SUPERIMPOSED PROTECTOR FROM THERMAL EFFECTS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF PORTABLE COMPUTERS

FIELD OF ART TO WHICH THIS INVENTION APPLIES

The subject of this invention, generally speaking, falls in the field of computer equipment intended for absorption and attenuation of thermal and electromagnetic radiation and specifically relates to superimposed protector preventing damaging effects of thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of protable computers.

According to the International classification of patents (Intel ⁷ ) the subject matter of this invention has been classified and marked with the basic classification symbol G 21 F 1/12 that relates to superimposed materials for radiation protection.

With regard to the fact that the protector from thermal and electromagnetic radiation, according to this invention, is a flexible and adjustable sheet or shell it can be also marked with the secondary classification symbol G 21 F 3/03 that defines protecting coverings characteristic by their physical shape.

ART PROBLEM

The art problem resolved by the subject invention consists of the following: How to design a universal protector allowing effective protection from thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation arising from portable laptop computers that, during manipulation, are most frequently placed in the domain of effects on the user scrotum and that such a protector be of small weight, of easily adjustable shape in relation to the position of the user's body, not to disturb the manipulator and to be easily installed in the device housing and that its installation does not diminish technical features of the device and does not spoil its looks.

STATE OF ARTS

Needs of the modern man for a rational use of time have resulted in the fact that laptop computers are being increasingly used. It is well known today that the portable computer switched on in the laptop position on knees causes a considerable rise of scrotal temperature and it is a result of scrotum exposure to the effects of warm air coming out of the portable computer during its operation and of the specific position of the user's body.

Constant improvements of work performances and decreasing of dimensions and prices of portable laptops have resulted in the fact that they are increasingly popular among young population in their reproductive age. However, personal computers during their operation generate heat that during long use reaches 70 ⁰ C and their position near the scrotum leads to scrotal hyperthermia that over a long time, during frequent device use or its permanent use, can result in male infertility.

It has long been known in medicine that disorders of increased scrotal temperature cause (hot baths, saunas, tight underwear, long car dives or long direct exposures to increased temperatures) are the reason of the aggravation of male resproductive functions. It has also long been known that the testicle function depends on their temperature that must optimally be 2-4 ⁰ C below the human body temperature and that increased temperature of testicles is in direct connection with temporary or permanent male infertility.

It is assumed among couples, who for a long time and without success try to have children, a large number (15-20%) have problems just because the male in his adolescent age has been many times exposed to increased temperature that has resulted in the aggravation of his reproductive function.

This fact was one of the reasons in the past decade for several important scientific institutions and reputed experts (Carlsen et al., 1992; Olsen et al., 1995; Fisch et al., 1996; Lerchl and Nieschlag, 19996; Swan et al., 1997: Jegou et al., 1999) to address definition and attempts for resolvinh this issue.

Especially important is a study titled "Increased temperature in the scrotal part of the laptop user" by authors: Yefim Sheykin, Michael Jung, Peter Yoo, David Schulsinger and Eugene Komaroff, who, based on pecise experiments, have factually proved that use of portable computers in the laptop position results in increased scrotal temperature.

By the end of 2005 use of portable computers in USA will rise to 60000000 units. Particularly worrying is the fact that use of personal computers mostly rises in teenage population and pwersons of reproductive age and they, as believed by the author and viewed from the aspect of reproductive power, fall in the jeopardized population category.

It is known that the problem of scrotal hyperthermia is related tp a specific lifestyle, plastic baby diapers, long car drives, long seating position, professional exposure to high temperature and work on portable computers in the laptop position, etc., it is not necessary to emphasize that any elimination of some of the critical factors is very important.

Thermal radiation, caused by the operation of portable computers, is specific in its damaging effects on the human body because thermal receptors in the human body for registration of feelings relating to temperature changes and encouragement of body defense mechanisms mainly react to sudden temperature changes. Body heating in the scrotal part, due to the operation of parts that are heated in the laptop computer, has small temperature moves so that the organism does not react, or remains without its natural protection or thermal regulation.

Some of the manufacturers of personal computers, having in mind the above problems, make endless efforts for their overocoming and today there is an increasing number of models on the market with emphasised cooling solutions, firt of all with the help of one or several strong coolers. A partial solution are personal computers with stands (by Rain Designe) that allow better cooling with laptops on stands by increasing the distance between the computer and the operator's body.

