Device for radio communication

• US 6,259,896 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sepponen, Raimo Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/117, 455/128, 455/347-348, 455/300, 455/351, 455/129, 455/95, 455/100, 379/428, 379/430, 379/433, 379/437, 379/447, 379/440, 379/452, 379/451, 379/455, 379/426, 379/446, 379/449, 343/841, 343/702, 343/718, 250/515.1, 174/35.R
• US Class Current: 455/575.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/001 for modifying the directional characteristic of an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• 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

Abstract

A device for radio communication (PH), such as for example radiophone, includes a shielding layer (RFS) which under operating conditions is between the antenna and the user. The shielding layer (RFS) reduces electromagnetic irradiation of the user. The shielding layer (RFS) may be movable in such a manner that it serves as a cover of some operational devices such as for example, the headphone, display and keyboard of the apparatus when it is not used.

Claims

1. A portable radio telephone having a male body, and operating components including a headphone, keyboard, display and microphone positioned to be used from the exterior o said main body, an antenna, and a shield, said telephone characterized by:

said antenna having a section for radiating electromagnetic radiation that extends out from said main body, said shield being made from electrically conductive material and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the portable radio telephone;

said shield under operational conditions being extended beyond said body and located between a user and the extended radiating section of the antenna such that it reduces electromagnetic irradiation of the user from said antenna;

said shield being arranged to interfere with the headphone function by covering the headphone when said shield is in a rest position;

said shield being constructed to interfere with the headphone by having said headphone mounted on said shield and dislocating the headphone from its unable location when said shield is in its rest position.

2. A portable radio telephone as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by:

said shield being movable from its retracted rest position to an extended shielding position;

said headphone mounted on said shield and movable with said shield to a raised properly located usable position and a retracted position; and

said antenna being raised to extend out of said main body when said antenna is in its extended radiating position.

3. A portable radio telephone as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by:

said shield being arranged to disable use of one of said keyboard and display by covering said respective keyboard or display when said shield is in said rest position.

4. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 1 further characterized by:

said shield being hinged in proximity to an edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extended raised position;

said headphone mounted on said hinged shield such that it faces a user when the shield is in its extended operating position and covered under said shield facing said main body when said shield is pivoted to its retracted rest position; and

said antenna being raised to extend out of said telephone main body when said antenna is in its extended radiating position.

5. A portable radio antenna as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by:

said headphone and antenna mounted at a diverging angle with respect to each other such that when a user has an ear against said headphone, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user.

6. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 5 further characterized by:

said headphone being mounted at an angle with respect to said main body.

7. A portable radio phone as defined in claim 6 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted away from and forwardly from a front face of the main body to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

8. A portable radio telephone having a main body mounting a display;

a keyboard, and a headphone;

an antenna having an extending radiating section located outside of said body for radiating electromagnetic radiation, and a shield;

the improvement characterized by;

said shield being movable between an extended operational shielding position that is located between the user and the radiating section of the antenna thereby reducing electromagnetic irradiation of the user from said extending section of said antenna; and

a retracted rest position in proximity against said main body;

the headphone being attached to the shield and movable to its usable portion with the shield when the shield is moved to its extended shielding position and located to a stored position when the shield is moved to its retracted rest position.

9. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by:

said shield being hinged in proximity to an edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extended raised position;

said headphone being mounted on said hinged shield such that it faces a user when the shield is in its extended operating position and covered under said shield facing said main body when said shield is pivoted to its retracted rest position.

10. A portable radio antenna as defined in claim 9 further characterized by:

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

11. A portable radio phone as defined in claim 9 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted away from and forwardly from a front face of the main body that houses the keyboard and display of the main body and faces the user when in use to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

12. A portable radio telephone having a main body and an antenna for radiating electromagnetic radiation, said antenna extending outward from the main body, said telephone characterized by:

a shield movable between a stored rest position and an extended shielding position located between the user and the antenna such that it reduces electromagnetic irradiation of the user from said antenna, said shield operably connected to the telephone such that at least one control function is disabled when the shield is in the stored rest position and enabled only when the shield is in the shielding position;

said shield being movable from its retracted rest position to an extended shielding position;

said headphone mounted on said shield and movable with said shield to a raised properly located usable position and a retracted position; and

said antenna being raised to extend out of said main body when said antenna is in its extended radiating position.

13. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 12 further characterized by:

said shield when in its retracted rest position disables said at least one control function of said telephone by covering a respective operating component that controls said at least one control function.

14. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 12 further characterized by:

said shield being hinged in proximity to an upper edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extended raised position;

said headphone mounted on said hinged shield such that it faces a user when the shield is in its extended operating position and covered under said shield facing said main body when said shield is pivoted down to its retracted rest position; and

said antenna being raised above said telephone main body when said antenna is in its extended radiating position.

15. A portable radio phone as defined in claim 12 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted upwardly and forwardly from a front face of the main body to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

16. A portable radio telephone having a main body, a keyboard, headphone, an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic radiation and a shield, the ratio telephone characterized by:

said shield being interposed between said antenna and said user when in the shielding position;

said headphone when in its usable position and said antenna being mounted at a diverging angle with respect to each other such that when a user has an ear against said headphone, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user;

one of said antenna and said shield being pivotably mounted with respect to the other of said antenna and said shield; and

said headphone being mounted on said shield.

17. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

said headphone being mounted at an angle with respect to said main body when in its usable position.

18. A portable radio phone as defined in claim 16 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted away from and forwardly from a front face, that faces the user when in use, of the main body that houses the keyboard to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

19. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 16 further characterized by:

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

20. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 16 further characterized by:

said shield being movable between a retracted rest position and an operatively extended shielding position; and

said headphone being positioned to be at an angle with respect to said antenna when said shield is in the extended shielding position.

21. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 20 further comprising:

said shield when in its retracted rest position disables use of said keyboard by covering said keyboard.

22. A portable radio phone as defined to claim 20 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted away from and forwardly from a front face that houses the keyboard of the main body and faces the user when in use to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

23. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 22 further characterized by:

said shield being hinged is proximity to an upper edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extended raised position;

said headphone being mounted on said hinged shield such that it faces a user when the shield is in its extended operating position and covered under said shield facing said main body when said shield is pivoted down to its retracted rest position; and

said antenna being raised to extend out of said telephone main body when said antenna is in its extended radiating position.

24. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 23 further characterized by:

said headphone mounted coplanar or parallel with said shield and said headphone both being at a divergent angle with respect to said antenna when said shield is in the extended shielding position.

25. A portable radio antenna as defined in claim 24 further characterized by,

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

26. A portable radio telephone including a main body, a microphone positioned near the one end of said main body;

a headphone, an antenna having a section extending out from said main body, and a shield;

said telephone characterized by;

said headphone mounted on said shield;

said shield movable to extend to a shielding position beyond an opposite end of said main body and located between a user and the extended radiating section of the antenna; and

retractable to a rest position whereby said headphone is movable from its rest position and movable away from said microphone to a usable position.

27. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 26 further characterized by:

said shield being interposed between said headphone and said antenna when in the shielding position.

28. A portable radio telephone as in claim 27 further characterized by:

said headphone when in its usable position and said antenna being mounted at a diverging angle with respect to each other such that when a user has an ear against said headphone, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user.

29. A portable radio as defined in claim 28 further characterized by:

said shield when in the extended shielding position being canted away from and forwardly of the main body to form an obtuse angle with said main body.

30. A portable radio antenna as defined in claim 29 further characterized by:

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

31. A portable radio telephone having a main body, a keyboard, a display, a headphone, a microphone, an antenna extending out of an edge of the main body for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, and a shield, the radio telephone characterized by:

said shield being hinged in proximity to said edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extendable raised position;

said headphone being mounted on said shield;

said shield when in its retracted rest position forms a protective cover for the headphone;

said shield when pivotably moved to its extended raised position exposes said headphone for usage, and is positioned at a diverging angle with respect to said antenna and said main body and is interposed between said user'"'"'s head and said antenna such that when said radio telephone is positioned in its used position against said user'"'"'s head, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user'"'"'s head and on the remote side of the shield for reducing electromagnetic irradiation of said user'"'"'s head.

32. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 31 further characterized:

said shield operably connected to the telephone to disable transmission of electromagnetic radiation from said antenna when said shield is in the rest position and to allow transmission of electromagnetic radiation from said antenna when said shield is in the extended raised position.

33. A portable radio antenna as defined in claim 32 further characterized by:

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

34. A portable radio telephone having a main body, a keyboard, a display, a headphone, a microphone in proximity to an end of the main body an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, and a shield, the radio telephone characterized by:

said headphone mounted on said shield;

said shield being hinged in proximity to an edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extendable raised positioned extending out from said edge of said main body;

said shield when in its retracted rest position forms a protective cover for said headphone;

said shield when pivotably moved to its extended raised position moves said headphone away from said microphone and is positioned at a diverging angle with respect to said antenna and extends outwardly and forwardly from a front surface of said main body which houses the display, keyboard, and microphone to form an obtuse angle with said main body, and is interposed between said user'"'"'s head and said antenna such that when said radio telephone is positioned in its used position against said user'"'"'s head, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user'"'"'s head and on the far side of the shield for reducing electromagnetic irradiation of said user'"'"'s head.

35. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 34 further characterized by:

said shield operably connected to the telephone such that at least one control function of the phone is disabled when said shield is in the rest position and enabled when said shield is in the extended raised position.

36. A portable radio antenna as defined in claim 35 further characterized by:

said shield being made from electrically conductive material, and being coupled at the operating frequency of the antenna to an electrical ground of the apparatus.

37. A portable radio telephone as claimed in claim 35 further characterized by:

said shield being arranged to disable use of one of said keyboard and display by covering said respective keyboard or display when said shield is in said rest position.

38. A portable radio telephone having a main body, a keyboard, a display, a headphone, a microphone, and an antenna extending out of an upper edge of the main body for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the radio telephone characterized by:

a protective cover being hinged in proximity to an upper edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted lower rest position and an extendable raised position extending above and forward of said main body;

said headphone being mounted on said protective cover;

said protective cover when in its retractable rest position forms a protective cover for the headphone;

said protective cover when pivotably moved to its extended raised position exposes said headphone for usage, and is positioned at a diverging angle with respect to said antenna and said main body and is interposed between said user'"'"'s head and said antenna such that when said radio telephone is positioned in its used position against said user'"'"'s head, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user for reducing electromagnetic irradiation of said user'"'"'s head.

39. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 38 further characterized by:

said protective cover operably connected to the telephone such that at least one control function of the phone is disabled when said panel is in the rest position and enabled when said protective cover is in the extended raised position.

40. A portable radio telephone having a main body, a keyboard, a display, a headphone, a microphone in proximity to the lower end of the main body and an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the radio telephone characterized by:

a folding protective cover mounting said headphone and being hinged in proximity to an upper edge of said telephone main body and pivotably movable between a retracted rest position and an extendable raised position above and forward of said upper edge of said main body;

said folding protective cover when in its retracted rest position forms a protective cover said headphone;

said folding protective cover when pivotably moved to its extended raised position moves said headphones away from said microphone and is positioned at a diverging angle with respect to said antenna and extends upwardly and forwardly from a front surface of said main body which houses the display, keyboard, and microphone to form an obtuse angle with said main body, and is interposed between said user'"'"'s head and said antenna such that when said radio telephone is positioned in its used position against said user'"'"'s head, said antenna is angularly directed away from said user'"'"'s head for reducing electromagnetic irradiation of said user'"'"'s head.

41. A portable radio telephone as defined in claim 40 further characterized by:

said folding protective cover operably connected to the telephone such that at least one control function of the phone is disabled when said protective cover is in the rest position and enabled when said panel is in the extended raised position.

42. An apparatus for radio communication comprising:

a main housing;

a display;

a keyboard;

a headphone;

an antenna having a radiating section extending from said housing for radiating electromagnetic radiation; and

a shield, which under operational conditions is located between the user and the radiating section of the antenna thereby reducing electromagnetic irradiation of the user from said antenna and where the headphone is attached to the shield and moves to its using position with the shield.