Microsoft patents way to keep the 3.5mm audio jack around

Oct 30, 2017 07:56 GMT  ·  By

Apple and a bunch of other phone manufacturers are replacing the traditional and super-popular 3.5mm headphone jack with different connectors that should help them make devices thinner and save the internal space for other hardware.

And while this is indeed a good reason why the headphone jack should go (though there are a million others why it shouldn’t), Microsoft thinks that there’s a way to keep the audio connector and make devices thinner at the same time.

In a patent called “Plug receptacle for an electronic device” (via MSPU), Microsoft describes a way to mix the two using a connector that maintains the original size of the device, but which expands when plugging in the headphone jack.

This can be achieved with flexible materials that could change their dimensions depending on whether a headphone jack is plugged in or not, with Microsoft discussing 3 different designs that could be used on devices: flexible materials or hard materials expanding just in one directions or a headphone connector that can expand in both directions for perfect symmetry in the case of devices that are super thin.

Microsoft applied for the patent last year

The abstract section of the patent provides more information on how the whole thing could work on a new-generation device featuring this expandable port:

“A plug receptacle is disclosed, comprising a receptacle housing having a passage configured to receive at least a part of a plug of a plug connector, a front side having a first opening and a top side having a second, elongated opening that intersects the first opening, the passage opening to the front side via the first opening and to the top side via the second opening.

The plug receptacle also comprises at least one plug receptacle cover that is reversibly extendable between a cover position and an open position. In the cover position, the at least one plug receptacle cover covers the second opening at least partially. In the open position, at least a part of the at least one plug receptacle cover is extended outwards, so that the at least the part of the plug partially extends through the second opening.”

Microsoft was granted the patent on October 17 after filing it in August 2016, and if there’s a chance to see it on the company’s devices, the Surface lineup is the only one that could get it. Phones are pretty much dead for Microsoft, despite its commitment to enterprise.

The company proposes 3 different designs for the headphone port
The company proposes 3 different designs for the headphone port

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Microsoft was granted the patent this month
The company proposes 3 different designs for the headphone port
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