Forget the iPhone 7, get ready for the iPhone 360: Apple patents wrap-around screen that takes over entire handset

The back casing of your iPhone could soon be a thing of the past.

Apple has been awarded a patent for a 360-degree screen that extends on all sides of the phone - transforming the wasted space into a second screen.

The tech giant says this would allow users to play games or watch videos on either side and display photos in a continuous loop around their iPhone, which mimics a 3D experience.

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Apple was been awarded a patent showing illustrations for a 360-degree screen that extends on all sides of the phone. The tech giant says this would allow users to play games or watch videos on either side and display photos in a continuous loop around their iPhone

The new patent, called 'Electronic device with wrap around display', was filed in April 2015 and describes a transparent housing and a flexible display assembly enclosed within the transparent housing.

In order to produce this innovation, Apple includes its approach of a flexible display that is capable of folding into a 'tightly wound configuration' that would be placed within the transparent casing.

'In other cases, however, the entire enclosure can be fully transparent in which case the folded flexible display can unwind when placed within the glass enclosure,' reads the application published

'Once fully unwound, the flexible display can present images at any portion of the glass enclosure.'

This enclosure would be molded out of glass or plastic and a bendable display would be inserted to present images on the glass, so it would have the two screens.

'In this way, an illusion of depth perception can be presented mimicking a 3D experience,' the patent explained.

But the material used depends on other factors including recyclability, tooling and manufacturing costs, toxicity, among others.

Apple highlights that it is common for manufacturers to leave 'the sides and rear surfaces of the device unused or at best configured with buttons and switches with fixed location and functionality'.

However, if this new technology were to be implemented it would not increase the size of the phone – just the user's viewing experience.

'For example, a flexible display can be folded in such a way as to form a continuous loop such that images (still or video) can be presented in a wrap-around manner in which the images appear to be in a presented in a continuous loop,' explains the patent.

The main illustration in the patent shows a variant with application icons spanning the width of the display, both across the iPhone and along the bottom.

COULD THE IPHONE 7 AND IPHONE 7 PLUS COME IN DEEP BLUE? 

Designer Martin Hajek used the latest 3D leaked renders of the iPhone 7 and schematics to create his own concept images that coincide with rumors of a ‘Deep Blue’ model.

According to a Macotakara, the color may replace Space Gray and join silver, gold and rose gold as the four color options available at launch.

Designer Martin Hajek used the latest 3D leaked renders of the iPhone 7 and schematics to create his own concept images that coincide with rumors of a ‘Deep Blue’ model. According to sources, the color may replace Space Gray and join silver, gold and rose gold as the four color options available at launch

The images show the renders of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in the Deep Blue, with an even darker blue painted around the edges for contrast.

And these concept images may also give us clues on what the upcoming September release will include. 

According to information from a Chinese supplier, the LCD glass surface of the iPhone 7 to be released by Apple as the next model will be the same as that of the current model. Also the liquid crystal glass surface of the next line of iPhones will not be the same as the current models

According to information from a Chinese supplier, the LCD glass surface of the iPhone 7 to be released by Apple as the next model will be the same as that of the current model.

Also the liquid crystal glass surface of the next line of iPhones will not be the same as the current models.

Source: Macotakar.com

Apple explains that this design could allow up to five icons span across each row of the screen, which means users would no longer have to aimlessly swipe to find a specific app.

Since the flexible displace would completely enclose the device, Apple might be hinting at removing all of the outside controls and the physical home button.

This concept does coincide with a separate patent the tech giant received last month, which describes placing the home button sensor under the display and using ultrasound imaging to find the user's fingerprint.

Apple describes the housing of the display could be multi-part in which a portion is metallic in nature (such as aluminum) whereas another portion can be formed of optically transparent material such as glass

And the control switches would also be included on the inside of the enclosure, but still in the same locations, according to the patent.

Included is this patent is Apple’s own augmented reality technology.

This would allow images to be presented on a real setting, while the users views it live via their iPhone camera.

The firm gives examples for self-guided tours, museums and music festivals. 

Although this patent does prove hopeful and may excite a few iPhone owners, Apple has published many pages of unused technology in the past and it is not clear whether this technology will ever become a reality.