Apple has the solution against foldable mobiles that are too fragile

If foldable smartphones are still quite rare in the French mobile landscape, it is certainly because they are still too expensive for many but also because they are considered too fragile by others. Indeed, like any mechanism and like retractable cameras for example, this type of product has alimited lifespan.

Among the risk factors,cold: this tends to stiffen the materials, which is not welcome with a flexible slab. During negative temperatures, for example, it is entirely possible that scratches will begin to appear. Little by little, as they accumulate, they begin to weaken the display, which can potentially end up breaking or, more often, losing its colors.

Just… reheat

In a patent published recently with the USPTO, Apple describes a rather simple system to remedy this. It is simply a matter of raising the temperature of the screen to the level of the fold, in order to avoid any stress on it. To achieve this, several alternatives are available to engineers. Starting with what seems the most energy efficient: capitalizing on that produced bylight illuminating the pixels.

The other idea, which seems a little more complex to implement, consists of installing a heating system in the desired location. Quite original, while some like Sony rely on heat pipes to cool the processor. The triggering of this miniature “radiator” would then be automated thanks tosensorspositioned on the surface, depending on the exterior degrees.

• Read also: a hinge for a future iPhone?

Safer?

Still in the same document, Apple also explains how alatchcould block the opening of the screen if it is too cold. Additional security to guarantee better endurance of components, far from the habits of planned obsolescence followed by major smartphone brands.

We repeat it; a patent is in no way proof that Apple is actually preparing this improvement to integrate it into a foldable iPhone. We still do not know if the firm actually intends to market such a product, and thiseven if the rumors concerning him continue to flow.