System and Method for Supporting Electrical Connectivity Between Information Handling System Chassis Components

• US 20090174992A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Eric, Mundt, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/971,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.20
• 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]

Abstract

An information handling system chassis having a passivated surface accepts electrical communication through a conductive ink disposed on a portion of the surface from which the passivation is removed. For example, a magnesium chassis passivated with phosphate has a portion mechanically cleaned and conductive ink placed over the cleaned portion with a pad printing process. The conductive ink provides electrical communication between the chassis and other portions of the chassis, processing component grounds and other electrical connection needs.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a metallic chassis operable to support processing components;

plural processing components disposed in the metallic chassis, the processing components operable to process information; and

conductive ink disposed on at least a portion of the metallic chassis, the conductive ink operable to conduct electricity between the chassis and an electrical contact.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the metallic chassis comprise magnesium.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the magnesium is passivated except at the portion having conductive ink.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising an electrical contact interfacing the conductive ink to a ground of a processing component.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the electrical contact comprises a conductive gasket.

6. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the electrical contact comprises a clip.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the chassis comprises first and second portions, each portion having conductive ink, the information handling system comprising an electrical contact providing electrical communication between the conductive ink of the first and second portions.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a silver ink.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a carbon ink.

10. A method for electrically interfacing with a metallic component, the method comprising:

passivating the metallic component;

removing the passivating at a portion of the metallic component; and

applying conductive ink at the portion to provide electrical communication with the metallic component.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the metallic component comprises magnesium and passivating the metallic component comprises applying phosphate.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein removing the passivating further comprises grinding the portion of the metallic component.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein removing the passivating comprises milling the portion of the metallic component.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein removing the passivating comprises mechanically sanding the portion of the metallic component.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein removing the passivating comprises:

placing a template over the metallic component, the template having an opening defining the portion; and

mechanically cleaning the portion.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein mechanically cleaning comprises blasting the portion with a media.

17. An information handling system chassis comprising:

first and second metallic portions operable to couple with each other to contain processing components;

conductive ink disposed on the first and second portions; and

an electrical contact coupled to the conductive ink to provide electrical communication between the first and second portions.

18. The information handling system chassis of claim 17 wherein the metallic portions comprise magnesium.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 wherein the conductive ink comprises silver.

20. The information handling system of claim 18 wherein the conductive ink comprises carbon.