Apple seems to be working on equipping its future iPhones with a "self-healing" material that will help prevent the device from getting damaged by water.
In the company's latest patent filing, Apple said it will apply a self-healing elastomer over one or more of the device's external electronic connectors. Using this type of technology will protect the device against water, debris, dust, gas and other damaging materials. Apple claims that this level of protection can be very helpful when, for example, one would like to take a selfie while in the middle of a dust storm, since one would be assured that his device would be free from any damage.
"The self-healing elastomer may obscure the electronic connectors from the user as well as provide environmental protection for the connector and the electronic device," said Apple. "Electronic probes may temporarily penetrate the self-healing elastomer to mate with the electronic connector. After removal of the probes the self-healing elastomer may elastically reform and self-heal."
Apple wants the elastomer material to have a color that matches the device for which it is used. This color matching can be achieved by mixing elastomers with other materials. For example, the elastomer can come in black or white if it will be applied to the iPhone. Depending on the techniques used in the manufacture of elastomer material, the latter can be applied on sensitive contacts as a liquid or there are pre-molded attachments that will be installed.
Apple said the device's self-healing elastomers can be applied to the headphone jack opening including its cylindrical housing, which instantly protects the exposed contacts from dust, liquid and other harmful materials.
Apart from its self-healing trait, these elastomers are so flexible that they can be penetrated by a headphone plug. The material automatically reseals when the connector is released from the attachment.
Just recently, another one of Apple's filed patents received approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent, as we reported, will be able to eject liquids from the device's speakers by using sound. Thus, Apple called the patent "Liquid Expulsion From An Orifice."
Apple seemed really serious about joining the waterproof technology bandwagon when its patent called "Electronic Devices With Housing Port Shutters" also made it on the USPTO's site. According to the patent, Apple will use shutters that will seal the openings of a device's important components in order to block off any form of liquid material. These include sealing the device's microphones and headphone jacks and also its SIM card slots.
Apple has yet to make an official announcement regarding the rollout of the patented technology to the upcoming iPhone 7.
