WO1997049191A1

WO1997049191A1 - Reduced emf hazard cellular phone

Info

Publication number: WO1997049191A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Stephen Ireland
Original assignee: Peter Stephen Ireland
Priority date: 1996-06-18
Filing date: 1997-06-18
Publication date: 1997-12-24
Also published as: AUPO053096A0

Abstract

A radio wave transmitting device such as a cellular phone or the like including a hand held housing, including a receiver and/or transmitter and an antenna thereon for receiving and/or transmitting radio waves; characterised in that the antenna is positioned on the device so as to maximise the distance from the receiving and/or transmitting zone of the antennae to the user when said device is in use.

Description

REDUCED EMF HAZARD CELLULAR PHONE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to receiving antennae and more particularly relates to the location and design of antennas on transmitting and receiving devices such as cellular phones, radio telephones and other such devices so as to reduce side effects in the user from electromagnetic radiation.

BACKGROUND Historical development of personal hand held communication devices began from relatively low frequency, long wavelength devices towards higher frequencies. Original devices in HF frequencies were back mounted packs, such as the ZC 1 types. Antenna requirements were for long whip style half dipoles, which by necessity were top mounted and vertical. Development resulted in a move to VHF and UHF frequencies, and each stage resulted in the antenna size reducing from 2 meters, down to 0.2 meters, and to 2 cm or less. (Manufacturers advertisements indicate the evolution of such devices whereby the original design paradigm has essentially been maintained throughout). With the original frequencies, the half dipole benefited from the image reflection given by the ground plane. Current cellular phones use frequencies near 960Mhz, and up towards 2Ghz is being introduced. Frequencies from VHF up can work satisfactorily with little reflection of the half dipole.

The strength of EMF (ie power density) around an antenna is dependent on radius, r, from the antenna ( and to an extent the aspect to the antenna). Further, the density dissipates at varying rates, dependent on being within the near field effect, or far field. Broadly, this indicates the persistence of a signal at distance, after a significant loss in the immediate transmission distance. Near/far field is dependent on frequency and antenna length. Within the near field, characteristically density reduces as the 4th root of the radius. In the far field the 2nd or square root indicates the density change. For current art cellular phones, the near field is within approximately 0.3 meters of the antenna. Local intensification of the field may occur at the tip of the antenna, subject to design PRIOR ART

According to the prior art devices the antenna resides in close proximity to the side of the users head The antenna may be extensible, but even so the shaft still resides near the users head

Known portable transceivers such as cellular phones, radiotelephones, and the like, traditionally have their antenna (being generally a half dipole type) located on the top of the unit The top of these phones is generally located in use, near or in contact with the side of the head of the user Current art also provides for repositioning of the microphone, by folding, to reduce the footprint of the unit, but not to increase antenna to body separation, and thereby minimise EMF density near the body. Evolution of portable communication systems employing radio frequency (RF) energy, has resulted in higher frequency (f) and shorter wavelengths Higher f allows better bandwidth, increased traffic, reduction in some interference, and smaller antennas, however, concern is growing with regard health aspects related to electromagnetic fields (EMF), and the human body

Current medical survey and research is ongoing, with some evidence of invitro effects being noted by researchers, (however not being capable of ready repeatability) Potential effects indicated, range from increased incidence of carcinoma, tumour development, psychological disorders, to leukemia Cell mechanisms which a magnetic field may effect are being assessed, but may include inhibition of the ATP pump, intervention to cell transduction and localised heating of the cell The latter has been a major area of investigation, however the cell wall indicates good EMF shielding potential Interference in the intracellular communication, which can cause such effects as inhibition of Ataxia (the programming of cellular death), and disruption to electrochemical activity across the cell wall are likely EMF fields outside the cell have the potential to disrupt cell internal enzymatic responses, and thereby almost all aspects of cell stasis Accordingly, there are risks to users of mobile phones which is exacerbated by the conventional location of the antenna due to the effects on human tissue and particularly cell biochemistry due to high concentrations of radio waves THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a significant reduction in the EMF exposure that may occur to the user of hand held RF devices A practical implementation of reduced risk antennas on most hand held RF devices, generally in the fields of communication

The present invention seeks to overcome or to ameliorate the above described disadvantages of the prior art devices by providing an improvement in cellular and radio phones hand held RF transmitting devices and the like whereby the antenna is located towards the base of the unit instead of the top, or at a location that minimises the EMF density exposure of the user

