EP4649593A1

EP4649593A1 - Device protecting from electromagnetic radiation

Info

Publication number: EP4649593A1
Application number: EP24701476.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michail STASSINOPOULOS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-01-09
Filing date: 2024-01-04
Publication date: 2025-11-19
Also published as: WO2024150083A1; GR20230100005A

Abstract

The device for electromagnetic shielding includes a jacket (30) with two opposite faces, i.e. an inner face and an outer face, which is configured to prohibit transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through it and at least two internal antennas (28) positioned on the internal face of the device. An external antenna (22) that is at a distance from the device is connected with the internal antenna, which is configured to establish in use a wireless connection with a wireless communication unit, such as a mobile telephone, via a flexible wire means (20) through the jacket (30). The device drastically reduces the human's exposure to EMFs from their mobile phone while still enables its normal operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE PROTECTING FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

The present invention refers to an electromagnetic shielding device, in particular for wireless tele-communication units.

Mobile phone and Wifi networks operate using electromagnetic radio waves. The electromagnetic radiation, or field (EMF) of these high speed data networks has a frequency range from approximately 500MHz to 5.5GHz. Humans are universally exposed to this EMF day and night.

Electromagnetic radiation has been shown to interact with living tissues in many studies. Its health effects have been the subject of many studies, many still ongoing. Most of the health studies have focused on the possible carcinogenicity of Mobile phone and Wifi EMFs. It is also observed that long term exposure of humans to electromagnetic radiation may also have stress effects.

A mobile phone can be shielded to prevent EMF radiation around it by enclosing it in a Faraday cage. However, when the mobile phone or any other wireless communication unit is within the Faraday cage, it cannot operate normally as it disconnects from the mobile or Wifi network.

The object of the present disclosure is a device to drastically reduce a human's exposure to EMFs from their mobile phone while still enables its normal operation. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the connection of an external antenna that communicates with a wireless network, with any device of wireless communication, for example a mobile phone, which is shielded within a Faraday cage.

The invention is defined in the independent claim.

Depended claims define features that offer further advantages to the invention. A device for electromagnetic shielding according to the invention includes a jacket with two opposite faces, i.e. an inner face and an outer face. The jacket is configured to prohibit transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through it and establishes a Faraday cage for a wireless communication unit, such as a mobile telephone, which a user may place within the space enclosed by the jacket, i.e. a space surrounded by the inner face. The device has at least two internal antennas positioned on the internal face of the device. An external antenna that transmits signals to and from a communication network is at a distance from the device. The external antenna is connected with any of the internal antennas via a wire means. The connection of the external antenna with any of the internal antennas establishes in use a wireless connection of the external antenna with the wireless communication unit through the jacket.

The incorporation of an internal antenna in the Faraday cage allows the electromagnetic antenna coupling of the external antenna and the internal antennas on one hand, and the antenna of the communication unit, for example a mobile phone, with an internal antenna on the other, so as to communicate data between the antenna of the communication unit and the external antenna that is at a distance from the communication unit. The phone can thus stay close to the user being shielded in the Faraday cage, and still operate via a wired antenna placed several meters away, for example 20 meters. The external antenna may be outside the building where the mobile phone is.

In general, the communication unit may have its own antenna at any position within the unit. The plurality of the internal antennas on the internal face of the jacket guarantees that the communication unit will always stay connected with an internal antenna and therefore with the network. Thus, the device is universal and may be used with any type of communication unit. Furthermore, each one of the plurality of the internal antennas may operate in a different frequency band.

The external antenna and/or the internal antenna may be a dual or triple band design which is tuned for 2 or 3 frequency bands corresponding to the main mobile phone technologies, i.e. 600-900 MHz, 1.700 - 2.500 MHz or 5.2 to 5.8 GHz for Wifi signals. In this way the performance of the antenna coupling circuit is significantly improved and the reception is better.

The wire means includes a flexible wire that connects the external antenna with an internal antenna. The flexible wire may be guided through an opening in the jacket to penetrate the jacket. A bushing, such as the bushing that is disclosed in EP3897086 may be fitted in the opening.

