GB2379120A

GB2379120A - Wireless hands free system for mobile phone

Info

Publication number: GB2379120A
Application number: GB0115354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Portelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-22
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-22
Also published as: GB0115354D0; GB2379120B

Abstract

A cordless hands free device for use with a mobile phone comprises a first unit which is worn by the user and a second unit which connects to an electrical connection on the phone. The first unit includes a microphone and a speaker or earphone. The second unit includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver which provide a two way low power (eg 3 watt) communication link over short distances (eg 1 metre) with the second unit. The transmission between first and second units may be encrypted. Both first and second units may incorporate a rechargeable battery.

Description

I Cordless/Wireless hands-free set for use with cellular mobile telephone/s.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART 1 Field of invention The present invention relates to hand held cellular telephones. In particular, safety concerns regarding end users organ tissue heating, caused through cell phone and hands-free usage.

2 Statement of the problem 2.1 Cell phones 2.2 Hands free sets 2.1 Cell phones Introduction Background concern has arisen that the use of hand-held cellular telephones might cause brain tumours. If such a risk does exist, the matter would be of considerable public health importance, given the rapid increase worldwide in the use of these devices.

The use of cellular telephones, in a case-control study of intracranial tumours of the nervous system, conducted between 1994 and 1998. Enrolled 782 patients through hospitals. 489 had histo1ogicallyconfinned glioma, 117 had meningioma, and 96 had acoustic neuroma. The 799 controls were patients admitted to the same hospitals as the patients with brain tumours for a variety of non-malignant conditions.

Results As compared with never, or very rarely, having used a cellular telephone, the relative risks associated with a cumulative use of a cellular telephone for more than 100 hours were 0.9 for glioma (95 percent confidence interval, 0.5 to 1.6), 0.7 for meningioma (95 percent confidence interval, 0.3 to 1.7), 1.4 for acoustic neuroma (95 percent confidence interval, 0. 6 to 3.5), and 1.0 for all types of tumours combined (95 percent confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.5). There was no evidence that the risks were higher among persons who used cellular telephones for 60 or more minutes per day or regularly for five or more years. Tumours did not occur disproportionately often on the side of head on which the telephone was typically used.

Conclusions These data do not support the hypothesis that the recent use of hand-held cellular telephones causes brain tumours, but are not sufficient to evaluate the risks among long-term, heavy users and for potentially long induction periods.

2.2 Hands-free sets Introduction Hands free mobile phone calls could more than triple the brain's exposure to radiation compared with a conventional mobile phone call usage, according to a report by a British consumer research group.

The report first published in April urged the government to press for a new European standard for hands-free kits.

The report stated"As in our tests, it's clear that consumers can't rely on hands-free kits to reduce radiation emissions at the brain from mobile phones. Although these kits can reduce radiation, they can also increase it significantly." Amid concerns that the explosive growth of mobile communications is increasing the potential links between cell phones and health problems ranging from headaches to brain tumours are of serious concern Scientists agree that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones does warm brain tissue, that some strains of mice have developed cancer in tests in Australia and Finland, and that others become disorientated.

Just when you thought a hands-free mobile phone might reduce your radiation exposure, new research suggests they increase your risk. The earpieces have been adopted by thousands of mobile phone users as a safety precaution, but now a UK study has found that some hands-free sets channel three times as much radiation from phones into users'heads. While mobile phone companies have rejected the findings, the research has been backed up by similar work in other countries.

The sale of hands-free kits has skyrocketed amid growing concern about the possible link between mobile phones and cancer. There's no conclusive scientific proof that radiation emitted from mobile phones is harmful, let alone causes cancer in users.

Nevertheless, just last month a hospital advised its staff to try not to use mobile phones or to use them with a hands-free kit to avoid possible concentration of radiation near vital or sensitive organs.

It would then appear that the safety of hands-free kits that allow mobile phone users to use an earpiece instead of pressing the phone against their ear has been called into question.

The British Consumer Association has tested two hands-free kits and found that instead of offering users protection, they actually tripled the levels of radiation to the brain.

These findings have been confirmed in-principle by similar research carried out by principal scientific officers in other countries

3 Solution to the problem Introduction A possible solution to the problem is a cordless/wireless hands-free device.

The presented device is particularly adapted for use with cellular telephone handsets. The following hands free device operates at a lower frequency and lower wattage. Ameliorating arguably harmful conventional 900Mhz and 3- watt power rating user exposure.

The presented device is intended to solve or ameliorate the above-mentioned problems and others, via a cordless/wireless hands-free arrangement.

