DROP COUNTERMEASURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140253284A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Carl R., Wodrich, Justin R., Gibbs, Kevin D., Smith, Samuel G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/067 using only wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/0023 protective
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0066 Calibration arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/486 delivered by photo-electric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/488 delivered by variable reluctance detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing;

a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion of the housing; and

a countermeasure system comprising an actuator coupled to an actuated member, wherein the actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry such that impact energy is redirected from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity detector configured to sense proximity of a surface external to the device, wherein the processor is configured to determine the impact geometry based on the proximity of the external surface.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the proximity detector comprises a camera and the processor is configured to determine the proximity of the external surface based on image data from the camera.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and the processor is configured to determine the impact geometry based on acceleration of the housing with respect to the external surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the actuated member comprises a mass operable by the actuator to adjust the impact geometry by changing an attitude of the housing with respect to the external surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the mass is coupled to an unstable rotational axis of the electronic device and the processor is configured to adjust the attitude of the housing by repeated operation of the actuator to impart angular momentum in different directions about the unstable rotational axis during tumbling motion of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member is operable by the actuator to change the impact geometry by extending in a proud relationship from the housing of the electronic device, such that the impact energy is redirected from the housing to the actuated member.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member comprises a logo member configured to identify the electronic device, the logo member operable by the actuator to extend in a proud relationship from a cover glass of the electronic device such that the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the logo member.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member comprises a control member configured to control operation of the electronic device, the control member operable by the actuator to extend in a proud relationship from a cover glass of the electronic device such that the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the control member.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member comprises a cover glass operable by the actuator to depress into a recessed relationship with respect to the housing of the electronic device such that the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member comprises a connector coupling operable by the actuator to retain or release an external connector based on the motion of the housing.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuated member comprises a cover panel operable by the actuator to cover a cover glass of the electronic device, such that the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the cover panel.

13. A method comprising:

sensing motion of a housing for an electronic device;

determining an impact geometry based on the motion of the housing; and

operating an actuator to modify the impact geometry based on the motion of the housing, wherein an actuated member is actuated to redirect impact energy from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing proximity of a surface external to the housing of the electronic device, wherein the impact geometry is determined based on the proximity of the external surface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing proximity of the external surface comprises processing image data from a camera to determine the proximity of the external surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the impact geometry comprises coupling the actuated member to an unstable rotational axis of the electronic device in order to change an attitude of the housing with respect to the external surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the attitude of the housing comprises repeated actuation of the actuated member to impart angular momentum in different directions about the unstable axis during tumbling motion of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 13, operating the actuator comprises extending the actuated member in a proud relationship from the housing of the electronic device to redirect the impact energy from the housing to the actuated member.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein operating the actuator comprises extending the actuated member in a proud relationship from a cover glass of the electronic device to redirect the impact energy from the cover glass to the actuated member.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein operating the actuator comprises depressing a cover glass of the electronic device into a recessed relationship with respect to the housing, whereby at least a portion of the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the housing of the electronic device.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein operating the actuator comprises retaining or releasing an external connector based on the motion of the housing.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein operating the actuator comprises deploying a cover panel over a cover glass of the electronic device, whereby at least a portion of the impact energy is redirected from the cover glass to the cover panel.

23. A system comprising:

an electronic device comprising a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion of the housing;

a cover coupled to the electronic device; and

a countermeasure system comprising at least one actuator coupled an actuated member, wherein the actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry such that impact energy is redirected from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the cover.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the counter measure system comprises at least one actuated member disposed in a ring configuration about a periphery of the cover.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the actuator comprises a bias element configured to open or close the cover.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the bias element comprises a bimetallic strip operable to open or close the cover in response to an electric signal.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the bias element comprises an electromagnetic actuator operable to open or close the cover in response to an electric current.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising at least one energy-absorbing component disposed in the cover, the energy absorbing component comprising one or more of fiberglass, silicon, rubber, and composite damping material.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the energy-absorbing component is disposed in a proud relationship with respect to the electronic device.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising an electromagnet disposed in the cover, wherein the electromagnet is configured to retain the cover in a closed position in response to an electric current.

31. The system of claim 23, further comprising an impact absorbing member in the cover, the impact absorbing member comprising a magnetorheological fluid having a viscosity responsive to a magnetic field generated by the device.

32. A method of protecting an electronic device having a cover, the method comprising:

sensing motion of the electronic device;

determining an impact geometry based on the motion; and

actuating the cover to modify the impact geometry, wherein impact energy is directed away from the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the cover.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the cover comprises modifying the impact geometry such that the impact energy is redirected away from a cover glass of the electronic device to a back of the device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the cover comprises modifying the impact geometry such that the impact energy is redirected away from a cover glass of the electronic device to a front panel of the cover.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the cover comprises opening or closing a cover panel prior to impact of the device on an impact surface, such that an impact orientation of the device is altered with respect to the impact surface.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein actuating the cover is performed repeatedly in alternating opening and closing directions such that an impact velocity of the device is altered with respect to the impact surface.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the cover is actuated to form an impact absorbing structure for absorbing at least some of the impact energy by contact of the cover with the impact surface.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising ejecting the cover such that a portion of the impact energy is directed thereto.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein ejecting the cover comprises actuating a magnet in the device to eject the cover via magnetic repulsion.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein ejecting the cover is performed such that the cover impacts an impact surface and the device impacts the cover on the impact surface.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising actuating a magnet in the device to alter an orientation of the device via magnetic interaction with the cover.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising actuating a magnet in the device to alter an impact velocity of the device via magnetic interaction with the cover.

43. The method of claim 32, further comprising actuating a panel component on the cover such that the panel component is disposed proud of the device prior to contact of the cover with an impact surface, whereby at least a portion of the impact energy is directed to the panel component.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising emitting an audio signal from the device and determining one or both of an orientation or a velocity of the device based on reflection of the audio signal from a surface.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising emitting an audio signal from the device such that the velocity of the device is reduced with respect to the surface.