GB2363003A

GB2363003A - An anti-radiation shield

Info

Publication number: GB2363003A
Application number: GB0105825A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Abraham Deal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-11
Filing date: 2001-03-09
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-09
Also published as: GB2363003B; GB0105825D0

Abstract

An anti-radiation shield 16, 44, 54, 56, 58 for a mobile telephone 10 or like instrument, that is adapted to shield radiation coming from the bulk of the instrument 10 from reaching a user 20 of the instrument 10 or from reaching the head 20 of such a user. The shield 16, 44, 54, 56, 58 is adapted to be open adjacent the bulk of the instrument 10 on the side away from the user 20, and either is incorporated in the instrument 10 or is incorporated in a pouch 14 or like cover for the instrument 10. There may be provided an instrument 10, a pouch 14 for the same, or a combination of such instrument 10 and pouch 14, comprising any such anti-radiation shield 16, 44, 54, 56, 58. However, the shield 44, 54, 56, 58 is preferably adapted for use in relation to a pocket 48 of a garment 50 of the user 20; and it is adapted to be, or has been, inserted into the pocket 48. Or, shield 56, 58 may be formed in the material of the garment 50, or be formed as a lining 58 to the garment 50. There may be provided a garment 50 comprising a pocket 48 and, in relation to the pocket 48, any such shield 44, 54, 56, 58. The shield 16 etc has a reflecting property which improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission and/or reception of the instrument 10, and preferably is fitted or built inside the instrument 10. The reflecting property improves the efficiency directionally, i.e. such that the transmission/reception pattern is stronger in one transmission/reception direction than another, e.g. the transmission/reception pattern having a so-called "strong lobe" in one preferential direction. The shield 16 etc is adapted to be removably attached inside a pocket 48 and/or is adapted to be fitted to a bodystrap so that the shield 16 etc is interposed between the instrument 10 and the body of the user 20.

Description

2363003 TITLE: Anti-Radiation Shields

FIELD OF THE RWENTION

This invention relates to anti-radiation shields, particularly for use in connection with mobile, cordless and other telephones and instruments having an aerial and intended for use close to the head; and it extends to anti-radiation devices for use in connection with instruments generally that are adapted to produce substantial radiation likely to be incidentally radiated so as to reach the head or other parts of the body, and more particularly (but not exclusively) hand-held such instruments. Such instruments may, for example, include a hand-held computer or electronic organiser.

Such instruments are intended hereinafter by the expression "a mobile telephone or like instrument".

BACKGROUND

Such shields for use with mobile (or cellular) telephones have been proposed specifically for shielding the user from the aerial, while leaving the opposite side of the aerial un-shielded for the required signal transmission.

THE INVENTION The present inventor has conducted experiments showing that a substantial amount of radiation comes from parts of such an instrument other than the aerial, i.e. from part or all of the bulk of the instrument. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides an anti-radiation shield as claimed in claim 1. Such a shield may have the features of claim 2, preferably with an.opening extending about one-third of the length of the instrument from an aerial at one end thereof. Ilie shield may be incorporated in the instrument, as a plate, foil or coating internal or external of its easing (or even as part of the casing itself).

-2 However, preferably, the shield is incorporated in a pouch or like cover for the instrument. The shield may be open in the region of a keyboard of the instrument, e.g. in a case in which a flap drops down to expose the keyboard when dialling but can be folded up to cover the keyboard after dialling and during conversation, the flap incorporating part of the shield so that folded up it covers the keyboard during at least one normal condition of use of the instrument, i.e. conversation.

Me shield may comprise metal foil, e.g. aluminium, or a coating, in or on the casing or the pouch material, e.g. on an uninterrupted, non-woven, plastic sheet used for, or in, the material of the casing or pouch, or a coating on thread woven into the pouch material, or mesh used for or in the pouch. The coating may be a conductive coating, e.g. metallic, or may comprise a conductive salt compound, and/or may be transparent. If the coating (or other form of shield) is visible, it may be deliberately hidden from view, and/or protected, by forming it with a covering, e.g. of cloth. 'ne shield may comprise conductive cling film, e.g. conductive on one side, and/or over part only of its area.

