Apple is working on the prevention of its future devices from getting damaged by external elements. The company is applying for a patent with a self-healing elastometer over one or more external electronic connectors, as published reports say. In this regard, future iPhones will be protected against dusts, gas, water, debris, and other damaging materials.
Apple's application for an "Electronic device with hidden connector" is published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to Apple insider. It details the method of protecting electrical device connections against foreign elements. It also specifies a silicone material or polymerized siloxane that can enable such capability of self-healing.
Tech Times also reported Apple's statement, "The self-healing elastomer may obscure the electronic connectors from the user as well as provide environmental protection for the connector and the electronic device." The firm added that electronic probes may temporarily penetrate the self-healing elastometer to mate with the electronic connector. More so, after the removal of the probes, the self-healing elastometer may elastically reform and self-heal.
In addition, Apple is planning to have the elastometer material match with the device's color. As such, the report stated that elastomemeter has to be mixed with other materials to be able to attain the color matching. Such material is also expected to be applied in headphone jack opening with its cylindrical housing.
Though, a report from eWeek mentioned that, future iPhones may be equipped with a thinner, single, multipurpose lightning slot that includes the headset port as well as the charger. It is also stated in the report that Bluetooth connectivity may also be part of the future iPhones. The aforementioned specs have the possibility to come in iPhone 7 models, related report said.
If the patent is successful, future iPhones can compete with its rivals that currently have such feature. Surely, this will attract more customers and enthusiasts to upgrade once the plan materialized.
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