Apple patents retractable notebook ports
updated 10:35 am EDT, Thu August 16, 2007
Apple laptop I/O patent
Apple may be planning to offer a retractable set of USB, FireWire, Ethernet, and other connections on future notebooks to decrease the overall size of its portables, according a patent filed by the company which surfaced today. Apple's "Connection System" patent filing shows a series of I/O ports on the rear of a laptop that close to conserve space but flip down to provide access when needed. The patent also entertains the possibility of allowing each port to open and close individually, providing access to only those connections that are needed at any given time. Apple is aiming to conserve space by recessing the various connections into the body of the laptop, which would also allow the company to create a tapered edge around the entire system when all ports were in their dormant positions.
Industry watchers expect the Cupertino-based company to unveil its first ultra-portable notebook by early 2008, which would bring an even smaller laptop to Apple's lineup of portables.
Readers interested in Apple patent and trademark filings can visit our patent blog at http://www.macnn.com/patents


















Cool
08/16, 11:17am reply
Not only do they slide out of the way, the ports themselves compact. Amazing.
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
pointless?
08/16, 11:37am reply
I love current apple products, but making the ports retract would only serve to protect them, which is good... it wouldn't really save space. Cool though. As for compacting ports, i'd rather not as i'm sure this would weaken them.
Darwiniandude
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2007
weakening...
08/16, 11:48am reply
The ports should only be weakened if you created the wrong flex points. The "meat" of a port is typically a fairly small part of the port, with the bulk of it being essentially a cable holder.
Since the ports can only get smaller, when they extend to full size they should be as strong as normal ports - actually better, because if they flex at all, it's going to be towards gripping the cable better.
Rincewind
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
Neat idea...
08/16, 12:28pm reply
but introducing moving parts in order to make "collapsible" connectors strikes me as a potentially bad idea... as they wear out, it could produce intermittent connections.
hybrid
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004
re: neat idea
08/16, 12:38pm reply
Call me a cynic, but intermittent connections == money for apple as customers pay to repair/replace machines. Seems to me like Apple would view this as a "potentially very good idea".
Geobunny
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
3 words
08/16, 12:43pm reply
More Moving Parts?
Generally, the more moving parts you add to a thingee, the more likely something will break.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
Flying Meat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
thin is in
08/16, 01:12pm reply
looks like "thin" is the key word for current Apple design directions. And it's amazing to think that ports may be the thickest part of system. This seems like a bad idea, though, for the reasons already mentioned.
eddd
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2001
Re: thin is in
08/16, 02:49pm reply
The other issue is that these will be on the side, as Apple's designs currently fold the laptop lid behind the back of the laptop (thus saving vertical space, for, say, on an airplane). And is it really that important for the side (hey, more things sticking out to catch yourself on, sending your laptop to the floor!).
And these aren't that revolutionary. I've used PC laptops that have had network and modem ports that pop out, rather than just plug in.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
BTW
08/16, 02:52pm reply
Doesn't MacNN know that companies file hundreds, if not thousands, of patents a year, and many of them never amount to much (or, more importantly, end up in a different product, say a mobile phone), thus publishing every new patent application and speculating about it usually doesn't have much value (well, except for click-throughs!).
Although I'm still waiting to find out what Apple's planning to do with the mammals.org web address. It must be something huge, since its been in their possession for like 10 years!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
How...
08/16, 04:47pm reply
How can you assume that there will be intermittent signal on a device you've not even seen in real life working in action? Ever think that the individual connectors in each port would be not an internal flexing cable, but a series of hinged connections? Some lamps use this technique to transmit switch on or off position to the controller which in turn sends current to the bulb or not depending on the situation. You know what else comes to mind? Airport jetways have hinged connections at 2-3 spots, heck, even sliders on amps and sound boards etc have similar connections. You don't need to worry as long as the hinged area is properly sealed.
Fast iBook
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2003