AU2001100357A4 - Reduction of radiation hazards from mobile telephones - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT REDUCTION OF RADIATION HAZARDS FROM MOBILE TELEPHONES The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: REDUCTION OF RADIATION HAZARDS FROM MOBILE TELEPHONES This invention relates generally to cellular telephones (mobile or cellphones) and relates in particular to a method and means or device which will distance a mobile phone from a user's head to reduce the level of radiation absorbed by the head, in comparison to when such phones are held or positioned close to the head in the customary hand-held use position. The invention is also applicable to use of such phones in a handsfree position or mode.

Cellphones are now in widespread use and will be increasingly used in the future. In use, the phones, and in particular their antenna, are in close proximity to, or in contact with the users head for extended periods of time. It is a matter of increasing concern that under these conditions of use, the near-field radiation from the cellphone could cause harm to the eye or brain tissue.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which will reduce the effects of near-field radiation on the user's head, emitted by the antenna of the cellular telephone when it is in use.

According to the invention there is provided an acoustic coupler device adapted to reduce the level of radiation at a user's head, compared to normal use, when the cellphone (and its antenna) is held against or positioned close to the users head while transmitting and receiving messages. The device comprises at least one acoustic coupler tube of non-conductive material, adapted when in use to be interposed between the phone and the users head to directly acoustically conduct to a users ear sound emitted by the phone speaker, the at least one tube when in use being adapted to maintain a distance between the phone antenna and the user's head at which the radiation received by the head is greatly reduced.

In one form of the acoustic coupler device according to the invention suitable for hand-held use, the at least one acoustic coupler tube is a single, resilient plastic tube adapted to extend from or proximate to the user person's ear to the telephone body proximate to the cell phone speaker and attachable to or formed as part of the phone casing or a clip-on face plate where the cellphone is adapted to accommodate a face plate.

In another or second form of the acoustic coupler device according to the invention also suitable for hand-held use, the acoustic coupler tube is formed as a telescoping structure of a plurality of segments of rigid synthetic polymeric material, with means provided on or at one end of the tube or on the cellphone proximate the speaker the means enabling the tube when connected to or when integral with the phone to be moved with three degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the phone body thereby enabling the tube to be retracted and then moved alongside and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the phone into a non-use position for transport and storage. The telescoping structure and the means to enable freedom of movement between the phone and the telescoping tube are attachable to the cellphone, the means of attachment either as a separate accessory, using a phone pouch, or being integrally moulded into the body of the cellphone or onto a clip-on face plate so as to be positioned proximate to the cellphone speaker. The telescopic tube need not be circular; for example, it can be made of several thin rectangular sections which in the retracted state could be used as a cover for the telephone.

In an alternative or third form of the acoustic coupler device of the invention suitable for hands-free mode of use, the device comprises a pair of flexible plastic acoustic coupler tubes, one or first tube being adapted to extend from a user person's ear (or ears) to the cellphone speaker, the other or second tube being adapted to extend from or in the vicinity of a persons mouth to proximate the cellphone microphone, the first said tube being adapted to be attachable to the telephone body, clip-on face plate, or phone pouch, proximate to the cell phone speaker, the means of attachment either a separate accessory or being integrally-moulded into the body of the telephone or onto a clip-on face plate during manufacture so as to be positioned proximate the speaker, the second said tube being attachable to or formed as part of the telephone body proximate to the cellphone microphone or being attachable to or formed as part of a clip-on face plate or phone pouch.

Some non-limiting examples of practical arrangements or embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 3 are graphs representing radiation drop off proportional to distance from a mobile phone antenna, and Specific Energy Absorption Rate (SAR) at the user's head proportional to distance between the head and the cellphone antenna.

Figures 4 and 4a are perspective views of one embodiment of the device according to the invention attached to or incorporated onto the casing of a cellular telephone and for hand-held use.

Figures 5 to 13 are views of a second embodiment of the device of invention also suitable for hand held use and which has a telescoping acoustic coupler tube.

Figure 14 is a perspective showing alternative attachment means for the fitting of Figure 11.