Optionally, the wire may extend from the external antenna through the jacket to an internal antenna of the at least two internal antennas and is not tight, so as to allow movement of the internal antenna on the inner face of the jacket.

In some examples the wire means comprises a flexible wire and a port that is connected with the internal antenna. The port may receive one wire segment that connects it to the external antenna and another wire segment that connects it with an internal antenna. Thus, the external antenna and an internal antenna are connected through the port.

Optionally, the wire means includes at least two ports at different locations on the jacket. Each port may be connected with an internal antenna. The user may select which internal antenna to connect with the external antenna by selecting which port to connect with the external antenna. Thus, it is possible to connect the internal antenna that is closer to the antenna of the wireless communication device.

The jacket and the Faraday cage may have different configurations and geometries: in some examples the jacket has two walls articulated along a common edge, similar to a book or note book, and is configured to receive the communication unit between the two walls, in other examples the jacket has a form of a pouch with a body and a cover. The jacket may have on its internal face one or more pockets to receive the internal antenna. The pocket or pockets may be larger than the internal antenna, so as to allow some movement of the internal antenna therein.

Pockets may be formed between the internal face of the jacket on one hand and a permeable to elecromagentic radiation fabric that is attached to it on the other.

The open edges of the jacket may be attached to each other by any known means, so as to seal the space enclosed by the jacket and to isolate it from the external space. Thus, the only connection of the external space and the Faraday cage, in the absence of other opening on the jacket, is through the wire means. Attachment of the open edges of the jacket may be achieved by any known means, for example Velcro connection, by adding extra weight as described in EP3886327, EP4068508, which are incorporated by reference to the present, etc.

The jacket may be single layer or multi-layer. A jacket with two layers may have each layer made of different materials.

Electromagnetic radiation-shielding properties of the jacket can be established by specific materials and/or a specific structure of the Faraday cage. The jacket or at least part of it may be made from materials containing metal, such as silver or copper, from materials containing a non-metal, such as resin or plastic, that is able to block electromagnetic radiation or from a fabric comprising metal fibers. Other materials that enhance the electromagnetic barrier of the jacket are also anticipated.

Using a fabric as a material for the jacket or part of it is particularly suitable, as it is relatively soft and thereby provides excellent padding for the communication unit. Yet, a fabric is relatively flexible and light, such that it is particularly suitable for enclosing the communication unit, without largely increasing the weight. Metal fibers may be woven or knitted in the fabric. Thereby, the metal fibers may serve for shielding the electromagnetic radiation. The metal fibers may be biaxially oriented in the fabric, such that more effective shielding of electromagnetic radiation is permitted. In addition, the metal fibers may be connected with each other so as to have a common ground. If the jacket is all made by material that does not allow the transmission of electromagnetic radiation, the jacket shields the communication unit that is enclosed therein, from all sides.

In some examples the jacket has a shielding performance better than 35 db per layer at the relevant frequencies. With such performance it was observed that the shielding effect is particular successful. An even petter performance is achieved, when each layer of a double layer jacket has a shielding performance better than 35 db per layer at the relevant frequencies, of the communication unit, for example from 500 MHz to 5 GHz.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11 , which schematically present:

Figure 1 shows an example of a device according to the invention

Figure 2 shows a flexible wire connecting the internal antenna and the external antenna

Figure 3 shows a further alternative of the example of Figure 1

Figure 4 shows another alternative of the example of Figure 1

Figure 5 shows a further example of a device according to the invention Figure 6 shows an example of a device according to the invention and the two antennas

