Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) appears to be exploring ways to improve the Lightning connector used to charge its iPhones, according to two patent applications filed by the Cupertino enterprise. The United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, published these applications today, both originally filed in 2013. One application is for a flexible Lightning connector dock, apparently meant to prevent damage to both iPhone and dock when they are connected and accidentally subjected to stresses. The other application is for a Lightning security system that would prevent third-party chargers from functioning with the iPhone, an important safety consideration.
Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) Patent Application 20140069710, is for a “Dock Connector with Compliance Mechanism.” Filed on March 8th, 2013, this application indicates Michael J. Webb, Ian P. Colahan, and Paul J. Thompson as the inventors of record. Mr. Webb is a product design engineer at Apple, who has filed for more than 20 patents and has had at least 13 of these actually issued. Apple Inc. is naturally the assignee of this patent.
The “compliance mechanism” named in the application is a flexible joint at the place where the iPhone and the dock interface with one another. A flexible connector seems to be most useful for preventing damage to both devices if the iPhone happens to be accidentally pushed or struck while charging. Since the tabs connecting phone and charger are rather delicate, this design seems practical, even if it has an obviously very narrow application. The connector might contain one or several components, including a compressible foam pad, a pivot, torsion bars, and so forth.
The other patent application, with the USPTO number 20140075051, could actually be the more important of the two. It bears the rather obscure sounding title “Context Aware Functionality in an Electronic Device,” but is basically a security system that would prevent third party chargers from working with the iPhone. The application was filed quite recently, on September 6th, 2013, by Stephen Zadesky, Fletcher Rothkopf, and Brian Lynch. Mr. Zadesky is the Stanford-educated Vice President of iPhone and iPod Product Design at Apple Inc. (AAPL).
The “functionality” is a security device built into the iPhone and the Lightning charger which sends a query and response before the phone allows charging to start. If the dock does not respond to the electronic challenge, the smartphone will not start charging. This is not so much monopolistic behavior on Apple’s part as a desire to increase user safety, since poorly designed third-party chargers have been confirmed to explode or burn when connected to an iPhone.
Together, these applications indicate Apple’s ongoing attention to detail and quest to improve every aspect of their products, including such items as the Lightning connector dock. Today’s publication by the USPTO indicates that these patents may be close to being granted, and that Apple may soon be introducing new features in future issues of the Lightning connector.
