Device for anti-eavesdropping storage of mobile phone

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for the anti-eavesdropping storage of a mobile phone (2), comprising a storage surface (6) and at least one ultrasonic transmitter (3) for transmitting an ultrasonic signal (4), said ultrasonic transmitter (3) being arranged below the storage surface (6) and facing a deflection surface (7), the deflection surface (7) is designed in such a way that the ultrasonic signal (4) emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter (3) is deflected onto the storage surface (6) or to a region directly above the storage surface (6).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for mobile phone anti-interception storage, comprising a storage surface and at least one ultrasonic transmitter for emitting ultrasonic signals. BACKGROUND

[0002] In safety-critical environments such as conference rooms, offices or other secure locations, a very high level of confidentiality is often required. In particular, it is considered that a mobile phone microphone can be intercepted and thus the mobile phone can be compromised, so that people often turn off the mobile phone during confidential conversations.

[0003] However, since turning off the mobile phone is extremely time-consuming and all other functions of the mobile phone are also deactivated, it is known in the prior art to ultrasonically treat the mobile phone microphone. In this case, even if a third party intercepts the microphone, the conversation near the mobile phone cannot be intercepted due to the ultrasonic signal covering it.

[0004] For example, a so-called "jammer" is disclosed in international patent application WO2022040777A1, in which the microphone is ultrasonically treated by an ultrasonic transmitter so that the microphone cannot be intercepted.

[0005] Jammer can be roughly divided into two categories. The first category is a large-area jammer, which can emit sound waves (especially ultrasonic waves) to the entire room so as to disable as many microphones as possible. For example, EO-3 PRO from EO-Security Company belongs to this category. The advantage of this type of jammer is that the mobile phone does not need to be placed in a specific direction relative to the jammer, but it also has many disadvantages, such as unnecessary interference to the environment (for example, even animals that can perceive ultrasonic waves), and it cannot activate other microphones.

[0006] The second category is a local-acting jammer, which works on the principle of placing the mobile phone in a box and sealing it. For example, Pellta One from Pellta Company belongs to this category. Inside the box, the mobile phone is ultrasonically treated, and even audible sound waves can be used so that the user knows that the ultrasonic treatment has been activated. The advantage of this type of jammer is that since the box is closed, the camera can also be disabled at the same time.

[0007] However, the jammer with a box design has the disadvantage that, due to the space required for the ultrasound transmitter, the box has to be designed very bulky. Furthermore, because the box is closed, other functions of the mobile phone are also disabled, for example the screen cannot be seen. However, many users would like to still be able to visually determine whether there is an incoming call. Examples of this can be found in US patent application US 2016 / 098983 A1, US 2018 / 0277086, German patent application DE 10 2020 119 061 A1 and US patent US 10,483,755 B1. SUMMARY

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present application to provide a device for mobile phone anti-interception storage which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0009] This object is achieved by a device for mobile phone anti-interception storage, comprising a storage surface and at least one ultrasound transmitter for emitting directional ultrasound signals, the ultrasound transmitter being arranged below the storage surface and facing a deflection surface, the deflection surface being designed such that the ultrasound signals emitted by the ultrasound transmitter are deflected onto the storage surface or onto a region directly above the storage surface. The term "region directly above the storage surface" is to be understood as meaning that the ultrasound signals can propagate parallel to the storage surface directly above the storage surface.

[0010] The device can be designed particularly compact, since the ultrasound transmitter is not arranged directly next to the storage surface, but rather below it, so that the overall width and overall length can be reduced. Furthermore, the deflection surface can be used to focus the ultrasound signals emitted at a propagation angle β in order to more efficiently ultrasound process the microphones. The ultrasound transmitter can thus also be operated more efficiently and with lower power consumption.

