Apple gets patent for mechanism against fall damage in mobile devices

Apple has received a patent for a mechanism to prevent fall damage to electronic devices. For example, if an iPhone falls, the device has to change position in the air so that the smartphone eventually hits the ground at its least vulnerable point.

The patent application was already filed in 2011. If a device goes into free fall, a device must recognize the situation on the basis of various sensors. This can be done, for example, with a gyroscope or an accelerator. Once the angle of fall of the device has been determined and the distance to the surface has been calculated, the time to impact with the surface must be determined.

One of the more plausible ways to effect a change in fall angle is to vibrate the device. However, Apple has come up with several possibilities. Another option is that the position can be determined based on a change in the mass of the device. Apple could achieve that by shifting the center of gravity, but the company is also talking about ejecting a battery. In addition, there is even talk of reducing the force of the collision by creating air resistance.

The granting of the patent does not mean that Apple will actually put its ideas into practice. In the patent application, Apple only mentions the name iPhone once. The company thus keeps a wider range of possible devices open with its patent application entitled ‘protective mechanism for an electronic device’.