Figures 15 and 16 are views of earpieces for the device of Figures 4 to 13.

Figure 17 is a partial sectional view of a third and dual-tube, head-set embodiment of the device of the invention suitable for hands-free use of a cellphone.

Figure 18 is a view of a flexible coupling for the microphone tube of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a view of another flexible-linked hose fitting for the tube of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a view of a fourth and dual-tube transmitting/receiving embodiment of the device of the invention adapted for suspension below the head.

Figures 22 and 23 are views of ear-pieces for the device of Figure Referring to the drawings there is shown in the graphs of Figures 1 to 3 the drop-off in levels of types of electromagnetic radiation and SAR proportional to the distance from a mobile phone antenna as radiation source. Specific Energy Absorption Rate or SAR is used to estimate electromagnetic field radiation effects on human tissue. Figure 2 shows the variation in SAR on the human head with distance from a cellphone antenna; values greater than 5cm have been extrapolated. Approximate measurements of magnetic field are shown in Figure 3. These Figures show that when the phone is approximately 20cm from a head, SAR and the electromagnetic fields would be reduced to less than 10% of their value compared to use at normal close-to-the head distances.

Figures 4 and 4a show the first embodiment of an acoustic coupler device 10 for reducing radiation absorbed by the user's head, in comparison to when such phones are used in the customary hand-held use position. For hand-held use as a cellphone accessory, the device is formed as a tubular body which in this particular example is a tube of suitable material for example relatively-rigid synthetic polymeric material such as polyethylene one end of which has been adapted by means of the mounting adapter (see Figure 11) to be placed over the speaker orifices formed in the body of cellphone 15. The adapter of Figure 11 for mounting the accessory to the cellphone has one end formed into an annular disc 14a surrounding the hole at the end of tube 10 and may be provided on a lower or outer surface with attachment means such as a double-sided contact adhesive pad or fabric piece forming part of a hook and loop fastener or an elastic band. Alternatively, the adapter 14 may be held in position by a phone faceplate 12, which has been modified to accommodate the adapter, by an elastic band or fabric piece forming part of a hook and loop fastener 13, as shown in Figure 14, or by a cellphone pouch 11, as shown in Figure 4a, modified to accommodate the adapter. The other end of the adapter 14 may be fixed such as by gluing or by ultrasonic welding, or by frictional fitting to the bottom of the acoustic tube. To the other end of the tube there is attached (or there is formed thereon) an ear-plug or ear-piece as shown in Figures 15 and 16. A clip may also be provided on the cellphone for holding the tube against the phone. In this form of the invention, the acoustic coupler tube is resilient so that it may be folded up close to the phone for carrying but will spring out by plastic memory to assume the required shape to maintain antenna-to-head spacing distance for use.

For hand-held applications the acoustic coupler tube according to the invention comprises a structure or material which will enable it to assume or be put into a compact folded, collapsed or retracted position or configuration with respect to the phone body when in non-use mode but which will re-assume or be capable of being placed into, an erected, expanded or extended position or configuration for in-use mode maintaining the desired distance between phone antenna and a user's head.

Figures 5 to 13 show means and methods of attachment of the acoustic coupler tube to a detachable cell phone face plate (where the phone has a detachable face plate) or to a cellphone for use in the handheld embodiments of Figures 4 or 5. Figure 10 shows a flanged cylindrical boss or lug 14 in the form of a short tube for attachment to and below the upper wall of a cellphone detachable face plate 12 above the cellphone speaker to project through a hole drilled in the face plate and thence above the face plate top wall as shown in Figure 11. The lug 14 is adapted for attachment of a second tubular connector piece 16 (shown in Figure 12) of greater diameter than lug 14 and which is in the form of a right-angled elbow, one arm 16a of which is adapted to be inserted over lug 14 and attached thereto by associated jointing means such as internal rib 16b on elbow 16 and external peripheral groove 14b on tubular boss 14, which will allow the elbow 16 to rotate on the lug 14. Figure 13 shows the lug 14 and connector tube 16 assembled onto the detachable face plate, which is shown attached to the cellphone 15. The tubular connector piece 16 is also provided with a plurality of internal grooves 113 which are designed to mate with external ribs of the second embodiment of the tube shown and explained with reference to Figures 5 to 9. The rib and groove arrangement enables swiveling movement of the tube after mounting onto the face plate, and flexibility of positioning the tube relative to the cellphone face, to accommodate the differences in the location of the speaker on different cellphone models. Other swivel/coupling arrangements may be used such as a universal joint, rotatable ball and socket joint or flexible rubber-like tubular members.

