Apple has filed a number of patents regarding the possibility of developing an iPhone with an expandable display via a scrollable display mechanism (01, 02, 03 and more). Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published another expandable display centric patent application that could apply to an iPhone, iPad, Macs or even a TV.

Electronic Devices With Expandable Displays

Apple's patent covers an electronic device (iPhone, iPad, computer monitor) that may include a housing with an expandable display coupled to the housing. The housing and display may be operable in expanded and retracted states. The expandable display may have an exposed portion that remains exposed on the outer surface of the device and a retractable portion that rolls between a retracted position that is hidden behind the exposed portion and a viewable position that is coplanar with the exposed portion.

The display may be mounted to and supported by a frame. In the retracted state, a retractable portion of the display and frame are enclosed within the housing and hidden behind an exposed portion of the display. As the device transitions from the retracted state to the expanded state, the retractable portion of the display and frame may roll around an axis onto the front of the device to increase the size of the viewable display area. As the device transitions from the expanded state to the retracted state, the retractable portion of the display and frame may roll back around the axis to the retracted position within the housing.

The frame may have a rigid portion that is mostly solid metal supporting the exposed portion of the display and a flexible portion formed from parallel strips of metal supporting the retractable portion of the display. The parallel strips of metal may roll around an axis and may slide along guide rails as the display transitions between expanded and retracted states.

One or more tensioning structures may be coupled to one of the strips of metal and may apply tension to the display. The tensioning structures may include first and second tensioning bars that rotate about an axis during expansion and retraction.

A slider mechanism may include first and second rack-and-gear mechanisms coupled by a common drive shaft to ensure that top and bottom edges of the display are moved in unison during expansion and retraction. Each rack-and-gear mechanism may include upper and lower racks and upper and lower gears to ensure that upper and lower housing portions do not swing away from one another during expansion and retraction.

Apple's patent FIG. 4 below is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with an expandable display in a retracted state;  FIG. 5 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with an expandable display in an expanded state.

Apple's patent FIG. 4 above is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with an expandable display in a retracted state; FIG. 5 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with an expandable display in an expanded state.

To review its full details, review patent application 20230345655.  A device with an expandable/scrollable display doesn't have the issue of a visible crease on the display as with a foldable device.