WO1999065109A1

WO1999065109A1 - Device for discharging an absorber element for electromagnetic radiation generated by electrical or electronic members

Info

Publication number: WO1999065109A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/003885
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Padrin
Original assignee: Mmt Srl
Current assignee: Mmt Srl
Priority date: 1998-06-09
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 1999-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2000-12-09
Also published as: ITMI981304A1

Abstract

A device (1) for discharging an absorber element (2) for electromagnetic radiation generated by electrical or electronic members, such as an electronic processor, a portable telephone, a watch or the like, said absorber element (2) comprising a body (3) at least partly constructed of a material containing carbon and preferably graphite, said body (3) being associated with said member or being positioned in a container associated with said member; the device (1) comprises means (10) for dissipating the electromagnetic energy absorbed by said absorber element (2) and associated with, for said dissipator means (10), support means (13, 14, 15) able to cooperate operationally with said element (2).

Description

DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING AN ABSORBER ELEMENT FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION GENERATED BY ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC MEMBERS

This invention relates to a device for discharging an electromagnetic radiation absorber element in accordance with the introduction to the main claim.

An absorber element for electromagnetic radiation, in particular emitted by electrical or electronic members such as an electronic processor, a portable telephone, a watch or the ike, is known for example from patent application MI98A000816 filed in the name of the present applicant. If positioned in proximity to a member generating electromagnetic radiation, this absorber element (and other such known elements) acts as a "catalyst" for this radiation, of which at least a part is trapped within the body of the element. This latter is, at least partly, a carbon-containing material and more preferably graphite, and is inserted into the member generating this radiation (for example into its outer casing) or into a specific container to be positioned in proximity to this member, for example into the housing of a portable telephone. The absorber element (or more simply absorber) traps at least a part of the electromagnetic radiation and has to be discharged periodically in order to maintain its operability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for discharging the said absorber device in a simple and rapid manner.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which is of simple and low-cost construction.

These and further objects which will be apparent to an expert of the art are attained by a device in accordance with the accompanying claims.

The invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and on which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first device according to the invention during its use with a cylindrical absorber; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side view and a top view of the device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second device according to the invention for use in association with an electromagnetic radiation absorber element associated with a watch; Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a side view and a top view of the device of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a different device according to the invention for use in association with an electromagnetic radiation absorber element of "tablet" shape, also shown; Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a side view and a top view of the device of Figure 7.

With reference to said figures, a discharge device for an electromagnetic radiation absorber element is indicated overall by 1. The element itself is indicated by 2 and comprises a body 3, for example rectilinear, which is at least partly of carbon- containing material (preferably graphite) and is contained for example in a cylindrical container 4, for example of metal or at least of metal at its ends 4A and 43, with which the body 3 is in contact. Alternatively the body 3 can be positioned within a watch (not shown) or within its case, as indicated in a preceding patent application in the name of the present applicant. The body 3 could alternatively be of "tablet" shape (Figure 7).

The device 1 comprises a body 8 presenting an energy dissipator element 10, for example an electrical resistor, advantageously positioned within a protective member 11, for example of transparent (insulating) plastic. This resistor is connected electrically, via conductors 13 and 14 connected to its opposite ends 10A, 10B, to end members 15, of which at least that portion 16 on which the absorber element 2 is to rest and which is connected to said conductors, is constructed of an electricity- conducting metal .

Said end members 15 support the resistor 10 by way of the conductors 13 and 14.

More specifically, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the end members 15 are of substantially parallelepiped shape, their portion 16 comprising a semicircular recessed seat 16A arranged to make contact with a corresponding metal end 4A, 43 of the container 4 in which the body 3 is located.

With reference to Figures 4 to 6, the body 8 presents a circular recessed seat 20, on the bottom 21 of which there rest the members 15 and the element 10 (which may be inserted into its protective member 11 or not, as the wall 22 of the seat 20 itself acts as a protection element for the dissipator element). The members 15 are rigid with the bottom 21 of the seat 20, they being, preferably of insulating material, and have their (free) end portion 16 substantially flat to cooperate with the absorber element associated with a watch, for example positioned in a seat in the watch case. For this purpose, the watch is positioned on the body 8, which is provided with a suitably shaped seat 27 lying above the said seat 20, and which is able to receive the watch such that the element 2 associated with it cooperates with the portions 16 (or such that the watch case makes contact with these latter).

With reference to Figures 7 to 9, the body 8 is shaped in a manner very similar to that of Figures 1 to 3. However in the figures under examination the seat 16A of each portion 16 is shaped as a slot with its inner wall 16 curved at a radius equal or at least approximately equal to that of the body 3. Each device 1 represented in the accompanying figures and constructed in accordance with the invention is simple to use. The absorber element (either free as in Figures 7-9, or inserted into its container as in Figures 1 to 3, or inserted into an element which contains it as in Figure 4) is placed in contact with the portions 16 of the members 15 such that the absorber 2 closes an electrical circuit comprising itself, the portions 16, the conductors 13 and 14, and the resistor 10. In this manner, the energy trapped within the body 3 of the absorber element discharges across the resistor which dissipates it as heat. This is reliably achieved in a very short time. As the electrical quantities in play are very low, there is no risk to the user.

Various variants of the invention have been described. Others are however possible. For example, the energy dissipator element 10 could be an electrical member different from that described, or could comprise several electrical members defining an actual electrical circuit, or another known element performing this function. Furthermore the body 8 could have a form different from that described and such as to be able to fit an absorber element 2 of complementary shape (such as an absorber element of pendant form). In addition, the members 15 could be dispensed with and the body 8 comprise only the element 10 and the conductors 13 and 14 (suitably encapsulated) supporting said element 10 and enabling this latter to make electrical contact with the absorber 2. These variants are also to be considered as falling within the scope of the present document.

Claims

Cl ai ms :

1. A device (1) for discharging an absorber element (2) for electromagnetic radiation generated by electrical or electronic members, such as an electronic processor, a portable telephone, a watch or the like, said absorber element (2) comprising a body (3) at least partly constructed of a material containing carbon and preferably graphite, said body (3) being associated with said member or being positioned in a container associated with said member, said device (1) being characterised by comprising means (10) for dissipating the electromagnetic energy absorbed by said absorber element (2) and associated with, for said dissipator means (10), support means (13, 14, 15) able to cooperate operationally with said element (2), said dissipator means (10), their support means (13, 14, 15) and the absorber element (2) when cooperating operationally with these latter defining a closed electrical circuit within which the energy accumulated in said absorber (2) discharges and dissipates across the dissipator means (10).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the dissipator means (10) are at least one electrically conductive member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the dissipator means are an electrical resistor (10).

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support means are at least two conductor elements (13, 14) connected to the dissipator means (10).

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the conductor elements (13, 14) are connected to at least one part (16) of members (15) able to cooperate operationally with the absorber element (2), said cooperation being achieved by direct or indirect contact between the parts (16) of said members (15) and said absorber (2) .

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the dissipator means (10) and at least part (13, 14) of the support means (13, 14, 15) are positioned within a protective enclosure

(11).

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least part (15) of the support means (13, 14, 15) have a form complementary to that of the absorber element (2) with which they are required to cooperate to obtain discharge, said part (15) of the support means (13, 14, 15) supporting said element (2) during its discharge.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a body (8) shaped in a manner complementary to the absorber element (2) or to the member which contains it.