Apple awarded U.S. patent for curved touch screen technology

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Apple has been awarded a U.S. patent for a method of making curved touch surfaces, suggesting it may be experimenting with curved iPhone displays.

The patent for a "Curved touch sensor" covers a manufacturing technique for producing accurate, curved touch surfaces without warping or deformation. The patent covers the use of the technology in displays, touch pads and touch mice among other devices, the AppleInsider website reported Tuesday.

Several curved-screen devices are already in the marketplace, including a curved smartphone from Samsung called the Galaxy Round, and a concave-display device, the LG G Flex, from LG.

Despite the offerings from the South Korean companies, it is unclear if U.S. tech giant Apple will use its patent to create any consumer products, AppleInsider said.

However, Apple has been rumored to be working on a smartwatch device, and the patent suggests the so-called "iWatch," expected to arrive some time in 2014, might be equipped with a curved screen that would fit the shape of the user's wrist.