WO2001093611A1 - Mobile phones - Google Patents

Mobile phones Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001093611A1
WO2001093611A1 PCT/AU2001/000661 AU0100661W WO0193611A1 WO 2001093611 A1 WO2001093611 A1 WO 2001093611A1 AU 0100661 W AU0100661 W AU 0100661W WO 0193611 A1 WO0193611 A1 WO 0193611A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mobile telephone
earpiece
microphone
antenna
housing portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2001/000661
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Graeme John Harris
Mark John Meredith
Original Assignee
Graeme John Harris
Mark John Meredith
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Graeme John Harris, Mark John Meredith filed Critical Graeme John Harris
Priority to AU63647/01A priority Critical patent/AU6364701A/en
Publication of WO2001093611A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001093611A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
    • H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
    • H04B1/3833—Hand-held transceivers
    • H04B1/3838—Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
    • H01Q1/245—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mobile telephone and to a kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone.
  • the present invention seeks, therefore, among other things, to address this problem.
  • a mobile telephone including a housing portion, a user interface panel, an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, a microphone arranged to receive audio information from a user, and an earpiece arranged to generate audio information audible by a user, wherein when the user interface panel is in an upright orientation the microphone locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the earpiece locates downwardly of the user interface panel, and the antenna locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the arrangement being such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
  • the distance between the antenna and the microphone is less than the distance between the antenna and the earpiece.
  • the microphone locates in the housing portion.
  • the mobile telephone further includes a first attachment portion arranged to receive the microphone, the first attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
  • the earpiece locates in the housing portion.
  • the mobile telephone further includes a second attachment portion arranged to receive the earpiece, the second attachment being connectable to the housing portion.
  • the microphone locates adjacent a first longitudinal end of the housing portion and the earpiece locates adjacent a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing portion.
  • kits for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone having a housing portion and an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation
  • the kit including a microphone connectable to the mobile telephone, and an earpiece connectable to the mobile telephone, the microphone and the earpiece being connectable to the mobile telephone such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
  • a mobile telephone 10 which includes a housing 12 on which is accommodated an antenna 14 for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation.
  • buttons 16 Disposed on a front panel (not shown) of the housing 12 are buttons 16 (shown in phantom) for enabling a user to operate the mobile telephone 10, and a screen 18, which may be an LCD screen, for providing the user with visible information relating to operation of the telephone 10.
  • a microphone 20 and an earpiece 22 Disposed in the housing 12 is a microphone 20 and an earpiece 22.
  • the microphone 20 is located at a first longitudinal end of the housing 12 ' relatively adjacent the antenna 14, and the earpiece 22 is located at a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing 12 relatively remote from the antenna 14.
  • the microphone 20 locates adjacent first apertures 24 provided in the front panel (not shown) of the housing 12 so that audible information emanating from a user is receivable by the microphone 20.
  • second apertures 26 are provided on the front panel adjacent to the earpiece 22 so that audible information emanating from the earpiece 22 is receivable by a user.
  • processing means 28 which may be in the form of a PCB provided with integrated circuits and electronic components, the processing means 28 serving to control operation of the mobile phone 10.
  • the microphone 20 is connected to the processing means 28 by a first connection 30.
  • the earpiece 22 is connected to the processing means 28 by a second connection 32.
  • the user In use, when a user wishes to speak to a person using the mobile telephone 10, the user orients the mobile telephone 10 such that the second apertures 26 and thereby the earpiece 22 locate relatively adjacent an ear of the user, and such that the first apertures 24 and thereby the microphone 20 locate relatively adjacent the mouth of the user.
  • the antenna 14 does not locate adjacent the brain of a user. Instead the antenna 14 locates adjacent the mouth of the user and thereby relatively remote from the brain of the user.
  • the present invention has been described in relation to a mobile telephone which is constructed such that, in use, the antenna locates relatively remote from the brain of a user, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to existing mobile phones which include an antenna located adjacent an earpiece.
  • a kit is provided to modify the configuration of the telephone so that, in use, the earpiece of the telephone is remotely located from the antenna .
  • Such a kit (not shown) includes a first attachment portion which is connectable to processing means of the existing mobile telephone and a second attachment portion which is connectable to the processing means of the mobile telephone.
  • the first attachment portion may include a microphone which is connectable to the processing means of the existing telephone such that the microphone locates adjacent an existing earpiece of the telephone.
  • the second attachment portion may include an earpiece which is connectable to the processing means such that the earpiece locates adjacent an existing microphone of the telephone .
  • the existing microphone and earpiece of the telephone may be disconnected and preferably removed from the telephone.
  • first and/or second attachment portions may locate in a housing portion of the existing mobile telephone.
  • first and/or second attachment portions may be configured so as to be mechanically connectable to an outwardly facing portion of the housing portion of an existing telephone.
  • first and second attachment portions will include electrical connections extending between the microphone and earpiece and the processing means of the existing telephone.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A mobile telephone (10) is disclosed which includes a housing portion (12), an antenna (14) arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, a microphone (20) arranged to receive audio information from a user, and an earpiece (22) arranged to generate audio information audible by a user. The microphone (20) and the earpiece (22) are accommodated on the telephone (10) at a location relative to the antenna (14) such that, in use, the antenna (14) does not locate adjacent the brain of a user. Also disclosed is a kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone having a housing portion and an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation. The kit includes a microphone connectable to the mobile telephone, and an earpiece connectable to the mobile telephone. The microphone and the earpiece are connectable to the mobile telephone such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.

