In the technical sector of telecommunications, so-called "cellular phones"or portable phones equipped with rechargeable batteries are known.

It is also known that the electronic circuits inside the apparatus and the receiving and transmitting antenna of the latter which determine operation of the apparatus are able to generate electromagnetic fields which may be harmful for human beings in the event of prolonged exposure since the radiation associated with these fields may generate irreversible changes in the cells of the human body.

This problem is accentuated if one considers that the phone is mainly kept in contact with the human body both during use and during ordinary transportation in the special cases to be attached to belts.

Considering moreover that the apparatus is brought into direct contact with the ear and and with the cheek and taking into account the reduced area in which the radiation is concentrated, it is obvious how it is necessary to attempt to limit the possible damage arising from the electromagnetic radiation emitted by portable telecommunications equipment.

The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing portable telecommunications equipment which is provided with means designed to prevent the transmission externally of the radiation associated with the electromagnetic fields generated by the electronic

operating components of the equipment itself.

Within the scope of this problem a further requirement is that said means should be easy and inexpensive to fit both to new equipment and to equipment which is already commercially available, without the need for special adaptation and/or modification thereof.

These technical problems are solved according to the present invention by a portable telecommunications apparatus comprising means for screening the electric and magnetic radiation emitted by the active operating components of the apparatus itself.

Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal plane of a telecommunications apparatus provided with screening according to the present invention; Figure la shows a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus showing a detail of the means for joining together the half-shells forming the external casing; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal plane of a first alternative example of embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal plane of a second alternative example of embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal plane of a third alternative example of embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a telecommunications apparatus

10 according to the invention has a support element 11 in which the seats lia, for the antenna 12, and llb, for the batteries (not shown), are provided.

The said support element has, fixed to it, the printed circuit board 13 carrying the electronic operating and control components (known per se and therefore not illustrated), the digital display 14 and the keypad 15 for selecting the numbers and coded commands.

The apparatus 10 is then inserted inside a containment housing 10a.

According to a first example of embodiment, the entire apparatus described above is moreover enclosed in a protective casing made of suitable screening material and arranged outside the housing lOa.

More particularly the casing comprises two half-shells 16 and 17 which are formed so as to match the external shape of the apparatus 10 and provided with suitable fastening means for joining them together.

The half-shell 16 has openings 16a for allowing access to the display 14 and the keypad 15 and a semi-circular seat 16b designed to contain half of the circumferential volume of the antenna 12, the other half of which is contained in a corresponding semi-circular seat 17b of the half-shell 17.

In a preferred embodiment the half-shell 17 has a shape substantially in the form of an"L"and the free end of the short arm 17a has, formed in it, seats 17c for the engagement of corresponding teeth 16c projecting from the shell 16.

Similar teeth 16c and seats 17c are also present at the diametral ends of the semi-circular seats 16b, 17b.

Said teeth and seats are designed to form a stable, but reversible connection between the two half-shells 16,17 when the latter are pressed against each other in a frontal direction, thus allowing closing of the telephone

apparatus inside the screening case.

It is envisaged moreover (Fig. la) that said free end of the short arm 17a of the"L"of the half-shell 17 may be fixed to the half-shell 16 by means of a hinge 18; in this case the mutual joining means 16c, 17c would be arranged only in the region of the two seats for the antenna.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative example of embodiment of the telephone according to the invention; as can be seen, in this example the screening case formed by the two half- shells 116,117 is contained inside the housing 10a of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 shows, on the other hand, a version of the apparatus according to the invention in which the screening case 216,217 also forms the containment housing 10a, thus making it possible to avoid application of the first housing 10a; it is obvious, however, that this solution is particularly advantageous for new equipment for which this solution may be envisaged at the moment of their initial assembly.

Finally Fig. 4 shows a further solution which envisages screening by means of screening cases 316,317,318 for the individual electronic components which may be a source of electromagnetic emissions.

By means of said solution it is therefore possible to avoid the manufacture of the external casing using screening material, with consequent savings in the final cost of the apparatus.

By way of example of the screening materials suitable for this purpose, the use of ferromagnetic materials and alloys known by the trade name of Permalloy and VacopermR is envisaged.