Apple has patented technology that might finally stop iPhone users from suffering shattered iScreens, which might appear in its next generation smartphone.
The patent approved on 21 March protects the idea of spinning an electronic device in mid-air to prevent it from landing screen-down if dropped - sort of borrowing the ability of cats to always land on their feet. The patent outlines a number of techniques that a smartphone might use to do this, from rotating while in freefall to ejecting the battery during a fall.
Apple explained, "People may drop their mobile electronic devices, or the mobile electronic devices may otherwise may be caused to enter a freefall state. For example, if the mobile electronic device may get pushed off of a counter or table.
"As mobile electronic devices impact a surface after freefall they may be substantially damaged, even if they are encased within a cover or other protective device," Apple added, seemingly acknowledging the widespread problem of shattered iPhone screens.
Discussing the different technologies it could use to put this idea into practice, Apple went on to say, "The electronic device may include a processor, a sensor in communication with the processor, and a protective mechanism in communication with the processor. The protective mechanism is configured to selectively alter a center of mass of the electronic device."
A gadget might also eject a mass - like its battery - Apple said, "in order to alter the angular momentum [to] increase the chance that the device may impact a surface in a desired orientation".
Apple also mentioned technology that would record the device's fall, such as how far it fell and how hard it impacted, which might appear on the next iteration of its iOS software.
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Data source: theinquirer (By Carly Page)
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