Emf Shield
Patent No. US12133371 (titled "Emf Shield") was filed by Switch Project Llc on Aug 20, 2022.
What is this patent about?
’371 is related to the field of electromagnetic field (EMF) shielding, specifically addressing the problem of reducing EMF exposure from electronic devices held close to the body, such as wireless earbuds, VR headsets, and wearable computer glasses. Existing shields either reflect EMF signals back towards the user or absorb them, potentially causing heat and prolonged exposure. The patent aims to mitigate these drawbacks.
The underlying idea behind ’371 is to use a two-layer approach to EMF shielding: first, a scattering layer with a metal coating to disperse the EMF signal, reducing its energy density; and second, a reflective layer made of a dielectric material to reflect the already scattered signal away from the user. This combination aims to break up the harmful signals without redirecting a concentrated signal back to the user or absorbing it near the user's body.
The claims of ’371 focus on an EMF shield comprising a scattering layer with a metal coating featuring a holographic pattern on its exterior surface for attachment to an electronic device, a reflective layer made of a dielectric material coupled to the scattering layer's interior surface, and an adhesive coating. The scattering layer is opaque, blocking visible light.
In practice, the EMF shield is designed to be attached to an electronic device via the adhesive coating on the metalized scattering layer. When an EMF signal is emitted by the device, it first encounters the metal coating, which, due to its holographic pattern, scatters the signal in multiple directions. This scattering reduces the signal's intensity before it reaches the reflective layer, which then redirects the weakened signal away from the user.
This design differentiates itself from prior solutions by avoiding both simple reflection and absorption. The initial scattering step is crucial; without it, the reflective layer would simply bounce a concentrated EMF signal back towards the user. Furthermore, the absence of EMF-absorbing materials prevents heat buildup and eliminates the risk of prolonged exposure from a trapped signal, addressing the limitations of existing EMF shields.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’371 was filed, EMF shielding at a time when systems commonly relied on either reflecting or absorbing EMF signals. However, purely reflective shields often redirected the signal back to the user or nearby individuals, while absorptive shields trapped the EMF signal close to the user, potentially causing negative health effects and increasing temperature.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the limitation of "wherein the scattering layer is characterized as opaque and is configured to block visible light" in combination with other limitations present is neither taught nor disclosed in the prior art of record.
Claims
This patent contains 14 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to an EMF shield comprising a scattering layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive coating. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the composition and specific materials of the layers described in the independent claim.
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Date
Description
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US12133371
- Application Number
- US18701347
- Filing Date
- Aug 20, 2022
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Aug 20, 2042
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents