APPLE

Company patents iPhone with its all-glass case and surrounding screen

Described in a recent patent granted to the American company, it may be the most futuristic iPhone design to date, made entirely of glass. Experimented by other smartphone makers, the OLED screen design that wraps around the case's edges could be assumed by Apple, but in a different interpretation.

Submitted by Apple to the USTPO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), the document illustrates a “glass-coated electronic device” and no fewer than six display areas. In other words, the future iPhone will be able to display images and graphics on both sides of the case.

The box molded from a single piece of glass could have thickened edges for better structural strength, while replacing the “cut” edges at right angles with slightly more rounded shapes, allowing the image to “leak” along the sides .

Apple engineers also describe two ways to assemble / access internal components. Less technically problematic, the first method involves using a large “lid” that partially wraps around the side of the box. More difficult to implement, the second method takes the form of a lid large enough to allow insertion of electronic components. In either case, the hardware components must come in a pre-assembled module, ready to be inserted into the glass body.

While Apple has shown interest in developing an all-glass case iPhone for 8 years, Apple has not delivered such a product so far and there are no indications that it plans to do so in the near future.

mundophone