After all, Apple may launch a foldable iPhone or iPad in the near future, as the company now has a patent for technology that prevents the display from wrinkling.according to patent appleThe display is chemically thinned in the fold area, and a different material may be used to keep that area smooth throughout.
Korean industry insiders say a 2026 launch is a realistic goal, while Kuo Ming-chi claimed that Apple’s first foldable screen product will be a 20.3-inch MacBook, scheduled to be launched in 2027.
Apple’s patent claims that the notch in the display area can be offset by a transparent overlay that overlaps the display panel. Elongated grooves or other recesses may be formed in the glass layer that extend parallel to the bending axis while covering the bending axis.
The locally thinned portions will be strengthened by the polymer formed from the thinned portion deposited in liquid form in the grooves and subsequently cured by application of UV light, heat, catalysts and other curing techniques.
The patent suggests that the entire composition of the glass may need to be changed. For example, sodium on the glass surface can be replaced by potassium. This creates compressive stress in the treated surface layer, making the glass resistant to scratches and other abrasive damage.
source