Isolation apparatus for electronic equipment

• US 6,333,459 B1
• Filed: 09/26/1997
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Noriyoshi, Terao, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/938,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 277/920, 174/35.GC, 174/35.R, 361/816, 361/818, 361/800
• US Class Current: 174/377
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0033 disposed on both PCB faces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0037 Housings with compartments containing a PCB, e.g. partitioning walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/35 Box or housing mounted on substrate or PCB
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/92 Seal including electromagnetic shielding feature

Abstract

An electromagnetic isolation apparatus for an electronic device such as a portable telephone is provided which includes first and second shield cases and elastic members such as rubber cushions. The first and second shield cases are disposed within a casing of the electronic device to surround at least part of both surfaces of a printed circuit board mounted within the electronic device. The elastic members are interposed between an inner wall of the casing of the electronic device and an outer surface of the first shield case and between the inner wall of the casing and an outer surface of the second shield case to produce elastic pressures urging the first and second shield cases into conductive engagement with the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic isolation apparatus for an electronic device having a casing within which a printed circuit board is mounted, the apparatus comprising:

a first shield case disposed within the casing to cover at least a portion of a first surface of the printed circuit board,

a second shield case disposed within the casing to cover at least a portion of a second surface of the printed circuit board, said second surface being opposite to the first surface;

an elastic member interposed between an inner wall of the casing and a surface of one of said first and second shield cases so as to produce an elastic pressure urging said one of said first and second shield cases into engagement with a corresponding one of the first and second surfaces of the printed circuit board, and

a conductive spring member interposed between said one of said first and second shield cases and said corresponding one of the first and second surfaces of the printed circuit board to establish conductive engagement therebetween,

wherein said conductive spring member produces an elastic pressure urging said one of said first and second shield cases away from the printed circuit board against the elastic pressure provided by said elastic member, the elastic pressure provided by said conductive spring member being smaller than that provided by said elastic member so as to bring a portion of said one of said first and second shield cases and a portion of the corresponding one of said first and second surfaces of the printed circuit board into constant engagement with each other.

2. An electromagnetic isolation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second shield cases respectively include first and second engaging means, said first and second engaging means engaging each other for attaching said first and second shield cases to each other to define an enclosed chamber therebetween, said conductive spring member producing said elastic pressure to urge said first and second engaging means into tight engagement with each other and to reduce any gap therebetween.

3. An electromagnetic isolation apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second engaging means comprise claw structures.