Apple has filed for a new flexible OLED display patent, and is rumored to be developing a bezel-free iPhone display, according to numerous media reports.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple titled “Flexible Displays” on Feb. 13, 2014, according to a
Patently Apple report. The new display patent revealed techniques of reducing the display border by bending the sides of a display surface, and might be applied in wearable devices such as the iWatch or in future iPhones and iPads.
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Patently Apple's depiction of Apple's latest OLED display patent. (Image Courtesy of Patenty Apple) |
It is unclear whether the patent will be the major technology behind Apple’s rumored bezel-less iPhone display. Apple is already testing a bezel-free screen, which includes a fingerprint recognition button at the bottom of the device, the
Korean Herald cited a source from Samsung saying. The source also pointed out these features will also be incorporated into Samsung’s next smartphone Galaxy S5.
Cult of Mac noted other Apple rumors on the market include the release of two bigger displayed iPhones this year, a supercharged camera. However, the most interesting rumor has been possible integration of a
solar-powered sapphire crystal display into the iPhonee 6 to help enhance battery life, according to Seeking Alpha Analyst Matt Marglois. The analyst based the speculation on Apple's partnership with major sapphire substrate manufacturer GT Advanced technology, and an earlier solar patent filed in Feb. 2013, which would allow a power management source for the touch panel to be powered by solar energy.