Apple Inc. secures patent for flexible electronic devices

The iPhone manufacturer which drew a lot of criticism when the ‘bendgate’ scandal surfaced has now taken a patent for flexible electronic devices. Few days after its iPhone 6 and 6 plus were released, users had complained about the sets getting bent when kept in the pocket. The bendgate saga which ensued is now history.

Taking cue from this debacle, Apple has patented devices which will be fully flexible- both inside (batteries) and outside (screen).

Going by the description on the patent awarded to Apple, users will be able to bend, fold and squeeze the device and perform certain functions as a result of those actions.

The outside of such flexible devices could be a flexible display cover under a flexible housing. To make the inside of the proposed device flexible, Apple could use a flexible OLED display, flexible batteries and flexible circuit boards. This is not the first time we are hearing about flexible devices. We have already seen curved display on Samsung Galaxy Round and LG’s G Flex but Apple, in a bid to outdo its rivals, wants to take the flexibility of its devices to the next level.

“Flexible electronic devices may be more resistant to damage during impact events such as drops because the flexible device may bend or deform while absorbing the impact . They may include flex-sensing components for sensing deformations of the flexible electronic device,” said Apple in its patent application. “Deformations of the flexible electronic device that are sensed by flex-sensing components may provide user input to the electronic device. For example, twisting a flexible electronic device may change the operating mode of the device, may be interpreted by the device as a command to an electronic gaming system, may turn the device on or off, etc.”

Though the company applied for a patent and has also been awarded the same on Tuesday, it does not in any way go on to suggest that some device like the one mentioned above is in the offing already. But yes, it has helped WOW gadget lovers all over the world!