Why not just make a new 2mm-1.5mm port and ship 3.5mm to 2mm adaptors with all phones? I know it would easier to bend but I feel like they would be pretty cheap to replace the adaptors and could be designed so that they break in such a way that you could pull the broken end from the phone. You could also have high grade titanium reinforced plugs/adaptors.
Um, didn't Apple file basically this exact patent some years ago?<p>What does the USPTO actually <i>do</i> these days?<p><a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/85736/apple-patents-ways-to-make-an-ipod-thinner-than-a-headphone-jack/" rel="nofollow">https://www.cultofmac.com/85736/apple-patents-ways-to-make-a...</a>
If it's on the top will it prevent you from closing your laptop lid while it's attached?<p>It seems like if you accidentally closed the lid it might do damage to the screen?<p>I guess you would have to have a rim around the front of the lid with a notch if you wanted to avoid that?
Why not like this? <a href="https://i.imgur.com/dmuGOA5.png" rel="nofollow">https://i.imgur.com/dmuGOA5.png</a><p>Too small tolerances needed?
I can only wonder why all that work to keep alive a connector that was born defective in the first place, especially when the patent is for something that obvious. I'm strongly opposed to removing analog output from devices, but would hope someone somewhere could make a more modern and reliable design then implement it successfully and release its specs for public use without the aggressive involvement of any law firm. ...Geez, it's a connector!