Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a natural electromagnetic alternating field close to a user&#39;s body. The natural electromagnetic alternating field is similar to an area of pleasant weather (Sferics), to compensate for electrical stress acting on a user. The field can also be used for positive stimulation of the well-being of the user. The apparatus has a means for producing the alternating field and a means for transmitting the alternating field.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a natural electromagnetic alternating field close to a person&#39;s body. 
   Our environment is affected by numerous electromagnetic alternating fields. A large proportion of these electromagnetic alternating fields are artificial, and thus are produced by man. One prominent example of such fields are artificially produced electromagnetic fields for data transmission up to the gigahertz range. Mobile telephones, such as cell phones, operate using the GSM data transmission format and, in the future, will use the UMT data transmission format as well. These electromagnetic fields are typically pulsed around 100 Hz or around 217 Hz. These fields can cause severe electrical stress, which has a disadvantageous effect on organic cells. The high transmission power from mobile phones when the respective handset is used close to the ear of the user causes unavoidable considerable biological stress acting on the organic cells of the user. In scientific publications and, inter alia, in the magazine 2000 plus, No. 144 (12-1999, page 74), Liebrecht von Klitzing has stated that the wide dynamic range of more than 60 dB between the pulse packages of the RF signal transmission is a source of severe cell stimulus/irritation, with a typical cell resonance of up to 400 Hz. Furthermore, this article states that the signal periodicity represents a significant factor in the influence on cells, and that a stochastic signal response will be considerably better for the organic cells, since it is less damaging. Furthermore, sufficient knowledge is available about the disadvantageous biological effects of artificial radio-frequency fields on the organic cells of living beings, or people (see, for example, Herbert L. König “unsichtbare Umwelt” [invisible environment], Munich, 1986). 
   However, the human body is also affected by natural electromagnetic alternating fields. For example, it is known that certain weather situations, for example föhn weather in the alpine area, are associated with natural electromagnetic alternating fields which propagate horizontally and/or vertically and are in the range between a few 100 Hz and, typically, 50 000 Hz. Such “areas of bad weather” have a disadvantageous effect on living beings in a manner that is known. In contrast to this, areas of pleasant weather, which are also referred to as Sferics, are known, which have a positive effect on living beings. These natural electromagnetic alternating fields are also in the range from a few 100 Hz up to, typically, at least 20 kHz and, in contrast to areas of bad weather, have a different amplitude and frequency distribution. 
   It is also known for a battery-powered pocket device to be used for stimulation of human beings and to compensate for certain disadvantageous influences on the human organism. The device interferes with and compensates for electrical smog, which produces artificial electromagnetic alternating fields in the very low frequency range between 1.4 and 32.4 Hz. See, “MEDISENT”, www.magnet-feldtherapie-2000.de). Higher frequency electromagnetic alternating fields, such as electrical smog in the AF band above 30 Hz and in the RF band, are not considered by this device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which makes it possible to compensate for electrical stress acting on a user, at least essentially independently of amplitude and frequency, and/or makes it possible to positively stimulate the well-being of a user. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for producing a natural electromagnetic alternating field close to the body, such as an area of beneficial electromagnetic waves to compensate for electrical stress acting on a user and for positive stimulation of the well-being of the user. This apparatus has a means for producing the alternating field, and has a means for transmitting the alternating field. 
   The invention is based on the knowledge that both natural and artificial electromagnetic alternating fields which have a disadvantageous influence on living beings or users can be compensated for by producing an opposing field, such as a natural electromagnetic alternating field. This field provides known positive effects. Alternatively, such an opposing field may also contribute to positive stimulation of the well-being of a user. Areas of beneficial electromagnetic waves have been found to be particularly suitable for use as the opposing field. 
   According to the invention, the opposing field in the form of a natural electromagnetic alternating field is produced close to the body. Close to the body here means that the source of an electromagnetic alternating field is located immediately against the body, for example in the area of a piece of clothing worn by a user, and in the immediate vicinity of the user&#39;s location. This may be the living area, a motor vehicle passenger compartment, or a building. This area is generally bounded by a far area, which is defined by the area which is adjacent to the area immediately surrounding a user. This area may be outside the room or the building in which a user is located. 
   The apparatus according to the invention can comprise an alternating field production means and an alternating field transmission means. These two means are advantageously accommodated in a common housing, which is positioned in the near field of a user and may be worn immediately against the body of a user on a piece of clothing. In the last-mentioned case, the housing may be in the form of a biro or, alternatively, in the form of a flat container. If this unit is used in the near area of a user, but is not worn on the body, it may be integrated in a piece of furniture, particularly in a chair, or else in the area of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or some other vehicle, including an aircraft or a water craft. 
   The apparatus according to the invention may also be contained in a device which produces artificial electromagnetic fields which are to be compensated for by the apparatus according to the invention. These devices can be in a mobile telephone or a cordless telephone, a headset, in components of an audio/video system, or any similar type system. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the means for transmitting the natural electromagnetic alternating field includes “transmitting antennas” which are already present in the vicinity of the user. These “transmitting antennas” may include the protective contact ground of a building, connecting cables for a telecommunications connection, or else a Faraday cage, such as the bodywork of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, an aircraft or a ship, or other transmission means within these environments. 
