Detecting electromagnetic energy for alarm or log using mobile phone devices

• US 9,357,046 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Park, Hee-Jun, Tu, Alex Kuang-Hsuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US13/792,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20140256375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,178 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0857 Dosimetry, i.e. measuring the time integral of radiation intensity; Level warning devices for personal safety use nuclear radiation dosimetry G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0871 Complete apparatus or systems; circuits, e.g. receivers or amplifiers G01R29/0878, G01R29/0892 take precedence; dosimeters, warning devices G01R29/0857
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/002 where the device under test is an electronic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing

Abstract

A mobile phone is configured to employ existing antennae or other exiting input electronics to receive electromagnetic waves, for detection of energy magnitudes. The mobile phone has wireless receiver electronics to receive, through the antennae, communication signals in a plurality of different communication bands that correspond to the plurality of different frequency ranges. Energy levels of electromagnetic waves received through the plurality of antennae are detected. A record is made of energy levels in the plurality of different frequency ranges. An alarm is provided upon a detected energy level crossing a predefined threshold value.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a plurality of antennae on the mobile communication device configured to receive signals in a corresponding plurality of different frequency ranges, wherein each antenna on the mobile communication device is configured to receive signals in a frequency range that is different from the frequency range that each other antenna of the plurality of antennae is configured to receive;

wireless receiver electronics configured to receive wireless communication signals through the plurality of antennae, in a plurality of different communication frequency bands that correspond to the plurality of different frequency ranges;

electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics configured to detect energy levels of electromagnetic waves received through the plurality of antennae in the plurality of different frequency ranges, each of the antennae being coupled to the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics and to the wireless receiver electronics; and

processor electronics configured to provide at least one of;

(a) a record of electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in the plurality of different frequency ranges, or (b) an alarm upon the electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in one or more of the plurality of different frequency ranges crossing a predefined threshold value.

2. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, further comprising additional signal receiving electronics for receiving wireless signals in at least one additional frequency range different from the plurality of different frequency ranges, wherein the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics is further configured to detect energy levels of electromagnetic waves in the at least one additional frequency range.

3. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 2, wherein the additional signal receiving electronics comprises at least one of a charging inductor configured to receive a power charging signal, a microphone or a speaker.

4. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of different communication frequency bands are within the plurality of different frequency ranges.

5. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of different frequency ranges is a plurality of different, non-overlapping frequency bands.

6. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver electronics is configured to receive wireless telephone communication signals in at least one of the plurality of different communication frequency bands.

7. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor electronics is configured to detect peak values of electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detecting electronics.

8. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 7, wherein the processor electronics is further configured to compare detected peak values with at least one predefined threshold value.

9. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 7, wherein the processor electronics is further configured to provide an alarm signal upon a detected peak value exceeding a predefined threshold.

10. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor electronics is configured to determine an estimate of electromagnetic wave absorption by a user based, at least in part, on levels of electromagnetic waves detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics.

11. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 10, wherein the processor electronics is configured to determine the estimate of electromagnetic wave absorption further based, at least in part, on user profile information including at least one of user'"'"'s age, weight or gender.

12. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor electronics is configured to associate detected levels of electromagnetic waves with at least one of the detected locations or the detected times at which those levels of electromagnetic waves are detected.

13. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, further comprising GPS based location detection electronics for providing location information and wherein the processor electronics is configured to associate detected levels of electromagnetic waves with location information provided by the location detection electronics.

14. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor electronics is configured to detect the frequency of the received electromagnetic waves and to compare the detected frequencies with predetermined frequencies of known sources of electromagnetic waves to identify one or more potential sources of the received electromagnetic waves.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver electronics comprise at least one first signal path for processing the wireless communication signals, and the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics comprise at least one further signal path for demodulating the electromagnetic waves, the at least one further signal path being different from the at least one first signal path.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 32, wherein the at least one further signal path comprises switching electronics configured to selectively connect one of the plurality of antennae to the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics.

34. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sets of the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics, each set coupled to a different one of the plurality of antennae.

35. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics comprise a variable band pass filter configured to vary a frequency range of the variable band pass filter depending on which one of the plurality of antennae that are configured to receive different frequency ranges is transmitting the electromagnetic waves to the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics.