Figure 14 shows an alternative method and means for attachment of the tube to a detachable face plate and wherein the assembled fitting of flanged boss joined to the elbow is retained against the cellphone body by an elasticized strap (or by one component of a hook and loop fabric fastening system) with the elbow connector piece projecting through the strap or fastening fabric strips.

In the second alternative form of the acoustic coupler device of the invention shown attached to a cellphone in Figure 5 also suitable for hand-held use, the device mainly comprises a tube 110 formed of three segments 110 a, 110 b, 110 c of rigid synthetic polymeric plastics or resin material formed into a telescoping tube. One end of segment 110 a of the tube may be fitted with or formed with an elbow- shaped hollow universal jointing lug 16 into which one end of tube segment 110a may be placed and the assembled tube is thereby enabled to be swiveled for directional adjustment and folded when retracted into a position alongside and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the phone. Referring to Figures 6 to 9, the three tubular segmental 110 a, 110 b and 110 c are mutually slidable and extendible and retractable, each having associated interlocking means thereon to provide frictional joints comprising an internal or external step or shoulder, or rib and groove, on one respective end and a complementaryshaped internal or external step or shoulder, or a rib and corresponding groove on the other respective end. The largest tube 110 a has a plurality of external concentric ribs such as has the one labeled 112 on one end which are adapted to lock within corresponding internal grooves 113 of the connector elbow 16.

To make interlocking and unlocking easier the tubular sections may be of oval cross-section.

Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings show an ear piece for use in the hand held embodiment of Figure 5. The earpiece attaches to the inner tube 110 c, which has an external concentric groove 114 which is adapted to mate with internal rib 115, on the earpiece shown in Figure 16, allowing rotational movement of the earpiece with respect to the tube1 The third embodiment of the acoustic coupler device of the invention shown in Figure 17 of the drawings is designed for use as a head set in a hands-free mode, and for transmitting and receiving messages while using a cellphone. Referring to Figure 17, the device comprises a looped tubular structure formed of resilient polymeric plastics or rubber-like material formed into a head-contacting loop portion 210 extending around the head of a user and between the ears and terminating in a first and preferably telescopically adjustable ear-piece 211 connected to a main acoustic tube coupled to a cellphone receiver speaker. A second ear piece 212 is preferably also telescopically-mounted within one end of the looped tube 210. Any suitable frictional jointing fittings may be used for positioning the ear pieces within the tube 210. On the right side of Figure 17 there are two tubes moulded into a block, the first tube extends from the second ear piece 212 to tube 213 coupled to the cellphone speaker. The second tube is connected to a mouthpiece boom 214 located near the user's mouth, and tube 215, the other end of which is coupled to the cellphone microphone.

One tube structure comprising parts 210 and 211 is acoustically interposed between a user's ears and proximate the phone speaker for receiving messages while the other tube 214 is interposed between the user's mouth and the phone microphone for transmitting messages. Tube 214 is preferably provided with a flexing joint, details of which are shown in Figures 18 and 19, to allow the microphone to be adjusted and held into any suitable position by a cellphone user. Figures 20 and 21 are views of a fourth and dual-tube transmitting/receiving embodiment of the device of the invention adapted for suspension below the head and attachment to the ears in a stethoscope type of arrangement but with a voice tube which when in use is adapted to be below a user's mouth and which leads down to and located over a cellphone microphone and which is otherwise similar in operation to the hands-free head-set of the third embodiment. In the embodiment of Figure 20 and 21 the middle portions of the dual tubes are formed as a parallel integral unit with tubes joined together as shown in the section of Figure 21 but with upper and lower portions separated.