[0011] Furthermore, the device according to the application has the advantage that the mobile phone can be placed on the support surface without any further microphone disabling measures having to be taken, and in particular without the device having to be closed with a lid. The screen is thus always visible. When there is an incoming call and the user wants to answer it, it is sufficient to simply pick up the mobile phone from the storage surface in order to answer it.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, at least two ultrasound transmitters or at least two rows of ultrasound transmitters are provided, which face two opposite deflection surfaces, the two deflection surfaces being designed for deflecting the directional ultrasound signals emitted by the respective ultrasound transmitters onto regions directly above the storage surface, which regions preferably face the respective deflection surface. This has the advantage that the user does not have to pay attention to which deflection surface the microphone is facing, and correspondingly the power of the ultrasound transmitters can be kept at a lower level since it is known that the microphone is located directly next to the ultrasound-processed deflection surface.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, at least two ultrasonic transmitters are provided, which are designed to emit ultrasonic signals substantially parallel, to form a row of ultrasonic transmitters, which are directed towards the same deflection surface; and wherein, particularly preferably, two rows of ultrasonic transmitters are provided, which are arranged in parallel, and the two rows of ultrasonic transmitters are arranged such that the respective ultrasonic transmitters emit ultrasonic signals towards opposite deflection surfaces. A row of ultrasonic transmitters is particularly advantageous, since ultrasonic signals are usually emitted only with a small angle of propagation, whereas a row of transmitters enables planar ultrasonic treatment. Each ultrasonic transmitter in a row is at the same distance from the respective deflection surface, i.e. the row extends substantially parallel to the deflection surface.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ultrasonic transmitters can be oriented, for example, vertically upwards. Preferably, however, the ultrasonic transmitters are arranged such that they emit ultrasonic signals at an angle of 30° to 60° with respect to the storage surface. This has the advantage that the ultrasonic transmitters can be arranged directly below the support surface, but still sufficiently close to the deflection surface, and the ultrasonic signals do not have to propagate too far a distance.

[0015] In general, the deflection surface can have any shape, for example a planar shape, or be pieced together from a plurality of planar segments to simulate a discontinuous curve. Preferably, however, the deflection surface is a (continuous) curved surface, particularly preferably the width of the deflection surface is greater than the height, and particularly preferably the width is substantially three times the height. Tests have shown that this enables a particularly good focusing of the ultrasonic signals in the direction of the microphone.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the ultrasonic transmitters and the deflection surface are arranged such that the ultrasonic signals deflected by the deflection surface propagate substantially parallel to the storage surface.

[0017] In addition, the device can comprise a detection device for detecting a mobile phone on the storage surface, which detection device preferably comprises a weight sensor or a light barrier, which is designed to activate the ultrasonic transmitters when a mobile phone on the storage surface is detected. In this way, the user does not forget to switch on the device. This is particularly advantageous for the present device, since the ultrasonic signals cannot themselves feedback whether ultrasonic treatment is currently being carried out. In addition, whether activated automatically or not, the device preferably also comprises an LED light for indicating whether the ultrasonic transmitters have been activated or whether the battery of the device is insufficient or depleted. In addition, the device can also comprise a loudspeaker, which indicates the activation and / or deactivation of the ultrasonic transmitters and / or the battery status (e.g. battery depletion) acoustically.

[0018] Furthermore, a gap is preferably provided between the deflection surface and the storage surface, the size of which is typically 1 to 10 mm. This aspect facilitates the deflection of the ultrasound signals on the one hand and does not provide too much space for foreign objects to enter on the other hand.

[0019] According to embodiments, the device can comprise a plurality of elements. For example, a device with as few components as possible comprises a base plate and a frame, the deflection surface being formed on the frame and the storage surface being arranged parallel to the base plate at a predetermined distance.

