硬體介面太多有解了

由於IT的進步，現在每個人手上都有很多資訊設備，像手機、平板、NB...之類的，大家會覺得麻煩的是要管理各式各樣的傳輸介面，近年雖然很多介面都整合成USB，但還是有很多像 HDMI 、 RJ45 、 3.5 耳機插孔等尚未整合，需要透過轉接頭才能使用，也是相當的不便。
從USPTO所公告的專利申請案中發現：Apple提出了一個申請案正要解決電子裝置介面太多的問題。從他的專利說明書上看來，他在電子裝置上，設有一片有許\多接點的矩形區域，當做是介面區，可以插各式各樣介面的插頭。
從專利文件中可以看出：不論是桌機、筆電還是 iOS 可攜式裝置都適用，而且可以透過電流、無線訊號、電磁或光學偵測機制，自動的辨識所插用的介面。由於它還具有光學偵測機制，所以這個介面區還包括了光學上的感應，這意味著燈光、形狀、符號、條碼等也都可以在辨識的應用範圍內，真是包山包海的發明，只是未來要怎麼應用，還有待觀察！

US20130267120
Title : PLUG WITH A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS CONNECTED TO A SUBSET OF CONTACTS IN A RECPTACLE AND A CIRCUITRY TO DETERMINE THE CONFIGURATION OF THE CONNECTED PLUG
Filing Date : 2012.4.9.
Application Date : 2013.10.10.
Abstract :
An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.