Apple has invented a new headphone jack that could allow future iPhones, iPads, and other mobile devices to become even slimmer. The new jack employs a reshaped plug that looks similar to existing 3.5mm options at first glance.
Apple describes the plug in a new patent entitled “D-shaped connector,” which was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday. While the plug is designed to replace existing 3.5mm connectors, it boasts all of the same functionality.
Apple’s new plug also uses the same TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) connector, which carries left and right audio and microphone signals, and boasts a ground contact. The big difference is, instead of being totally round, it is d-shaped with one side shaved down to make it slimmer.
This means existing 3.5mm plugs would not fit inside of devices that employ the new jack design. However, Apple may be forced to use a jack like this one with future iOS devices as it looks to make them even thinner than they are today.
Apple had to take a similar move with its old 30-pin connector, which had been employed for ten years until it was swapped for the substantially smaller Lightning connector in 2012. The new connector takes up less space not only on the outside of the device, but internally, too.
Apple could use that Lightning connector for audio, too, which would allow it to eliminate the headphone jack altogether. This would mean that all of your existing headphones won’t be compatible with iOS devices, but it looks like that’s going to be the case at some point in the future anyway.
It’s likely to be some time before Apple makes a move like this, however. Apple just made the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus slightly thicker to accommodate their 3D Touch displays and 7000 Series aluminum, so there are other things that need to be slimmed down before the headphone jack becomes a concern.
And as always, Apple patents are never a guarantee of things to come, though they do give us a sneak peek at some of the things Cupertino is working on behind the scenes.
[via AppleInsider]
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