[0020] In order to make the placement position of the mobile phone as much as possible conform to the preset, it is conceivable that the storage surface has at least one section which is substantially rectangular and has a long side and a short side, wherein the length of the short side is less than 11 cm and the length of the long side is greater than 11 cm. For example, the length of the short side can be between 8 cm and 10.5 cm and the length of the long side can be between 16 cm and 25 cm. These dimensions can force a commercially available mobile phone into the preset position. In this way, in turn, only one or two sides can be provided with ultrasound emitters in order to achieve a selective ultrasound treatment of the microphones, or, correspondingly, the rows of ultrasound emitters can be designed to be shorter, since they only have to be arranged below the respective deflection surface along the short, wide side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Advantageous and non-limiting embodiments of the application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 A perspective view of a device according to the application is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a device of Figure 1 is shown.

[0024] Figure 3 A perspective view of a base plate of a device of Figure 1 is shown.

[0025] Figure 4 A first configuration for deflecting ultrasound signals parallel to the storage surface is shown.

[0026] Figure 5 A second configuration for deflecting ultrasound signals onto the storage surface is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 A device 1 for mobile phone 2 anti-interception storage is shown. To achieve this, the device 1 comprises an ultrasound emitter 3 (Fig. 1) and a microphone 4 (Fig. 2) which are arranged in a distance from each other. Figure 2 and Figure 3), which serves to emit ultrasonic signals 4. Due to the ultrasonic signals 4 in the device 1 being directed towards the microphone 5 of the mobile phone 2, the microphone 5 can no longer record ambient sounds, such as conversations in the vicinity of the device 1. Even if the mobile phone 2 is hacked and the microphone 5 is eavesdropped by an unauthorized person, the content of the conversation cannot be eavesdropped.

[0028] The ultrasonic emitter 3 used in the present application typically emits directional ultrasonic signals 4 with a propagation angle β of approximately 15° (more generally 5° to 25°), see also Figure 4 and Figure 5 Such ultrasonic emitters 3 are known per se, for example from the field of automotive engineering, for monitoring the surroundings of a vehicle and for measuring distances to obstacles. A typical example of use is a parking assistance system for modern passenger cars.

[0029] In order to make the device 1 as compact and efficient as possible, it is provided with a storage surface 6 on which the mobile phone 2 can be placed. The storage surface 6 is typically designed in an open-top manner, i.e. cannot be closed off by a lid. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 The ultrasonic emitter 3 is not directed directly towards the microphone 5, or respectively, not directly towards the area above the storage surface 6, but is arranged below the storage surface 6 and directed towards a deflection surface 7 in order to direct the ultrasonic signals 4 towards the microphone 5 located in the area directly above the storage surface 6. With this arrangement, the microphone can be ultrasonically treated in a manner protected against eavesdropping, even if the ultrasonic emitter 3 has a low power. For example, the ultrasonic emitter 3 can be designed to output ultrasonic signals 4 of a level of approximately or up to 92 dB. Furthermore, the ultrasonic emitter 3 can be designed to output only ultrasonic signals 4 with a frequency of more than 20 kHz, since such sound waves cannot be perceived by humans, dogs or other animals that are typically present in the area in which the device 1 is used. In general, however, the ultrasonic signals can also be output at a frequency of more than 16 kHz.

[0030] As shown, the ultrasonic emitter 3 is arranged at an angle α with respect to the storage surface 6, which angle α is preferably between 30° and 60°. However, the ultrasonic emitter can also be oriented, for example, vertically upwards. In the example shown, the angle α is approximately 45°.

[0031] The deflection surface 7 is designed in such a way that the ultrasonic signals 4 emitted at the angle α are redirected into a direction that is essentially parallel to the storage surface 6. The final propagation angle of the deflected ultrasonic signals 4 can also be inclined with respect to the plane of the storage surface 6, in all cases the aim being to ultrasonically treat the microphone 5 in the best possible way. However, since the position of the microphone 5 is not predetermined in a fixed manner, there is a certain leeway for variation and optimization in this case.