In its broadest form the present invention comprises a radio wave transmitting device such as a cellular phone or the like including a hand held housing, including a receiver and/or transmitter and an antenna thereon for receiving and/or transmitting radio waves, characterised in that the antenna is positioned on the device so as to maximise the distance from the receiving and/or transmitting zone of the antennae to the user when said device is in use

In another broad form the present invention comprises a radio wave transmitting device such as a cellular phone or the like including an antenna, for receiving and/or transmitting radio waves characterised in that the antenna is positioned on the device so as to maximise the distance from the receiving and/or transmitting zone of the antennae to the user when said device is in use

According to a method aspect the present invention comprises a method for minimising the risks of organ, tissue and/or bio chemical damage to the user of a mobile phone comprising the steps of, a) taking a cellular phone comprising generally a hand held housing having therein a receiver and/or transmitter and thereon an aerial, b) removing the aerial from its existing location, c) repositioning the existing aerial or installing a new aerial in a position on the body of the phone which maximises the distance between the users person and the zone of transmission or reception on or about said aerial.

The present invention will now be described according to preferred but non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein,

Figure 1 : shows a perspective view of a prior art mobile phone;

Figure 2: shows a cellular phone according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3: shows a cellular phone according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4: shows a cellular phone according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a perspective view of a cellular mobile phone according to the prior art. Mobile cellular phones are generally characterised in having a case or body 1 in which is housed a speaker 2 for receiving transmitted signals and a microphone 3 for voice communications. These phones are characterised in that the aerial 4 is located generally at the top end la of body 1. According to the prior art, aerial 4 points in a generally upwardly direction but as can be appreciated from the configuration of the cellular phone shown, as speaker 2 must be placed near the ear of the user this places aerial 4 in close proximity to the user's head exposing the user to potential damage as herein described.

Figure 2 shows a mobile cellular phone according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from figure 2 a mobile cellular phone according to the present invention comprises body or case 1, a speaker 2 located near the top of the body and a microphone 3 for voice communication located proximate the bottom end lb of case 1. The mobile phone shown in figure 2 is characterised in having aerial 4 disposed in a generally downward direction emanating from end lb of case 1. With the antennae located in this position, the zone of reception and transmission of radio waves is located at a maximum distance from the head of the user. This results in a significant reduction or elimination of the effects of EMF on a user's person It will be appreciated that although figure 2 shows the aerial disposed in a generally downward direction, the aerial can also be disposed generally laterally from the longitudinal axis of the phone such that the objective of reduction of effects of EMF can be maximised in a given telephone design

Figure 3 shows a mobile cellular phone according to an alternative embodiment This phone comprises case 5, speaker 6 and microphone 7 for reception and transmission of voice communication respectively This phone further comprises an extension piece 8 which allows a phone with a smaller body to be extended such that the phone is appropriately designed to accommodate the average distance between the ear of a user and the position at which the mouth will align with the speaker At the same time aerial 9 is disposed in the generally downward direction and to avoid the user causing his person to become too close to aerial 9, extension piece 8 either rotates or slides into and out of recess 10 in order to extend the length of the phone

Figure 4 shows a cellular phone according to a further embodiment of the invention This phone comprises case 11 and flap 12 which also houses receiver 13 As for the embodiments in figures 2 and 3 this phone further comprises a downwardly depending aerial 14 emanating from bottom end 1 la of case 1 1 This phone further comprises speaker 15 such that when the phone is in use the aerial is pointing downwardly and as a result, the hazard caused by EMF is either reduced or eliminated

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of the relative relationship between a mobile phone 16 and a user's head 17 Mobile phone 16 is shown with downwardly depending aerial 18 which can be integral with the case or extensible according to phone design and according to the degree to which the zone of reception and transmission is to be

According to one embodiment, the antenna is preferably located such as to extend from the base of the phone, or thereabouts Location of the antenna at or near the base of the handset results in the EMF associated with operation of RF energy being moved away from the side of the user's head, to a point below the jaw line of the user, and laterally further away from the head Positioning of the antenna on the handset may be further refined by placement generally towards the rear aspect of the base, and also near the edge furthermost away from the users face Additionally, the antenna may be angled away from the user (The current art positioning results in the antenna being in close proximity to soft tissue and bone mass ( ρ= <1 Ocm generally))