The solution with strong coolers, apart from adding weignt and dimensions to the computer, has an additional negative effect that is reflected in increased noise or unpleasant rumour during operation although almost all manufacturers stress that operation of their devices is "noiseless".

The other solution with stands with the function of making a distance has disadvantages to the effect that such devices are unstable, have large dimensions, have a negative effect on the look of computers and temperature of heated air pushed from the computer to the operator is only slightly lower so that basic causes of damaging effects have not been removed.

It has been lately proved that electromagnetic radiation is a special problem of moving matter in which there is both mass and energy and that the radiation field consists of two mutually connected fields, electrical and magnetic, which exist at the same time

and support each other. Today, it is definitely known that any radiation, even the natural one, if it is of long duration, is to a smaller or greater degree damaging to the human body.

Knowledge that the man with his senses cannot identify presence of electromagnetic waves and those appearing in computers and stories about their harmfulness to the man, regardless of the level of education, cause a feeeling of mystery and a certain dose of fear and desire for elimination of such negative effects. There are more and more demands that information about the level of their radiation be highlighted in addition to all other device performances.

Much is known today about the effects of electromagnetic radiation but many essential facts and theoretical assumptions relating to the disturbance of normal biological relations in reproduction cells due to its effects are kept silent or are overlooked consciously for the necessity of computer use althoug it is surely known that any electromagnetic radiation has its biological effects due to its influence on chemical bonds of cell molecules of the human body and and espcially on spermatozoids.

For the purpose of protecting health of young people, the author has decided to pay special attention to damaging effects from electromagnetic radiation, for which there is no exact evidence, in order to find a technical solution so that, if nothing else, doubt would be eliminated regarding its harmfulness that is constantly present in a number of portable computer users.

Although computer industry is constantly developing and expanding, it is surprising that despite careful perusing of local and foreign patent documentation and expert literature in this field no technical solution relevant to the subject invention has been found.

As the author is not familiar with the solution that would allow protection of the operator from harmful thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation appearing during operation of portable computers in the laptop position, only an analysis has been given of advantages that are obtained by applying the subject invention in respect of standard portable computers and they are as follows:

- full protection of reproductive organs;

- simple make and applicability of protectors;

- it does not influence technical features of the portable computer;

- it insignificantly affects the overall device cost;

- it does not restrict designer device solutions;

- it insignificantly affects the overal weight increase;

- universality in terms of applicability on all types of portable computers including those that have been manufactured before and are already in use.

FUNDAMENTALNATURE OF INVENTION

Newly designed superimposed protector from thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers has resolved the abovedefined art problem.

The fundamental nature of this invention is reflected in the fact that the protector, according to this invention, is made as a superimposed shell and with its layers it provides effective scrotum protection from direct exposure to heat that could after a while result in scrotal hyperthermia and brief or constant aggravation of male reproduction functions.

Protecting shell, according to this invention, is formed from at least three layers:

thermoinsulating, absorbing-reflecting and supporting layers that are mutually impregnated in a flexible and elastic ensemble with universal protective effects.

The news of this invention is the fact that the protector, according to the author's idea, is made as an easily assembled ealstic sheet placed at the bottom of the portable computer housing, or as an easily flexible and anatomically adjustable shell which, when not in function, is carried in a specially designed compartment of the device housing or as a part of its accessories in a separate case.

In the other variation of the protector, in the form of a shell, it expands and is placed on the operator's thighs below the portable computer so that it forms an effective thermal and electromagnetic barrier in the scrotum domain.

The fundamental nature of this invention is the fact that its application in the variation of protector made as a shell also allows the operator's protection during use of computers manufactured earlier on. Such a solution with a flexible and elastic shell excludes a need for constructive changes in portable computers.

The fundamental nature of this invention is also reflected in the fact that the protector made in the form of shell or sheet can be inserted in the lining on the front or rear zside of the laptop bag. In this case the computer should be placed during use on the bag that kies on the unser's knees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

To better understand this invention and to show how it can be practically used, the asuthor refers to the attached figures relating to the subject invention where:

- Figure 1 shows a partial cross section of the protector according to the first example;

- Figure 2 shows a partial cross section of ther protector according to the second example;

- Figure 3 shows a partial cross section of the protector acording to the third example;

- Fifure 4 shows a partial cross section of the protector accoding to the fourth example;

- Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic view of use of the protector when it is made as a separate shell;