The shield may be adapted to cover, and have one or more portions adapted to facilitate use of, a keyboard and/or LCD display of the instrument, e.g. one or more of such portions being transparent or defining a cut-out for this purpose. Such a portion may be in the form of a closable anti-radiation flap, adapted to be closed for a substantial part of the use of the instrument, e.g. during conversation and/or when the keyboard and/or display is/are not in use. Such a portion may be transparent to light but not to electromagnetic radiation of the kind which the shield is intended to shield against. Again, such a portion may comprise a mesh which is effectively not transparent to such radiation but, because it is an open mesh, will allow e.g. the keyboard and/or display to be seen. One or more similar portions may be adapted to cover a microphone and/or earpiece/speaker of the instrument, or such a portion may simply have one, or a few, small holes to allow sound to pass readily therethrough.

Another aspect of the invention provides a shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it has a reflecting property which improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission and/or reception of the instrument, and preferably is fitted or built inside the instrument.

Another aspect of the invention provides a shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it has a reflecting property which improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission and/or reception of the instrument directionally, i.e. such that the transmission/reception pattern is stronger in one transmission/reception direction than another, e.g. the transmission/reception pattern having a so-called "strong lobe" in one preferential direction.

Another aspect of the invention provides a shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument, characterised in that it is adapted to be removably attached inside a pocket.

Another aspect of the invention provides a shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it is adapted to be fitted to a bodystrap so that the shield is interposed between the instrument and the body of the user.

All of the above features may be found in the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure I is a schematic side elevation of a mobile telephone and cover shield embodying the invention, shown in the normal use position against a person's head; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are corresponding views of further embodiments; Figures 5 and 6 are schematic plan views showing features of the same or further embodiments; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are schematic front views showing features of the same or further embodiments; Figure 10 is a schematic, partly cut away, front view of a jacket with a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 11 to 13 are similar views of variations of the Figure 10 embodiment; and Figure 14 is a similar view of an embodiment mounted to a bodystrap.

Referring to the drawings, a mobile telephone 10 has an aerial 12 and a pouch 14, the latter comprising a shield in any of the forms described above. For example, the whole area of the pouch 14 comprises a conductive mesh material which constitutes a shield 16 and is either a backing of the material of pouch 14 or actually constitutes the material of pouch 14. In the Figure 2 embodiment, shield 16 (and co- extensive pouch 14) is open for approximately the top one-third 18 of the length of the mobile telephone 10. In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the head 20 is shown on the left of the telephone. In the Figure 3 embodiment, head 20 is on the right of the telephone and the shield 16 (and co-extensive pouch 14) covers both sides of the telephone, though the side nearer the head 20 is only covered when the flap 22 is - 5 closed. In the Figure 4 embodiment, the head is again on the left of the telephone and the shield 16 (and co-extensive pouch 14) covers only the near side of the telephone 10. This is shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows an embodiment such as that of Figure 1, with the shield 16 (and co-extensive pouch 14) extending on both sides of the telephone 10.

Figure 7 shows the front of a telephone 10 seen through the transparent front portion 22 of a shield 16 (and co-extensive pouch 14) having an upper edge 26; the upper part 24 of telephone 10 is therefore visible and not shielded by shield 16 and comprises earpiece 28 and display 30. Microphone 34 is sufficiently sensitive to sound through the transparent front portion 22, through which the individual keys 36 of keyboard 38 can be pressed.

In the Figure 8 embodiment, the front of the shield 16 is not transparent and has cut-outs 32 in the form of the few small holes for the earpiece 28 and microphone 34 (shown in Figure 7) and larger cut-outs for display 30 and the individual keys 36 of keyboard 38.

