Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a cellular telephone apparatus ( 2 ), comprising: a “traditional” handset ( 10 ); and a communication box ( 20 ) in which is installed at least a cellular transmitter of the apparatus ( 2 ). The handset ( 10 ) and the communication box ( 20 ) are physically separate entities, communicating with each other via short range communication ( 32   a,    32   b ). The result allows a user thereof to carry out cellular communication while keeping the cellular transmitter away from his head.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of cellular telephone devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a cellular telephone apparatus that exposes the user thereof to reduced radiation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    How cellular phone radiation may affect the health of users has excited considerable interest and research, due to the immense popularity of these devices throughout the world. Electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range, used by cellular phones, is considered by some to be potentially harmful to health. Thus far, extensive research, both epidemiological and experimental, on animals and humans, has revealed nothing suggestive of harmful effects. 
         [0003]    Based upon the consensus view of the scientific and medical communities, The World Health Organization has declared that cellular phones and their base stations are highly unlikely to cause cancer. Further, the WHO states that no convincing evidence has been presented suggesting other health risks posed by cellular phones. Certain national radiation advisory authorities have, however, recommended measures designed to minimize citizens&#39; radiation exposure as a precautionary approach. 
         [0004]    When a cellular telephone handset is at a distance less than 10 cm from a user&#39;s head, the strength of the radio “reactive field” of the transmission is relatively “strong”. The strength is reduced exponentially as this distance increases. This fact has been used by cellular telephone enterprises that have tried to solve this problem. 
         [0005]    One of the solutions to the radiation problem is wired headphones. Using headphones, a cellular phone handset can be kept away from the user&#39;s head when having a telephone conversation. 
         [0006]    Another solution is providing the cellular handset a loudspeaker, thereby allowing keeping the handset away from the user&#39;s head. 
         [0007]    Another solution is a Bluetooth headphone, i.e., a headphone that communicates with the telephone handset via the Bluetooth protocol (“wireless headphones”). 
         [0008]    Each of these solutions has its own drawbacks: the use of wired headphones is cumbersome, speech played by a speaker sometimes does not sound clear as the played sound reaches also to the telephone&#39;s microphone, and wireless headphones requires a relatively-small battery, which has to be often recharged due its relatively-small physical size, which limits its capacity and accordingly its operation time. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
         [0000]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Thus, the term “short range wireless communication” refers herein to wireless (e.g., radio) communication within a distance of about one meter up to a few meters, e.g., 10 meters. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a cellular telephone apparatus ( 2 ), comprising: a “traditional” handset ( 10 ); and a communication box ( 20 ) in which is installed at least a cellular transmitter of the apparatus ( 2 ). The handset ( 10 ) and the communication box ( 20 ) are physically separate entities, communicating with each other via short range communication ( 32   a ,  32   b ). The result allows a user thereof to carry out cellular communication while keeping the cellular transmitter away from his head. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the short range communication is a Bluetooth communication (i.e., complies with the Bluetooth protocol), which allows keeping the short-range communication confidential. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the range of the short-range wireless communication is about 1 meter, thereby using a relatively low power transmitter, which allows using the battery for a longer time in comparison to communication within a longer distance. 
         [0014]    The range of the short range wireless communication is within about 10 meters, thereby allowing utilizing the handset while charging the communication box. 
         [0015]    The communication box may further comprise a cellular receiver, thereby concentrating the cellular communication components of the apparatus nearby each other, which allows using a simplified mechanism. An additional benefit of this configuration is convenient maintenance, since the entire communication box may be replaced. 
         [0016]    The handset may further comprise housing for holding therein the box. According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises contacts connected to a charging slot thereof, and the box comprises corresponding contacts, thereby allowing charging the handset and the box simultaneously, by the same charger. 
         [0017]    The box may further comprise a clip, for clipping the box to a garment of the user. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the invention, the short range communication is carried out alternately on idle time, and continuously while communicating (having a telephone conversation) with another user, thereby using a reduced amount of energy. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for reducing radiation of a cellular telephone to a user&#39;s head, the method comprising the steps of: physically separating the cellular transmitter of the cellular telephone from the handset of the cellular telephone; and replacing the wired connection of the transmitter with components of the cellular telephone by short range wireless communication means; thereby allowing disposing the transmitter away from the user&#39;s head, resulting in reduced cellular radiation for the transmitter to the user&#39;s head. 
         [0020]    The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  pictorially illustrates a cellular telephone apparatus  2 , according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  pictorially illustrates the backside of communication box  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  pictorially illustrates a communication transmission from a cellular telephone A to a cellular telephone B, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  pictorially illustrates a cellular telephone apparatus, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a cellular telephone, according to the prior art. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a cellular telephone, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
         [0030]    According to the prior art, a cellular telephone comprises the following components, all disposed in the telephone&#39;s handset:
       input means, for sampling audio/video signal from a user thereof to be sent to another user;
           output means, for displaying the audio/video signal from the other user;   a user interface, for setting and operating the telephone; and   a cellular communication module, for communicating with a cellular base station.   
               
