Apple researching flexible headphone connectors to stop potential breakage
An Apple patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday describes an innovative headphone connector that uses flexible parts to protect against accidental breakage and costly equipment damage.
Source: USPTO
Apple's "Flexible TRS connector" patent filing outlines a number of designs and implementation scenarios for a headphone connector, the body or sleeve of which is partially made from flexible materials. By using flexible or elastic parts, the plug would be able to withstand moderate bending that would otherwise break existing connectors.
The design of headphones with 3.5mm connectors like those supplied with the iPhone, as seen above, is comprised of a conductive tip, conductive sleeve, and two conductive rings. Between the conductive areas is a dielectric material that isolate the audio, microphone and ground signals from corresponding pins in the headphone jack.
Signals are transmitted between the contacts to an inner conductive member that itself is connected to signal wires running through the headphone cord. At one terminus is the speaker or microphone, while the other end connects to the electronic device.
Illustration of plug inserted into an electronic device.
These TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) connectors can be brittle due to their construction, and are prone to breaking when inserted incorrectly with too much force, or extracted in a similar fashion.
Apple proposes a plug that incorporates flexible elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers that will give if a user accidentally bends the sleeve or the plastic shell that is located at the base of each connector. These materials can replace the dielectric insulation along the plug shaft or, in some embodiments, the internal member which runs through the entire sleeve can be made from an elastomer coated in conductive layer.
With the elastomer parts in place, the plug can withstand substantial bending when under strain and return to its normal state when strain is removed. In some cases, a combination of sleeve, inner conductive member, or shell is flexible, while other parts remain rigid.
Finally, in some embodiments, flexibility varies across the connector's length, allowing for more strain tolerance in areas prone to breakage, such as the tip or base of the plug.
Connector as described in patent application with flexible inner member (206) and insulation (204).
With each iteration, the iPhone has become thinner as consumers demand sleeker, increasingly lightweight products. In Apple's latest iPhone 5, for example, the 3.5mm headphone jack assembly spans nearly the full width of the phone, almost to the point where the part is becoming a limiting factor in the device's design.
Apple's plans for the invention remain unclear, though the company could potentially deploy the technology as its devices quickly move toward a design stage that calls for thinner connectors, such as a 2.5mm subminiature plug.
Apple's flexible connector patent application was first filed for in 2013 and credits Albert J. Golko as its inventor.
Source: USPTO
Apple's "Flexible TRS connector" patent filing outlines a number of designs and implementation scenarios for a headphone connector, the body or sleeve of which is partially made from flexible materials. By using flexible or elastic parts, the plug would be able to withstand moderate bending that would otherwise break existing connectors.
The design of headphones with 3.5mm connectors like those supplied with the iPhone, as seen above, is comprised of a conductive tip, conductive sleeve, and two conductive rings. Between the conductive areas is a dielectric material that isolate the audio, microphone and ground signals from corresponding pins in the headphone jack.
Signals are transmitted between the contacts to an inner conductive member that itself is connected to signal wires running through the headphone cord. At one terminus is the speaker or microphone, while the other end connects to the electronic device.
Illustration of plug inserted into an electronic device.
These TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) connectors can be brittle due to their construction, and are prone to breaking when inserted incorrectly with too much force, or extracted in a similar fashion.
Apple proposes a plug that incorporates flexible elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers that will give if a user accidentally bends the sleeve or the plastic shell that is located at the base of each connector. These materials can replace the dielectric insulation along the plug shaft or, in some embodiments, the internal member which runs through the entire sleeve can be made from an elastomer coated in conductive layer.
With the elastomer parts in place, the plug can withstand substantial bending when under strain and return to its normal state when strain is removed. In some cases, a combination of sleeve, inner conductive member, or shell is flexible, while other parts remain rigid.
Finally, in some embodiments, flexibility varies across the connector's length, allowing for more strain tolerance in areas prone to breakage, such as the tip or base of the plug.
Connector as described in patent application with flexible inner member (206) and insulation (204).