[0032] To achieve the above-mentioned deflection, the deflection surface 7 can in the simplest case be a plane, for example arranged at a right angle to the ultrasound transmitter 3. However, as mentioned before, the ultrasound transmitter 3 emits the ultrasound signal 4 at a specific propagation angle β. This is schematically shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 To achieve a good focusing and positioning of the deflected ultrasound signal 4, the deflection surface 7 can also be designed as a curved surface, as shown. The specific curvature of the deflection surface 7 is an optimization problem depending on the specific design of the device 1. However, in the present case an elongated curved shape has proven to be feasible, which shape has a length in the direction parallel to the storage surface 6 which is larger than the height in the direction perpendicular to the storage surface 6, preferably three times the height. For example, the curved surface can have the shape of an elliptic or parabolic cross section.

[0033] With reference to Figure 4 it can be seen that the ultrasound signal 4 can be deflected in a region directly above the storage surface 6. In this case, the ultrasound signal 4, i.e. its central axis, propagates parallel to the storage surface 6, which can be seen to achieve a good focusing. Figure 5 different configurations of the deflection surface 7 are shown, such that the ultrasound signal 4, i.e. its central axis, can be deflected to a region on the storage surface 6, i.e. not parallel, but at an angle with respect to the storage surface 6. Furthermore, it can be seen that the ultrasound transmitter 3 and the storage surface 6 are arranged on the same side of the deflection surface 7.

[0034] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 it can be seen that the deflection surface 7 is arranged along one or more sides of the device 1, while forming a circumferential upper edge of the device 1. For example, the storage surface 6 can be rectangular, and the ultrasound treated deflection surface 7 can be provided on all four sides of the support surface 6 or only on opposite sides. Furthermore, with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 3 it can be seen that multiple ultrasound transmitters 3 can be directed towards the same deflection surface 7. This is possible because the ultrasound signal 4 only has a certain propagation angle β, such that multiple ultrasound transmitters 3 can be arranged in series and directed essentially parallel to cover a larger planar region above the storage surface 6.

[0035] With reference to Figure 2It can further be seen that a gap x exists between the storage surface 6 and the deflection surface 7 (or, more generally, the side wall of the device 1) for the passage of the ultrasound signals 4. The dimension of this gap x, as seen in a direction parallel to the storage surface 6, is preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm, particularly preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm. While a smaller gap x is preferred to reduce contamination inside the device 1, a larger gap x facilitates the passage of the ultrasound signals 4. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that also in the vertical direction, i.e. perpendicular to the storage surface 6, a minimum distance exists between the storage surface 6 and the deflection surface 7 to provide an unobstructed path for the ultrasound signals 4 to the area directly above the storage surface 6.

[0036] The gap x is usually left completely open, but it is also possible to line the gap x with a sound-transmissive material. This has the advantage that particles cannot enter the space below the storage surface 6 reserved for the ultrasound emitters 3, while the sound-transmissive material still allows the passage of the ultrasound signals 4.

[0037] To make the device 1 as compact as possible, the device can comprise a base plate 8 on which the ultrasound emitters 3 are arranged, for example by means of screws, see Figure 3 As shown, the ultrasound emitters 3 can be formed on a common carrier 9, which can be provided with a plurality of (in this case ten) ultrasound emitters 3. Alternatively, all ultrasound emitters 3 can also be mounted as separate elements on the base plate 8.

[0038] The storage surface 6 is arranged above the base plate 8 and is held at a predetermined distance above the base plate 8 by one or more supports 10. The supports 10 can be connected to the base plate 8 and / or the storage surface 6 by means of screws or other fastening means. The supports 10 can also be integrally formed with the base plate 8 and / or the storage surface 6.

[0039] As a further element, the device 1 comprises a circumferential frame 11, which forms the side wall, and the deflection surface 7 is formed on the upper end edge of the circumferential frame 11.

[0040] The materials of the storage surface 6, the base plate 8 and the frame 11 can be chosen essentially at will, with plastics and metals being preferred. Preliminary tests have shown that the deflection surface 7 is preferably made of metal and plastics. However, sound-absorbing materials such as most textiles are preferably not used for the deflection surface.