Description

MOBILE PHONES
The present invention relates to a mobile telephone and to a kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone.
The popularity of mobile telephones has increased considerably in recent years, such telephones now being used by a large proportion of the community. During use of such telephones, the antenna of the telephone locates adj cent the brain of the user. However, there is a growing concern that the use of mobile telephones in this way is deleterious to the health of the users . In particular, it has been suggested that electromagnetic radio waves emanating from an aerial of the mobile telephone can cause damage to the brain of the user due to the energy of the electromagnetic radiation and the proximity of the antenna to the brain of the user during use.
The present invention seeks, therefore, among other things, to address this problem.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mobile telephone including a housing portion, a user interface panel, an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, a microphone arranged to receive audio information from a user, and an earpiece arranged to generate audio information audible by a user, wherein when the user interface panel is in an upright orientation the microphone locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the earpiece locates downwardly of the user interface panel, and the antenna locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the arrangement being such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
Preferably, the distance between the antenna and the microphone is less than the distance between the antenna and the earpiece.
Preferably, the microphone locates in the housing portion.
Alternatively, the mobile telephone further includes a first attachment portion arranged to receive the microphone, the first attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
Preferably, the earpiece locates in the housing portion.
Alternatively, the mobile telephone further includes a second attachment portion arranged to receive the earpiece, the second attachment being connectable to the housing portion.
Preferably, the microphone locates adjacent a first longitudinal end of the housing portion and the earpiece locates adjacent a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing portion.
In accordance with an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone having a housing portion and an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, the kit including a microphone connectable to the mobile telephone, and an earpiece connectable to the mobile telephone, the microphone and the earpiece being connectable to the mobile telephone such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of a mobile telephone in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
In the drawing, there is shown a mobile telephone 10 which includes a housing 12 on which is accommodated an antenna 14 for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation.
Disposed on a front panel (not shown) of the housing 12 are buttons 16 (shown in phantom) for enabling a user to operate the mobile telephone 10, and a screen 18, which may be an LCD screen, for providing the user with visible information relating to operation of the telephone 10.
Disposed in the housing 12 is a microphone 20 and an earpiece 22. The microphone 20 is located at a first longitudinal end of the housing 12 ' relatively adjacent the antenna 14, and the earpiece 22 is located at a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing 12 relatively remote from the antenna 14.
The microphone 20 locates adjacent first apertures 24 provided in the front panel (not shown) of the housing 12 so that audible information emanating from a user is receivable by the microphone 20. Likewise, second apertures 26 are provided on the front panel adjacent to the earpiece 22 so that audible information emanating from the earpiece 22 is receivable by a user.
Also disposed in the housing 12 is processing means 28 which may be in the form of a PCB provided with integrated circuits and electronic components, the processing means 28 serving to control operation of the mobile phone 10.
The microphone 20 is connected to the processing means 28 by a first connection 30. The earpiece 22 is connected to the processing means 28 by a second connection 32.
In use, when a user wishes to speak to a person using the mobile telephone 10, the user orients the mobile telephone 10 such that the second apertures 26 and thereby the earpiece 22 locate relatively adjacent an ear of the user, and such that the first apertures 24 and thereby the microphone 20 locate relatively adjacent the mouth of the user.
It will be understood that, unlike conventional mobile telephones wherein the antenna locates adjacent the brain of the user during use, with the mobile phone 10 oriented in this way, the antenna 14 does not locate adjacent the brain of a user. Instead the antenna 14 locates adjacent the mouth of the user and thereby relatively remote from the brain of the user.
This is significant since the energy of the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the antenna 14 reduces in intensity in accordance with an inverse square law. As such, therefore, a relatively small distance between the ear of the user and the mouth of the user is sufficient to reduce the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation to safe levels .
