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Magnetic Headphone connector - new Kickstarter
farpoint
15-04-2015
Hi

I thought I'd make you aware of a new kickstarter project I've recently backed.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...h-the-power-of

You may remember the magsafe power connector that Apple used, well this does a similar thing but for headphone connections. The clever part being that when the magnetic part is disconnected, the device thinks nothing is connected - despite the jack plug still being inserted.

Disclaimer: I do know the inventor as I've worked with him on a few projects. However I have no financial or technical interest in the project except as one of the many backers.
Winston_1
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by farpoint:
“Hi

I thought I'd make you aware of a new kickstarter project I've recently backed.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...h-the-power-of

The clever part being that when the magnetic part is disconnected, the device thinks nothing is connected - despite the jack plug still being inserted.”

How? An inserted jack operates mechanical contacts.
anthony david
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by Winston_1:
“How? An inserted jack operates mechanical contacts.”

iPods pause music if you pull out your headphones but as you say that is probably instigated by mechanical contacts.

The device is the sort of thing seen on Dragon's Den, might make someone a small amount of money.
grahamlthompson
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by Winston_1:
“How? An inserted jack operates mechanical contacts.”

I am sure the headphones are detected electronically on Android and IOS devices If you plug in a extension cable the volume isn't muted until you actually plug a pair of headphones into the extension cable. Additionally you can buy a stylus that has a plastic replica of a headphone plug, its sole use is to provide a suitable place to store the device safely.

http://www.miniinthebox.com/white-ca...dDUaAvji8P8HAQ

Newish Panasonic TV's certainly do not use mechanical switches. The headphone output and the speaker outputs have separate settings. The speakers can be on or off with headphones connected and headphones have a separate volume control.

You really need to join the 21st century.

Anthony David, try plugging a stereo headphone dual adaptor (or similar) into your iphone with nothing connected to it.
farpoint
15-04-2015
Have a look at the kickstarter page and all the information is there. It seems to magnetically move some internal contacts a bit when the headphone jack part is removed.

I had the same thought about the jack socket and mechanical contacts, but the last time I saw something like that was on my old 80's radio.
grahamlthompson
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by farpoint:
“Have a look at the kickstarter page and all the information is there. It seems to magnetically move some internal contacts a bit when the headphone jack part is removed.

I had the same thought about the jack socket and mechanical contacts, but the last time I saw something like that was on my old 80's radio.”

See my post above, there is no mechanical switch. You can plug a headphone plug into a smart phone/tablet, it won't be recognised unless a headphone is connected to it. The current taken by an actual connected headphone is detected. It's very simple to confirm this.
Nigel Goodwin
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“Newish Panasonic TV's certainly do not use mechanical switches. The headphone output and the speaker outputs have separate settings. The speakers can be on or off with headphones connected and headphones have a separate volume control.”

Are you sure there's no mechanical switch?, I've never looked at a Panasonic one, but Sony still use them (why change something that's essentially perfect). The switch doesn't mute the speakers like a 1960's radio though, it just sends a signal that something is plugged in, the software does the rest.
grahamlthompson
15-04-2015
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“Are you sure there's no mechanical switch?, I've never looked at a Panasonic one, but Sony still use them (why change something that's essentially perfect). The switch doesn't mute the speakers like a 1960's radio though, it just sends a signal that something is plugged in, the software does the rest.”

Does the Sony implementation allow a separate volume control for headphones ? My last Sony TV did not. There is no way of really telling is there ?

All I can say is plugging in a pair of headphones to my Panny TV has zero effect on the audio output (Not even a glitch - so mechanical switching seems extremely unlikely).

Essentially I doubt there is enough room in a modern smart phone to include a mechanical switch. I have no doubt that plugging in a headphone device without a headphone actually connected to a smartphone makes no difference.

As the OP's device is clearly intended for mobile devices I can't see the issue.
Nigel Goodwin
16-04-2015
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“Does the Sony implementation allow a separate volume control for headphones ? My last Sony TV did not. There is no way of really telling is there ?
”

Some have, some haven't - 'possibly' the current ones don't - however, the socket is configurable as headphones or line out, and variable or not.

