Appliance having EMI shielding

• US 5,774,337 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Helm, Bradley C., Miller, Wayne H., Lee, Wayman
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/431,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683-686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/816, 361/818, 174/35 R, 174/35 GC, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/725
• 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 9/0049 being metallic containers

Abstract

An appliance such as a personal computer includes a metal chassis which has a first section, and a second section mounted on the first section. The first chassis section forms a first space in which a motherboard is mounted. The second chassis section forms a second space in which a disk drive is mounted. The second chassis section defines a shield resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between the first and second spaces to isolate the motherboard from a disk opening for the disk drive thereof.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a metallic chassis including a first chassis section forming a first space, and a second chassis section mounted to said first chassis section and forming a second space;

a metallic upright wall connected to said first chassis section;

first and second electromagnetic wave-generating components disposed in said first space and second spaces, respectively;

a front opening formed in said second chassis section communicating said second space with the exterior and aligned with said second electromagnetic wave-generating component; and

a rear opening formed in said second chassis section and arranged such that said upright wall extends across and shields said rear opening;

said second chassis section including a floor and side walls projecting upwardly therefrom, said upright wall of said first chassis section including an upwardly facing, inwardly stepped horizontally extending ledge comprising electrically conductive material on which a rear portion of said floor rests, said upright wall of said first chassis including an inwardly stepped vertical shoulder comprising electrically conductive material facing and engaging a rear end of one of said side walls of said second chassis section;

said first and second chassis sections defining electromagnetic shielding for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves from said first and second spaces to the exterior, and for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between said first and second spaces.

2. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said upright wall comprises a rear wall of said appliance.

3. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said first component comprises a motherboard, and said second component constitutes a disk drive aligned with said opening.

4. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said second chassis section includes a hole extending between said first and second spaces, a power supply being mounted in said second space and arranged to at least partially overlie and shield said hole while permitting an electric cable to pass through said hole.

5. The appliance according to claim 4, wherein said power supply is disposed immediately adjacent one of said upright walls of said second chassis section, said cable being disposed between said power supply and said one upright wall of said second chassis section to attenuate electromagnetic waves traveling along said cable.

6. The appliance according to claim 4, wherein said hole is formed in said floor of said second chassis section, said floor overlying said first component.

7. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein said first chassis section includes at least one horizontal surface upon which said second chassis section rests.

8. The appliance according to claim 1 wherein the appliance is a personal computer.

9. A personal computer, comprising:

a metallic chassis including a first chassis section defining a first space, and a second chassis section seated on said first chassis section and forming a second space, a metallic upright wall connected to said first chassis section;

a motherboard mounted in said first space, and

at least one disk drive mounted in said second space and forming a front drive opening for receiving a disk;

said second chassis section including a rear opening arranged such that said upright wall extends thereacross to shield said rear opening;

said second chassis section including a floor and side walls Projecting upwardly therefrom, said upright wall of said first chassis section including an upwardly facing, inwardly stepped horizontally extending ledge comprising electrically conductive material on which a rear portion of said floor rests, said upright wall of said first chassis including an inwardly stepped vertical shoulder comprising electrically conductive material facing and engaging a rear end of one of said side walls of said second chassis section;

said first and second chassis sections defining electromagnetic shielding for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves from said first and second spaces to the exterior, and for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between said first and second spaces.

10. The personal computer according to claim 9, wherein said second chassis section includes a hole extending between said first and second spaces, a power supply being mounted in said second space and arranged to at least partially overlie and shield said hole while permitting an electric cable to pass through said hole.

11. The personal computer according to claim 10, wherein said hole is formed in said floor of said second chassis section, said floor overlying said motherboard.

12. The personal computer according to claim 10, wherein said power supply is disposed immediately adjacent one of said upright walls of said second chassis section, said cable being disposed between said power supply and said one wall of said second chassis section to attenuate electromagnetic waves traveling along said cable.

13. The personal computer according to claim 9, further including an electromagnetic shield plate extending across said disk drive.

14. The personal computer according to claim 9, wherein said first chassis section includes at least one horizontal surface upon which said second chassis section sits.

15. The personal computer according to claim 9, wherein said upright wall comprises a rear wall of said personal computer.

16. An appliance comprising:

a metallic chassis including a first chassis section forming a first space, and a second chassis section mounted to said first chassis section and forming a second space;

a first electromagnetic wave-generating component disposed in said first space; and

an opening formed in said second chassis section communicating said second space with the exterior;

said first and second chassis sections defining electromagnetic shielding for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves from said first and second spaces to the exterior, and for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between said first and second spaces,

said first chassis section including a first side wall, and said second chassis section including a bottom wall and a second side wall joined together to form a corner, said corner being hinged to said first side wall, enabling said second chassis section to be swung between folded-in and folded-out positions with respect to said first chassis section, said first and second side walls being substantially coplanar when said second chassis section is in its folded-in position, whereby said first and second side walls together form a side wall of said appliance.

17. An appliance comprising:

a metallic chassis including a first chassis section forming a first space, and a second chassis section mounted to said first chassis section and forming a second space;

a first electromagnetic wave-generating component disposed in said first space;

an opening formed in said second chassis section communicating said second space with the exterior;

said first and second chassis sections defining electromagnetic shielding for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves from said first and second spaces to the exterior, and for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between said first and second spaces, said second chassis section including a floor overlying said first component, a hole formed in said floor and extending between said first and second spaces; and

a power supply mounted in said second space and arranged to at least partially overlie and shield said hole while permitting an electric cable to pass through said hole.

18. A personal computer, comprising:

a metallic chassis including a first chassis section defining a first space, and a second chassis section seated on said first chassis section and forming a second space;

a motherboard mounted in said first space, and

at least one disk drive mounted in said second space and forming a drive opening for receiving a disk;

said first and second chassis sections defining electromagnetic shielding for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves from said first and second spaces to the exterior, and for resisting the passage of electromagnetic waves between said first and second spaces, said second chassis section including a floor overlying said motherboard, a hole formed in said floor and extending between said first and second spaces; and

a power supply mounted in said second space and arranged to at least partially overlie and shield said hole while permitting an electric cable to pass through said hole.