System and Method for Utilizing Plastic Conductive Gaskets

• US 20100288552A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Pedoeem, Albert, Mistry, Mahesh
• Application Number:
  US12/464,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/378
• 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 9/0016 having a spring contact
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0018 with provisions to reduce aperture leakages in walls, e.g. terminals, connectors, cables

Abstract

A system and method for shielding electromagnetic radiation includes an apparatus for shielding electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus includes a conductive surface comprised of electrically-conductive plastic. The apparatus further includes a flexible element comprised of electrically-conductive plastic extending from the conductive surface. The element is operable to contact an adjacent surface abutting the flexible element and form a conductive connection with the adjacent surface. When assembled with other components in a housing, the electrically-conductive surface and the flexible element may form a portion of a Faraday shield.

Claims

1. An apparatus for shielding electromagnetic radiation comprising:

a conductive surface comprising electrically-conductive plastic;

a flexible element extending from the conductive surface, wherein the flexible element comprises electrically-conductive plastic, the flexible element operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface abutting the flexible element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible element comprises one of a plurality of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface;

each of the flexible elements comprises electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the flexible elements is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and one or more adjacent surfaces abutting the flexible elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of flexible elements comprise a row of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element is operable to form the conductive connection between the conductive surface and adjacent surface by forming the conductive connection across the surface of the flexible element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of latches operable to attach the conductive surface to a housing, wherein:

each of the plurality of latches comprise electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the plurality of latches is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface abutting one or more of the plurality of latches.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the latches comprise flexible latches operable to attach the conductive surface to a housing by grasping a portion of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element is operable to:

bend towards the conductive surface when a force is applied to the flexible element by the adjacent surface; and

return to an original position when the force is removed from the flexible element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element and the conductive surface comprise a single piece of conductive plastic.

9. A system for shielding electromagnetic radiation comprising:

a conductive surface comprising electrically-conductive plastic;

a flexible element extending from the conductive surface, wherein the flexible element comprises electrically-conductive plastic, the flexible element operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface abutting the flexible element; and

a housing operable to;

receive the conductive surface; and

receive the adjacent surface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the flexible element comprises one of a plurality of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface;

each of the flexible elements comprises electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the flexible elements are operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and one or more adjacent surfaces abutting the flexible elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flexible elements comprises a row of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein flexible element is operable to form the conductive connection between the conductive surface and adjacent surface by forming the conductive connection across the surface of the flexible element.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of latches operable to attach the conductive surface to the housing, wherein:

each of the plurality of latches comprise electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the plurality of latches is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface abutting one or more of the plurality of latches.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the latches comprise flexible latches operable to attach the conductive surface to the housing by grasping a portion of the housing.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the flexible element is operable to:

bend toward the conductive surface when a force is applied to the flexible element by the adjacent surface; and

return to an original position when the force is removed from the flexible element.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the flexible element and the conducting surface comprise a single piece of conductive plastic.

17. A method for configuring a housing for electronic components, comprising:

inserting an electronic component into a housing; and

inserting a base unit into the housing, wherein the base unit comprises a conductive surface and a flexible element extending from the conductive surface, and wherein the flexible element comprises electrically-conductive plastic and is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface of the electronic component abutting the flexible element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the housing comprises a plurality of slots;

inserting the electronic component comprises inserting one or more electronic components into the plurality of slots; and

inserting the base unit comprises inserting a base unit into each empty slot in the plurality of slots.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming a Faraday cage around a portion of each electronic component inserted in the housing.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the flexible element comprises a plurality of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface;

each of the flexible elements comprises electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the flexible elements is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and one or more adjacent surfaces abutting the flexible elements.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of flexible elements comprise a row of flexible elements extending from the conductive surface.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein inserting the base unit comprises inserting a single piece of conductive plastic that includes the flexible element and the conducting surface.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising attaching the base unit to the housing with a plurality of latches, wherein:

each of the plurality of latches comprise electrically-conductive plastic; and

each of the plurality of latches is operable to form a conductive connection between the conductive surface and an adjacent surface abutting one or more of the plurality of latches.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the base unit to the housing comprises attaching the base unit to the housing with flexible latches that grasp a portion of the housing.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

bending the flexible element towards the conductive surface with a force applied to the flexible element by the adjacent surface;

removing the base unit from the housing; and

returning the flexible element to an original position when the base unit is removed from housing.