Apple Patents Mechanism That Would Protect iPhones During a Fall

This might sound sci-fi but Apple has actually patented a mechanism designed to detect a falling device and swiftly change its landing angle to protect it during the fall. 

According to AppleInsider, the patent would work something like this: advanced sensors in the device would know when the phone drops, estimate the point of contact of the phone with the surface, and adjust its center of gravity to fall on its least sensitive area. 

Handsets would be fitted with simple gyroscopes or accelerometers, GPS and imaging sensors to track the phone's physical activity and positioning. When the phone is dropped, data generated by the sensors would be sent to a central processing unit. Within fractions of a second, that unit would calculate the speed and time of the fall, and the rapidly closing distance from the ground, and then activate a mechanism to accurately reposition the phone to avoid hitting on its crack-prone sections, such as its glass screen or camera, QZ.com reported. 

The patent mentions the use of existing tech - the iPhone's internal vibration motor - to control the angle of fall . However, it's not likely that users will see these incorporated into new devices, as the tech described is a variation of the vibration motors that are no longer equipped with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. 

Companies tend to apply for patents en masse even though only a handful of shake out. This year the Cupertino based company was also awarded patent for solar-powered, dual display MacBooks. 

Keep those expectations tempered, for now at least.