Apple is apparently researching a method to make the glass on the front of an iPhone thinner and stronger. The company aims to achieve this by making a special support structure that will be used around the edges, which will also be made of glass.
The Cupertino based giant filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office (Via AppleInsider), which was titled “Insert molding around glass members for portable electronic devices.” For those unaware, smartphones and other mobile devices, or even larger displays uses glass panels on the front of the actual displays. This panel serves the primary function of protecting the screen on the inside from direct impact and scratches. It is often used in a manner to make the display fit seamlessly with the design of any device.
Now, the new patent from Apple states that it will have the same glass cover stick out from the rest of the enclosure, similar to curved displays, although it aims to maintain the thinness of the main glass sections overall. In simpler terms, while the glass might stick out from the design, it won’t add to the girth of the device as it will be thinner. However, thinness usually compromises on strength, but the iPhone maker seeks to employ a solution that has it adopt a glass structure around the edges of the glass cover.
This glass structure will act as an intermediary between the primary enclosure and the thin glass cover. It will also have a lip on the outside edge surrounding where the glass cover will be placed. Unfortunately, this is still a patent and it is unclear if the company is actually planning on incorporating this solution into its future products. So stay tuned for more updates.
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