Protecting an electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsFletcher Rothkopf, Colin M. Ely, Stephen B. Lynch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device including a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor. The electronic device further includes a motor in communication with the processor and a mass operably connected to the motor. The processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined and the mass is configured to rotate with respect to the motor to alter the orientation of the device.
Claims36
An electronic device comprising:
- a processor;
- at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor;
- a motor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined;
- and
- a mass operably connected to the motor and configured to rotate with respect to the device to alter the orientation of the device.
A method of protecting an electronic device during a drop event comprising the steps of:
- detecting by a sensor a freefall of the device;
- determining by the sensor an orientation of the device;
- determining an orientation of the device that would avoid impact at a vulnerable area of the device;
- operating a motor to alter the angular momentum of the device during the free fall to change the orientation of the device towards the orientation that would avoid impact at the vulnerable area;
- and
- monitoring the effect of the motor's operation;
- providing a feedback loop to adjust the operation of the motor based on the monitoring step.
An electronic device comprising:
- a processor;
- at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor;
- a thrust system in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to operate the thrust system when a drop event is determined to effectuate at least one of:
- alter the orientation of the device;
- and
- slow impact of the device on a surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.