Investigation indicates no significant operational penalty from inverting the antenna, or indeed with offset angles from horizontal to +-90 degrees (most communication transmissions are vertically polarised)

The antenna resides generally in the near field to the user, and the EMF density is reduced by the 4th root of the radius

Indicative results of antenna position for a CURRENT ART cellular phone

Results an adjustment of r from < 0 5 cm to > 1 1 5 cm laterally from the surface of the head The relative field reduction is of the order of 280,000 times less EMF power density Where the original antenna may be further away from the head, such as 1 0 cm, the variation in field density would be 17,500 times reduced Further to the densities considered, the position of the field is assessed Current positioning places the antenna and resultant EMF extended, tip 5 cm from the mid point of the parietal bone, and the length of the antenna less than 1 cm, to touching around the temporal bone and squama, the squamosal suture and parietal bone The modified antenna places the tip 16 cm from the jaw and nose, and the base point 1 1 5 cm from the nose

With the antenna retracted, current tip position is 1 cm from the squamosal suture, the repositioned retracted antenna being 9 cm from the tip of the jaw The assessment is based on relocation of the antenna on existing design handsets, and can be further improved by associated handset design changes to optimise low set antenna positioning, by repositioning of the ear piece such as to increase the distance of the antenna to the head This can be achieved by various means, including elongating the rigid body of the hand piece, or providing a folding body where the ear piece is relocated to the upper section of the extended body thus increasing the distance from the head to the antenna Another embodiment of EMF reduction near the body may be achieved by shielding the antenna near the attachment to the hand set, by metal screening Further, screening can be embodied within the hand set for RF emitting circuits, by addition of metal gauze screening around the body of the hand set, and near the coils of the speaker and microphone

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications can be made to the overall invention broadly described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention

Claims

THE CLAIMS:

1 A radio wave transmitting device such as a cellular phone or the like including a hand held housing, including a receiver and/or transmitter and an antenna thereon for receiving and/or transmitting radio waves, characterised in that the antenna is positioned on the device so as to maximise the distance from the receiving and/or transmitting zone of the antennae to the user when said device is in use

2 A device according to claim 1 wherein said device is a mobile cellular phone

3 A device according to claim 2 wherein the aerial is located such that it is directed generally away from the user's head

4 A device according to claim 3 wherein the aerial is located at the bottom of the housing such that when the phone is in use the aerial is pointed in a generally downward direction

5 A device according to claim 4 wherein the aerial is extendible

6 A device according to claim 5 wherein the aerial is molded integral with the body of the phone

7 A cellular phone generally comprising a hand held housing including a receiver, transmitter and an aerial, characterised in that the aerial is positioned on the phone so as to maximise the distance between a users person and the receiving and/or transmitting zone about or on the aerial

8 A cellular phone according to claim 7 wherein the aerial is located such that it is directed generally away from the user's head

9 A cellular phone according to claim 8 wherein the aerial is located at the bottom of the housing such that when the phone is in use the aerial is pointed in a generally downward direction

10 A cellular phone according to claim 9 wherein the aerial is extendible

1 1 A cellular phone according to claim 10 wherein the aerial is molded integral with the body of the phone

12 A method for minimising the risks of tissue, organ and/or biochemical damage to the user of a mobile phone comprising the steps of, a) taking a cellular phone comprising generally a hand held housing having therein a receiver and/or transmitter and thereon an aerial, b) removing the aerial from its existing location, c) repositioning the existing aerial or installing a new aerial in a position on the body of the phone which maximises the distance between the user person and the zone of transmission or reception on or about said aerial

13 A cellular phone according to claim 12 wherein the aerial is located such that it is directed generally away from the user's head

14 A cellular phone according to claim 13 wherein the aerial is located at the bottom of the housing such that when the phone is in use the aerial is pointed in a generally downward direction

15 A cellular phone according to claim 14 wherein the aerial is extendible

16 A cellular phone according to claim 15 wherein the aerial is molded integral with the body of the phone

17 A device being a hand held radio frequency transmitting device, that substantially positions the ear piece away from the antenna, by static design or by means of extending mechanism

18 A device according to any one of the foregoing claims wherein metal shielding is added internally to the casing, including but not limited to the speaker or microphone

19 A device according to any one of the foregoing claims where metal shielding is applied to the end of the antenna nearest to the user