- Fifure 6 shows a diagrammatic view of use of the protector in case when it is inserted on the bottom of the portable computer housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The fact that use of portable computers in the laptop position causes a signigicant negative effect on male reproductive health has for long been known to experts in the field of occupational medicine who deal with human health protection and in the past decade much research has been done to find a solution to reduce or fully eliminate harmful effects of scrotal hyperthermia. There is much serious evidence for this statement but in order to illustrate the need for the solution of the art problem defined in the subject patent application the results have been presented of research carried out by the Department of Urology and General Clinical Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook obtained in the following manner:

Twenty nine healthy male volunteers of an average age of twenty four, previously health and psychologically examined at the General Clinical Research Center, have been

subjected to two one-hour sessions of measurement of scrotal temperature performed . during different days in the same room with a medium temperature of 22,28 ⁰ C. Men have been dressed alike during the whole hour of each session. Body temperature was taken orally and each participant spent fifteen minutes standing before testing in order to adjust to the room temperature. Computers P4 LK were used for this experiment and they were switched on fifteen minutes before they were placed in the laptop position (in the laps of participants). Measuring of scrotum temperatures was carried out with precise digital thermometers HH84 in intervals of three minutes.

This experiment that has been decsribed in a simple veriosn gave the following results:

mm

- medium left scrotal temperature in men with switched on and switched off portable computers in laptop positions.

— • — no PR

mm

-medium right scrotal temperature in men with switched on and switched off portable . computers in laptop positions.

By looking at diagramms 1 and 2 one can easily notice negative outside influence of temperature on the scrotum that appears as an effect of portable computer operation.

Such results have encouraged the author to find a solution of the problem for elimination of harmful effects of warm air that flows to the surrounding space under the influence of coolers.

According to this invention the set task has been solved by forming a universal superimposed protector whose component (layer) features allow efficient protection from

thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation caused by operation of personal computers in laptop positions.

Portable computers include notebook computers, tablet PC, laptops, PDA and pocket PC computers, etc.

This invention will be explained in greater detail in several examples shown on attached figures giving simplified displays as those parts that are not necessary to understand this invention have been disregarded.

Example 1.

The protector preventing harmful consequences opf thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers, as is easily noticed in figure 1, is a 5mm thick superimposed shet or shell 1 consisting of sheath 2 of a thickness 1,75 mm made of material for thermal insulation and known on the market under the commercial name of mylar that represents untearable, flexible and anatomically adjustable polyester foil in which a thin layer of 0,5 mm of ferritic absorber 3 has been inserted of the same area as the sheath 2 and made as a wide belt thanks to the fact that its composition includes complex ferrites such as: manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) infused in a dielectric consisting of synthetic india-rubber and chlorinated polyethylene that in such composition successfully absorb electromagnetic waves. Below the ferrite layer 3 a layer of 0,5 mm has been inserted and it is made of aluminium 4 that is broadly used as a base for laminate flooring and below, across the whole area, there is a layer of 0,5 mm made of pressed styrofoam 5.

Such a superimposed sheet or shell is impregnated by pressing with the help of a well known process and is then cut according to shape and size of portable computers.

Such protector, thanks to its thermal insulators, mylar sheath 2, aluminium layer 4 and thermal intertial layer of pressed styrofoam 5, is a flexible elastic barrier easily shaped and it successfully prevents thermal effects from portable computers to the user's scrotum.

Electromagnetic protection has succesfully achieved by inserting a thin layer of ferritic absorber 3 that is made of a dielectric consisting of synthetic india-rubber and chlorinated polyethylene in which ferrites Mn, Zn and Ni have been inserted and they have a feature to successfully absorb electromagnetic waves up to 95% based on which it is clear that in combination with other layers, first of all with an aluminium layer 4 (laminate base with excellent reflecting properties) successfully prevents effects of electromagnetic waves in the scrotum domain.

Application of this invention according to this example is posible in several manners:

1. Direct assembling of the protector in the portable computer and the protector in the shape of sheet is constantly fixed to the housing bottom.

2. Making the protector, as an above described superimposed shell that represents part of accessories of portable computers and that during use of computers it is placed on the user's thighs below the device. Circulation of air warmed by the device in this case is carried out smoothly through shell plaits. In this invention variation it is not necessary to make any constructive changes in portable computers and the shell for the protection of operators can be used without restriction during use of previously manufactured laptop computers.

