h a l f b a k e r y"Not baked goods, Professor; baked bads!" -- The Tick
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random
news, help, about, links, report a problem
browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
register,
|
|
|
Lockable USB
Spring-loaded ball bearing holds a modified USB C connector | |
USB connectors could be made with a hole, enabling a ball bearing in the port to engage (similar to hex bit holders), while maintaining compatibility with their unequipped counterparts.
The bearing could be simply spring-loaded to provide moderate resistance to accidental disengagement (along with
the satisfying click of engagement).
Additional options include:
• Manual locking for things like chargers.
• Electronic dynamic locking for drives while writing data.
• A hole in only 1 side of the plug so you can decide whether to use the locking ability.
• The port could detect an otherwise undetectable insertion (a broken device, just a cable)
• Manual unlocking for the inevitable times that Windows refuses to let go.
Disclaimer: You all know that by 'ball bearing' I mean a steel ball, such as might be used in a bearing. The 'bearing ball' if you will (this disclaimer made me think of a 'Ball-bearing USB', which would be the phone/laptop equivalent of truck nuts).
Please log in.
If you're not logged in,
you can see what this page
looks like, but you will
not be able to add anything.
Destination URL.
E.g., https://www.coffee.com/
Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)
|
| |
An illustration would be cool. Here’s a prepaid bun. [+] |
|
| |
You could take it to the next step & have it lockable with a key for security (similar to a Kensington Lock).
I think "above" rather than "instead of", so the spring-loaded easy option is there, but you can also lock it properly as well.
Keyhole on the device, rather than the cable (as per Kensington Locks). |
|
| |
The disadvantage of a connection that's locked in place is that anyone who trips on a cable (that for example is connecting a laptop to a printer or another periphery) will drag the laptop off the table where it will smash on the floor - I have seen this happen at college. Apple solved this problem with their magsafe connectors. USB's are also not used anymore by any of the design studios I work with and Apple computers (which everyone uses) have no USB slot on them. Apart from all of that..... it's still a very practical idea - would prefer some "halfbaked" aspect to feature..... ie all ball bearings from recycled biros as used on the now defunct Tesla factory clipboards??? |
|
| |