Electromagnetic shield connector

• US 6,053,771 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hood, Charles D. III, Broder, Damon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/915,091
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 439/75-79, 439/81-83, 439/92, 439/95, 439/607-609, 439/947, 174/35 R, 174/35 C, 174/51, 361/816-818
• US Class Current: 439/607.04
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/947 PCB mounted connector with ground terminal

Abstract

A system for electrically coupling an electromagnetic shield to a voltage reference such as a ground plane. The system includes a voltage reference and a multi conductor connector having a plurality of conductors. The conductors of the multiconductor connector are electrically coupled to the voltage reference. The system also includes an electromagnetic shield and an extension, such as a tab, electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield. The extension has a first portion that is inserted into an opening of the multiconductor connector to electrically contact the conductors of the multiconductor connector to electrically couple the electromagnetic shield to the voltage reference.

Claims

1. A system for electrically coupling an electromagnetic shield to a voltage reference comprising:

a voltage reference;

a multiconductor connector having a plurality of conductors, at least two of the plurality of conductors electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors;

wherein the shield is formed from a sheet of metal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of conductors are accessible via an opening of the multiconductor connector;

the first portion is inserted into the opening of the multiconductor connector to make electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the opening having a width and a depth, the width substantially greater than the depth; and

the first portion having a width and a depth, the width and the depth of the first portion are less than the width and the depth, respectively, of the opening.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the plurality of conductors are accessible via an opening of the multiconductor connector;

the first portion is inserted into the opening of the multiconductor connector;

the wedge structure is positioned within the multiconductor connector to wedge the first portion against the at least two of the plurality of conductors to make electrical contact between the first portion and the at least two of the plurality of conductors.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the extension is integrally connected to the electromagnetic shield.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the extension is a tab.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the multiconductor connector is a flex circuit connector.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the multiconductor connector is a non zero insertion force (non ZIF) type connector.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the multiconductor connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type connector.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic shield has a generally planar side; and

the first portion of the extension is generally perpendicular to the generally planar side.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the sheet of metal is bent at an angle to form the extension.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the voltage reference has a voltage potential that is at a computer system ground.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the voltage reference is a voltage reference plane.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting board, the multiconductor connector is mounted on the mounting board.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the mounting board is a printed circuit board.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least two of the plurality of conductors are soldered to at least one trace layer electrically coupled to the voltage reference plane.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein;

the voltage reference is a voltage reference plane is embedded with the mounting board.

19. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a second electromagnetic shield;

a second multiconductor connector mounted on the mounting board, at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference; and

a second extension extending from the second electromagnetic shield, the, the second electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion of the second extension being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the multiconductor connector mounted on a first planar side of the mounting board, the second multiconductor connector mounted on a second planar side of the mounting board, the first side being an opposite side of the second side.

21. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a second electromagnetic shield;

a second multiconductor connector mounted on the mounting board, at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector electrically coupled to a second voltage reference of the mounting board, and a second extension extending from the second electromagnetic shield, the second extension having a first portion, the second electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the second voltage reference via the first portion of the second extension being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein:

the voltage reference has a voltage potential that is a computer system ground;

the second voltage reference has a voltage potential that is different than computer system ground.

23. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the voltage reference is a voltage reference plane;

the mounting board includes a via with electrically conductive plating electrically connected to the voltage reference plane; and

the at least two of the plurality of conductors are soldered to the electrically conductive plating to electrically couple the at least two of the conductors to the voltage reference plane.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein;

the mounting board includes a via;

one of the at least two of the conductors extends into the via.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein the all of the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the voltage reference.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a majority of the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the voltage reference, wherein the first portion is in electrical contact with the at least the majority of the plurality of conductors.

18. A system for electrically coupling an electromagnetic shield to a voltage reference comprising:

a voltage reference;

a multiconductor connector having a plurality of conductors, at least two of the plurality of conductors electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors;

a mounting board, the multiconductor connector is mounted on the mounting board;

a second multiconductor connector mounted on the mounting board, at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference; and

a second extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the second extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion of the second extension being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector.

25. A system for electrically coupling an electromagnetic shield to a voltage reference comprising:

a voltage reference;

a multiconductor connector having a plurality of conductors, at least two of the plurality of conductors electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors;

a mounting board, the multiconductor connector is mounted on the mounting board;

wherein the mounting board having a planar side; and

wherein the multiconductor connector is mounted to the mounting board in an orientation such that the opening of the multiconductor connector is generally parallel to the planar side of the mounting board.

26. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit having a grounding connection;

a memory electrically coupled to the central processing unit;

a printed circuit board having a voltage reference, the central processing unit mounted on the printed circuit board;

a multiconductor connector mounted on the printed circuit board, at least two of the plurality of conductors of the multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors.

27. The computer system of claim 26 further comprising:

an enclosure housing the printed circuit board and the electromagnetic shield.

28. The computer system of claim 27 wherein:

the electromagnetic shield extending over a first side of the central processing unit, the first side generally parallel to a planar side of the printed circuit board.

29. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the multiconductor connector is a flex circuit connector.

30. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the multiconductor connector is a non zero insertion force type connector, the voltage reference has a voltage potential that is at a DC voltage with respect to the voltage potential of the ground plane.

31. The computer system of claim 26 wherein the voltage reference is a ground plane embedded in the printed circuit board, the grounding connection of the central processing unit electrically coupled to the ground plane.

32. The computer system of claim 26 wherein

the grounding connection is electrically coupled to a ground plane having a voltage potential;

the voltage reference has a voltage potential that is at a DC voltage with respect to the voltage potential of the ground plane.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein

the plurality of conductors are accessible via an opening of the multiconductor connector;

the first portion is inserted into the opening of the multiconductor connector to make electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors.

36. A computer system comprising:

a circuit board having a voltage reference;

an integrated circuit located on the circuit board;

a multiconductor connector mounted on the circuit board, at least two of the conductors of the multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors;

a second multiconductor connector mounted on the circuit board, at least two of the conductors of the second multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

a second extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the second extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion of the second extension being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the second multiconductor connector.

37. The computer system of claim 36 wherein:

the electromagnetic shield extends over a first side of the integrated circuit, the first side generally parallel to a planar side of the printed circuit board.

38. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the integrated circuit includes a central processing unit.

39. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the multiconductor connector is a flex circuit connector.

40. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the voltage reference is a ground plane embedded in the circuit board.

41. The computer system of claim 36 wherein:

the plurality of conductors are accessible via an opening of the multiconductor connector;

the first portion is inserted into the opening of the multiconductor connector to make electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors.

42. The computer system of claim 36 wherein:

the integrated circuit is located on a first planar side of the circuit board; and

the multiconductor connector is mounted on the first planar side of the circuit board.

43. The computer system of claim 36 wherein at least a majority of the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the voltage reference, wherein the first portion is in electrical contact with the at least the majority of the plurality of conductors.

45. The computer system of claim 36 wherein the all of the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the voltage reference.

44. A computer system comprising:

a circuit board having a voltage reference;

an integrated circuit located on the circuit board;

a multiconductor connector mounted on the circuit board, at least two of the conductors of the multiconductor connector electrically coupled to the voltage reference;

an electromagnetic shield; and

an extension electrically coupled to the electromagnetic shield, the extension having a first portion, the electromagnetic shield electrically coupled to the voltage reference via the first portion being in electrical contact with the at least two of the plurality of conductors;

wherein the shield is formed from a sheet of metal.

46. The computer system of claim 44 wherein:

the sheet of metal is bent at an angle to form the extension.