In the Figure 9 embodiment, the shield 16 is of aluminium foil 40 which lines the casing 42 of telephone 10 except in the regions of earpiece 28, display 30, keyboard 38 and microphone 34.

In the Figure 7 embodiment, the transparent front portion 22 with upper edge 26 is joined to a back portion 17 of shield 16 which continues up to the bottom of aerial 12 where, at a slant line 13, it crosses over to provide a top portion 15 at the front of aerial 12 in the manner shown in Figure 3.

It is sometimes desired to put a mobile telephone into a pocket, e.g. a top pocket, of a jacket or similar garment, e.g. anorak, upper outer garment, upper garment, or other garment, but radiation could then be a problem. Accordingly, further embodiments of the invention provide an anti-radiation shield 44, 54, 56, 58 adapted for such use for a mobile telephone 10 or like instrument, and extending slightly above the pocket 48 to shield the user from the aerial 12.

In the Figure 10 embodiment, the shield 44 is provided by a co-extensive separate removable pouch 46 inserted into the pocket 48 of a jacket 50 (extending slightly above pocket 48 in order to shield the user from aerial 12), e.g. held there by hook and-loop material 52 (e.g. that known under the trade mark Velcro) so that the telephone 10 can be readily removed for dialling without removing pouch 46 (with shield 44) and replaced in pouch 46 in pocket 48 for conversation.

In the Figure 11 embodiment, the shield 54 is made as a lining to pocket 48, for example being made of a sheet of metal foil backed by an iron-on plastics material.

It can then be inserted in the pocket 48 as a single thickness and ironed on to the inside back of pocket 48, or (as shown) can be formed into a bag or folded sheet and then ironed on to the inside back and front of pocket 48.

Again, the anti-radiation shield can be made integral with the material of the jacket 50, e.g. being made in the form of metal threads 56 woven into the jacket material behind the pocket 48 as shown in Figure 12, or again being in the form of an area of metal foil 58 which lines the jacket in the region of pocket 48 as shown in Figure 13.

Further features are possible with the embodiments of Figures 1 to 13. One such feature is to use a reflecting property in addition to, or preferably instead of, absorption. This can be arranged to enhance the radiation so that it improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission (and/or reception) of the instrument 10, e.g. so that a lower power instrument 10 can be used with the same effect. Ibis has the advantage that less radiant energy is retained by the shield 16 etc. or instrument 10, and therefore less reaches the user 20. Also, this can reduce or substantially eliminate the need for absorption and hence wastage of energy. Ile reflection will cause energy directed from the aerial 12 towards the shield 16 etc. to be returned in a direction to enhance the useful radiation towards the home station for the mobile instrument 10 (and likewise will improve the reception). The shield 16, 40, 44, 54, 56, 58 is made of radiation reflective material, e. g. aluminium foil 40, or metal, or metallised, woven material 44, 54, 56, 58. Preferably, the shield is reflective in a region directly between the instrument 10 and user 20 but may have an absorptive region peripheral to the reflective region, e.g. at the sides or front (where reflection might direct some of the radiation towards the user 20). The shield 40 may be fitted or built inside the instrument 10 and be effective partly or wholly by reflection.

Another such feature may be a reflective feature of the shield 16 etc. such that the transmission/reception pattern is stronger in one transmission/reception direction than another, e.g. the transmission/reception pattern having a so-called "strong lobe" in one preferential direction. This may be brought about by the reflection (in the shield 16 etc.) of the aerial 12 providing a virtual aerial, so that these two aerials operate together effectively as a dipole. A suitable layer on the reflector of the shield 16 etc. may provide a quarter-wave, half-wave or other phase change to the reflected energy to vary the lobe direction. As is known in aerial technology, the reception pattern of a particular arrangement will usually be the same as its transmission pattern.

