Most of us have been there, watching in horror as a pricey smartphone falls toward the ground, doomed to be dented, cracked and damaged by the force of impact. A newly awarded Apple patent details how a small vibrating motor could possibly be used to minimize the damage when that device goes into freefall.

The patent, originally filed in 2011 by Apple, is for a “Protective mechanism for an electronic device.”

The mechanism would employ a sensor and processor to determine when a phone is falling. The mechanism would then “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.”

When a phone is determined to be in freefall, the sensor and processor would attempt to measure the time to impact and the device’s orientation. A motor could then be used to alter the phone’s rotation so that it is more likely to make impact with the ground on its side or back, reducing the odds of shattered screens or camera lenses.

[via Apple Insider]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.