Apparatus for containing electromagnetic interference

• US 6,683,796 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ta, Peter Cuong Dac, Radu, Sergiu, Stewart, Thomas Elisha James, Bollesen, Vernon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, HUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/045,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 361/818, 361/816, 361/800, 361/802, 361/709, 361/711, 361/752, 361/753, 361/799, 361/796, 361/813, 124/35, 124/51.R, 439/609, 439/608, 439/607
• US Class Current: 361/818
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0016 having a spring contact

Abstract

An apparatus for containing electromagnetic interference (EMI). The apparatus includes an enclosure for an EMI producing component. The enclosure has a set of springable tabs extending from a top edge of the enclosure and a set of pins extending from a bottom edge of the enclosure. The pins are placed through a grounding ring and a printed circuit board to align and ground the enclosure. The tabs contact a heatsink disposed over the enclosure.

Claims

1. An enclosure for an EMI producing component, the enclosure comprising:

a first plurality of springable tabs extending from a top edge of the enclosure, wherein a portion of each springable tab of said first plurality of springable tabs extends above said top edge; and

a second plurality of springable tabs extending from a bottom edge of the enclosure, wherein each of said springable tabs comprises a base, wherein said bases extend outward from the bottom edge such that said second plurality of springable tabs is offset from said first plurality of springable tabs, wherein a portion of each springable tab of said second plurality of springable tabs extends from the base to below said bottom edge.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities of springable tabs extend out from said enclosure.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said portion of each springable tab of said first and second pluralities of springable tabs has an end substantially parallel to one of said top edge and bottom edge.

4. An apparatus for containing EMI, the apparatus comprising:

a grounding ring on a top surface of a printed circuit board around an EMI producing component;

an enclosure disposed on top of said grounding ring, said enclosure comprising a first plurality of contacts extending from a top edge of said enclosure, wherein said first plurality of contacts are comprised of substantially flat contact ends, and a second plurality of contacts extending from a bottom edge of said enclosure, wherein said second plurality of contacts are in contact with said grounding ring; and

a heat sink disposed over said component, wherein a bottom surface of said heat sink is in contact with said component and said first plurality of contacts.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said enclosure is held in place by said heat sink pushing down on said enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said printed circuit board.

7. An apparatus for containing EMI, the apparatus comprising:

a grounding ring on a top surface of a printed circuit board around an EMI producing component;

an enclosure disposed on top of said grounding ring, said enclosure comprising a first plurality of contacts extending from a top edge of said enclosure and a second plurality of contacts extending from a bottom edge of said enclosure, wherein said first plurality of contacts comprise springable tabs, wherein said second plurality of contacts are in contact with said grounding ring; and

a heat sink disposed over said component, wherein a bottom surface of said heat sink is in contact with said component and said first plurality of contacts.

8. An apparatus for containing EMI, the apparatus comprising:

a grounding ring on a top surface of a printed circuit board around an EMI producing component;

an enclosure disposed on top of said grounding ring, said enclosure comprising a first plurality of contacts extending from a top edge of said enclosure and a second plurality of contacts extending from a bottom edge of said enclosure wherein said second plurality of contacts are in contact with said grounding ring;

a heat sink disposed over said component, wherein a bottom surface of said heat sink is in contact with said component and said first plurality of contacts; and

wherein said first plurality of contacts comprise springable tabs, wherein said springable tabs are configured to be resiliently urged against a bottom surface of said heat sink during use.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said enclosure is held in place by said heat sink pushing down on said enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said heat sink is coupled to said printed circuit board.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said contacts of said enclosure do not interfere with a thermal path between said component and said heat sink.