It's never too early to think ahead. Apple is coming down off the high of its release of the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. Now the company is apparently already working to innovate and come up with something bigger and better for the next model of its flagship smartphone.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday awarded Apple a patent that describes a method of efficiently manufacturing curved touch surfaces. According to AppleInsider, this suggests that the company may be experimenting with curved iOS device displays.
The patent's main focus is on a technique that produces accurate, curved touch surfaces without deficiencies caused by substrate warping or deformation. The patent specifically covers the use of the technology in displays, touch pads and touch mice, among other details.
According to TechCrunch, Apple's technology differs from other flexible glass displays because most often the substrate that adds touch sensitivity to a device is flat, meaning that if the glass is curved, touch sensitivity could suffer since the user's finger is further away than it may appear. Apple's patent includes a way to create variations in the curvature of the surface.
This isn't the first time Apple has been in the rumor mill with a curved display design. Back in November the company was said to be developing a display that doesn't conform to normal Apple designs slated for a release in late 2014. A curved display would help the company compete with similar smartphone designs from LG and Samsung.
Its worth noting that, while curved displays are currently the growing fad, there's no indication that it will still be around in late 2014. A patent filing doesn't necessarily mean that the company is developing such a device as Apple in particular files for a lot of patents for innovations for prototypes that don't always make it to market.
Would you be interested in a smartphone from Apple with a curved display? Comment and share your thoughts on this recent patent filing with us below.