With each iteration, the iPhone has become thinner as consumers demand sleeker, increasingly lightweight products. In Apple's latest iPhone 5, for example, the 3.5mm headphone jack assembly spans nearly the full width of the phone, almost to the point where the part is becoming a limiting factor in the device's design.
Apple's plans for the invention remain unclear, though the company could potentially deploy the technology as its devices quickly move toward a design stage that calls for thinner connectors, such as a 2.5mm subminiature plug.
Apple's flexible connector patent application was first filed for in 2013 and credits Albert J. Golko as its inventor.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
Scamsung no doubt start work on their version today.
Apple has been working on a system, reported here previously, that employs a (probably) thinner but longer connector, approaching perhaps the existing digital port in size, which of course is considerably thinner.
Quote:
...consumers demand sleeker, increasingly lightweight products
I don't really think anyone is demanding this at all, Apple keep upping the ante on this one themselves. I think people understand that while hardware will get faster and more powerful indefinitely, it will not get ever lighter, there's a limit and we probably are very close to it. In fact I don't think anyone would want any more heft removed from the iPod touch, we need to feel some substance.
With regards to the 3.5mm micro connector it will never be able to have a magsafe like detachment and it seems that this is a waste of engineering.
There's no need for Apple to move to a smaller plug yet.
The iPod Touch is already much thinner than the iPhone and its still able to support a 3.5mm audio connector. Unless the iPhone 6 is slimmer than that the 3.5mm isn't going anywhere.
And honestly Apple would probably ditch audio plug ins altogether and rely solely on Bluetooth before even contemplating migrating their devices to 2.5mm audio connectors.
Scamsung no doubt start work on their version today.
They may also work on a dildo as well...No chance of that, there are no patents related to that by Apple or rumors that Apple are so Scammy won't be.
Like the lightning connectors are build by third party legally, every headphone manufacturer could build an apple propitory headphone connector if they still wanna rely on wired tech. If that's done they could come up with MagSafe optical jacks which is much compact.
Hence moving to digital headphones rather than analog ones.
Regarding some of the comments on this thread: I doubt Apple would move away from 3.5mm to 2.5mm any time soon. I believe people want to have the option of using the earphone or headphones of their choice and Apple knows that. 3.5mm is the standard --more so than 2.5mm. I can see Apple eventually migrating to Bluetooth in the furute but not to 2.5mm. But again, I could be wrong.
Wireless headphones needs charging and that's a pain. That also means you can't do long term listening coz of battery drains. Perhaps the day when witricity becomes reality, wireless headphones could be feasible.
Witricity is a technology of wirelessly transmitting electricity.
If you haven't seen witricity demos here you go.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html
They just have to figure how to convert solar energy coming from the sun, into electricity that can be transmitted and encrypted from outer space.
That's when Apple can tell Scamsung "DARE U TO COPY THAT"
The day that happens here is the conversations that would happen at Shamesung's office.
Employee to CEO
Employee : Sir we have a serious problem with Apple.
CEO : Nothing our Cloning Department can't solve.
Employee: They can wirelessly charge there devices 24/7 now.
CEO: 24/7 how ?
Employee: they got satellites in outer space transmitting electricity in a encrypted format. We can't hack into it.
CEO: no problem, let's make our phone with a 20 inch screens and stuff a giant battery into it. One that needs charging only once a month.
Employee: sir but there phones are 4 inches and 0.5mg light with 3mm thickness.
CEO calls Tim Cook: Hello Tim we have a new deal for you. Next 10 years of FREE component manufacturing. Let's share this new satellite tech
Tim hangs up the call.
And then everyone would complain about Apple making an incompatible headphone jack and whine that their $4.99 Walmart headphones won't work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
Scamsung no doubt start work on their version today.
And it will release it before apple does.
It will release it in different sizes (dont ask why) which eventually end up looking a like a di!do.
Of course. bigger is always better, right? So why doesn't Apple introduce an 8" headphone jack to keep up with Samsung?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
Everything should be MagSafe. Magnetic connectors that can pull off. All connectors.
Nice thought, but then limited to Apple only headphones. I bought their earpods last year and sent them back. I just keep getting the $9.99 Sony ones in the rollup case from Walmart. I found they have better sound than the earpods for my liking anyway.