The foldable market could heat up in a big way if the new patents that Apple has recently rewarded are any indication

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded Apple a patent for a device that comes with a foldable display and a "self-healing display" that uses heat from a variety of sources, including light, current and external heat, which allows the display's surface to return to form The patent, previously apparently reported by Apple, also comes with a layer at the top of its screen, which would heal on its own

Apple did not state exactly how the patent would work in practice, but after years of rumors suggesting it is working on a folding iPhone to compete in the broader folding market against Samsung and Google, there is no doubt that it is raising questions about Apple's intentions in the mobile arena According to some rumors, there is also a possibility that Apple will offer a foldable iPad and be able to avoid a foldable iPhone altogether

In any case, offering a foldable would be the first for Apple, which has stubbornly stuck to flat-panel phones since the launch of the iPhone almost 20 years ago However, the foldable market is still relatively slow, partly due to the small number of competitors in space Apple joining the fray could jumpstart the industry and put competitors to the test

That said, adding a self-repairing display to the device will ultimately be the most important factor in the success of future foldable iPhones Although foldable is generally well received and reviewed, after prolonged use, it tends to suffer from screen problems over time Features that allow them to heal on their own are an important addition to Apple's phones, and will potentially help the company bet its claims on the market at launch

But before we move ahead of ourselves, there are a few things to remember For one thing, the patent award does not mean that the technology makes its way to devices so far Like other big tech companies, Apple is constantly filing patents, and many of its patents don't find their way to hardware

Furthermore, the patent itself is very vague The method by which the screen can be heated includes almost all imaginable options Apple said the self-healing layer would be made of "a polymer or any desired material with self-healing properties"In addition, the company said it could "spread across the entire outer surface of the display cover" or possibly sit on a part of the screen

So while it's fun to guess what Apple is thinking about the foldable device, it's a trick outlined in the patents coming to future phones