Quote:
“
All I can say is plugging in a pair of headphones to my Panny TV has zero effect on the audio output (Not even a glitch - so mechanical switching seems extremely unlikely).
”

It won't have a glitch if it's set not to mute the speakers, as the switch only tells the processor if something is plugged in or not.

Quote:
“
Essentially I doubt there is enough room in a modern smart phone to include a mechanical switch.”

It's usually just an integral part of the socket, and takes very little space - although it's certainly possible that they don't have a switch - they are getting stupidly tiny
anthony david
16-04-2015
Originally Posted by grahamlthompson:
“
Anthony David, try plugging a stereo headphone dual adaptor (or similar) into your iphone with nothing connected to it.”

The iPad doesn't detect the headphones being removed when on a dual adaptor but does detect the adaptor being removed. However I think you are on to something. Apple earbuds have a plug with an extra ring on them, possibly for the mic on another version. Any contact for this ring will be earthed when conventional headphones are inserted enabling, as you say, electronic detection. In the video of the device only a dummy plug is shown so there is no way of knowing if it works this way (or at all).
Jon_Hallsten
16-04-2015
Originally Posted by Winston_1:
“How? An inserted jack operates mechanical contacts.”

@ Winston_1: My name is Jon Hallsten and I am the inventor of the MAGZET being discussed here on Kickstarter. As far as mechanical vs electrical contacts the vast majority of the phone manufactures use an electrical detection mechanism to determine if the jack is inserted (not mechanical). Once the electrical system is tripped the phone re-routes audio to headset functionality. MAGZET patent pending technology actually tricks the phone to thinking that electrically the MAGZET MAGjack is not installed when mechanically it is. This allows the MAGjack to be left in all the time by itself allowing normal audio functionality and it is ONLY when the MAGZET MAGkap is installed that the phone is electrically tripped and the audio re-route happens. I was interviewed by Fast Company on this very topic. You can check it out here. You can review the engineering drawings of our MAGjack tip design on our Kickstarter campaign found here - you will notice a non-standard design which in part accomplishes this feat. Please let me know if I can answer any additional questions for you. Thanks! Jon
Last edited by Jon_Hallsten : 16-04-2015 at 18:44
Jon_Hallsten
16-04-2015
Originally Posted by anthony david:
“The iPad doesn't detect the headphones being removed when on a dual adaptor but does detect the adaptor being removed. However I think you are on to something. Apple earbuds have a plug with an extra ring on them, possibly for the mic on another version. Any contact for this ring will be earthed when conventional headphones are inserted enabling, as you say, electronic detection. In the video of the device only a dummy plug is shown so there is no way of knowing if it works this way (or at all).”

@ anthony david: The video does showcase an earlier prototype but that prototype was specifically designed to test the patent pending technology being discussed here. And I am pleased to inform that it has been validated. Thanks! Jon Hallsten
Winston_1
16-04-2015
Originally Posted by Jon_Hallsten:
“@ Winston_1: My name is Jon Hallsten and I am the inventor of the MAGZET being discussed here on Kickstarter. As far as mechanical vs electrical contacts the vast majority of the phone manufactures use an electrical detection mechanism to determine if the jack is inserted (not mechanical). Once the electrical system is tripped the phone re-routes audio to headset functionality. MAGZET patent pending technology actually tricks the phone to thinking that electrically the MAGZET MAGjack is not installed when mechanically it is. This allows the MAGjack to be left in all the time by itself allowing normal audio functionality and it is ONLY when the MAGZET MAGkap is installed that the phone is electrically tripped and the audio re-route happens. I was interviewed by Fast Company on this very topic. You can check it out here. You can review the engineering drawings of our MAGjack tip design on our Kickstarter campaign found here - you will notice a non-standard design which in part accomplishes this feat. Please let me know if I can answer any additional questions for you. Thanks! Jon”

Thanks for the clarification.
anthony david
17-04-2015
Originally Posted by Winston_1:
“Thanks for the clarification.”

That goes for me as well.
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