METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MINIMIZE RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM MOBILE PHONES AND DEVICES

• US 20110159920A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry V. Lehmann
• Original Assignee: Harry V. Lehmann
• Inventors: Lehmann, Harry V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets

Abstract

Mobile devices may minimize the radiation exposure to users by controlling the distance between the user, specifically the head, and the mobile device to a minimum distance. The reduction in exposure is realized due to the operation of the Inverse Square Rule on electromagnetic signal from the mobile device recognizing there is a steep fall off of signal strength resultant from increased distance between the head of the user and the source of the signal. Embodiments increase and maintain operational distance between the user and the broadcast device to reduce signal absorption. Enabled mobile devices increase and maintain the operational distance by detecting when the distance is breached by a variety of methods and then alerting the user. Sound and electromagnetic waves may be used to determine the proximity of the mobile device to the user, in addition image processing typically resident on some mobile devices may also be used to determine proximity to the user. Embodiments disable harmful features such as broadcasting when the operation distance is breached for a period of time or the radiation exposure exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments enforce the operational distance with physical barriers preventing the distance from being reduced. Embodiments influence the user to maintain a minimum distance via alerts, interruptions and warnings. Thus maintaining a minimum distance between the user and the transmitter may have a dramatic practical effect.

Claims

1. A method to alert a user of a mobile device that a safe threshold of absorbed radiation has been exceeded, comprising

establishing angles of incident of the mobile device corresponding with its use by the user for communication;

monitoring the angle of incident of the mobile device for the established angles of incident;

accruing the time during which the angle of incident of the mobile device is within the established angles of incident;

determining a value based at least in part on the accrued time and a transmit power level of the mobile device; and

,

comparing the value with a predetermined threshold and if the value exceeds the predetermined threshold alerting the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is an audio signal emitted by the mobile device speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is a visual signal emitted by the mobile device display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is a vibratory response by the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing angles of incident includes monitoring angle of incident during communication sessions.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising monitoring angles of incident during communications sessions over a predetermined control period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmit power level of the mobile device is selected from one of the group consisting of average transmit power of the mobile device, peak transmit power, a measure of transmit power during the accrued time, a maximum transmit power level during the accrued time, and a running average of the power level.

8. A method of preventing excessive exposure of a user from a mobile device during communication with a mobile device comprising

Emitting a wave from the mobile device;

Detecting a reflection of the emitted wave at the mobile device;

Determining based on the emitted wave and the reflected wave a proximity of the mobile device to the users head; and

,

Comparing the proximity to a predetermined threshold and alerting the user if the threshold is exceeded.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of alerting the user comprises an audio signal, a visual signal, a vibratory, tactile, thermal, electrical or interruption of communication.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of alerting the user further comprises adjusting an intensity of the alert based on the degree to which the threshold is exceeded.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the emitted wave is an electromagnetic wave outside the visible light spectrum or a sound wave outside the audible spectrum.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold is a function of accrued exposure

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold is a function of instantaneous exposure.

14. A mobile device comprising:

a radio transmitter and a radio receiver for radio communications;

a speaker and a microphone operationally connected to the transceiver to allow for voice communication a wave source and a wave receiver;

a switch for disabling the transmitter;

a processor operably connected to the wave source and wave receiver,

said processor causing the wave source to emit a wave and determining if a proximity of the mobile device has exceeded a threshold based on the emitted wave and a reflected wave detected by the receiver and controlling a switch based on whether the threshold is exceeded.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the wave source and the wave receiver are the radio transmitter and radio receiver respectively.

16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the wave source and the wave receiver are the speaker and microphone respectively.

17. The mobile device of claim 14, further comprising an override circuit preventing the transmitter for being disabled for a predetermined period subsequent to the threshold being exceeded.

18. A method of preventing excessive exposure of a user from a mobile device during communication with a mobile device comprising

obtaining an image proximate to the speaker of the mobile device

determining characteristics of the image and comparing the determined characteristics with one or more stored characteristics from a database

determining a proximity of the mobile device to the user based on the comparison of the determined and stored characteristics;

comparing the proximity to a predetermined threshold and alerting the user if the threshold is exceeded.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

wherein the step of comparing the determined characteristics with one or more stored characteristics comprises pattern recognition processing.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

wherein the obtaining an image proximate to the speaker of the mobile device further comprises activating an auto focus module to determine a depth of field range and taking an image at the depth of field range.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the image is obtained when the mobile device is within an angular range corresponding to a handset to ear orientation for speech.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of aspect ratio, color, refraction, spectrum or thermal.

23. A mobile device for wireless communication comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter broadcasting electromagnetic waves;

the receiver and the transmitter enabling wireless voice communication from a user;

a transmitting antenna in operably connected to the transmitter

a ear piece and a mouth piece;

a physical barrier defining a predetermined distance between the transmitting antenna of the mobile device and a user'"'"'s head during normal voice communication via the mobile device;

a switch operable connected to the transmitter and configured to allow or disallow the operation of the transmitter;

wherein the predetermined distance is reflective of at least the transmitting power level of the device and a predetermined safe exposure limit;

wherein the physical barrier is positionable in one of two position, a first position during normal voice communication and a second position; and

wherein said physical barrier engages the switch while in said first position to allow the operation of the transmitter or engages the switch while in the second position to disallow operation of the transmitter.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein physical barrier automatically position in the first position upon dialing, answering or powering on the mobile device.

25. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the physical barrier comprises two or more physical barriers together defining the predetermined distance.

26. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the switch is depressed to allow transmission.

27. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the switch is depressed to disallow transmission.

28. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the physical barrier is automatically positioned by bias springs in the first or second position.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein the physical barrier is locked in the first or second position by friction.