Latest patent pointing to a foldable iPhone is one that covers a slim but strong hinge

Apple has been awarded a patent for a hinge that could end up on a foldable iPhone, a MacBook Pro, or on other Apple devices that require one. The patent is titled "Electronic devices with fiber composite friction hinges" and the innovation comes from the use of composite materials to create a stronger but not a bulky component. The patent states that "the fiber composite hinge may be formed from a fiber composite material such as carbon fiber composite material."

For those of you interested in a foldable iPhone, it sure sounds that this is what Apple is talking about when it writes, "The electronic device may have a flexible layer such as a flexible display that overlaps the hinge structure." In the patent, Apple makes it clear why a slimmer but still strong hinge is needed.

In the patent, Apple writes that "An electronic device may have a one or more hinges. For example, a folding device may have a first housing portion that is coupled to a second housing portion by a friction hinge. The friction hinge may include fiber-reinforced structures such as carbon fiber composite structures and other fiber composite structures. The use of fiber composite structures may help reduce hinge bulk while improving hinge performance."

"If care is not taken, hinge structures may be bulky, weak, and prone to slippage," the patent states. "This can make it difficult to use a laptop computer or other electronic device into which the hinge structures have been incorporated." To reiterate, the goal of the patent is to create a hinge that produces less bulk but still improves the performance of the hinge.

The patent also says, "In a friction hinge, hinge structures grip against each other with sufficient pressure to hold the hinge structures in place when released. At the same time, the hinge structures do not grip too tightly, so that it is possible for a user to overcome the hinge friction when it is desired to make adjustments." An example of this would be a laptop lid.

"A friction hinge arrangement may be used...so that the lid stays in place after the user has adjusted the angle of the lid as desired. As another example, a friction hinge may be used...so that a user can adjust the pressure." Devices mentioned in the patent include "cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, head-mounted devices, handheld controllers, finger devices, wristwatch devices, other wearable devices, keyboards, computer mice, remote controls, speakers, accessory displays, accessory cameras, and/or other electronic devices."

A foldable iPhone seems to be in development. Recently Apple filed a patent application for a foldable battery that we would expect to see powering such a device. Earlier this year, TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will ship 15 million to 20 million foldable iPhone units in 2023 equipped with 8-inch foldable OLED panels created by Samsung.

At the time, Kuo discussed why he thinks that Apple, although late to the party, will end up becoming the winning phone manufacturer in the foldable market. "At present, the product position of foldable smartphones is mainly to integrate the smartphone and tablet. But we believe that the foldable smartphone is only one of the applications of the foldable design," Kuo says.

He continues, "We predict that foldable devices will blur the product segmentations between smartphones, tablets, and laptops in the future. With its cross-product ecosystems and hardware design advantages, Apple will be the biggest winner in the new foldable device trend." And the buzz heard around the water cooler is that the foldable iPhone will support the Apple Pencil.