Apple Researching Flexible iPhone Displays with Under-Surface Speakers, Tactile Feedback, Laser Microphones

[MacRumors]

Unwired View takes a look at a newly-published Apple patent application addressing the company's interest in flexible displays and related inventions enabled by that technology.




In the patent application, Apple details various iPhone form factors with concave and convex displays, and while such concepts have seen relatively significant work by a host of companies, Apple takes things a step further by using substantial flexibility in its proposed display to integrate features such as a tactile keyboard and microphones and speakers embedded under the display.

E.g. - by placing an array of piezoelectric actuators below the display and activating them on demand for tactile feedback. This way you have a perfectly smooth surface when you browse the net or read your e-mail. Call up a keyboard, actuators pop up and now you can feel the letters as you type.

Since your display is flexible - it could be able react to the sound vibrations as you speak. So why not put a laser microphone behind the display to capture those vibrations, and get rid of traditional mic holes?

And if you can capture sound vibrations via flexible display, how about generating sound waves? No problem. Just put a transducer behind it to transform electric current into vibrations, add some support structure/barrier around it and that part of your flex display becomes a speaker membrane.

Holes in cover layer to accommodate in-display speakers

Many of the inventions addressed in Apple's patent applications never see the light of day, but they can provide insight on the company's areas of interest and long-term vision for the future of its products.

Article Link: Apple Researching Flexible iPhone Displays with Under-Surface Speakers, Tactile Feedback, Laser Microphones

[KnightWRX]

Before anyone says "others always follow Apple" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsIjfy8g2Pk

CES 2011 says Hi!

Glad Apple is also researching this. Flexible displays are going to really make device design explode as multiple shapes will be possible now instead of a flat surface.

Transparent display is also another area vendors need to start exploring.

[Johnf1285]

I just want some iMac news already!

[troop231]

Cue the iPhone 5F rumors, "F" for flexible. The most flexible thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone.

[DAVIDUGLY]

the LG and Samsung demos over the years have been pretty great, so looking forward to their version for sure.

[Bubba Satori]

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

I just want some iMac news already!

What's an iMac?

[btbeme]

Samsung just announced flexible displays and a new Droid OS called Ice Cream Scoop.

[winston1236]

Time to rebrand this site as "iphonerumours.com" anyway, its nice to see some new ideas being explored.

[Behindthelens24]

How about we take the time and fix the horrible iOS 6 battery life before we start making flexible phones...

[sclawis300]

Lets go ahead and call it Screen Gate. I have only had this phone for 3 days and the actuators have already punched a hole in my screen.

[mchoffa]

Speaker holes on a touchscreen that you rub your fingers all over? Sounds like a BAD idea to me... oil and dirt would clog them up very quickly, I think.

[swarmster]

I can see it now: "Meh, all they did was make the display a little bendier. Lame."

[macnerd93]

expect to see it commercially in an Apple product in about 10-15 years

[D-a-a-n]

Steve would have allowed this.

[Shrink]

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

I just want some iMac news already!

Very appropriately placed post in this thread.

Never concern yourself with the actual topic of the thread...that's for wimps.

[sbrhwkp3]

That is mind blowing.

[bobobenobi]

Originally Posted by mchoffa

Speaker holes on a touchscreen that you rub your fingers all over? Sounds like a BAD idea to me... oil and dirt would clog them up very quickly, I think.

Where do you see anything about holes?

[krashx7]

Originally Posted by mchoffa

Speaker holes on a touchscreen that you rub your fingers all over? Sounds like a BAD idea to me... oil and dirt would clog them up very quickly, I think.

It cleary says UNDER the display. As in you wouldnt see the speaker holes at all.

[doelcm82]

Originally Posted by Behindthelens24

How about we take the time and fix the horrible iOS 6 battery life before we start making flexible phones...

First we have to end hunger. When no child goes to bed hungry in the world, we can start looking at iOS 6 battery life.

If you're going to focus on one thing at a time, get your priorities straight.

[bushido]

i particularly love how its so futuristic but still carries that freakin stupid home button ^^

[doelcm82]

Originally Posted by krashx7

It cleary says UNDER the display. As in you wouldnt see the speaker holes at all.

Hidden speakers. Just like at Disney World!

[wovel]

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

I just want some iMac news already!

Me too

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Originally Posted by Behindthelens24

How about we take the time and fix the horrible iOS 6 battery life before we start making flexible phones...

Not sure that work is done by the same people. I am also guessing this patent was filed before customer service received your call about the problem.

[mchoffa]

Originally Posted by krashx7

It cleary says UNDER the display. As in you wouldnt see the speaker holes at all.

Originally Posted by bobobenobi

Where do you see anything about holes?

I was going by the patent image, which has the caption:
"Holes in cover layer to accommodate in-display speakers"

which to me sounds like there are holes on the top layer to let the sounds out from the in display speaker underneath? I guess I misunderstood.

[wovel]

Originally Posted by doelcm82

Hidden speakers. Just like at Disney World!

Wait. What! Smash Mouth wasn't following me around the park?

[krravi]

Originally Posted by wovel

Me too

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Not sure that work is done by the same people. I am also guessing this patent was filed before customer service received your call about the problem.

I.. dont want to hear any iMac news.. as I just bought one...