The device has a body with a jacket (30). The jacket (30) forms a Faraday cage that does not allow transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through it. The jacket (30) has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines an internal space, where the user may place a mobile wireless communication unit, for example a mobile phone. When in the internal space, i.e. within the Faraday cage, the communication unit may neither emit not receive electromagnetic signals to or from the outer space respectively through the jacket (30). The jacket (30) may be configured in various different ways. In the example shown in Figure 1, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 the jacket (30) has two walls (34, 35) articulated along a common edge (38). In use the communication unit may be located between the two walls (34, 35). In the example of Figure 5 the jacket (30) is pouch-like with a velrco type flap. In use the communication unit is placed in the pouch. Other examples of the jacket (30) are presented in document EP3886327, which is incorporated by reference to the present. The jacket (30) may define a closed space to place the communication unit or may cover the communication unit that is placed on a surface,

To communicate with the outer space, the device has an internal antenna (28) connected with a wire means (20) to an external antenna (22). The internal antenna (28) is within the internal space, for example it is located on the inner surface of the jacket (30). The external antenna (22) is outside the Faraday cage, in the outer space. The wire means (20) includes a flexible wire (25) and a port (27) on the jacket (30). In the absence of a port, the wire (25) penetrates the jacket through an opening (31) of the jacket (30) and is coupled directly to the internal antenna (28) as shown schematically on Figure 2. The wire (25) is flexible and long, in some examples in the order of some meters, so as to allow to place the external antenna (22) at a distance from the jacket (30).

Figure 1 shows an example of a device with two internal antennas (28) in two pockets (45) provided in the inner face of the jacket (30). Internal antennas (28) are not necessarily within a pocket. An internal antenna (28), some of them or all may be attached to the inner face as shown in Figure 3, rather than placed in a pocket.

In some examples the jacket (30) has one or more openings (31 ) for the wire (25), see for example Figure 3, which is guided through it. The wire (25) is flexible enough to allow the user to move the internal antenna (28) at various positions on the inner surface or to connect it with any of the internal antennas (28). This allows the user to locate the internal antenna (28) close to the antenna of the communication unit and consequently to improve the communication of the communication unit with the outer space. To facilitate maintaining the internal antenna (28) close to the antenna of the communication unit, the inner surface is provided with internal pockets (45) and the user may select to place the internal antenna (28) to the pocket (45) that is closer to the antenna of the communication unit. The pocket (45) or the pockets (45) may be larger than the internal antenna (28) to allow some movement of the internal antenna (28) therein. As an example only, the jackets (30) shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3 have 6 pockets (45), three on each wall (34, 35). The outer skirt of the pockets (45) is permeable to electromagnetic radiation to allow transmission of the signals to the communication unit that is not shown in the Figures.

In some examples of the invention, the device has two or more openings (31). In the example that is shown in Figure 3 the jacket (30) has two openings along the edge (38). This configuration facilitates positioning the internal antenna (28) at any position on the inner face of the jacket (30). The opening (31) or openings (31) may be located anywhere on the jacket (30). A bushing may be fitted to the opening (31). An example of such bushing is described in EP3897086 that is incorporated to the present by reference.

In some examples a port (27) is fitted in the opening of the jacket (30). The port

(27) is connected via an inner wire segment (25) with the inner antenna (28) and with an external wire segment (25) with the external antenna (22) to establish communication between the internal antenna (27) and the external antenna (22). Optionally, the jacket (30) is provided with more than one ports (27), see Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6. In the example of Figure 3, the external antenna (22) is plugged via the external wire segment (25) at a port (27), the port (27) that is at the edge of the jacket, and the internal antenna (28) is connected directly to the corresponding port (27) i.e., with no intermediate inner wire segment (25). In the example of Figure 6, the external antenna (22) is plugged via the external wire segment (25) at any port (27) on the outer surface and each internal antenna

(28) is connected to a corresponding port on the inner surface of the jacket (30). In the example that is presented in Figure 1 and Figure 3 the free edges of the walls (34, 35) are provided with area (37), in Figures 1 and 3 only the area (37) of wall (34) is indicated, which contain cooperating means to attach the two walls (34, 35) to each other, when they are brough in a closed disposition. The opening (31) may be provided along the connection of the two walls (34, 35). Any means to attach the two walls (34, 35) may be used including the means comprising weights that are disclosed in document EP3886327, the content of which is incorporated to the present application by reference.

