Apple patents new technology for curved touch displays

LG and Samsung may be well ahead of Apple when it comes to curved display handsets but that does not mean the Cupertino giant is sleeping. While multiple recent rumors claimed that the next iPhone generation will feature a curved display design, a new patent published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office leaves no room for doubt: Apple is working on improved touch-sensitive curved screens.

The patent covers a new approach to production of curved displays and touchpads which allows accurate touch-sensitive curved surfaces and prevents substrate warping. Much more interesting than the new technology itself is the list of devices that may soon use it, as the patent includes a few images showing devices that will employ such curved touch displays. These images make it clear that Apple's iPod, iPhone and MacBook could soon feature curved touch-sensitive screens.

Unfortunately it is not known when this technology will be introduced by Apple but the new iPhone with a larger and curved display could be the first of the devices mentioned above to arrive. As the patent was first filed for way back in 2010 it is very likely that Apple has been working on various prototypes for a while already and the iPhone 6 could take full advantage of a rather mature technology in mid- to late-2014 when it is expected to launch.