Apple Patents Method to Bend Glass in Smartphones
Heat would be used while bending glass over a mold to achieve a particular shape.
Apple has patented a method that would see traditional glass screens found on a smartphone turned into a flexible display.
The new patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. U.S. patent 8,336,334 explains a method of utilizing heat while bending glass over a mold to achieve a particular shape.
Samsung recently confirmed its plans to show a 5.5-inch flexible smartphone screen during CES, with fellow handset manufacturer Nokia having also tested flexible phones.
Part of the 'slumping' process, which is the way the glass is bent over a mold, Apple's patent details how the method can be used to change glass shapes in order to create a bend or curve. The method would prevent the overstretching of the glass or potentially causing cracks created by air vacuums.
The patent also points towards the method, system and tools required for high-temperature processing; Apple said it can be applied to "small factor electronic devices," including phones and user input devices.
No I'd rather just patent the letter A and than patent/trademark Apple as in the fruit. Than work my way up on letter B-Z so I can go after everyone. I also like to patent the way you file patents to the patent office via mail, email, in person, courier pigeon, etc. So I can go after more people as well.
Next stop law school, not sure why though considering this might just work with how things have been going lately.
This means other companies can still make bendable glass they may just have to come up with their own way of doing it even if it may be less efficient.
You guys need to chill when it comes to patents.
It turns out, several scientists (including Nikola tesla, Heinrich Hertz, Oliver Lodge, etc) were the actual inventors of wireless telegraphy who publicly demonstrated a working model.
Marconi, being a business man, saw the potential, stole the ideas, packaged their work in a nice little box, and patented it. After whom, others such as Thomas Edison were patent-happy.
Due to this, the entire scientific world was up in arms and everyone started to patent every little detail they possible could.
As far as I understand it, if a scientific-breakthrough is already publicly known or demonstrated, then that can't be patented, so there's obviously a reason why Apple were granted this.
you've given me an idea. thank you sir.
The new patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. U.S. patent 8,336,334
Apple has no way to make this into a product, they don't have a fabrication plant for screens, they buy them from samsung. Looks like they are wanting to try and milk samsung for some money since this is probably part of samsung's flexible screen technology.
Dude, that is not the problem.
The thing is that ANY polymer, given specific heat, can be bent, retaining its properties. Major phisical-chemistry fact. So, why the frac does the god damn patent office award the patent for this?. This may be impairing research at universities big time (although glass is made of silica, probably this new glass is a polimer of it with another, short chained, plastic.)
fuck apple, man
science should be FREE to every one ... patenting prevents knowldge from advancing FAST. JUST IMAGINE if some one patented the wheel thousands of years ago .. and no one could use it with his own ideas ...
the patent system should be closed all together. and let the people decide what to buy. you CANT steal knowldge coz knowledge should be FREE.