   The means for producing the natural electromagnetic alternating field advantageously comprises a memory in which this alternating field is stored, preferably in digital form. Alternatively, two or more alternating fields are stored in digital form in the memory and can be called up from this memory for application to the transmission means, preferably as a function of the time of day. The data for producing an electromagnetic field relating to an area of pleasant weather (Sferics) are preferably stored in the memory, with the data for this area of pleasant weather being recorded in situ, then converted in digital form and stored in the memory. 
   Depending on the requirement, it is also possible to mix the natural electromagnetic alternating field with artificial electromagnetic alternating fields which may likewise be stored in digital form in a memory. The natural electromagnetic field then compensates for the electrical stress caused by the artificial electromagnetic field and/or contributes to positive stimulation of the well-being of a user. One artificial electromagnetic alternating field which may be quoted here, is, for example, a very low frequency signal, such as a broadband pulse in the frequency range from 0.01 to 40 Hz, preferably 0.1 to 32 Hz (very low frequency band). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows an extract of a typical area of beneficial electromagnetic fields over a restricted frequency band, which is stored in digital form in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a front side view of the apparatus in  FIG. 1  stored in a sound wall in the capsule of a headset; 
       FIG. 4  shows a longitudinal section view of the sound wall from  FIG. 3 , along its longitudinal center axis; and 
       FIG. 5A  shows a side view of the device in a second type housing; 
       FIG. 5B  shows a schematic view of the device being connected to a ground on a housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the apparatus according to the invention for producing a natural electromagnetic alternating field close to the body. The apparatus has a memory device  10  in which the electromagnetic alternating field, or two or more such alternating fields, is or are stored in digital form. Memory device  10  contains a ROM or RAM  11  and a control circuit or selection device  12 , which allows the data for a respective electromagnetic alternating field to be called up from ROM or RAM  11  and can be specifically provided at the output of ROM or RAM  11 . For example, control circuit  12  can receive a set of instructions from a plurality of different data sets stored in ROM or RAM  11  to produce a field of electromagnetic waves similar to Sferics. In addition, control circuit  12  can receive a set of instructions from ROM or RAM  11  to provide natural electromagnetic alternating fields in a cyclical on/off manner to produce fading. In another example, control circuit could receive instructions from ROM or RAM  11  to provide differing electromagnetic fields corresponding to the time of day. 
   The output of memory device  10  is connected to a digital to analog D/A converter unit  13 , in which the digital data produced at the output of memory device  10  is converted to analog signals. For this purpose, device  13  has a D/A converter module  14 , which receives on the input side the output signal from device  10 . Device  10  also contains a variable gain amplifier  15 , which is connected to the output of D/A converter module  14  and which produces the analog signals at a specific amplitude on the output. 
   Converter unit  13  is coupled to or is in communication with transmission device  16  so that the output signal from amplifier  15  or from converter unit  13  is sent to transmission device  16 , which transmits the natural electromagnetic alternating field so that it can be absorbed by a user, close to the body. Transmission device  16  can be connected to a transmission antenna, for example the protective ground contact of a building, or to the bodywork of a vehicle, to transmit the natural electromagnetic alternating field to a user within a building or the vehicle, or to some other occupant in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example,  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a capsule of a headset, which is designed to transmit the natural electromagnetic alternating field in an inaudible manner as described in detail in the following text. 
   The apparatus according to the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  also has a power supply unit  17  for supplying power to the devices  10 ,  13  and  16 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a narrowband extract or restricted-frequency example of a natural electromagnetic alternating field in the form of an area of pleasant electromagnetic waves (Sferics), which is sampled after being recorded and is stored as one of the alternating fields in memory device  10 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show a sound wall  20  of a headset capsule  19  which is generally elliptical in shape and has a circular aperture in its lower area. This aperture has a sound transducer  21  and also there is a sound panel  22  which is arranged to convey a sound which is perceived as being centrally in front of a user. Sound panel  22  partially covers membrane  21   a  of sound transducer  21 . 
     FIG. 4  shows membrane  21   a  of sound transducer  22  which is driven in a conventional manner by an electromagnet drive. The electromagnetic drive is seated on the rear face of the membrane and is connected to it. This drive has a coil  23  through which a useful signal current flows and which produces an artificial electromagnetic alternating field. This artificial electromagnetic alternating field is in contrast to the opposing field according to the invention, which is a natural electromagnetic alternating field. The artificial electromagnetic field causes electrical stress to a user because of its proximity to the temple of a user. To compensate for this electrical stress, a toroidal coil  24  is disposed at a distance from sound transducer  21 , through which the longitudinal center axis of sound wall  20  passes. Coil  24 , which is also shown schematically as a component of device  16  in  FIG. 1  produces a natural electromagnetic alternating field at the output of amplifier  15 , via connections  25  and  26 . In addition, as an alternative to coil  24 , some other antennas for transmission of an opposing field may be considered for the electromagnetic field of sound transducer  21 . This natural electromagnetic alternating field which is produced by coil  24 , compensates for the disadvantageous effects of sound wall  20  which lead to electrical stress, from the artificial electromagnetic alternating field. This field is produced by coil  23  of the sound transducer drive. The apparatus  10 ,  13 ,  16  according to the invention is preferably integrated in the headset capsule or capsules. 
     FIG. 5A  shows the device wherein the means for producing the natural electromagnetic field in the form of a memory device  10  and the converter unit  13  and the means for transmitting the natural electromagnetic field in the form of a transmission device  16  are all housed inside of a pen housing  40 . 
     FIG. 5B  shows the device according to the invention being coupled to a contact ground  50  of a building. 
   Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.