Privacy and security systems and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016234356-A1
Application number	US-201514849502-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2014
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a privacy/security apparatus for a portable communication device that includes a housing assembly configured to at least partially attenuate at least one of sound energy, acoustic energy, and electromagnetic energy including light, optical, and IR energy and RF radiation from passing through the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a Faraday cage with two or more portions, and at least one protective shell coupled to or forming at least one aperture. The at least one aperture is configured and arranged to at least partially enclose the portable communication device so that at least a portion of the portable communication device is positioned within at least one portion of the Faraday cage, and the at least one seal coupled or integrated with the protective shell. The housing assembly can be an articulating assembly, a sliding assembly, and can include an active acoustic jamming or passive acoustic attenuation element.

First claim

1 . A privacy/security apparatus for a portable communication device comprising:
a housing assembly configured to at least partially attenuate at least one of sound energy, acoustic energy, and electromagnetic energy including light, optical, and IR energy and RF radiation from passing through the housing assembly, the housing assembly comprising: a Faraday cage comprising two or more portions; at least one protective shell coupled to or forming at least one aperture, the at least one aperture configured and arranged to at least partially enclose the portable communication device so that at least a portion of the portable communication device is positioned within at least one portion of the Faraday cage; and at least one seal coupled or integrated with the protective shell.

2 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes an articulating assembly configured and arranged to articulate a portion of the housing assembly to one or more positions to enable a user to insert or enclose and remove the portable communication device.

3 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes a sliding assembly configured and arranged to slide a portion of the housing assembly to one or more positions to enable a user to insert, enclose or remove the portable communication device.

4 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one active acoustic jamming or passive acoustic attenuation element.

5 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly is configured and arranged to be movable between an open and a closed position to enable a user to insert or enclose and remove the portable communication device.

6 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly comprises a sheath.

7 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly comprises a hood assembly and a base assembly, the base assembly including a Faraday base assembly forming at least one of the portions of the Faraday cage.

8 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal comprises an environmental seal.

9 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal comprises an RF seal.

10 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal comprises at least one of a magnetic seal, an electromagnetic seal, an acoustic seal, and an optical seal.

11 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal comprises a fingerstock element.

12 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the seal includes at least one elastomeric element positioned adjacent to the fingerstock.

13 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one elastomeric element is positioned within at least a portion of the fingerstock.

14 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one port configured to couple with the portable communication device.

15 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one port comprises at least one of a sound transfer port, an RF transfer port, a data transfer port, a power transfer port, and an optical port.

16 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective shell includes a decorative layer or region.

17 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the decorative layer or region comprises at least one of a patterned surface, a window, a display, an emblem, and a logo.

18 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one controller configured and arranged to modulate at least one privacy/security setting.

19 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one privacy/security setting includes a setting that alters the magnitude of energy reaching the portable communication device through the housing assembly.

20 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the energy comprises at least one of sound energy, RF energy, electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, and optical and/or IR energy.

21 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one microphone.

22 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one speaker or sound generator.

23 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one compression seal configured and arranged to couple with at least one of a microphone, a speaker, a camera, a display, a sensor, and an RF antenna of the portable communication device.

24 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes active acoustic protection.

25 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the active acoustic protection comprises a random noise generator generating a signal which is acoustically delivered to at least one microphone of the portable communication device.

26 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes at least one DC pass-through configured and arranged to pass direct current through the Faraday cage.

27 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes an onboard power supply.

28 . The privacy/security apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the movement of the hood assembly results in the covering of all of the portable communications device's microphones and cameras in a closed position, and the uncovering of all of the portable communications device's microphones and cameras in an open position.

Assignees

• Ppip Llc

Inventors

• Thomas Teddy David
• Quintus-Bosz Harald
• Menon Manas Chandran
• Parker Anthony Clegg
• Renner Klaus Heribert
• Aknin Julien Prosper Marc
• Evans Christopher O
• Xu Bing
• Le Huyen NguyenNgoc Cam
• Dai Fa
• Stadille John
• Fong Michael
• Kinnard John
• Ovans Craig
• Parada Andres
• Deros John
• Goodfellow Andrew
• Cumming Justin David
• Draudt Gregg Robert
• Smallwood Eric
• Diduch Piotr
• Mccaslin Christopher R
• Samia Elias R
• Hutker Evan
• Hartmann Robert Francis
• Schechter Stuart Eric

Classifications

• H04M1/035

  Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities · CPC title

• H04M1/0202 Primary

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• G06F2200/1633

  Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer · CPC title

• H05K9/0069

  Methods for measuring the shielding efficiency; Apparatus therefor; Isolation container for testing · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title