Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patents do not always result in products on the store shelves.
Apple record of bizarre patents
Apple has a record of filing bizarre patents. At times, this prepares a way for products such as the Touch Bar installed on the 2016 MacBooks Pro. A similar patent was filed on late last week could pave way in to a MacBook Pro in the future or even your clothes.
The patent under discussion outlines a woven display which in made from single light transmissive fibers. These are woven together to result to a display on a fabric like surface which cannot be categorized a just any flexible display.
Features of the light tubes
The light transmissive fibers form ‘light pipes’ which are very different from embedded LED. This is because they do not actually generate the light themselves. The fibers acquire light from electronic devices. They then ‘pipe’ the light to the woven display area.
When it is off, it is assumed that it would act in a similar way as tightly woven fabric. Electronics in the woven fabric are not very common.
Light tubes, also referred to as light pipes can be described as optical waveguides. They are used in transporting and distributing both artificial and natural light for illumination purposes. In the electronic devices, the light tubes acquire light from LED at the connection juncture. The light tubes can also play the role of electronic display.
Images that accompany the patent indicate that some potential uses which include Apple Watch bands have embedded fabric displays as well as a laptop with a secondary display that is made of woven fibers.
Will it actualize?
This is a great idea if Apple can actualize it. However, it remains unseen but there a few signs that light fabric could be availed very soon. This is not the first light fabric patent to be filed by Apple. The application is a development of a previously patent that was filed in May 2014. It develops on a technology that Apple had been working on and introducing new methods for making use of the fabric.
Apple closed at $143.66, after declining 0.25% yesterday.
