Electronic appliance having open/close-type panel and method for reducing electromagnetic noise from open/close-type panel

• US 6,414,840 B2
• Filed: 01/06/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/225,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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]

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for reducing an electromagnetic noise radiated from an open/close-type panel of an electronic apparatus having the open/close-type panel such as a laptop type personal computer and a portable video tape recorder, which comes in contact with an appliance main body so as to be latched therewith when the open/close-type panel is opened. A conductive material which conducts a conductive surface for preventing an undesired radiation of the open/close-type panel is provided on a portion of the open/close-type panel which comes in contact with the appliance main body, and a conductive material having elasticity which conducts a zero electric potential portion (earth line) of the appliance main body is provided in a portion of the surface of the appliance main body which comes in contact with the open/close-type panel, and when the open/close-type panel is opened so as to be latched with the appliance main body, the conductive material of the open/close-type panel and the conductive material of the appliance main body are connected with each other face to face by an elastic deformation of the conductive material of the appliance main body, and the conductive surface for preventing an undesired radiation of the open/close-type panel is connected with the zero electric potential portion of the appliance main body at a low impedance so that an electromagnetic noise radiated from the open/close-type panel is reduced.

Claims

1. In a computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body, said open/close-type panel cover being supported to the main body so as to be capable of being opened and closed and including a display member for displaying information when the display member is exposed, said open/close type panel cover being provided with a first conductive surface for preventing an undesired radiation on a surface side when the display member is exposed,

said computer being arranged so that when the open/close-type panel cover is opened, the open/close-type panel cover is brought into contact with the main body so as to be latched therewith, said computer comprising:

a first conductive material section provided on a portion of the open/close type panel cover, which comes in contact with a second elastic conductive material section of the main body when the open/close-type panel cover is opened, and

said second elastic conductive material section is brought into contact with said first conductive material section in a face to face relationship due to elastic deformation thereof so that the first conductive material section of the open/close type panel cover is brought into a conductive relationship with a zero electric potential portion of the main body, said second elastic conductive material section being bonded to said main body so as to conform with the shape of a surface of the main body to which it is bonded.

2. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 1, wherein:

the open/close type panel cover includes an upper panel, which surrounds the display member so that the display member is exposed and is provided with a second conductive surface, and a lower panel which covers a rear surface of the display member opposite to the upper panel and is provided with said first conductive surface for preventing an undesired radiation, said first conductive surface of said lower panel being electrically conductive with said second conductive surface of said upper panel; and

said first conductive material section is made of a conductive tape having elasticity, and the conductive tape is bonded to the first conductive surface of the lower panel to the first conductive material section and comes in contact with the main body when the open/close-type panel cover is opened, through a conductive adhesive.

3. The computer having an open/close-type panel and a main body according to claim 1, wherein:

the open/close type panel cover includes an upper panel, which surrounds the display member so that the display member is exposed and is provided with a second conductive surface, and a lower panel which covers a rear surface of the display member opposite to the upper panel and is provided with said first conductive surface for preventing an undesired radiation;

the second conductive surface of the upper panel and the first conductive surface of the lower panel are electrically conductive with each other; and

said first conductive material section is in the form of a metal plate which is electrically connected with the first conductive surface of the lower panel through a connecting member.

4. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 3, wherein said metal plate surface is connected to the first conductive surface of the lower panel by a plurality of screw members.

5. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 3, wherein:

a plurality of apertures are formed in a portion of the lower panel where said first conductive material section is provided; and

said first conductive material section is connected with the first conductive surface of the lower panel by a conductive adhesive through the plurality of apertures.

6. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 1, wherein:

the main body is made of a metal having a second conductive surface for preventing undesired radiation; and

said second elastic conductive material section of said main body is connected with the second conductive surface of the main body through a conductive adhesive.

7. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 1, wherein:

the main body is made of a metal having the second conductive surface for preventing undesired radiation; and

said second elastic conductive material section is partially fixed to the main body through a non-conductive adhesive, and when the open/close-type panel cover comes in contact with the main body, said second elastic conductive material section is pressed against the second conductive surface of the main body so as to be electrically conductive therewith.

8. The computer having an open/close-type panel cover and a main body according to claim 1, wherein:

the main body is made of a synthetic resin member provided with a second conductive surface for preventing undesired radiation inside the synthetic resin member;

a plurality of apertures are formed in a portion of the main body where said second conductive material section is provided; and

said second elastic conductive material section is connected with the second conductive surface of the main body by a conductive adhesive through the plurality of apertures of the main body.

9. The computer according to claim 1, wherein a conductive contact area between said first conductive material section and said second elastic conductive material section establishing said conductive relationship with said elastic deformation is larger than a conductive contact area established when said second elastic conductive material section is not subject to said elastic deformation.

10. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive material section and said second conductive material section have a shape which extends along a contact portion between said open/close type panel cover and said main body when said open/close type panel cover and said main body are brought in contact with each other.

11. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said second elastic conductive material section has a shock absorbing function when said open/close type panel cover comes in contact with said main body.

12. In a method of reducing electromagnetic noise from a computer formed of an open/close type panel cover and a main body, the open/close-panel cover being supported to the main body so as to be capable of being opened and closed and including a display member for displaying information and an upper panel surrounding the display member so that the display member is exposed, said open/close type panel cover being provided with a first conductive surface for preventing undesired radiation,

said computer being arranged so that when the open/close-type panel cover is opened, the open/close-type panel cover is brought into contact with the main body so as to be latched therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

opening the open/close-type panel cover until it comes in contact with the main body; and

bringing a first conductive material section, provided on the open/close type panel cover to a conductive relationship with the first conductive surface of a lower panel of the open/close type panel cover, and a second elastic conductive material section, which is bonded to main body so as to conform with the shape of a surface of the main body to which it is bonded and is brought to a conductive relationship with a second conductive surface of the main body connected with a zero electric potential portion of the main body, said first and second conductive sections being brought in contact with each other by an elastic deformation of said second conductive section when said open/close type panel cover is brought into contact with the main body.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said electric deformation results in a conductive contact area that is larger than a conductive contact area established when said second elastic conductive material section is not subject to said elastic deformation.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said first conductive material section and said second elastic conductive material section have a shape which extends along a contact portion between said open/close type panel cover and said main body when said open/close type panel cover and said main body are brought in contact with each other.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said second elastic conductive material section has a shock absorbing function when said open/close type panel cover comes in contact with said main body.