Quanta technology monitoring and controlling SAR

SAR values as a measure for RF exposure

Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the human body when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field. It is defined as the power absorbed per mass of tissue and has units of watts per kilogram (W/kg).

Quanta measures SAR in a modern set up

The official SAR measuring methods have been created in 1990s in a situation where the phone was used for phone calls and sending text messages, and where the phone was assumed to be in a distance of 15 mm (EU) from the head. However, this only applies to the past situation.

In a modern set up, most of the RF radiation exposure to the user is caused by the constant data traffic of the smart phones, as the phone is updating social media applications like e-mail. In those occasions the phone may be positioned in a close proximity to the body, e.g. in a pocket or a hand. For QUANTA algorithm the distance of < 10 mm was used for determining SAR. This gives SAR values that are more realistic to the situation prevailing today. For verification, measurements were also conducted at the distance of 15 mm, and official SAR limits were complied (SAR < 2 W/kg).

PROBLEM

SAR limits are often exceeded in a modern set up

SAR-limits are exceeded when at the same time:

a) the mobile phone is in a close proximity to the body (e.g. phone is in a pocket)
b) the mobile phone sends a data package (uplink), taking place always in the end of receiving data
c) the network connection is weak causing higher transmit power

SAR limits are commonly exceeded in a daily use of smart phones. Cellraid laboratory and field tests have shown that the SAR-limits can be exceeded even six fold when the above mentioned three conditions are met simultaneously.

SOLUTION

QUANTA Guard

With QUANTA Guard the SAR limits will not be exceeded in any situation. The application automatically monitors RF emission conditions and when needed, cuts off receiving and sending data until a better network is available and the phone is further away from the body. Quanta Guard controls transmission in high exposure areas reducing users experienced emissions up to 90 %.

quanta-platform

Cellraid’s proprietary Quanta technology platform provides fully automated monitoring and management of radio frequency emission from mobile communication devices. Quanta products provide accurate estimates of power density and SAR with an algorithm developed in the company. With Quanta technology, emission level from the mobile device can be cut up to 90%, with the user still having the same user experience as before implementing Quanta technology.

Quanta platform enables a wide range of applications for professional users, like mobile phone operators and regulators, as well as for consumers.

Our unique and patented Quanta algorithm can quantify and optimise user experienced RF exposure. We are the only technology provider that can accurately provide real time measurement for RF emission and SAR exposure on commercial handset.

We have made extensive field and lab tests to ensure accuracy and applicability of Quanta algorithm on all commercial cell phone technologies and bands.

Technology explained

RF exposure

Radio frequency (RF) Emission refers to electromagnetic fields with frequencies between 3 kHz and 300 GHz.

Mobile devices, like cell phones and tablets, generate the major part of RF emission people are exposed to. They emit always when ‘talking’ to the network towers. Classically, the most common cause for emission exposure has been talking on the phone. However, in the modern world of smartphones and tablets, as well as fast network connections (4G, 5G), the data traffic is generating a major part of the emission exposure. Social applications, email and other synchronisations are updated all the time, causing the ‘invisible’ emission people are not aware of and thus cannot be in control of.

Towers and Wifi base stations constitute background emission surrounding us, and they emit all the time. However, they are not as significant sources of emission exposure as the mobile devices, unless one is located in a very close proximity to them.

SAR

SAR is usually averaged either over the whole body, or over a small sample volume (typically 1 g or 10 g of tissue). The value cited is then the maximum level measured in the body part studied over the stated volume or mass.

SAR measures exposure to fields between 100 kHz and 10 GHz (generally known as radio waves). It is commonly used to measure power absorbed from mobile phones.

When measuring the SAR due to a mobile phone the phone is placed at the head in a talk position. The SAR value is then measured at the location that has the highest absorption rate in the entire head, which in the case of a mobile phone is often as close to the phone’s antenna as possible. Various governments have defined maximum SAR levels for RF energy emitted by mobile devices. For example in the USA and in the EU the maximum SAR levels are:

EU: European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (Cenelec) specify SAR limits within the EU, following International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. For mobile phones, and other such hand-held devices, the SAR limit is 2 W/kg averaged over the 10 g of tissue absorbing the most signal.

Non-ionising radiation

Non-ionising radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionise atoms or molecules—that is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule. Instead of producing charged ions when passing through matter, the electromagnetic radiation has sufficient energy only for excitation, the movement of an electron to a higher energy state.

Potential health effects

The effect of mobile phone emission on human health is a subject of interest and study/research.

In 2011 IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classified mobile phone radiation as Group 2B – possibly carcinogenic. That means that there possibly is some risk of carcinogenicity, so additional research into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones needs to be conducted. The WHO (World Health Organisation) added that “to date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.” Some national radiation advisory authorities have recommended measures to minimize exposure to their citizens as a precautionary approach.

From the link below you can find a list of effects.

Table of effects

SAR limits in the USA and EU

USA: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that phones sold have a SAR level at or below 1.6 watts per kilogram (W/kg) taken over the volume containing a mass of 1 gram of tissue that is absorbing the most signal.EU: European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (Cenelec) specify SAR limits within the EU, following International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. For mobile phones, and other such hand-held devices, the SAR limit is 2 W/kg averaged over the 10 g of tissue absorbing the most signal.

The SAR-limits have been determined at a time, when mobile phones were in practice only used for voice calls and sending text messages. The smart phones have dramatically changed the usage of mobile phones. With smart phones the voice calls form only a minor part of the use. Nowadays the data traffic generates the major part of the radiation exposure. Social media applications, e-mail and many other applications are synchronised all the time causing constant data traffic from and to the phone.

The official SAR measuring methods used by compliance authorities have been created in 1990s and are based on the phone using habits at that time. SAR levels are measured in laboratory circumstances with a distance of 15 mm (EU) or 10 mm (USA) of the phone from the body. This distance is relevant when making phone calls as the phone antennas are normally positioned so that there is also in practice this distance from the head during calls.
Unlike the compliance authorities Cellraid has made the SAR-measurements also so that there is no distance between the phone and the body simulating the common situation when the phone is kept in a very close proximity to the body eg. in a pocket.

Terminology

Antenna – Part of a base station that sends and receives electromagnetic fields.

Base Station – The equipment that sends and receives mobile calls, texts, pictures and web pages etc. Includes antenna(s), a supporting structure such as a mast and a cabinet of equipment to power the base station.

Dosimetry – The way levels of absorbed RF fields are calculated or measured.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) – Energy, moving as waves at the speed of light consisting of a combination of electrical and magnetic fields with levels that each change over time dependent on the frequency.

Emissions – The energy transmitted from the source as electromagnetic waves.

Epidemiology – Epidemiology is the science that studies the patterns, causes and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

Exposure – The term used to describe the total amount of energy from an electromagnetic field that may be absorbed by the human body.

Field Strength – The intensity of an electromagnetic field.

Frequency – The number of waves of equal size that pass through space in a given time, e.g. per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz) and used to classify electromagnetic fields.

Power Density – The measure of the power of an electromagnetic wave crossing an area at a right angle to the direction of wave propagation. Measured in watts per square metre.

Radio Frequency Field – Type of electromagnetic field used for wireless communication.

Receiver – The part of a communications or broadcast system that extracts data/sound signals from low level radio frequency signals.

Signal – Communication between a base station and a mobile device via a radio frequency field.

Transmitter – The part of a communications or broadcast system that generates the radio frequency power.

Wi-Fi – A type of wireless network, where no cables are needed to connect a computer or other piece of communication equipment to each other or the internet.