Microsoft gets patent for Surface connector with USB-C

Microsoft has received a patent for a Surface connector with USB-C connection. The patent indicates that Microsoft is working on a way to replace the current proprietary connector with one that is compatible with the widely used USB port.

Like the current Surface Connector, the connector in the patent that MSPoweruser found is magnetic and would fall out if force is applied to the cord. This prevents devices from falling if someone accidentally gets caught on the charging cord. The current Surface connector has that too, as does the MagSafe connector that Apple used on laptops until some time ago.

The usb-c connector is mainly intended for charging, although the connection on the device would also be capable of transferring data. Microsoft spoke out against usb-c, because users cannot see from the outside which functions the port supports. Usb-c can charge, transfer data, and transfer video and audio, among other things.

Microsoft applied for the patent a year and a half ago and it was granted this week. It is still unknown if and when the company will put the connector with USB-C in devices. The latest generation of Surface devices, such as the Surface Pro 2017 and Surface Laptop, do not have USB-C on board.