Apple has been granted a patent for touch sensitive control areas including solid-state buttons on any surface of the current iPhone design, and a folding one.
The iPhone 16 range features an all-new Camera Control button, the idea for which is part of this newly-granted patent
The iPhone 16 range features an all-new Camera Control button, the idea for which is part of this newly-granted patent
The touch screen wasn’t invented with the iPhone, but Apple did make it ubiquitous. Potentially as significant as the multitouch feature of the iPhone’s front screen, though, is Apple’s plan to add touch sensitivity to very side and edge of the device.
Newly-granted patent, “Electronic Devices With Display And Touch Sensor Structures,” concerns a desire to make it convenient to tap, swipe or otherwise touch an iPhone to control it. However, it also includes some detail on how this could be achieved even if the iPhone is some future folding or curved one.