Apple patents technology that could prevent iPhone screen cracks

Can science save our iPhones from a big fall? Apple was granted a patent on Tuesday that outlines technology that would change an iPhone’s angle if it’s in free fall. The goal would be to break the fall and protect sensitive components like phone screens. According to the patent, built-in technology could estimate a point of impact and then shift the device’s center of gravity to save iPhones from an early grave. This would work by using the iPhone’s inner vibration motor and processor.

Apple on Tuesday was awarded a patent covering a futuristic iPhone protection system that can recognize when a phone is dropped, calculate an estimated point of impact and shift its center of gravity to avoid striking sensitive components.  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially awarded Apple U.S. Patent No. 8,903,519 for a “Protective mechanism for an electronic device,” which looks to safeguard expensive computer hardware from accidental drops, a problem that has become all too familiar with the latest slim iPhone designs. Apple’s invention can not only estimate where a device will make impact, but actively shift the unit’s center of gravity so that sensitive components like glass screens and cameras are not damaged. As described in the patent text, Apple’s system relies on sensors to monitor physical device activity and positioning. Accepted embodiments leverage onboard accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS which are already incorporated in the latest iPhone and iPad models, while more advanced designs call for ultrasonic sensors, among others.