The electromagnetic actuator transforms the stored electric power into an electromechanical damping force. The actuators may be arranged about the exterior surface of the device, and may be selectively activated to provide protection at different points on the surface depending on the location of expected impact.

Here's Apple's background and summary of the invention: "Portable electronic devices, such as handheld and laptop computers, mobile telephones, and portable media players, are easily carried about, and therefore are at risk of being dropped often from several feet above the ground or another surface. The result of a hard fall can be damaging.

"To address these problems, systems have been developed to at least partially protect portable devices from the impact caused by a free fall. Some of these systems may protect only working parts while others are designed to protect the housing of the entire device. However, the latter type of device may increase the size and/or weight of a portable device, while the market trend is for portable devices to become ever smaller.

"The systems and methods described herein provide active cushioning mechanisms that detect imminent impact and activate a damper by driving power from an onboard power supply, which typically is a battery, into an electro-magnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator transforms the stored electric power into a mechanical damping force that can be applied to the area of expected impact.

"According to one embodiment of the invention, apparatus for cushioning an object against impact includes a sensor for detecting an unrestrained change in position of the object, and an electromagnetic actuator. The apparatus also includes a controller electrically coupled to the actuator and responsive to the sensor for driving a current through the electromagnetic actuator to create an electromagnetic force to protect the object. The actuator may have two magnets, wherein at least one of the magnets is an electromagnet. The magnets may be opposed to each other with at least one magnet being movable between a first position relative to the other magnet and a second position that is further from the other magnet than the first position. The aforementioned force is exerted between the magnets to dampen an impact on the object.

"According to another embodiment of the invention, the housing of a portable electronic device includes an exterior sidewall defining an interior cavity and having an electromagnetic actuator disposed on the exterior sidewall. The housing also encloses a sensor for detecting an unrestrained change in position of the portable electronic device, and a controller electrically coupled to the actuator and responsive to the sensor for driving a current through the electromagnetic actuator to create an electromagnetic force to protect the object. The actuator may include two magnets, wherein at least one of the magnets is an electromagnet. The magnets may be opposed to each other, with at least one magnet being movable between a first position relative to the other magnet and a second position that is further from the other magnet, and from the exterior sidewall, than the first position.

"According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for cushioning an object against impact includes mounting an electromagnetic actuator to a surface of the object, wherein the actuator has two opposing members, one of which is adjacent the surface, and the second of which is movable between a first position relative to the first magnet and a second position that is further from the first magnet than the first position. The method also includes detecting an unrestrained change in position of the object, and, responsive to detection of an unrestrained change in position, driving a current through the electromagnetic actuator to move the second member from the first position to the second position to dampen the force of an impact."

The inventor is Ashwin Sunder. The graphic below depicts schematically the structure of a system according to the invention.

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