The new Apple iPhone X makes use of Samsung OLED screens, with which they have managed to take advantage of the front of the phone with good solvency. However, in the upper part, we have the black strip, known as the “notch “, which makes the aesthetics of the device very bad in order to have a front camera, sensors (including Face ID), and a speaker for calls. A new patent filed by Samsung shows that it would allow all of that without the “notch”.
The LCD screens, used in almost all phones on the market today, do not give much room to introduce things behind them because when needing a backlit panel, cannot put anything behind because it is covered, nor may be bored or bent. That is why in order to use the new Clear ID of Synaptics to have the fingerprint reader under the screen, you have to use an OLED screen: between its holes, it is possible for the sensor to read the information of the fingerprint while the light that emits the screen is what illuminates our footprint.
One of the many advantages of using OLED is that Samsung has been shown to register a patent. It describes a method to make holes in OLED screens, which would go the camera, the speaker, and light and proximity sensors.
This patent appeared two months after Samsung patented a mobile 100% screen on its front. It was not detailed in how the company could get it, and now we can get an idea. Google is also on the same path of wanting to take full advantage of the front of mobile phones, especially after buying a company that was working on turning the screens of mobile phones into speakers through vibrations.
While it would be easier to remove sensors such as the proximity sensor or the speaker to put them on the screen, the camera itself needs its own hole. For this reason, instead of dedicating an entire strip to insert the camera and the sensors, making small holes in the screen where the camera would go would only be necessary.
Delete the notch or make it tiny to the Essential Phone
This can be seen in a second patent that reminds the Essential Phone with the “mini notch” at the top. Apple is also working on a reduced notch for its following devices, integrating the Face ID into the camera. As in the iPhone X, the user could choose to have the screen expand completely or leave a strip to avoid having to see the holes inside the screen.
Apple has solved the removal of the front button with gestures, while in Android, simply use the virtual buttons, as they have been used for years and Samsung has incorporated this year. Therefore, this design would continue to make use of these virtual buttons.
It is clear that every time we see more elements included on the screen itself or below it. This year everything will start with the fingerprint sensor, which is not noticeable when the screen is on, and when it is off, it can only be seen below from a certain angle.
