A patent has occurred published highlighting multiple possible ways to fit a 3.5mm headphone jack into areas on a device less than 3.5mm wide. It would include aligning the object and sending pins on one side of the jack while holding the jack snug with an expandable film that is rendered flush when not in use.
Various designs may highlight one or two flexible or pleated membranes to form the compartment for the plug head. Pins could be put on this side edges in the latter case.
So, why draft up this convoluted design? Because, as lightness is beloved, manufacturers would be ready to go through convolutions to get there:
Standard connectors may be available with regular sizes. Standard audio connectors or plugs are common in three sizes based on the outside width of the plug: 6.35 mm, 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm plugs. Standard containers for such connectors may include an opportunity becoming an interior diameter sized so that it can hold and engage the plug and may, for example, since exceeding 3.5-4 mm for a 3.5 mm audio connector.
For thin electronic devices, the width of such a conventional receptacle may be doubting to serve. The standard container may be thicker than the electronic device, or the standard container may take up so much space within the electric device that it may be more challenging to fit interior parts such as a display, electronics, a battery etc. inside the electronic device.
Of course, this design can be compared to the right use case, but seeing this on, perhaps, a future Surface device, perhaps we will see a new revival of analog headphones. Or, on the off-chance that this gets licensed out to smartphone OEMs, maybe those whining about the demise of 3.5mmwill be placated.
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