Although the present invention has been described in relation to a mobile telephone which is constructed such that, in use, the antenna locates relatively remote from the brain of a user, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to existing mobile phones which include an antenna located adjacent an earpiece.
In order to apply the invention to such existing mobile telephones, a kit is provided to modify the configuration of the telephone so that, in use, the earpiece of the telephone is remotely located from the antenna .
Such a kit (not shown) includes a first attachment portion which is connectable to processing means of the existing mobile telephone and a second attachment portion which is connectable to the processing means of the mobile telephone. The first attachment portion may include a microphone which is connectable to the processing means of the existing telephone such that the microphone locates adjacent an existing earpiece of the telephone. The second attachment portion may include an earpiece which is connectable to the processing means such that the earpiece locates adjacent an existing microphone of the telephone .
Of course, when the first and second attachment portions are connected to the existing telephone, the existing microphone and earpiece of the telephone may be disconnected and preferably removed from the telephone.
It will also be understood that the first and/or second attachment portions may locate in a housing portion of the existing mobile telephone. Alternatively, the first and/or second attachment portions may be configured so as to be mechanically connectable to an outwardly facing portion of the housing portion of an existing telephone. Of course, with both of these alternative embodiments, the first and second attachment portions will include electrical connections extending between the microphone and earpiece and the processing means of the existing telephone.
Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled an addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. A mobile telephone including a housing portion, a user interface panel, an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, a microphone arranged to receive audio information from a user, and an earpiece arranged to generate audio information audible by a user, wherein when the user interface panel is in an upright orientation the microphone locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the earpiece locates downwardly of the user interface panel, and the antenna locates upwardly of the user interface panel, the arrangement being such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
2. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the antenna and the microphone is less than the distance between the antenna and the earpiece.
3. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the microphone locates in the housing portion.
4. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1 or claim
2 , further including a first attachment portion arranged to receive the microphone, the first attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
5. A mobile telephone as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the earpiece locates in the housing portion.
6. A mobile telephone as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further including a second attachment portion arranged to receive the earpiece, the second attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
7. A mobile telephone as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the microphone locates adjacent a first longitudinal end of the housing portion and the earpiece locates adjacent a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing portion.
8. A mobile telephone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.
9. A kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone having a housing portion and an antenna arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation, the kit including a microphone connectable to the mobile telephone, and an earpiece connectable to the mobile telephone, the microphone and the earpiece being connectable to the mobile telephone such that, in use, the antenna does not locate adjacent the brain of a user.
10. A kit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microphone forms part of a first attachment portion, the first attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
11. A kit as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the earpiece forms part of a second attachment portion, the .second attachment portion being connectable to the housing portion.
12. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the microphone is connectable to the mobile telephone such that the microphone locates adjacent a first longitudinal end of the housing portion, and the earpiece is connectable to the mobile telephone such that the earpiece locates adjacent a second opposite longitudinal end of the housing portion.
13. A kit for modifying the configuration of a mobile telephone substantially as hereinbefore''described.
PCT/AU2001/000661 2000-06-02 2001-06-04 Mobile phones WO2001093611A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU63647/01A AU6364701A (en) 2000-06-02 2001-06-04 Mobile phones

