Mechanical ESD protector

• US 5,372,515 A
• Filed: 06/10/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
• Inventors: LeVasseur, Robert D., Miller, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIGGS, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US08/074,401
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 439/138
• US Class Current: 439/138
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4536 Inwardly pivoting shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067

Abstract

An ESD protection subassembly for a conductively-case module having an electrical connector mounted thereon, uses a conductive shield shell member formed about the connector and connected to the module conductive case; the shell member has at least one conductive door member mounted thereon by associated hinge formations having spring-like mechanisms for urging the door members to close off an opening in the shell member whenever the module is not mated with an associated receptacle connector. A substantially complete conductive peripheral enclosure is thus formed for the module and its attached connector, whether the module is mounted in a larger assembly with its complementary connector actually mated with the module-mounted connector, or if the module has been removed from the rack assembly.

Claims

1. A shielding subassembly for use with a transportable electronics-containing module having a conductive case with a surface upon which is mounted an electrical connector means which is to be mated to a complementary connector means mounted on a conductive rack separate from said case, comprising:

a conductive shell member completely surrounding said connector means, and having an opening through which said complementary connector means must pass to make or break connection with said connector means;

said shell member being adapted for sliding telescoped movement around a portion of said case, and including means for maintaining conductive contact between the shell member and the case about which the shell member is sliding; and

conductive door means for forming a conductive closure completely across said opening and cooperating with said shell member and said case for completing a conductive envelopment of said connector means and the entire attached module, whenever said complementary connector means is not present in said opening.

2. The subassembly of claim 1, wherein the contact means is located on an inner surface of the shell member.

3. The subassembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a fixed member affixed to the case; and

spring means connected between said shell member and said fixed member for storing energy when said shell member slides in a first direction during engagement of said complementary connector means and for urging the shell member in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, when said complementary connector means is disengaged.

4. The subassembly of claim 3, wherein said spring means includes at least one spring member connected between the shell member and the fixed member.