The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has just granted today online store Amazon a patent to a “tiny airbags” technology.
The tiny airbags shall be used in gadgets such as tablet that will cushion the impact of a fall thus minimizing or preventing damages to gadgets. Amazon filed a patent application for the technology on February 2010 and was announced by the US Patent Office last August but the patent is only granted today.
The technology works in collaboration with the gadget’s built-in gyroscope, accelerometers, camera, and other on-board sensors in changing the position of the gadget during its fall and even employ airbags to lessen the impact. This shall be done after the sensors noticed that the gadget is already airborne while falling.
It’s not, however, clear when the technology shall be used by Amazon.