller devices such as wristwatch devices, pendant devices, wearables or other types of tiny devices."
Although Apple has not yet launched a foldable smartphone, its competitors Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have already launched such devices on the market. From the exposure of a large number of patents, it can be seen that Apple is definitely also developing Similar devices, just not yet ready to launch.
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