A patent filing shows that Apple has furthered its research on all-glass enclosures.
Patently Apple spotted a patent titled "Electronic device with glass enclosure" that was granted to Apple earlier today. The research focuses on electronic devices with glass enclosures that extend all the way around the device.
Apple's patent describes how the displays are enclosed within the interior volume and positioned adjacent to at least a portion of each of the six sides of the glass enclosure. These displays can accommodate the internal curves of the enclosure and provide additional touch input regions.
The patent explains how glass can be curved, tapered, and overlapped to create an all-glass enclosure. Apple suggests that some of the glass may have different texture to differentiate it from nearby input regions.
Apple outlined a number of ways in which to allow access to the device's internals, including removing a window or a cap section. This would allow internal components to be slid out in a way that is similar to the latest Apple TV's Siri Remote.
The filing shows how the device's software could be integrated with an all-glass design to adapt based on how the user holds and orients the device, such as additional information being shown on the outer edges andUI elements that move around to the surface being interacted with.
The filing shows how other devices, such as the Apple Watch, a cylindrical Mac Pro, and a Mac Pro tower, could feature all-glass enclosures and use their internal surfaces.
Devices with all-glass enclosures have long been idealized by some, including former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive. Some of the company's specific areas of research and development are shown in the patent filings.
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a thicker front crystal. The Apple Watch's glass has a curved edge, which makes it look like the display is almost meeting the case, in what may be a small iteration toward reaching the sort of design envisioned in this filing.