 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  pictorially illustrates a cellular telephone apparatus  2 , according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0036]    According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cellular telephone apparatus comprises two separate devices:
       a handset  10 , comprising:
           input means (such as microphone  14 ), for sampling audio/video signal from a user thereof to be sent to another user;
               output means (such as speaker  18 ), for displaying the audio/video signal from the other user;   a short range communication module (not seen in this figure), for communicating with a corresponding cellular communication box  20 ;   
               
           a cellular communication box  20 , which comprises:
           a short range communication module (not seen in this figure), for communicating with handset  10 ; and
               a cellular communication module (not seen in this figure), for communicating with a cellular base station.   
               
               
 
         [0044]    Thus, according to this embodiment of the invention, the functionality of the cellular telephone has been divided into two separate physical entities: handset  10 , which comprises the user interface components, and a cellular communication box  20  for communicating with a cellular base station. The separate entities  10  and  20  communicate with each other by short-range communication, such as Bluetooth communication. 
         [0045]    By separating the cellular communication components from the handset, a user thereof can place the physical box that comprises the communication components away from his head, thereby using the cellular telephone in a “traditional” form, without exposing his head to the same radiation intensity as in the prior art. 
         [0046]    Actually, the radiating element of a cellular telephone is the cellular transmitter thereof. However, if the rest of the cellular communication components are disposed in the communication box, when upgrades are available in the communication components, the entire communication box can be replaced by an upgraded device. Furthermore, a user can replace the handset with an upgraded handset, without replacing the communication box. Thus, from a maintenance point of view, the present invention provides an easier device for maintenance, in comparison to the prior art. 
         [0047]    In this figure, communication box  20  comprises casing  24 , an on/off button  26 , an indicator  28 , and jack (connector)  30 , which is used for charging the battery (not illustrated) of communication box  20 . Indicator  28  may be embodied by a LED (Light Emission Diode), which is a lamp that uses a relatively-small amount of current. 
         [0048]    The indicator may indicate that the communication between handset  10  and communication box  20  is established, present the strength of the cellular signal, and so on. 
         [0049]    The on/off button can be used for turning the communication box on and off. For example, when the communication ability is not required, the user may turn the communication box off, thereby prolonging the time until the next charge of the battery thereof. 
         [0050]    Handset  10  uses jack (connector)  22 , through which the battery (not illustrated) of handset  10  is charged. 
         [0051]      FIG. 2  pictorially illustrates the backside of communication box  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0052]    Numeral  50  denotes a clip, which allows a user to attach the communication box to a belt and the like. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  pictorially illustrates a communication transmission from a cellular telephone A to a cellular telephone B, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0054]    Cellular telephone A comprises handset  10 A and communication box  20 A, and cellular telephone B comprises handset  10 B and communication box  20 B.
       Handset  10 A of cellular telephone A transmits a signal by short-range communication  32   a  to the communication box thereof  20 A;
           Communication box  20 A transmits the signal by a cellular communication  34  to base station  36   a;      Base station  36   a  transmits the signal via a cellular network to base station  36   b , in the range of which cellular telephone B is presently located;   Base station  36   b  transmits signal  34  to communication box  20 B of telephone B; and   Communication box  20 B transmits the signal, via a short-range communication  32   b , to handset  10 B thereof.   
               
