Protecting device in receiving and trasmitting electromagnetic waves

Abstract

 Protecting device (1) in receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, in particular for electronic communication apparatuses (C), comprising: at least one antenna member (2) for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves; at least one light emitting member (3), connected to said at least one antenna member (2) and apt to be supplied by electromagnetic waves; and electromagnetic wave absorbing means (401, 402) located at said at least one antenna member (2). The protecting device (1) is such that the distance of the wave absorbing means (401, 402) from the irradiation source of the electromagnetic waves is particularly effective and the light emitting member (3) provides a direct detection of the entity of the electromagnetic field attenuated by the wave absorbing means (401, 402) (Figure 1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to .a protecting device in receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, in particular for electronic communication apparatuses.

[0002] At present, the use in daily life of cordless electronic communication devices such as cellular phones, portables, beepers and the like is widespread.

[0003] It is known that the above-mentioned electronic apparatuses irradiate electromagnetic waves that might cause harm to the human body according to processes, partly still unclear, implying an interaction thereof with the molecules that constitute the living cells.

[0004] In the apparatuses of the above-specified type, the irradiation of electromagnetic waves reveals itself with a potentially harmful intensity mostly during active operation: in the receiving, in the calling and during the conversation. Usually, the irradiation source consists of a system for receiving and/or transmitting the electromagnetic waves themselves, applied to said apparatuses and commonly identified as antenna.

[0005] Nowadays, protecting devices apt to absorb and/or attenuate the effect of the electromagnetic waves irradiated by electronic communication apparatuses are commercially available, presented as accessories thereof and substantially constituted by a ceramic member, the composition thereof having the property to absorb the electromagnetic waves.

[0006] A first type of such protecting devices is applied to the casing of the apparatus, as a decorative accessory, whereas a second type thereof is positioned in the vicinities of the apparatus itself, e.g. in the user's pocket.

[0007] In the first case, usually with a bright-coloured decorative look, and in the second case e.g. thanks to a light signal, the device signals its own presence, regardless of the correctness of the positioning thereof.

[0008] In US 5,668,070, a ceramic composition is disclosed that includes an iron oxide, in particular ferrite, Fe₂O₃, having the property of absorbing the electromagnetic waves irradiated by the above-mentioned electronic apparatuses. Therefore, such a ceramic composition should be capable of attenuating the electromagnetic field irradiated by the aforesaid receiving and/or transmitting systems, and accordingly to relieve the aforementioned effects harmful to the human body.

[0009] A drawback of the above-described protecting devices lies in the fact that such devices are positioned externally, and in some cases are separated from the electronic apparatus. Hence, the absorbing member is located at a certain distance from the irradiation source of such waves, i.e. from the receiving and/or transmitting system of the apparatus. Such distance, interposed between the electromagnetic waves source and the related absorbing member, limits the effectiveness of such devices in protecting the human body from such electromagnetic waves.

[0010] Furthermore, such devices give no indication that, depending on the position thereof, may signal an effective electromagnetic waves absorption. In fact, in order to be effective, said indication needs to be related not to the operation of the apparatus, which is inherently apparent, but rather to the positioning of the member or members working as field attenuators.

[0011] The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a protecting device allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art.

[0012] Such problem is solved by a protecting device in receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, in particular for electronic communication apparatuses, characterised in that it comprises:

• at least one antenna member for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves;
• at least one light emitting member, connected to said at least one antenna member and apt to be supplied by electromagnetic waves; and
• wave absorbing means, located at said at least one antenna member.

[0013] The main advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that, since the aforesaid wave absorbing are located inside the protecting device in association with the antenna member, the distance from the irradiation source of the electromagnetic waves is particularly effective.

[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is provided by the positioning of the absorbing means inside the protecting device in association with the light emitting member. In fact, the light emitting member provides a direct and effective detection of the entity of the electromagnetic field attenuated by the absorbing means, said light emitting member being supplied thereby.

[0015] A further advantage of the protecting device according to the present invention lies in the fact that the aforesaid light emitting member is supplied by the irradiated electromagnetic field, therefore contributing to the absorbing thereof, and not by the battery of the electronic device onto which the protecting device itself is applied, therefore not contributing to the exhausting of the battery itself.