In the example of Figure 5 the jacket (30) is pouch-like with a velrco type flap. In use the communication unit is paced in the pouch. In the particular example the jacket (30) has two ports (27) to plug wire (25). In the inner space of the pouch, i.e. the Faraday cage, the internal antenna (22) is connected to the port (27) either directly or through a wire.

The jacket (30) may be made from a soft, flexible material, which allows safe accommodation of the wireless communication unit, thereon, whereby damaging of the communication unit is effectively prevented. The inner face of the base configured to come into contact with communication unit may be configured as a slip-resistant surface for preventing slipping of the communication unit. The outer face of the jacket (30) that is configured to come into contact with an object, on which the device may be placed, may be configured as a slip-resistant surface for preventing slipping of the device. Thereby, it can be ensured to safely use the device on inclined surfaces. The wireless communication unit may be any electromagnetically transmitting and/or receiving device.

Jackets made by a double layer fabric are usually more effective than jackets made of single layer fabrics. The double layer structure improves the shielding performance of the Faraday cage and renders the enclosure durable under continuous daily usage, since the outer layer that comes in contact with various surfaces, for example table or other surfaces, protect the inner layer. Thus, the lifetime of the device is considerably improved. The applicant observed that when the jacket (30) has a shielding performance better than 35db per layer at the relevant frequencies, the shielding effect is particular successful. An even petter performance is achieved, when each layer of a double layer jacket (30) has a shielding performance better than 35 db per layer at the relevant frequencies.

Claims

1. Device for electromagnetic shielding including a jacket (30) with two opposite faces, i.e. an inner face and an outer face, which is configured to prohibit transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through it, wire means (20) and at least two internal antennas (28) positioned on the internal face of the device and connectable with an external antenna (22) at a distance from the device, whereby the external antenna (22) is connectable with any of the at least two internal antennas (28) via the wire means (20) through the jacket (30) and whereby each one of the at least two internal antennas (28) is configured to establish in use a wireless connection with a wireless communication unit, such as a mobile telephone.

2. Device according to claim 1, whereby the wire means (20) comprises a flexible wire (25) that is connectable at one end with an internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28) and at the other end with a port (27) provided on the jacket (30).

3. Device according to claim 2, whereby the wire means (20) includes at least two ports (27) at different locations on the jacket (30).

4. Device according to claim 2, whereby the wire means (20) includes at least two ports (27) at different locations on the jacket (30) and each port (27) of the at least two ports (27) is connected to a respective internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28).

5. Device according to claim 1, whereby the wire means (20) comprises a flexible wire (25) that extends from the external antenna (22) through an opening (31) provided in the jacket (30) and is configured to be connectable to each internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28).

6. Device according to claim 5, whereby a bushing is fitted to the opening

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, whereby the jacket (30) has two walls (34, 35) articulated along a common edge (38) and configured to receive the communication unit between the two walls.

8. Device according to claim 7, whereby (30) the common edge (38) has one port (27) that is connectable with the external antenna (22) and an internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28).

9. Device according to claim 7, whereby (30) the common edge (38) has two ports (27), whereby each port (27) of the two ports (27) is connectable with the external antenna (22) and with an internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, whereby the jacket (30) has a form of a pouch with a body and a cover, preferably configured to be connected through a velcro connection.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, whereby an internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28) is received within a pocket (45) provided on the inner face.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, whereby the inner face has more than one pocket (45) to receive an internal antenna (28) of the at least two internal antennas (28).

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, whereby the jacket (30) has an attenuation performance of at least 35 db at frequency range 500 MHz to 5 GHz.

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, whereby the jacket (30) is a multi-layer jacket (30) with at least two layers, preferably made of different materials.

15. Device according claim 14, whereby each one of at least two layers of the jacket (30) has an attenuation performance of at least 35 db at frequency range 500 MHz to 5 GHz.

16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, whereby the jacket (30) encloses a space to receive and shield the communication unit.