 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  pictorially illustrates a cellular telephone apparatus, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         [0061]    According to this embodiment of the invention, handset  10  comprises a housing  38  of the communication box thereof  20 . Thus, the communication box can be kept installed in the handset thereof, and separated thereof when required. 
         [0062]    One of the benefits of this embodiment is that handset  10  and communication box  20  can be load by a single charger (not illustrated), simultaneously. In order to allow this functionality, contacts  46  of communication box  20  must correspond to contacts  48  of handset  10 . 
         [0063]    Numeral  42  denotes a dowel by which communication box  20  is attached to depression  44  of handset  10 . 
         [0064]    Preferably, a short range communication distance of about one meter is adequate. However, a communication range of a few meters allows charging the communication box while the handset is held by the user. Thus, the user can charge the communication box while the handset fully functions. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the difference between the present invention and the prior art. 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a cellular telephone, according to the prior art. 
         [0067]    All the components of the cellular telephone are disposed in a handset thereof, including a cellular transmitter. The communication/connection of the cellular transmitter with the rest of the components is carried out via wired connection, illustrated by a continuous arrow. 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a cellular telephone, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0069]    In this case, the cellular transmitter is disposed in a separate device, away from the handset. The wired communication/connection is replaced by short range wireless communication, which is illustrated by a dashed arrow. Of course the separate device which stores the transmitter must be coupled with a battery and short-range wireless communication means. The handset also must be coupled with corresponding short range wireless communication means. 
         [0070]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the short range communication between the handset and the communication box is carried out alternately while not in a telephone conversation with another telephone user (“idle state”), and continuously while in a telephone conversation with another user. For example, every 2 seconds the system checks if a telephone call has been received. Since the majority of the time the telephone is in idle state, a significant amount of battery power is saved, thereby allowing a longer operation period between two subsequent charges. 
         [0071]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
       Numeral  2  denotes a cellular telephone apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention;
           numeral  10  denotes a handset of apparatus  2 ;   numeral  12 A denotes a keypad of handset  10 ;   numeral  12 B denotes arrow keys of handset  10 ;   numeral  14  denotes a microphone of handset  10 ;   numeral  16  denotes a display of handset  10 ;   numeral  18  denotes a speaker of handset  10 ;   numeral  20  denotes a communication box of apparatus  2 ;   numeral  22  denotes a jack (connector) through which the battery of handset  10  is charged;   numeral  24  denotes a casing of communication box  20 ;   numeral  26  denotes an on/off button of communication box  20 ;   numeral  28  an indicator of communication box  20 ;   numeral  30  denotes a jack (connector) through which the battery of communication box  20  is charged;   each of numerals  32   a  and  32   b  denotes a short-range communication signal;   numeral  34  denotes cellular communication;   each of numerals  36   a  and  36   b  denotes a cellular communication, i.e., communication within components of a cellular network;   numeral  38  denotes a housing of a communication box, within a handset thereof;   numeral  40  denotes a clip;   numeral  42  denotes a dowel;   numeral  44  denotes a depression, which generates a locking mechanism with dowel  42 ;   numeral  46  denotes contacts of communication box  20  with contacts  48  of handset  10 ; and   numeral  48  denotes contacts.   
               
 
         [0094]    The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of demonstration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
         [0095]    Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.