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPR3213 2000-06-02
AUPR321300 2000-06-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001093611A1 true WO2001093611A1 (en) 2001-12-06

Family

ID=3827232

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2001/000661 WO2001093611A1 (en) 2000-06-02 2001-06-04 Mobile phones

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2001093611A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6741215B2 (en) 2001-07-31 2004-05-25 Jerry Allen Grant Inverted safety antenna for personal communication devices
US6825810B2 (en) 2001-12-12 2004-11-30 Gary Dean Ragner Audio extension for wireless communication devices

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997049191A1 (en) * 1996-06-18 1997-12-24 Peter Stephen Ireland Reduced emf hazard cellular phone
AU7036896A (en) * 1996-10-21 1998-04-23 Jerzy Wlodzimierz Mrowka Reversible voice communication apparatus
JPH10224439A (en) * 1997-02-04 1998-08-21 Yuuki Tezuka Portable radio unit
JPH1127354A (en) * 1997-06-30 1999-01-29 Kowa Gijutsu Kenkyusho:Kk Portable telephone set
JPH1131991A (en) * 1997-07-11 1999-02-02 Hitachi Ltd Mobile communication equipment
WO1999027656A1 (en) * 1997-11-26 1999-06-03 Francesco Colli A bio-compatible cellular telephone apparatus
WO1999038305A1 (en) * 1998-01-25 1999-07-29 Li Zhang A portable mobile telephone with anti-electromagnetic radiation
WO1999044346A1 (en) * 1998-02-24 1999-09-02 Badia Nimrod O Reducing radiation in hand held cellular telephones and other mobile communication
GB2339361A (en) * 1999-11-09 2000-01-19 Weston James L Mobile telephone handset has antenna adjacent mouthpiece
JP2000196723A (en) * 1998-12-25 2000-07-14 Koichi Tamura Cylindrical antenna and microphone
EP1059733A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2000-12-13 Pace Micro Technology Ltd Mobile telephone handset
NL1012626C2 (en) * 1999-07-16 2001-01-17 Krishnakanhaiya Lakshmiprasad Portable telephone, e.g. GSM handset, has antenna extending below housing or fitted to flip portion with acoustic guide for microphone

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997049191A1 (en) * 1996-06-18 1997-12-24 Peter Stephen Ireland Reduced emf hazard cellular phone
AU7036896A (en) * 1996-10-21 1998-04-23 Jerzy Wlodzimierz Mrowka Reversible voice communication apparatus
JPH10224439A (en) * 1997-02-04 1998-08-21 Yuuki Tezuka Portable radio unit
JPH1127354A (en) * 1997-06-30 1999-01-29 Kowa Gijutsu Kenkyusho:Kk Portable telephone set
JPH1131991A (en) * 1997-07-11 1999-02-02 Hitachi Ltd Mobile communication equipment
WO1999027656A1 (en) * 1997-11-26 1999-06-03 Francesco Colli A bio-compatible cellular telephone apparatus
WO1999038305A1 (en) * 1998-01-25 1999-07-29 Li Zhang A portable mobile telephone with anti-electromagnetic radiation
WO1999044346A1 (en) * 1998-02-24 1999-09-02 Badia Nimrod O Reducing radiation in hand held cellular telephones and other mobile communication
JP2000196723A (en) * 1998-12-25 2000-07-14 Koichi Tamura Cylindrical antenna and microphone
EP1059733A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2000-12-13 Pace Micro Technology Ltd Mobile telephone handset
NL1012626C2 (en) * 1999-07-16 2001-01-17 Krishnakanhaiya Lakshmiprasad Portable telephone, e.g. GSM handset, has antenna extending below housing or fitted to flip portion with acoustic guide for microphone
GB2339361A (en) * 1999-11-09 2000-01-19 Weston James L Mobile telephone handset has antenna adjacent mouthpiece

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class V06, AN 2001-242844/25, XP002905331 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6741215B2 (en) 2001-07-31 2004-05-25 Jerry Allen Grant Inverted safety antenna for personal communication devices
US6825810B2 (en) 2001-12-12 2004-11-30 Gary Dean Ragner Audio extension for wireless communication devices

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