Integrated computer module with EMI shielding plate

• US 6,411,522 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Ventures Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Ventures Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Szeremeta, Wally, Hanan, Thomas D., Frank, Charles W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HUNG S
• Application Number:
  US09/283,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/686, 361/816, 361/818, 361/800, 361/721, 361/725, 361/729, 361/730, 361/753, 361/715, 361/810, 361/796, 174/35.R, 174/51
• US Class Current: 361/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1493 Electro-Magnetic Interference [EMI] or Radio Frequency Interference [RFI] shielding; grounding of static charges

Abstract

An integrated computer module having an EMI shielding plate which doubles as a mechanical retainer for a disk drive within the module and as an shield to insulate the disk drive'"'"'s electronics from electromagnetic interference (EMI) emanating from a main PCBA located nearby. The module is adapted for removable insertion into a docking bay within a host assembly, and upon such insertion for connecting to a host connector and thereby controlling a display device. The preferred module has an enclosure, a main PCBA in the enclosure including a microprocessor generating EMI; a module connector electrically connected to the main PCBA and supported at the enclosure'"'"'s back wall for connection to the host connector upon insertion of the integrated module into the docking bay in the host assembly; a disk drive including a casting and a controller PCBA mounted on one side of the casting; a conductor assembly electrically connecting the main PCBA to the controller PCBA; and an intermediate plate located above the disk drive, between the disk drive'"'"'s controller PCBA and the main PCBA, and attached to the enclosure to capture the disk drive in the enclosure and to insulate the controller PCBA from EMI generated by the main PCBA.

Claims

1. An integrated computer module adapted for removable insertion into a docking bay within a host assembly, and upon such insertion for connecting to a host connector and thereby controlling a display device, the integrated computer module comprising:

an enclosure defined by a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a floor wall and a ceiling wall;

a main printed circuit board assembly (main PCBA) located in the enclosure, the main PCBA including a microprocessor and associated circuitry generating electromagnetic interference (EMI);

a module connector electrically connected to the main PCBA and supported at the enclosure'"'"'s back wall for connection to the host connector upon insertion of the integrated module into the docking bay in the host assembly;

a disk drive including a casting and a controller PCBA mounted on one side of the casting, the disk drive situated relative to the main PCBA such that the controller PCBA and the main PCBA are in a substantially parallel stacked arrangement the controller PCBA including integrated circuits that define a hard disk storage control subsystem that operates with relatively low amplitude signals that are subject to distortion from the EMI;

a conductor assembly electrically connecting the main PCBA to the controller PCBA; and

an intermediate plate including a central section, a front edge, a back edge opposite the front edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, the intermediate plate located between the disk drive'"'"'s controller PCBA and the main PCBA, and attached to the enclosure, the intermediate plate securing the disk drive in the enclosure by holding the disk drive against the enclosure and the intermediate plate insulating the controller PCBA from the EMI generated by the main PCBA.

2. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the main PCBA and the disk drive are located in the enclosure in a stacked arrangement with one another, the disk drive oriented such that its controller PCBA is facing the main PCBA to reduce the length of the conductor assembly and minimize signal degradation.

3. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the enclosure further comprises an intermediate wall between the first side wall and the second side wall and wherein the intermediate plate'"'"'s first side edge is attached to the enclosure'"'"'s first side wall and wherein the intermediate plate'"'"'s second side edge is attached to the enclosure'"'"'s intermediate wall.

4. The integrated computer module of claim 1 further comprising a space between the enclosure'"'"'s front wall and the front edge of the Intermediate plate located between the main PCBA and the controller PCBA, and wherein the conductor assembly electrically connecting the main PCBA to the controller PCBA passes through the space.

5. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the conductor assembly is flexible.

6. The integrated computer module of claim 5 wherein the conductor assembly is a ribbon cable.

7. The integrated computer module of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of spaced slots in the enclosure'"'"'s first side wall; and

a pair of spaced tabs at the first edge of the Intermediate plate, the tabs providing a snap-in connection between the Intermediate plate and the enclosure'"'"'s first side wall.

8. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the enclosure and the Intermediate plate are made of a conductive material.

9. The integrated computer module of claim 8 wherein the enclosure and the intermediate plate are made of metal.

10. The integrated computer module of claim 8 wherein the enclosure and Intermediate plate are grounded.

11. The integrated computer module of claim 10 further comprising:

means for mechanically supporting the main PCBA on the intermediate plate; and

means for grounding the main PCBA via the mechanical supporting means.

12. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the module connector is card edge connector comprising a plurality of conductive traces that are formed on the main PCBA.

13. The integrated computer module of claim 1 wherein the module connector is a discrete plug and socket type connector that is soldered to the main PCBA.