15. A method of operating a mobile communication device comprising:

arranging a plurality of antennae on the mobile communication device to receive communication signals and other electromagnetic waves, the plurality of antennae configured to receive signals in a corresponding plurality of different frequency ranges, wherein each antenna on the mobile communication device is configured to receive signals in a frequency range that is different from the frequency range that each other antenna of the plurality of antennae is configured to receive;

receiving wireless communication signals through the plurality of antennae, in a plurality of different communication frequency bands that correspond to the plurality of different frequency ranges;

detecting electromagnetic wave energy levels of electromagnetic waves received through the plurality of antennae in the plurality of different frequency ranges, each of the antennae being coupled to the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics and the wireless receiver electronics; and

providing at least one of;

(a) a record of electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in the plurality of different frequency ranges, or (b) an alarm upon the electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in one or more of the plurality of different frequency ranges crossing a predefined threshold value.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving wireless signals through additional signal receiving electronics not associated with the plurality of antennae, in at least one additional frequency range different from the plurality of different frequency ranges; and

detecting energy levels of electromagnetic waves in the at least one additional frequency range.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the additional signal receiving electronics comprises at least one of a charging inductor configured to receive a power charging signal, a microphone or a speaker.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of different communication frequency bands are within the plurality of different frequency ranges.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising receiving wireless telephone communication signals in at least one of the plurality of different communication frequency bands.

20. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein detecting electromagnetic wave energy levels comprises detecting peak values of electromagnetic wave energy levels received through the antennae in the plurality of different frequency ranges.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising comparing detected peak values with at least one predefined threshold value.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising providing an alarm signal upon a detected peak value exceeding a predefined threshold.

23. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising determining an estimate of electromagnetic wave absorption by a user based, at least in part, on levels of electromagnetic waves detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein determining the estimate of electromagnetic wave absorption is based, at least in part, on user profile information including at least one of user'"'"'s age, weight or gender.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, further comprising associating detected levels of electromagnetic waves with at least one of the detected locations or the detected times at which those levels of electromagnetic waves are detected.

26. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing GPS location information and associating detected levels of electromagnetic waves with the GPS location information.

27. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising detecting the frequency of the received electromagnetic waves and comparing the detected frequencies with predetermined frequencies of known sources of electromagnetic waves to identify one or more potential sources of the received electromagnetic waves.

28. A mobile communication device comprising:

a plurality of signal receiving means on the mobile communication device for receiving signals in a corresponding plurality of different frequency ranges, wherein each signal receiving means on the mobile communication device is for receiving signals in a frequency range that is different from the frequency range each other of the signal receiving means is configured to receive;

wireless receiver means for receiving wireless communication signals through the plurality of signal receiving means, in a plurality of different communication frequency bands that correspond to the plurality of different frequency ranges;

means for detecting electromagnetic wave energy levels of electromagnetic waves received through the plurality of signal receiving means in the plurality of different frequency ranges, each of the antennae being coupled to the electromagnetic wave detecting means and the wireless receiver means; and

processor means for providing at least one of;

(a) a record of electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy detecting means in the plurality of different frequency ranges, or (b) an alarm upon the electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy detecting means in one or more of the plurality of different frequency ranges crossing a predefined threshold value.

29. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the plurality of signal receiving means comprises a plurality of antennae.

30. A mobile communication device as recited in claim 29, wherein the plurality of signal receiving means further comprises at least one of a charging inductor configured to receive a power charging signal, a microphone or a speaker.

31. A computer program product for use in a mobile phone having a plurality of antennae on the mobile phone configured to receive signals in a corresponding plurality of different frequency ranges, wherein each antenna on the mobile phone is configured to receive signals in a frequency range that is different from the frequency range that each other antenna of the plurality of antennae is configured to receive, and electronics configured to receive wireless communication signals through the plurality of antennae, in a plurality of different communication frequency bands that correspond to the plurality of different frequency ranges, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising code for:

detecting electromagnetic wave energy levels of electromagnetic waves received through the plurality of antennae in the plurality of different frequency ranges, each of the antennae being coupled to electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics and wireless receiver electronics; and

providing at least one of;

(a) a record of electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in the plurality of different frequency ranges, or (b) an alarm upon the electromagnetic wave energy levels detected by the electromagnetic wave energy level detection electronics in one or more of the plurality of different frequency ranges crossing a predefined threshold value.