While Apple and other phone manufacturers are ditching the traditional headphone jack for slim mobile devices, Microsoft is looking for ways to keep both the 3.5mm headphone jack and mobile devices slim at the same time. As Microsoft is an innovative company, it has finally managed to figure out a new design for the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Microsoft’s new patent describes a design that would allow the phone manufacturers to save space for other hardware while the phone will remain slim with a headphone jack. Microsoft has patented “Plug receptacle for an electronic device”, the patent shows a connector that is being used to maintain the original size of the device, as when the headphone is plugged into the jack, the connector will expand.
When a headphone jack is plugged in, flexible materials change its dimensions. In the patent, Microsoft explains three different devices could be used on the devices, while flexible materials design is apparently the best. Microsoft applied for the patent in August 2016 and it has been granted to the Redmond giant last month.
“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,” Microsoft explains.
While phones are pretty much dead for Microsoft, the company may be planning to implement the technology on its Surface devices. It is, however, worth noting patent filings don’t always translate into products for the market.
