Apple's US Patent No. 8,903,519: Protective mechanism for an electronic device
The first claim of US 8,903,519:
An electronic device having a center of mass, the electronic device comprising: a motion sensor; a processor that detects when the electronic device is in freefall based on information from the motion sensor; a protective mechanism having a mass that functions in a first capacity during the freefall and a second capacity during an alert, wherein the processor alters the center of mass of the electronic device by moving the mass in the protective mechanism in response to detecting the freefall of the electronic device; and an enclosure that at least partially encloses the processor and the motion sensor, wherein the enclosure is vibrated during the alert by vibrating the mass of the protective mechanism; a motor in communication with the processor, wherein the mass is operably connected to the motor and configured to rotate with respect to the motor, wherein the mass rotates at a first speed with respect to the motor during the freefall, wherein the mass rotates at a second speed with respect to the motor during the alert, and wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.
Claim 8 is directed to -- A method of protecting a vulnerable area of an electronic device --:
A method of protecting a vulnerable area of an electronic device during freefall, wherein the electronic device comprises an enclosure, the method comprising: detecting by a sensor a freefall of the device; determining by the sensor an orientation of the device; estimating by a processor an impact area of the device; and selectively changing the orientation of the device via a protective mechanism depending on the estimated impact area of the device, wherein the protective mechanism includes a mass that functions in a first capacity during the freefall and a second capacity during an alert, wherein selectively changing the orientation of the device via the protective mechanism comprises moving the mass in response to detecting the freefall of the device, wherein the enclosure is vibrated during the alert by vibrating the mass of the protection mechanism, wherein moving the mass in response to detecting the freefall comprises rotating the mass at a first speed with respect to a motor, wherein vibrating the mass during the alert comprises rotating the mass at a second speed with respect to the motor, and wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.
An electronic device having a center of mass, the electronic device comprising: a motion sensor; a processor that detects when the electronic device is in freefall based on information from the motion sensor; a protective mechanism having a mass that functions in a first capacity during the freefall and a second capacity during an alert, wherein the processor alters the center of mass of the electronic device by moving the mass in the protective mechanism in response to detecting the freefall of the electronic device; and an enclosure that at least partially encloses the processor and the motion sensor, wherein the enclosure is vibrated during the alert by vibrating the mass of the protective mechanism; a motor in communication with the processor, wherein the mass is operably connected to the motor and configured to rotate with respect to the motor, wherein the mass rotates at a first speed with respect to the motor during the freefall, wherein the mass rotates at a second speed with respect to the motor during the alert, and wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.
Claim 8 is directed to -- A method of protecting a vulnerable area of an electronic device --:
A method of protecting a vulnerable area of an electronic device during freefall, wherein the electronic device comprises an enclosure, the method comprising: detecting by a sensor a freefall of the device; determining by the sensor an orientation of the device; estimating by a processor an impact area of the device; and selectively changing the orientation of the device via a protective mechanism depending on the estimated impact area of the device, wherein the protective mechanism includes a mass that functions in a first capacity during the freefall and a second capacity during an alert, wherein selectively changing the orientation of the device via the protective mechanism comprises moving the mass in response to detecting the freefall of the device, wherein the enclosure is vibrated during the alert by vibrating the mass of the protection mechanism, wherein moving the mass in response to detecting the freefall comprises rotating the mass at a first speed with respect to a motor, wherein vibrating the mass during the alert comprises rotating the mass at a second speed with respect to the motor, and wherein the first speed is different from the second speed.
posted by Lawrence B. Ebert at 3:04 AM
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