[0041] It is emphasized, however, that the device 1 does not necessarily have to be designed as an open box as shown in Figure 1 For example, a table can be provided with a recess in the table top, the upper edge of which can be designed as Figure 2The pattern of the deflecting surfaces 7 is shown. Then the ultrasonic transmitter 3 and the storage surface 6 above can be inserted into the recess in order to form the device 1. It is understood that the device can also be provided in other objects while still achieving the above-mentioned function.

[0042] Returning to Figure 1 , it is further apparent that the storage surface 6 is provided with spacers 12. The spacers 12 serve to divide the storage surface 6 into two different sections Al, A2 for placing two different mobile phones 2. In addition, the spacers 12 separate the sections Al, A2 by a certain dimension, so that the mobile phones 2 can only be placed on the storage surface 6 in one direction and, in particular, cannot be rotated by 90°. This ensures that the microphones 5 of the mobile phones 2 are oriented towards the deflecting surfaces 7. In other words, the long side L of most mobile phones 2 is greater than the width B ( Figure 1 ). Typically, the long side L is greater than 11 cm and the width is less than 11 cm. The spacers 12 reduce the width of the storage surface to, for example, 11 cm, so that the mobile phones 2 can only be placed on the storage surface 6 in one orientation.

[0043] In the section Al it can be seen that the ultrasonic signals 4 are deflected by the opposing deflecting surfaces 7. For this purpose, ultrasonic transmitters 3 are provided on both opposing sides, as Figure 3 indicated. The two ultrasonic transmitters 3 or the two rows of ultrasonic transmitters 3 emit ultrasonic signals 4 towards the opposing deflecting surfaces 7, which deflect the ultrasonic signals 4 respectively into the area directly above the storage surface. These areas are preferably oriented towards the respective deflecting surface 7 in order to cover the microphones 5 located there.

[0044] In this way, it does not matter whether the mobile phones 2 are rotated by 180° or not, which is advantageous because the user usually does not exactly understand the functioning of the device 1.

[0045] For the sake of simplicity, it is shown in the second section A2 that the ultrasonic signals 4 can also only come from one side, i.e. only be deflected by one deflecting surface 7. On the one hand, the user can understand this and place the mobile phone 2 so that the microphone 5 is located directly next to the deflecting surface 7; on the other hand, the power of the ultrasonic transmitter 3 can also be set so high that the microphone 5 is sufficiently ultrasonically treated even if it is located opposite the deflecting surface 7, so that it cannot record the ambient sound.

[0046] However, for reasons of symmetry, the configuration of the ultrasonic transmitters 3 or the ultrasonically treated deflecting surfaces 7 is usually symmetrical, i.e. in Figure 1 embodiments, both sections Al, A2 are designed identically, for example, are ultrasonically treated from one side or from both sides.

[0047] In another embodiment, not shown, the entire support surface 6 can be the same size as only one of the segments Al, A2 shown, and without spacers 12. In this case, one or both of the opposite deflection surfaces can also be treated ultrasonically to achieve the above-mentioned effects, while the mobile phone 2 can still not be rotated through 90°.

[0048] In other embodiments, not shown, the storage surface 6 can also be designed as a square and without spacers 12, for example with deflection surfaces 7 treated ultrasonically by the ultrasound emitter 3 on all four sides of the square storage surface 6. In this case, the mobile phone 2 can be placed on the storage surface 6 in any orientation.

[0049] Furthermore, the device 1 can comprise a weighing device, which functions to automatically switch on the ultrasound emitter 3 when a mobile phone 2 is detected on the storage surface 6. For example, the weighing device can be designed to measure the weight and to determine that a mobile phone 2 is on the storage surface when a weight threshold is exceeded. The weight threshold is for example 100 g. When the weight threshold is exceeded, the device 1 can automatically activate the ultrasound emitter 3. In other words, the user does not forget to switch on the device 1, which increases the safety.