4 Detailed specification The following device is designed to be used as a cell phone hands-free set it includes: 3.1 Cordless hands free base unit Micro miniature: 3.1. 1 Cell phone and hands free-base interface 3.1. 2 Line signal conversion 3.1. 3 Microwave filter 3.1. 4 Cordless/wireless communication 3.1. 5 Cordless/wireless communication security 3.1. 6 Rechargeable power unit 3.1. 7 External casework enclosure 3.1. 8 Antenna 3.1. 9 On/Off 3. 1. 1C Logic features 3.2 Cordless microphone-earphone set (to be illustrated at a later date) Micro miniature: 3.2. 1 Line signal conversion 3.2. 2 Microphone and speaker 3.2. 3 Microwave filter 3.2. 4 Cordless/wireless communication 3.2. 5 Cordless/wireless communication security 3.2. 6 Rechargeable power unit 3.2. 7 External casework enclosure 3.2. 8 Base interface jack 3.2. 9 Antenna 3.2. 10 On/Off 3.2. 11 Logic features

3.1 HANDS FREE BASE UNIT 3.1. 1 Cell phone and hands free base interface Overview FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram schematic of a cell phone (0) having the cordless/wireless hands free base unit (3) interfaced in accordance with the present invention.

Introduction Cell phone interface jacks, come in varies shapes and sizes, standards. For the purpose of this specification a 2. 5mm quadraphonic micro line jack (2) is discussed. And micro power jack (3) are discussed.

The jack (2) interfaces with the cell phone handset (0) via port (1); typically located at the bottom of the cell phone handset (0).

When the hands free base unit (3) is interconnected into the cell phone port (1). The, Das cell phone (0) audio management chip (0.1) identifies that the hands free base unit (3) has been connected.

A logic signal level switch on the audio speaker line (0.5) switches the audio signal route from, the audio signal line (0.5) serving the speaker (0.2), too the hands free base unit (3) via audio signal line (0.7), port (1) and jack (2).

The audio signalling is then routed via jack (2), no additional conductors between the cell phone speaker audio line (0.5) and hands free base unit (3) or jack (2) are required for "hands free detect".

Through this interface coupling of the hands free base unit (3) with the audio management chip (0.1), via port (1) and jack (2). The microphone current detect circuit (0.4) routes the microphone (0. 3) via audio signal line (0.8). Thus enabling signal traffic, via port (1), jack (2) from the hands free base unit (3) too the audio management chip (0. 1) on to the DSP Digital Signal Processor.

The hands free detect and microphone detect circuit signal/s are used by the audio management chip (0.4) to enable or disable the hands free base unit (3), cell phone (0) internal speaker/microphone arrangement, (0.2/0. 3) respectively.

The microphone current detect circuit (0.4) is coupled to the audio management chip (0.1), via the microphone audio line (0.9) to provide a logic microphone detect signal level, which indicates when current is flowing from the hands free base unit (3). The current flow arrangement allows the microphone detect circuit (0.4) to provide an on/offhook signal condition via the audio management chip to the cell phone DSP.

There by allowing the user dialling or answering features.

4 Summary of the invention 3.1 The cordless/wireless hands free base 3.2 The microphone-earphone set 3.1 The base The base is attached to the cell phone through a standard signal jack and a power jack. As far as the cell phone is concerned, the base looks and acts like a normal peripheral hands-free connection and power- charging connection.

The base receives incoming call signals as an electrical signal via the cell phone port, via the jack interface. The base then converts these signals to a radio signal, which it then broadcasts over very short distances (1 metre).

3.2 The microphone-earphone set The exception, wireless-ness would allow end user/s discrete distance between the cell phone and them selves. The earphone combined microphone device acts like a tiny receiver and transmitter, broadcasting from/to the cordless base unit.

Claims

Claims 1. A cell phone system comprising first unit having a microphone and a speaker which can be worn by the user, and a second separate unit incorporating a cell phone having a primary transmitter and receiver for interfacing with a cell phone network each said unit incorporating a secondary transmitter and receiver, said secondary transmitter and receiver providing a two way communication link between the two units and operating at a substantially lower power and/or frequency to said primary transmitter and receiver.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second unit each have their own separate power supply.
3. A system according to claim 1 and to claim 2 wherein the transmissions between said secondary transmitter and receiver is encrypted.
4. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the secondary transmitter receivers operate at a frequency of substantially 900 MHz
5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the secondary transmitters have an output power of substantially 3 watts.
6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the second unit comprises a base into which the associated cell phone can be plugged so as to couple the primary transmitter and receiver with the secondary transmitter and receiver.
7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the base includes a rechargeable battery and an input through which the battery can be recharged, the base also connecting the said input to the rechargeable battery of the cell phone when the cell phone is plugged into the base.
8. A system according to any preceding claim when the first unit includes a rechargeable battery and means for connecting it to a recharging power supply.

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9. A cell phone system substantially described with reference to the accompanying drawings.