EFI Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 As weird as the name might sound...its function is actually quite thought out. The latest rumor has it that Apple is designing what it calls "collapsible connection receptacle". Essentially this is a mechanism to be able to accomodate a folding connection slot area, into an area in the external enclosure. This will in turn allow the laptop's size to be reduced much greater than if you were to just use the size of the full port. Confusing...I know, however once you take a look at the patent description, and more importantly, the pictures, it becomes much clearer. However, the Cupertino-based systems designer notes that one limitation when reducing the size of a connection system is that the reduction is limited by the size of the largest port (which usually include Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, FireWire ports, RJ-11 ports, and RJ-45 ports). For example, RJ-45 ports are relatively large and thus may be a challenge to accommodate, Apple said. To remedy this situation, the company has proposed a "connection system" that includes a connection receptacle comprising a first component coupled to a chassis and a second component coupled to the first component. "The connection system includes a connection receptacle that is implemented as two separate components. One of the components is fixed in that it is coupled to the chassis, and the other component is rotatable or coupled to a moving mechanism," the company explained. "The combination of the fixed and rotating components are adapted to receive a plug when the connection receptacle is in an open position, and the fixed and rotating components are collapsed into a compact configuration when the connection receptacle is in a closed position." For more information, check out the Apple Insider article link via MacRumors: Link Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Marvin Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Ok, I've tried squinting, looking at it with my head on the side and sniffing the glue didn't help either. How does this work?? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429190 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Yeah...I don't get it either.... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429334 Share on other sites More sharing options...
macgirl Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 yes yes yes Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429358 Share on other sites More sharing options...
borez Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Basically if you take a look at the pics, you'll see that their patented design allows the physical ports (i.e. USB) to be literally flattened and collapsed. As you observe from those ports, there are those empty spaces within the port's internal dimensions. What it does is to literally flatten them down, hence eliminating these free pockets of space. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429369 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight F Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 That's some pretty sweet material/mechanical engineering if they can pull off rugged versions of that idea. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429376 Share on other sites More sharing options...
borez Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 That's some pretty sweet material/mechanical engineering if they can pull off rugged versions of that idea. I agree - but however, I'm rather skeptical on the idea's durability. I can vaguely recall a similar contraption (although not exactly the same idea) - 3Com's XJACK pop-out connectors. Had an XJACK card, and it sorta gave way after a while.. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429420 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBK.Xscape Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 i must say that apple always innovates things...... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429442 Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI Posted August 17, 2007 Author Share Posted August 17, 2007 Do note that this patent was from 2005. So Apple has been researching this for quite some time now. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
EPDM Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 This is suposedly called "innovation"? How lame! First of all since the base with the connectors rotates inside the laptop's case it's ridiculous to "flatten" the connectors at all. Secondly they could have done it like other ultra-portables are been doing it for years now. By using an external base connected with a cable to the laptop. Kinda like a docking station. Older laptops used this way to reduce size. While newer ultra-portables allow to fit a lot of connectors without fidling with their size (e.g. Flybook). This "idea" will undoubtly have a serious impact on the durability of the connectors. Particularly if the target market are the computer-illiterate ppl who aren't as cautious as others might be. And what if the slided connectors don't fully open up? Or when the rotated connector-base doesn't slide far enough down to extend to connectors? Consumer products should be made more durable instead of less durable. Our hectic lifestyle doesn't demand fragile "innovative" equipment but stuff that can keep up with us. I think this is just like so many consumer products these days. They re-new to re-new itself instead of renew to improve the product. It's becoming more and more like the film industry: Special effects used to improve the story, nowadays speciall effects are the story itself. this is all very well for the shallow video-clip-generation but I want more significance. Just my 2 cents Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429566 Share on other sites More sharing options...
borisbadenov Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 An external module? Great, another thing to lug around with me and possibly loose. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
U.C. Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 This is nice, but a docking station type solution might be simpler and better. This docking station can be small light thing, which when attached, acts like a hub and gives all required ports. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429638 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight F Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I agree - but however, I'm rather skeptical on the idea's durability.I can vaguely recall a similar contraption (although not exactly the same idea) - 3Com's XJACK pop-out connectors. Had an XJACK card, and it sorta gave way after a while.. http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/510E...6FL._AA280_.jpg Yeah, I 've used those before. I never had one break but then I was super delecate around it because it looked and felt so flimsy. That is exactly the thing I had in mind when I made my comment, if they could avoid that. It does look like you'd still be able to use metal, and it wouldn't have things sticking out. It would be a matter of the hinges. By using an external base connected with a cable to the laptop. Kinda like a docking station. But then you have to tote that base with you. That was the bane of docking stations as well. Plus another connection to go through and go wrong. You might as well just make the laptop bigger and build it in. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cringemaster Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Does anyone recall the powerbook duo? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I love it when Apple thinks outside of the box and innovates new stuff like this Suppose they'll be calling it CCR before long. Reminds me of the 70's rock group called CCR Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/60393-apple-designing-collapsible-connection-receptacle/#findComment-429717 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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