The iconic Notch, a distinctive feature of iPhones and Macs, has gradually receded into the background on iPhones. The question arises as to whether Apple aims to replace the Notch on the iPhone and the recently introduced Notch on Macs. Will the Dynamic Island also disappear? This post explores the possibilities!
This isn’t mere speculation but is based on a recently uncovered patent report, which has garnered attention in the English-speaking news outlet, Patently Apple. The patent’s objective is to eliminate the need for sensor obstructions, such as cameras and Face ID.
How Do They Plan to Achieve This?
As per Patently Apple, the patent involves placing sensors beneath the screen layer. While this concept makes sense, it encounters a significant issue related to light emissions. Light emitted from the screen limits the detection capabilities of various systems when they are placed beneath the screen.
The intention is to create a completely transparent device where every element blends seamlessly into a screen. To realize this vision, a novel solution has been patented.
Creating a Seamless Screen: The Challenge
In areas where a camera or sensor is placed beneath the screen, pixels are absent. However, there must be a region of non-pixels, which serves to cover the sensor. This non-pixel area must be thinly coated with transistors and other components that mimic the screen’s capabilities, except they are non-luminescent pixels.
To conceal these non-pixel areas, it is essential to ensure uniform light emission across the screen, making it indistinguishable. This necessitates playing with the refraction of the screen’s emitted light. A seamless transition is required between the filled pixel region and the empty pixel region to create the illusion of a continuous screen.
The Implications: Notch and Dynamic Island
The Notch, noticeable in iPhones housing front cameras and Face ID sensors, and in MacBooks with front cameras, may be headed for a transformation. With the iPhone 14 Pro and the entire iPhone 15 family, Apple introduced the Dynamic Island, incorporating both hardware and software elements. While physical components have become more compact, the screen still exhibits holes when the black coating is removed.
As the Notch evolves by minimizing its size and introducing the floating pickup, questions arise about the future of the Dynamic Island. In a future where sensors are seamlessly integrated beneath the screen, the distraction-free experience sought by Apple may render elements like the Dynamic Island obsolete.