[0016] Other advantages, features and operation steps of the present invention will be made apparent in the detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. It will be made reference to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of a first embodiment of the protecting device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 relates to a sketched detail of the protecting device of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section view of a second embodiment of the protecting device according to the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cellular phone to which a protecting device according to the present invention is applied.

[0017] With reference to Figure 1, a protecting device in receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, generally indicated with 1, is apt to be applied to a cellular phone C (shown in Figure 4). Such protecting device 1 comprises: an antenna member 2 for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, that in the present embodiment is coil spring shaped; a light emitting member, in particular a light emitting diode 3 (LED), electrically connected to the antenna member 2; and wave absorbing means, that will be described hereinafter in details.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the protecting device 1, on the upper part, consists of a moulded body 101 having a substantially cylindrical shape, and, on the bottom part, of a connecting assembly 102 having an elongated shape, for the connection to the cellular phone C.

[0019] The moulded body 101 comprises an outer casing 6, having a cylindrical shape, surrounding said antenna member 2. Such casing 6 can be in a plastic material, e.g. polycarbonate. It consists of a top portion 601, of a central portion 602 and of a bottom portion 603.

[0020] The top portion 601 is substantially cylindrical shell shaped for the moulded body 101. In particular, it has an annular side surface 605 and a top face 606 which is of a slightly convex shape.

[0021] The central portion 602 can be integrally formed with the top portion 601, or locked thereto by the conventional connection means that are well known to a person skilled in the art. The central portion 602 has a transparent portion 604 having an annular shape, the function thereof will become apparent hereinafter.

[0022] Likewise, the bottom portion 603 can be integrally formed with the central portion 602 or locked thereto by conventional connection means.

[0023] The casing 6 can be coated with a protective layer, e.g. in rubber, apt to shield the protecting device 1 from collisions and from external agents.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic wave absorbing means comprise a first and a second electromagnetic wave absorbing member, respectively indicated with 401 and 402. Such first and second members 401 and 402 are located inside the casing 6 at the top face 606 thereof.

[0025] The first electromagnetic wave absorbing member 401 is made of ceramic material and is shortly called ceramic member. Such ceramic member 401 comprises in weight from 28.0% to 45.0% Zinc, from 52.0% to 66.0% Copper, from 1.0% to 4.5% Lead, less than 2.0% Tin and less than 1.0% Iron. Preferably, the ceramic member 401 comprises in weight from 33.6% to 39.5% Zinc, from 57.0% to 61.0% Copper, from 1.8% to 3.7% Lead, less than 1.2% Tin, less than 0.5% Iron.

[0026] Furthermore, the ceramic member 401 has an external coating comprising Copper and acrylate resin. The presence of Copper in the composition of such coating makes the same contribute to the electromagnetic wave absorption. As it is known to a person skilled in the art, the acrylate resin acts as binder. Preferably, the composition of such coating provides a percentage in weight of about 90% Copper and about 10% acrylate resin.

[0027] Apparently, in alternative embodiments, the ceramic member 401 can have a different composition, as long as it allows the electromagnetic wave absorbing. For instance, such ceramic member 401 can have a composition including iron as an iron oxide. In particular, such composition can also be the ceramic composition disclosed in US 5,668,070.

[0028] The second wave absorbing member 402, located at the bottom of the ceramic member 401, is manufactured in a magnetic material and it is shortly called magnetic member. Such magnetic member 402 contains Neodymium and Iron. Preferably, such magnetic member 402 also comprises small amounts of Boron, Dysprosium and Aluminium. In a more preferred embodiment, the magnetic member 402 comprises, in weight, about 31.00% Neodymium, 65.15% Iron, 0.5% Boron, 2.4% Dysprosium and 0.4% Aluminium.

[0029] The simultaneous presence of the ceramic member 401 and of the magnetic member 402, located at the top end of the moulded body 101, provides the advantage of improving the absorption of the irradiated electromagnetic waves both in terms of intensity and of absorbing direction thereof, and, therefore, to increase the protection provided to the user.

[0030] Moreover, both the ceramic member 401 and the magnetic member 402 are integrally formed with the remaining structure of the protecting device 1. In fact, both such members 401 and 402 are positioned adjacently to the top face 606 of the aforesaid casing 6, following the contour thereof. Therefore, the above-mentioned improvement in the absorption is reached maintaining the usual size of a system for the reception and/or transmission of electromagnetic waves.

