A report citing Apple’s patent application filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) claims that the iPhone 14 series models may have used a light-folded projector to reduce the notch. It is quite widely reported that the Pro models will sport a hole-punch display with a pill-shaped cutout and that the non-Pro models may get a smaller notch. As per the report, the patent does not explicitly mention which models will get this technology, but it is believed to be available on all models of the iPhone 14 series.
patent apple cites a patent filed with the USPTO and says it talks about a technology that has various components including a camera, an infrared (IR) light emitter, and a “light folding element.” This element is said to have the ability to redirect IR light to help reduce the footprint of the components and offer more display area on the phone.
The patent states that the light folding element “could provide greater flexibility to position the IR light emitter in relation to other components such as the IR detector and front-facing camera.” The IR light folding element can change the transmission direction of IR light, essentially removing the need to install an IR light emitter at a specific location. It can now be “installed in a less-constrained location, use a light folding element to project IR light in a specific direction,” reduce the overall size of the imaging and sensing components, and allow for a notch reduce the size. This sounds like the technology used in periscope-style zoom cameras in smartphones.
It has been told that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will get a pill-shaped hole-punch cutout. Meanwhile, the non-pro models, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, are said to get a smaller notch. Apple is yet to confirm the development of these models, but reports suggesting design changes to the iPhone 14 series have surfaced online several times. In one case, pictures of the front panel of the iPhone model were leaked.
Recently, an alleged iPhone 14 Pro dummy model was leaked that showed the rumored pill-shaped hole-punch design. The iPhone 14 Pro is reported to come with a 6.06-inch display and the iPhone 14 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch display. Apple will launch the iPhone 14 series on September 7. Apple Watch Series 8 models, iOS 16 and watchOS 9 are also expected to be launched at this event. You can read all the launch rumors in our report.