Provided the user 20 is prepared to have such a directional instrument 10, the effective strength of transmission and reception is increased, or alternatively the instrument 10 can operate at lower power, compared with a non-directional instrument 10. This could have several advantages, e.g. reducing the total radiation level required for such a mobile phone instrument 10 (and the environment), further reducing the wastage and/or absorption of energy, the latter leading to less energy reaching the user 10.

A further feature, applicable to some of the above embodiments, is to provide the shield 16 etc. in the form of a pouch 54 specially adapted for insertion in a pocket 48, preferably so that it is adapted to be removable, more preferably so that it is adapted to be removably fixed in the pocket 48. For example, the shield 54 may have a button or buttonhole to co-operate respectively with a buttonhole or button inside the pocket 48, and/or may have hooked material 52 to co-operate with looped material in the pocket (or vice versa) or simply to co-operate with the material of the pocket 48.

In this context, the terin pocket 48 includes the back of the pocket 48, which may be part of the main panel of the garment 50 to which a piece is sewn to form pocket 48.

Again, the button and buttonhole may be replaced by opposite sides of a zip fastening, or any other fastening likely to prevent easy theft. Thus, the shield 54 may be fixed in the pocket 48 (so that it does not come out each time the instrument 10 is withdrawn) but can be removed when garment 50 is exchanged for another garment.

Preferably, the shield 54 can be varied in size, e.g. by cutting it down or folding it back to fit a particular pocket 48, the fixing means (e.g. 52) being appropriately variable if necessary. Again, the shield 54 may be variable in size (and possibly shape) by being stretched, e.g. being then settable e.g. with heat or ultraviolet light.

A further feature, applicable to some of the above embodiments, is to adapt the instrument 10 and shield 16 etc. to be fitted to a bodystrap 60 (i.e. a strap that will have a definite side adjacent the body of a user 20) of a bag, e.g. a shoulder bag or -9rucksack, so that the shield 16 etc. will be interposed between instrument 10 and the body of the user 20. For example, the combination of instrument 10 and shield 16 etc. may have at least a pair of slots 62 (on a support piece 64) to receive the bodystrap 60. Alternatively, the shield 16 etc. may be fitted to a pocket on such a bodystrap.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed.

Claims

1. An anti-radiation shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument, characterised in that it is adapted to shield radiation coming from the bulk of the instrument from reaching a user of the instrument or from reaching the head of such a user.

2. A shield as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the shield is adapted to be open adjacent the bulk of the instrument on the side away from the user.

3. A shield as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is incorporated in the instrument.

4. A shield as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the shield is incorporated in a pouch or like cover for the instrument.

5. A shield as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, characterised in that the shield is adapted for use in relation to a pocket of a garment of the user.

6. A shield as claimed in claimed 5, characterised in that the shield is adapted to be, or has been, inserted into the pocket.

7. A shield as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the shield is formed in the material of the garment.

8. A shield as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the shield is formed as a lining to the garment.

9. A garment comprising a pocket, characterised in that it comprises, in relation to the pocket, a shield as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8.

10. An anti-radiation shield or garment substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

11. An anti-radiation shield or garment substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. An instrument, a pouch for the same, or a combination of such instrument and pouch, comprising an anti-radiation shield as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 or 10 or 11.

13. A shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it has a reflecting property which improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission and/or reception of the instrument, and preferably is fitted or built inside the instrument.

14. A shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it has a reflecting property which improves the effective strength efficiency of transmission and/or reception of the instrument directionally, i.e. such that the transmission/reception pattern is stronger in one transmission/reception direction than another.

15. A shield as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the transmission/reception pattern has a so-called "strong lobe" in one preferential direction.

16. A shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument, characterised in that it is adapted to be removably attached inside a pocket.

17. A shield for a mobile telephone or like instrument (or combination of such shield and instrument), characterised in that it is adapted to be fitted to a bodystrap so that the shield is interposed between the instrument and the body of the user.