[0031] However, it is apparent that both the positioning and the shape of the aforesaid members 401 and 402 can differ in order to satisfy the requirements implied in a specific embodiment of the protecting device according to the present invention. In particular, the ceramic member 401 could be positioned at the bottom of the magnetic member 402. Further, in a different embodiment, one or both of the wave absorbing members 401 and 402 could constitute an integral part of the casing 6.

[0032] The moulded body 101 further houses the aforesaid antenna member 2, positioned along the longitudinal axis of the moulded body 101 itself. Such moulded body 101 also comprises the aforesaid light emitting diode 3, housed inside the coil constituting the antenna member 2, preferably at the transparent portion 604 of the casing 6. Such moulded body 101 further comprises a detecting diode 5, it also housed inside the aforesaid coil spring antenna, electrically connected to the light emitting diode 3 and to the antenna member 2.

[0033] The light emitting diode 3, the detecting diode 5 and a section 201 of the antenna member 2 are positioned so as to form a circuit 235, shown in Figure 2. With reference to this latter Figure, the circuit 235 is supplied through the reception and/or transmission means and by the electromagnetic waves irradiated from the latter, according to an electromagnetic induction process which is well-known to a person skilled in the art.

[0034] Also the operation of the circuit 235 is well-known to a person skilled in the art. In particular, the detecting diode 5 demodulates the signal of current induced in the circuit by the electromagnetic field. The signal thus demodulated is received by the light emitting diode 3.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a cellular phone C comprising a protecting device 1 according to the present invention.

[0036] With reference to Figures 2 and 4, the circuit 235 is designed in such a way that the voltage at the ends of the light emitting diode 3 exceeds the emission threshold of the light emitting diode 3 itself only during the active operation of the cellular phone C, and accordingly of the protecting device 1, and therefore in the steps of reception, calling and conversation, when the irradiated electromagnetic field has a greater intensity. During these steps the light emitting diode 3 emits a light, the greater or lesser intensity thereof depending on the greater or lesser intensity of the electromagnetic field irradiated. Instead, when the cellular phone C is in standby, the level of the irradiated electromagnetic field is not high enough to induce a current effective to cause the emission of light by the light emitting diode 3.

[0037] Thus, through the transparent portion 604 of the casing 6, the light emitting diode 3 reveals, just by emitting light, an increase in the intensity of the irradiated electromagnetic field, and therefore of the electromagnetic waves harmful to the human body.

[0038] Moreover, the circuit 235 also detects an incoming call, thus acting as a silent signal for the incoming calls.

[0039] It is apparent that in alternative embodiments the protecting device 1 can comprise more than one light emitting diode 3 and, possibly, more than one circuit 235. Moreover, to a person skilled in the art, several variants and improvements will be apparent that can be made on the circuit 235 as illustrated in the present embodiment, without however altering in a significant way the operation and the effect thereof.

[0040] Moreover, to satisfy the requirements of a specific electronic apparatus to which the protecting device 1 is applied, there can be more than one antenna member 2.

[0041] The transparent portion 604 of the casing 6 can be made of an opalescent material, in order to allow the aforesaid detection of an increase in the electromagnetic field and of an incoming call in a discreet way and without the visual inconvenience for the user that might ensue from an excessive luminous intensity.

[0042] The connecting assembly 102 is substantially T-shaped when seen in a longitudinal section and it is locked, e.g., with a tongue and groove, to the moulded body 101. Such connecting assembly 102 can be made of Copper. The connecting assembly 102 is of a conventional type and it is well-known to a person skilled in the art, therefore it will not be described hereinafter.

[0043] In Figure 3 a second embodiment of the protecting device 1 according to the present invention is disclosed. Hereinafter, a description of such second embodiment mainly aimed at highlighting the differences of the latter with respect to the first embodiment disclosed is provided. Hence, it is understood that the components and the members that hereinafter will not be specified in the description are to be considered as identical to the ones hereto described.

[0044] With reference to the aforesaid Figure 3, the protecting device 1 comprises a moulded body 101, in the inside thereof electromagnetic wave absorbing means are located according to steps similar to the ones hereto described with reference to the first embodiment.

