WO2004015811A1 - Shield for mobile telephones with device for measuring absorbed radiation - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiation shield for use with a mobile telephone, consisting of two layers of laminated plastic material separated from each other by a layer of electroconductive material. The shape and size of the shield is such to maximize the radiation captured, within the operating limit of the mobile device. When used the shield is placed between the aerial of the telephone and the user's head, protecting the user from radiation produced by the device. The shield includes an electronic circuit to accumulate a measure of the radiation captured during use. The system is competed by an apparatus consisting of an indicator that shows the level of radiation accumulated by the shield's measuring circuit and that can be either external or contained in the shield itself.

Description

SHIELD FOR MOBILE TELEPHONES WITH DEVICE FOR MEASURING ABSORBED RADIATION

The invention concerns the shielding of radiation emitted by mobile phones or wireless communication devices. It has the scope of reducing substantially the strength of the radiation transmitted towards the user's head.

Over the last decade, mobile communication devices have become widespread and today almost everyone owns one. The number of mobile phones is today still increasing, their use becomes more and more common and their portability has changed the traditional use of telephones, being mobile devices available in any place. People tend to use much more their phone to communicate with others that they did with fixed-net phones.

There is growing concern on the potential risks to which users of mobile phones are exposed due to the radiation being produced by the device and its proximity to the user's ear. This is especially true for those cases where prolonged use of mobile phones takes place.

Although as of today there no conclusive results on the long terms effect of radiation from mobile phones on humans, it is quite clear that heating in the auditory cortex takes place during use. Some claims have been made on possible risks of DNA damage and even cancer.

It is thus quite natural to study methods to reduce the negative effects of radiation originating from mobile communication devices, without influencing the ability of the device itself to function properly.

UK patent application no. 9819809.6 describes a shield with a cavity loosely tuned on the frequencies transmitted by mobile phones. US patent no. 5,726,383 concerns a foldable shield to be applied to mobile phone covers, whereas US patent no. 5,995,584 deals with an attachable shield. According to these patents the shields are made of various metallic or electro- conductive materials and plastic laminated layers. It has to be pointed out that a simple metallic thin layer (e.g. aluminium) can reduce the transmitted radiation up to 95%, therefore it is quite accepted the shielding function of even simple designs, as long as the area protected is correctly placed.

The object of the invention is achieved by a shield made by a at least one metallic layer placed between two layers of plastic laminated material. The shield not only protects from the radiation, but acts as an aerial itself and includes an electronic circuit which can measure the accumulated radiation absorbed during use of a mobile phone or wireless communication device.

The accumulated measure can then by displayed through the use of an external or on-board mounted indicator. This has the function of showing how well the shield has functioned during use as well as a rough measure of how much radiation has been emitted by a communication device during effective use.

The electronic circuit can be constructed with available technology and can be miniaturized using surface-mount integrated circuits to be fitted inside the shield. It can be made with and electronic design able to accumulate and store the strength of a time-dependent signal.

The novelty of the invention consists in the use of a shield in connection with an apparatus to measure the amount of radiation the shield absorbs during its use with mobile phones or other wireless communication devices. The applications range from accessories for mobile phones to instruments useful in medical studies conducted on the damaging effects of microwave radiation. The invention can provide researchers with a cost-effective tool to construct experimental data on a large number of subjects and correlate their usage habits with true radiation measures. In Fig. 1 it is depicted an example of a shield fitted to a mobile phone, shown in two positions, retracted and extended for use. It can be seen a circular support for attaching the shield to the phone, which contains the electronic circuit for the measure of the emitted radiation.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the shield where are visible the supporting ring A, the metallic thin layer B and the plastic layers C.

Claims

1. Shielding of radiation emitted by mobile communication devices, including mobile telephones. The shield has the function of reducing the radiation emitted towards the user's head and also the function to collect a measure of the radiation field strength during use.

2. Shield according to claim 1 consisting of at least one metallic layer and two plastic laminated material layers.

3. Shield according to claim 1-2 with a metallic layer treated with a film of a microwave susceptible substance, such as graphite.

4. An electronic circuit fitted on the shield according to claim 1-3 capable of accumulating a measure of the radiation collected by the shield during use with a communication wireless device, including mobile phones.

5. An external indicator to display the accumulated measure of the radiation strength according to claim 4.

6. An indicator fitted on the shield according to claim 1-4 to display the accumulated measure of the radiation field strength according to claim 4.