[0050] On the one hand, it is conceivable that the weighing device is designed to detect the sinking of the device 1 (or the base plate 8) relative to the surface below it, for example if the weighing device is arranged in the foot 13 of the device 1. Alternatively, the weighing device can also be integrated in the support 10, i.e. the weighing device can be designed to detect the sinking of the storage surface 6 relative to the base plate 8. Using an inclination sensor or two or more weight sensors, it is also possible to determine on which segment Al, A2 of the storage surface 2 the mobile phone 2 is placed, so that only the corresponding weight sensor is activated.

[0051] As an alternative or in addition to the weighing device, a light barrier can also be used, which covers the area above the storage surface 6 for detecting the presence of a mobile phone 2. The light source of the light barrier can for example be arranged on the frame 11 at a location which is not treated ultrasonically, or in the spacer 12.

[0052] To supply the ultrasound emitters 3, the device can be connected to a power source, for example comprising a plug which can be connected to a conventional power socket. Alternatively, the device 1 can also be equipped with a battery, for example which can be designed such that the net operating time of the device 1 amounts to 2 to 10 days or 3 to 4 days. The net operating time of the device 1 refers to the time during which all ultrasound emitters 3 are continuously operated. Furthermore, two or more devices 1 can also be provided which are connected to one another, wherein one device 1 supplies the other devices 1.

Claims

1. A device (1) for eavesdropping-proof storage in a mobile phone (2), comprising a storage surface (6) and at least one ultrasonic transmitter (3) for emitting ultrasonic signals (4), characterized in that, The ultrasonic transmitter (3) is disposed below the storage surface (6) and facing the deflection surface (7), which is designed such that the ultrasonic signal (4) emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter (3) is deflected onto or directly above the storage surface (6).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage surface (6) is provided with at least two ultrasonic transmitters (3) or at least two rows of ultrasonic transmitters (3) facing two opposing deflection surfaces (7). The two deflection surfaces (7) are designed to deflect the directional ultrasonic signals (4) emitted by their respective ultrasonic transmitters (3) to an area on or directly above the storage surface (6), which is preferably facing the respective deflection surfaces (7).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least two ultrasonic transmitters (3) are provided, the at least two ultrasonic transmitters (3) being designed to emit substantially parallel ultrasonic signals (4) to form a row of ultrasonic transmitters (3) facing the same deflection surface (7); particularly preferably, two rows of ultrasonic transmitters (3) are provided, each of the two rows of ultrasonic transmitters (3) being arranged in parallel, and the two rows of ultrasonic transmitters (3) being arranged such that each ultrasonic transmitter (3) emits ultrasonic signals (4) toward opposite deflection surfaces (7).

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The ultrasonic transmitter (3) is arranged such that it emits ultrasonic signals (4) at an angle of 30° to 60° relative to the storage surface (6).

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The deflection surface (7) is a curved surface, and preferably, the width of the deflection surface (7) is greater than its height, wherein the width of the deflection surface (7) is particularly preferably approximately three times its height.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The ultrasonic transmitter (3) and the deflection surface (7) are arranged such that the ultrasonic signal (4) after being deflected by the deflection surface (7) propagates substantially parallel to the storage surface (6).

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It also includes a detection device for detecting the mobile phone (2) on the storage surface (6), the detection device preferably including a weight sensor or a light barrier, the detection device being designed to activate the ultrasonic transmitter (3) when the mobile phone (2) is detected on the storage surface (6).

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, A gap (x) is provided between the deflection surface (7) and the storage surface (6), and the size of the gap is preferably 1 mm to 10 mm.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Includes a substrate (8) and a frame (11), the deflection surface (7) is formed on the frame (11), and the storage surface (6) is arranged parallel to the substrate (8) and spaced at a predetermined distance.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The storage surface (6) has at least one generally rectangular section with a long side and a wide side, wherein the length of the wide side is less than 11 cm and the length of the long side is greater than 11 cm.

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