Apple could offer future iPhone models with a dedicated touch panel on one side, according to the company’s latest patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). While other companies have released several smartphones with displays that seamlessly fit the edges, the iPhone maker’s patent claims that the iPhone maker’s patent is similar to the Touch Bar technology that the company briefly incorporated. It is mentioned that this company may import small quantities. , separate displays with virtual buttons. In the MacBook Pro collection.
The patent, granted to Apple on March 12, is titled “Electronic Device with Side Display.” It features a “flexible display” that bends to form “a front-side display and an edge display,” while a mask optically separates the two and places the corresponding pixels on the side. Explained about smartphones. The document posted on the USPTO website also includes a diagram showing a device that is said to be equipped with an edge plate.
The first image in the patent document shows an iPhone-like device with a narrow display on the left edge below two physical buttons. Figure 8 shows the secondary screen used to display media playing on the smartphone. Meanwhile, Figure 18, Figure 19 and Figure 20 show how the song title and artist name are displayed on the edge screen. It also includes elements that appear to support vertical scrolling.
In addition to displaying information and controls for music and media playback, you can also use the secondary display to display text controls when using certain apps. Figure 16 includes virtual buttons for flash control, switching between photo and video modes, and a shutter button. These are likely to appear when the Camera app is open. Figure 15, on the other hand, shows app icons for the Messages, Calendar, and Camera apps, suggesting that these icons may be offered as quick launch options.
The patent also suggests combining tactile feedback and transparent buttons with lenses. The latter could potentially be used to interact with the interface while using the phone. Figure 14, on the other hand, shows the use of virtual side panel buttons to form a virtual controller when using the device in landscape mode.
Apple has received a patent that would allow the use of these peripheral displays similar to Touch Bar technology, but there is no guarantee that these panels will make their way into iPhones in the next few years. The company has several patents for technologies that have not yet been implemented in smartphones. However, it remains to be seen whether future iPhone models will feature these displays.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
