Apparatus and method for electrically coupling a bezel

• US 20030058600A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMART Embedded Computing, Inc. (Smart Global Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Suzanne M., Richardson, Patrick J., Bertram, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,977,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0015 Gaskets or seals

Abstract

An apparatus including a front panel (102) and a bezel (104) coupled to the front panel (102) and having a gasket (110), where the gasket (110) is affixed to the bezel (104) and electrically couples the bezel (104) to the front panel (102). Bezel (104) can be a mezzanine card bezel, a common mezzanine card bezel, and the like. A method of electrically coupling a front panel (102) to a bezel (104) includes providing a front panel (102) having an inner surface (112) defining a cut-out (114). Also, providing a bezel (104) having a perimeter (118), where the inner surface (112) of the cut-out (114) is designed to receive the bezel (104). Affixing a gasket (110) to the perimeter (118) of bezel (104) an the inner surface (112) receiving the bezel (104) where the gasket (110) is designed to be coupled to the inner surface (112), and electrically coupling the bezel (104) to the front panel (102) through the gasket (110).

Claims

1. In an electronics module, an apparatus, comprising:

a front panel; and

a bezel coupled to the front panel and having a gasket, wherein the gasket is affixed to the bezel, and wherein the gasket electrically couples the bezel to the front panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is molded to the bezel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is bonded to the bezel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gasket is a metal impregnated elastomer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the metal impregnated elastomer comprises silver-plated copper in silicone.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the metal impregnated elastomer has a resistivity less than 0.005 ohm-cm.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bezel is a mezzanine board bezel.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a bezel having a surface and a perimeter, wherein the bezel is designed to be coupled to a mezzanine board; and

a gasket affixed to the perimeter, wherein the gasket is designed to electrically couple the bezel to a front panel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bezel comprises a connector notch in the surface, and wherein the connector notch impinges on the perimeter of the bezel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gasket is discontinuous at the connector notch.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gasket is continuous around the perimeter of the bezel.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gasket is molded to the bezel.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gasket is bonded to the bezel.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface defining a cut-out;

a bezel having a perimeter, wherein the inner surface defining the cut-out is designed to receive the bezel; and

a gasket affixed to the perimeter of the bezel, wherein the gasket is designed to be coupled to the inner surface of the front panel, and wherein the gasket electrically couples the bezel to the front panel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bezel comprises a connector notch, and wherein the connector notch impinges on the perimeter of the bezel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gasket is discontinuous at the connector notch.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gasket is continuous around the perimeter of the bezel.

18. In an electronics module, a method of electrically coupling a front panel to a bezel, comprising:

providing the front panel having an inner surface defining a cut-out;

providing the bezel having a perimeter, wherein the inner surface defining the cut-out is designed to receive the bezel;

affixing a gasket to the perimeter of the bezel;

the inner surface of the cut-out receiving the bezel, wherein the gasket is designed to be coupled to the inner surface; and

electrically coupling the bezel to the front panel through the gasket.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein affixing the gasket comprises molding the gasket to the bezel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein affixing the gasket comprises bonding the gasket to the bezel.