US 12,169,422 B2
Self-retracting display device and techniques for protecting screen using drop detection
Hoon Sik Kim, San Jose, CA (US); and Michael B. Wittenberg, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,787.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/244,131, filed on Sep. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0079485 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G09F 9/33 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1652 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1679 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01); G09F 9/335 (2021.05); G06F 2200/1633 (2013.01); G06F 2200/1637 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first display coupled to a second display via a hinged connection;
an acceleration sensor configured to detect a drop of the electronic device from a vertical acceleration of the electronic device exceeding a predetermined vertical acceleration threshold; and
a release mechanism operating with the hinged connection to automatically reduce an angle between the first display and the second display below a threshold angle without reducing the angle between the first display and the second display to zero degrees when the predetermined vertical acceleration threshold is exceeded.