PROTECTION MECHANISMS FOR COVER GLASS OF HANDHELD DEVICE DURING DROP EVENT

摘要

A protection mechanism (100) for a cover glass (102) of a handheld device (101) during a drop event includes preventing direct contact between the cover glass (102) and a hard surface (25) or minimizing the impact force on the cover glass (102) when the handheld device (101) lands on the hard surface (25). The protection mechanism (100) may include a bezel (104) that is deployed or deformed to a position where the bezel (104) is proud of the cover glass (102) when a free-fall motion of the handheld device (101) is detected. Or the protection mechanism may involve folding the handheld device to hide the cover glass during the drop event. An airbag or deceleration device may be used to soften impact on the cover glass. The protection mechanism may include a mass whose motion adjusts an angular momentum of the handheld device such that the handheld device lands at an angle where impact force on the cover glass will be minimized.