EMI shield

• US 6,618,271 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Castillo, Cesar D., Davis, David R., Erickson, Vernon D., Rocha, Armando, Gibson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thanh Yen
• Application Number:
  US10/113,086
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/753, 361/800, 361/816, 361/818, 361/825, 361/728, 361/796, 361/727, 174/35.GC, 174/35.R
• US Class Current: 361/818
• 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 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure

Abstract

An EMI shield for ports providing access to expansion cards received in the chassis of an electronic device comprises a gasket suitable for being disposed between the chassis and the expansion card bracket. The gasket includes an aperture overlying each of the ports and a plurality of generally flattened U shape fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to each aperture for engaging the bracket to provide EMI grounding between the bracket and the chassis.

Claims

1. An EMI shield for a port providing access to an expansion card received in the chassis of an electronic device, comprising:

a gasket suitable for being disposed between the chassis and a bracket of the expansion card, the gasket including an aperture overlying the port; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to the aperture for engaging the bracket to provide EMI grounding between the bracket and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape suitable for reducing binding between the gasket and the bracket.

2. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingers extend from a surface of the gasket at an angle.

3. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the aperture and fingers are formed by stamping.

4. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket.

5. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket includes a tab engaging portion formed therein suitable for being disposed between a mounting tab of the bracket of the expansion card and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis of the electronic device.

6. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gasket includes a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

7. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

8. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flange portion includes a bracket receiving portion formed therein for receiving an end of the bracket opposite the mounting tab, the bracket receiving portion including an aperture suitable for receiving the end of the bracket and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

9. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being formed in the gasket along the first and second edges.

10. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gasket includes a bracket engaging prong extending into the aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

11. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.

12. An EMI shield for an electronic device having a plurality of ports suitable for providing access to expansion cards received in the chassis of an electronic device, comprising:

a gasket suitable for being disposed between the chassis and brackets of expansion cards received in the chassis, the gasket including a plurality of apertures, each aperture overlying a port; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to each aperture for engaging the brackets to provide EMI grounding between the brackets and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape suitable for reducing binding between the gasket and the brackets.

13. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fingers extend from a surface of the gasket at an angle.

14. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the apertures and fingers are formed by stamping.

15. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket.

16. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gasket includes a tab engaging portion formed therein suitable for being disposed between mounting tabs of the brackets and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis of the electronic device.

17. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gasket includes a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

18. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 17, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

19. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 17, wherein the flange portion includes a plurality of bracket receiving portions formed therein for receiving ends of the brackets opposite the mounting tabs of the brackets, each bracket receiving portion including an aperture suitable for receiving the end of the bracket inserted therein and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

20. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, wherein each aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being formed in the gasket along the first and second edges.

21. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fingers disposed along adjacent sides of adjacent apertures in the gasket are offset with each other.

22. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of bracket engaging prongs, each bracket engaging prong extending into an aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

23. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.

24. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 23, wherein each aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being formed in the gasket along the first and second edges.

25. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fingers disposed along adjacent sides of adjacent apertures in the gasket are offset with each other and form a generally flattened S-shaped pattern.

26. An electronic device, comprising:

a chassis including a port for providing access to an expansion card received in the chassis;

an EMI shield for the port, the EMI shield further comprising;

a gasket suitable for being disposed between the chassis and a bracket of the expansion card, the gasket including an aperture overlying the port; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to the aperture for engaging the bracket to provide EMI grounding between the bracket and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape suitable for reducing binding between the gasket and the bracket.

27. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fingers extend from a surface of the gasket at an angle.

28. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the aperture and fingers are formed by stamping.

29. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket.

30. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gasket includes a tab engaging portion formed therein suitable for being disposed between a mounting tab of the bracket of the expansion card and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis of the electronic device.

31. The electronic device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the gasket includes a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

32. The electronic device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

33. The electronic device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the flange portion includes a bracket receiving portion formed therein for receiving an end of the bracket opposite the mounting tab, the bracket receiving portion including an aperture suitable for receiving the end of the bracket and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

34. The electronic device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the gasket includes a bracket engaging prong extending into the aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

35. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the aperture is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being disposed adjacent to the first and second edges.

36. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.

37. An EMI shield for a port providing access to an expansion card received in the chassis of an electronic device, comprising:

a gasket for being disposed between the chassis and a bracket of the expansion card, the gasket including an aperture for overlying the port;

a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to the aperture for engaging the bracket to provide EMI grounding between the bracket and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape for reducing binding between the gasket and the bracket.

38. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 37, wherein the gasket comprises a surface facing the bracket, and wherein the fingers extend from the surface at an angle.

39. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 37, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the aperture and fingers are formed by stamping.

40. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 37, wherein the gasket comprises a tab engaging portion formed therein, the tab engaging portion being disposed between a mounting tab of the bracket and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis for engaging the mounting tab.

41. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 40, wherein the gasket comprises a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

42. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 41, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

43. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 41, wherein the flange portion comprises a bracket receiving portion formed therein for receiving an end of the bracket opposite the mounting tab, the bracket receiving portion including a second aperture for receiving the end of the bracket and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

44. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 37, wherein the aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being formed in the gasket along the first and second edges.

45. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 44, wherein the gasket comprises a bracket engaging prong extending into the aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

46. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.

47. An EMI shield for an electronic device having a plurality of ports for providing access to expansion cards received in the chassis of an electronic device, comprising:

a gasket for being disposed between the chassis and brackets of expansion cards received in the chassis, the gasket including a plurality of apertures, each aperture for overlying a port;

a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to each aperture for engaging the brackets to provide EMI grounding between the brackets and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape for reducing binding between the gasket and the brackets.

48. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 47, wherein the gasket comprises a surface facing the bracket, and wherein the fingers extend from the surface at an angle.

49. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 47, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the apertures and fingers are formed by stamping.

50. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 47, wherein the gasket comprises a tab engaging portion formed therein, the tab engaging portion being disposed between a mounting tab of the bracket and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis for engaging the mounting tab.

51. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 50, wherein the gasket comprises a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

52. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 51, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

53. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 51, wherein the flange portion includes a plurality of bracket receiving portions formed therein for receiving ends of the brackets opposite the mounting tabs of the brackets, each bracket receiving portion including a second aperture for receiving the end of the bracket inserted therein and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

54. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 47, wherein each aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being disposed adjacent to the first and second edges.

55. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 54, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of bracket engaging prongs, each bracket engaging prong extending into an aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

56. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 47, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.

57. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 56, wherein each aperture in the gasket is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being formed in the gasket along the first and second edges.

58. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 57, wherein the fingers disposed along adjacent sides of adjacent apertures in the gasket are offset with each other and form a generally flattened S-shaped pattern.

59. An electronic device, comprising:

a chassis including a port for providing access to an expansion card received in the chassis;

an EMI shield for the port, the EMI shield further comprising;

a gasket for being disposed between the chassis and a bracket of the expansion card, the gasket including an aperture for overlying the port;

a plurality of tabs formed in the gasket; and

a plurality of fingers formed in the gasket adjacent to the aperture for engaging the bracket to provide EMI grounding between the bracket and the chassis,

wherein each of the fingers has a generally flattened U shape suitable for reducing binding between the gasket and the bracket.

60. The electronic device as claimed in claim 59, wherein the gasket comprises a surface facing the bracket, and wherein the fingers extend from the surface at an angle.

61. The electronic device as claimed in claim 59, wherein the gasket is formed of stainless steel, and the aperture and fingers are formed by stamping.

62. The electronic device as claimed in claim 59, wherein the gasket comprises a tab engaging portion formed therein, the tab engaging portion being disposed between a mounting tab of the bracket and a tab receiving surface formed in the chassis for engaging the mounting tab.

63. The electronic device as claimed in claim 62, wherein the gasket comprises a flange portion for providing structural rigidity to the gasket.

64. The electronic device as claimed in claim 63, wherein the gasket exerts substantially uniform pressure against the bracket.

65. The electronic device as claimed in claim 63, wherein the flange portion includes a plurality of bracket receiving portions formed therein for receiving ends of the brackets opposite the mounting tabs of the brackets, each bracket receiving portion including a second aperture for receiving the end of the bracket inserted therein and a spring member for holding the bracket against the gasket.

66. The electronic device as claimed in claim 59, wherein the aperture is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposed first and second edges and a bottom edge, the plurality of fingers being disposed adjacent to the first and second edges.

67. The electronic device as claimed in claim 66, wherein the gasket includes a bracket engaging prong extending into the aperture in the gasket from the bottom edge for engaging the bracket.

68. The EMI shield as claimed in claim 59, wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises first and second distal leg portions and a cross member portion, the cross member portion joining outer ends of first and second distal leg members.