[0045] The protecting device 1 has a casing 6. A bottom portion 603 of such casing 6 has a substantially truncated cone shape. Such shape favours an optimum connection of the protecting device 1 with a cellular phone (not shown in Figure 3).

[0046] It is apparent that the aforesaid bottom portion 603 of the casing 6 can have different shapes, each one apt to provide a continuous surface with the protecting device 1 connected to a cellular phone or to a different electronic communication apparatus.

[0047] In the present embodiment, a connecting assembly 102 comprises an outer protective shell 10, substantially T-shaped when seen in a longitudinal section. Such connecting assembly 102 further comprises insulating means 9, located around the protective shell 10 and a pin 8, located along the longitudinal axis of the protective shell 10.

[0048] The aforesaid bottom portion 603 of the casing 6 and a top portion 11 of the connecting assembly 102 ensure the aforesaid optimum connection of the protecting device 1 to a cellular phone, defining a housing 12 apt to house the connecting flange of such cellular phone.

[0049] Besides the aforementioned advantages, a further advantage of the protecting device according to the present invention lies in the fact that said wave absorbing means are integral to the structure of the electronic apparatus, so that the size thereof, and therefore the absorption effectiveness, can change without prejudice to the handiness of the apparatus itself. Above all, such advantage is emphasised when those wave absorbing means are made integral in an efficient way with the remaining structure of the protecting device, e.g. inserted in the hollows left unused by the other components.

[0050] The present invention has been hereto described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that other embodiments might exist, all falling within the concept of the same invention, and all comprised within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.

Claims

1. A protecting device (1) in receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves, in particular for electronic communication apparatuses (C), characterised in that it comprises:

- at least one antenna member (2) for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic waves;

- at least one light emitting member (3), connected to said at least one antenna member (2) and apt to be supplied by electromagnetic waves; and

- wave absorbing means (401, 402), located at said at least one antenna member (2).

2. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said absorbing means comprise at least one electromagnetic wave absorbing member (401, 402).

3. The protecting device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said at least one absorbing member comprises a ceramic member (401), comprising in weight from 28.0% to 45.0% Zinc, from 52.0% to 66.0% Copper, from 1.0% to 4.5% Lead, less than 2.0% Tin and less than 1.0% Iron.

4. The protecting device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said ceramic member (401) comprises in weight from 33.6% to 39.5% Zinc, from 57.0% to 61.0% Copper, from 1.8% to 3.7% Lead, less than 1.2% Tin and less than 0.5% Iron.

5. The protecting device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said ceramic member (401) has an external coating that comprises Copper and acrylate resin.

6. The protecting device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said coating comprises in weight 90% Copper and 10% acrylate resin.

7. The protecting device (1) according to any one of the claims from 2 to 6, wherein said at least one electromagnetic wave absorbing member comprises a magnetic member (402) containing Neodymium and Iron.

8. The protecting device (1) according to claim 7, wherein said magnetic member (402) comprising in weight 31.00% Neodymium, 65.15% Iron, 0.5% Boron, 2.4% Dysprosium and 0.4% Aluminium.

9. The protecting device (1) according to any one of the claims 2 to 8, wherein said at least one electromagnetic wave absorbing member (401, 402) is located inside a casing (6) of said protecting device (1) .

10. The protecting device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said at least one electromagnetic wave absorbing member (401, 402) is located at the top face (606) of said casing (6).

11. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a casing (6) having a shape such as to provide a continuous surface with the protecting device (1) connected to an electronic communication apparatus (C).

12. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a detecting diode (5), said detecting diode (5) being electrically connected to said at least one light emitting member (3) and with said at least one antenna member (2), so that said detecting diode (5) and at least one light emitting member (3) and a piece (201) of said at least one antenna member (2) constitute a circuit (235), apt to be supplied by electromagnetic waves.

13. The protecting device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said circuit (235) is such that the voltage at the ends of said at least one light emitting member (3) exceeds the emission threshold of said at least one light emitting member (3) during the phases of active operation of said at least one antenna member (2).

14. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting member (3) is located at a transparent portion (604) of casing (6).

15. The protecting device (1) according to claim 14, wherein said transparent portion (604) is opalescent.

16. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, comprising an outer protective layer in rubber.

17. The protecting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna member (2) is shaped as a coil spring.

18. A cellular phone (C) comprising a protecting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Drawing