3. Assembling the protector in one of the compartments or sides of the portable computer bag.

4. Making the protector as the shell or sheet described above that with the help of friction tape is fixed on the lower bottom side of the laptop housing. In order to provide this it is necessary to fix adhesive friction tapes fixing the protector to the housing. It is necessary to mention that this variation is possible if the outer sheath of the protector is smooth and does not hold on the tape it also must have adhesive tapes that would allow fixing to the laptop housing.

To accommodate the protector, according to this example, it is possible in new portable computers to plan a special compartment that insignificantly increases dimensions and due to the small shell weight it just has a slight effect on the computer total weight increase. If there are reasons not to increazse the housing dimensions, the protector can be kept in an additional case (in the shape of a narrow tube or narrow hollow quadrant) that would be carried as part of computer accessories.

Example 2.

The protector preventing harmful consequences of thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers, according to this example, as it can be noticed in figure 2, is a superimposed sheet or shell 13 consisting of the upper and lower sheath of a thickness of 1,75mm and made of densely woven wool 14 in which a thin layer of 0,5mm of heat insulating polyester foil 6 is first inserted, which is known on the market under the commercial name of mylar, of the same area as the shell 13 and then a layer of 0,5mm of ferritic absorber 7 and finally an aluminium layer 8 of 0,5mm.

So formed superimposed sheet or shell 13 is then subjected to impregnation with the help of a press and by using one of the well known impregnation methods after which a felxible and elastic absorber is obtained that serves as effective protection from thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers.

Components for making protectors: natural wool and mylar provide effective thermal protection whereas use of ferritic absaorbers and aluminium foil achieve full protection from electromagnetic radiation.

As in the preceding example the protector can be used in many ways:

1. Direct assembling of the protector in the portable computer and the protector in the shape of sheet is constantly fixed to the housing bottom.

2. Making the protector, as a superimposed shell that is used as described before so that during use of computers it is placed on the user's thighs below the housing bottom.

3. Assembling the protector in one of the compartments or sides of the portable computer bag.

4. Making the protector as the shell or sheet described above that with the help of friction tape is fixed on the lower bottom side of the laptop housing. In order to provide this it is necessary to fix adhesive friction tapes fixing the protector to the housing, (the same note as in example 1 applies).

Example 3.

The protector preventing harmful consequences of thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers, according to this example, as it can be noticed in figure 3, is a superimposed sheet or shell 15 consisting of the upper and

lower sheath of a thickness of 0,5mm and made of thermal insulating polyester foil 9, known on the market under the commercial name of mylar and of the same area as the shell 15 and then a layer of natural wool 10 and of a thickness of 1,75mm is inserted, then a layer of ferritic absorber 11 of a thickness 1,75mm and finally an aluminium layer 12 of a thickness of 0,5mm. So fomred superimposed sheet or shell 15 is subjected to impregnation with the help of a press and in a well known method after which the protector is obtained, according to this invention, that is then cut to specific dimensions according to the shape and size of portable computers to be used. The method of application of this invention according to this example is the same as in precedings examples,

Example 4.

The protector preventing harmful consequences of thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation of portable computers, according to this example, as it can be noticed in figure 4, is a three-layer sheet or shell 16 consisting of the upper and lower sheath of a thickness of 1,5mm made of thermal insulating polyester foil 17, known on the market under the commercial name of mylar, in which a layer of ferritic absorber 18 is inserted of a thickness of 2,00mm. So formed three-layer sheet or shell 16 is subjected to impregnation with the help of a press in a known method after which the protector is obtained, according to this invention, that is then cut to specific dimensions according to the shape and size of portable computers to be used.

The method of application of this invention according to this example is the same as in preceeding examples.

Examples 5.

The protector preventing harmful consequences of thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation PDA of portable computers, according to this example, because of the fact that in respect of thermal radiation it does not present a problem and only has protection from electromagnetic radiation so that both computer sides are wholly covered with sheets of ferritic absorber of a thickness of 1,5 mm.

METHOD OF INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER APPLICATION OF INVENTION

Industrial or some other method of obtaining a superimposed protector from thermal effects and electromagnetic radiation od portable computers, according to this invention, is absolutely possible according to quotations in this text and experts in the subject area can without any problems implement the process for the manufacturing of the subject protector and make workshiop documentation by using data from this patent application.

Manufacturing of this invention is possible in factories for the making of computer components in cooperation with experts for the production of soft ferrites. In addition to evident benefits for the owners of portable computers, decrease in harmful consequences of thermal effects and negative effects of electromagnetic radiation also results in benefits for the community as in the author's opinion the number of problems relating to the limited reproductive ability would be made smaller.