© HTC
The invention would protect smartphones as they are dropped - with a small airbag being deployed before it hits the ground.
The patent states that the technology would take advantage of the phone's gyroscope, camera and accelerometers to develop a reliable solution to ensure it is able to detect whether the device is falling.
"Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made," reads the patent.
"If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or eliminate damage to the device."
The patent has been filed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The idea has received mixed feedback, with a uSwitch telecoms expert saying: "From a logistical point of view, that handset would have to be rather bulky to hide an airbag."
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