Figures 22 and 23 of the drawings show an ear piece for use in the hands-free head set embodiments of Figures 17 to 21.

The following is a summary of advantageous features as well as alternative options and explanation of results provided by the invention.

1. The acoustic coupler means of the present invention will significantly reduce health hazards that could be caused by near-field radiation from mobile phones (cellphones) when close to a user's head during operation and these means rely on the propositions that near-field radiation and the Specific Energy Absorption Rate at a user's head fall off very rapidly with distance from the radiator, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and that the acoustic couplings, shown in Figures 4 23 used to distance the phone from the head, will not unduly compromise the performance of the telephone.

2. The acoustic coupling devices will allow the telephones to be used in hand-held or in hands-free modes. In hands-free mode, the telephone may be located on the user; e.g. attached to their belt or in a pocket, or strapped to an arm, or otherwise near the user e.g. when driving a car.

3. In the hand-held mode, and in some hands-free applications, the cellphone may be used without acoustic coupling to the microphone.

4. The acoustic coupling can be attached directly to the body of the cellphone, to a removable faceplate, or to the telephone cover or pouch.

5. The acoustic coupling means can be attached to a cellphone in a temporary or permanent manner, by means of captive fittings, screws, magnetic inserts, clips, flanges, hook and loop fabric fastening systems, cements or adhesives.

6. Some parts of the acoustic coupling may be incorporated into the body of the phone, the face-plate, or the pouch, during the manufacture thereof.

7. The acoustic couplings may be single or multiple, separate or joined, rigid or flexible tubes of fixed length or extendible by being telescopic, coiled, spiraled, concertina or stretchable and of any suitable cross section such as circular, elliptical, polygonal or irregular.

Claims (4)

1. An acoustic coupler device adapted to reduce the effects of radiation emitted by an antenna of a cellular telephone (phone) on the user's head, and in particular the eye and brain tissue while the phone is transmitting and receiving messages, the device comprises at least one acoustic coupler tube of non-conductive material, adapted when in use to be interposed between the phone and the users head to directly acoustically conduct to a users ear sound emitted by the phone speaker, the at least one tube when in use being adapted to maintain a distance between the antenna and the user's head at which the near-field is substantially reduced.

2. The device according to claim 1 suitable for hand-held use wherein, the at least one acoustic coupler tube is a single, resilient plastic tube adapted to extend from or proximate to the user person's ear to the telephone body proximate to the cell phone speaker and attachable to or formed as part of the phone casing a clip-on face plate or cellphone pouch.

3. The device according to claim 1 suitable for hand-held use, wherein the acoustic coupler tube for the cellphone is formed as a telescoping structure of a plurality of segments of rigid synthetic polymeric material one end of the tube being connected to or being adapted to be connected to the cellphone proximate the speaker.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein means are provided on or at one end of the tube or on the cellphone proximate the speaker the means enabling the tube when connected to or when integral with the phone to be moved with three degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the phone body thereby enabling the phone to be positioned conveniently while being used, and the tube to be retracted and then moved alongside and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the phone into a non-use position for transport and storage, or used as the phone cover. 4. The device according to claim 1 suitable for use in a hands-free mode of use, which comprises a pair of flexible plastic acoustic coupler tubes, one or first tube being adapted to extend from a user person's ear (or ears) to the cellphone speaker, the other or second tube being adapted to extend from or in the vicinity of a persons mouth to proximate the cellphone microphone, the first said tube being adapted to be attachable to the telephone body, clip-on face plate, or phone pouch, proximate to the cell phone speaker, the means of attachment being either a separate accessory or being integrally- moulded into the body of the telephone or onto a clip-on face plate during manufacture so as to be positioned proximate the speaker, the second said tube being attachable to or formed as part of the telephone body proximate to the cellphone microphone or being attachable to or formed as part of a clip-on face plate or pouch. Dated this day of September 2001 EDWARD JOSEPH BONDARENKO By My Patent Attorney JOHN L.DAVIES of JOHN L.DAVIES CO