WO1999055130A2

WO1999055130A2 - Electromagnetic wave absorber device

Info

Publication number: WO1999055130A2
Application number: PCT/EP1999/002197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Padrin
Original assignee: M.M.T. S.R.L.
Priority date: 1998-04-17
Filing date: 1999-03-30
Publication date: 1999-10-28
Also published as: IT1303021B1; ITMI980816A1; WO1999055130A3

Abstract

An electromagnetic wave absorber device (3) to be used in association with an electrical or electronic device (1, 10) generating an electromagnetic field, in particular a portable device such as a cellular telephone or a watch, said absorber being constructed of a material at least partly containing carbon.

Description

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE ABSORBER DEVICE

This invention relates to an electromagnetic wave absorber in accordance with the introduction to the main claim.

Electrical or electronic devices in continuous use by the public (such as electronic processors, television receivers, radios, portable telephones or quartz watches) are known to emit electromagnetic waves to a greater or lesser extent. For example, in the case of cellular telephones, the frequency used (900 MHz) is extremely penetrating and laboratory tests have shown that the magnetic field generated during the use of the telephone or related to the frequency peaks which arise particularly during dialling or when the ringer operates, causes heating of the human cells with high risk of protein denaturation (and consequent cell death), and modification of the cell DNA (with the possibility, over time, of mutagenic effects arising, such as those which cause tumoral or cancerogenic forms).

Based on these studies, laws aimed at regulating electromagnetic emissions by the aforesaid devices are in prospect.

Recent studies have also demonstrated the fact that a quartz watch worn on the left wrist (which contains an artery directed to the heart) generates an electromagnetic field which can damage the circulatory system and the heart.

An object of this invention is to provide a device able to absorb the electromagnetic radiation or at least the radiation peaks emitted by the aforesaid electrical and/or electronic devices. A particular object of the invention is to provide an absorber device of the the stated type which is of simple construction and can be easily used by the user.

A further object is to provide a commonly used electrical and/or electronic device such as a processor, a portable telephone or a quartz watch provided with an electromagnetic wave absorber device.

These and further objects are attained by an absorber device in accordance with the accompanying claims.

The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example, and on which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cellular telephone inserted into its case and with which an absorber device of the invention is associated; Figure 2 is a partly sectional front view of the case of Figure 1 containing the telephone and the device of the invention;

Figure 3 is a view from below of a watch provided with another embodiment of the device of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the device of the invention.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, a cellular telephone 1 is inserted in a usual case 2. In this latter there is also positioned a device 3 of the invention, arranged to absorb the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the telephone 1 during its use, or at least to reduce the radiation peaks which occur during this use or at least during dialling (outward or inward).

In the embodiment shown in the figures under examination, this device comprises a container 5 of any material (metal, paper, plastic) with the exception of stainless steel (which because of its nature is impermeable to magnetic fields). This container, which is of box type, contains a body 6 able to absorb said radiation. The body 6 is at least partly of carbon or more preferably of graphite. The said body 6 can also be totally or partly of any other of the allotropic forms in which carbon is known to exist in nature. Alternatively the body 6 can be of any other material containing carbon atoms bonded to other atoms. Finally the body 6 can be prepared by mixing powdered graphite, carbon or another material, with powdered plastic or metal, the mixture then being compacted by known methods (for example by heat treatment under pressure) and forming part of the telephone 1 or of the case 2.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the body 6 is obtained by associating with each other two or more flat elements inserted into the container 5.

In a variant shown in Figure 3, the device 3 comprises a body 6, for example defined by thin bars of graphite 6A, associated with the casing 16 of a watch 10, which for this purpose comprises a seat 12 for containing said body and therefore acting as a container for this latter. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the device is in direct contact with the user wearing the watch. The casing 16 of the watch 10 can be constructed of plastic or metal within which the carbon (for example in the form of graphite) is dispersed.

In a further variant (Figure 4), the body 6, which is at least partly of carbon, for example graphite, is inserted in a box container 20, for example of metal, provided with an opening door 21 giving access to an inner cavity 23 of a hollow part 24 of the container 20 to which this door is hinged. The container 20 is shaped as a pendant and is associated with rings 25 which enable it to be connected to key holders, chains etc.

In all the aforedescribed embodiments, the body 6 absorbs the electromagnetic radiation emitted by electrical and/or electronic devices such as a telephone 1, a watch 10, etc. Preferably, the body 6 should be positioned in contact with the used, and in all cases acts as a "catalyst" for said radiation by at least partially absorbing it and in any event lowering its peaks which occur at particular moments in the use of the said electrical and/or electronic device. If the absorber device 3 is associated with the watch 10 or with the container or pendant 20, it absorbs the radiation emitted by any electrical and/or electronic device positioned in its vicinity (for example the telephone 1).

To enable it to be effectively and continuously used, the device 3 must be electrically discharged (or earthed) preferably after each day's use. This can be achieved for example by laying said device (or the object containing it such as the watch or the pendant) on a metal surface, such as a heater or the like.

Various embodiments of the device of the invention have been described. As stated, the body 6, which is at least partly of carbon, can form part of the electrical or electronic device for which it is to absorb the electromagnetic radiation, or part of another element in contact with the human body. These embodiments are also to e considered as falling within the scope of this invention.

Claims

Cl aims :

1. An electromagnetic wave absorber device (3) to be used in association with an electrical or electronic device (1, 10) generating an electromagnetic field, in particular a portable device such as a cellular telephone or a watch, characterised in that said absorber is constructed of a material at least partly containing carbon.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that its body is entirely of an allotropic form of carbon.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that its body (6) is of graphite.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that its body (6) is solid and is separated from that of the device (1, 10) emitting the electromagnetic radiation.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that its body (6) is inserted in a pendant (20).

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that its body (6) is associated with that of the device (1, 10) emitting the electromagnetic radiation and is placed in a common container (2) which also contains said device (1, 10) or in a seat provided in this latter.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by forming part of the device (1, 10) emitting the electromagnetic radiation.

8. A watch provided with an electromagnetic radiation absorber device in accordance with claim 1.

9. A cellular telephone provided with an electromagnetic radiation absorber device in accordance with claim 1.