Adapter card electromagnetic compatibility shielding

• US 7,659,482 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Xu, Jean Jidong, Stowell, Michael John, Walker, Joel Edwin, Dittus, Karl Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US12/107,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 174/354, 174/355, 174/369, 174/371, 174/385, 174/382, 361/816, 361/818, 361/679.4
• US Class Current: 174/354
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure

Abstract

An electromagnetic shield comprising an electrically conductive frame for establishing electrical contact between a chassis wall and an expansion card mounting bracket. The frame has a plurality of spring fingers interconnected about a perimeter of a central opening in the frame, wherein each spring finger defines a central axis that extends outwardly away from the central opening. The frame may include a substantially planar portion adjacent the central opening in the frame, wherein the plurality of spring fingers incline along the central axis to extend out of the plane defined by the substantially planar portion. The incline of the spring fingers allows a mounting bracket to slide laterally without jamming against the side of a spring finger during installation, removal or side-to-side shifting of the mounting plate.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic shield comprising:

an electrically conductive frame for establishing electrical contact between a chassis wall and an expansion card mounting bracket, wherein the frame has a plurality of spring fingers interconnected about a perimeter of a central opening in the frame, wherein each spring finger defines a central axis that extends outwardly away from the central opening, wherein the plurality of spring fingers incline along the central axis to extend out of a plane defined by a substantially planar portion of the frame, and wherein each spring finger includes opposing tabs extending laterally relative to the central axis and inclined toward the plane.

2. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar portion of the frame is adjacent the central opening in the frame.

3. The electromagnetic shield of claim 2, wherein the substantially planar portion is segmented.

4. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein each spring finger inclines out of the plane at an acute angle.

5. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the frame extends along the perimeter of a hole in the chassis.

6. The electromagnetic shield of claim 5, wherein the frame further includes at least one retaining element that extends into the hole to prevent lateral shifting of the frame.

7. The electromagnetic shield of claim 6, wherein the at least one retaining element is a sleeve.

8. The electromagnetic shield of claim 7, wherein the at least one retaining element includes at least two retaining elements that extend into the hole along opposing sides of the hole.

9. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the frame is rectangular and the plurality of spring fingers are disposed along opposing sides of the frame.

10. The electromagnetic shield of claim 9, wherein the spring fingers on opposing sides of the frame have a central axis extending generally laterally outward.

11. The electromagnetic shield of claim 10, wherein the frame includes a substantially planar portion adjacent the central opening in the frame.

12. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the frame extends along the perimeter of a rectangular hole in the chassis and includes at least a pair of retaining elements that extends into the hole on opposing sides of the frame to prevent lateral shifting of the frame.

13. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the each spring finger extends out of the plane for electrical contact with the mounting bracket and has tabs that extend toward the plane for electrical contact with the chassis wall.

14. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the tabs widen with distance from the central opening.

15. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein each spring finger presents an inclined surface in three directions.

16. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein each spring finger allows the mounting bracket to slide laterally without jamming.

17. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein each spring finger independently flexes to achieve contact between the chassis wall and the mounting bracket over a predetermined range of distances.

18. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spring fingers are integrally formed with the frame.

19. An electromagnetic shield, comprising:

an electrically conductive frame for establishing electrical contact between a chassis wall and an expansion card mounting bracket, wherein the frame has a plurality of wave plates interconnected about a perimeter of a central opening in the frame, and wherein each wave plate defines a central axis that extends outwardly away from the central opening, and wherein each wave plate includes a first portion that inclines along the central axis in a first direction out of a plane defined by the frame and second and third portions that incline toward the plane of the frame on opposing sides of the central axis.

20. An electromagnetic shielding system, comprising:

a substantially planar chassis wall having an opening through the wall;

an expansion card mounting bracket for securing to the chassis wall over the opening; and

an electromagnetic shield including an electrically conductive frame disposed between the chassis wall and the mounting bracket to establish electrical contact between a chassis wall and an mounting bracket, wherein the frame has a central opening aligned with the chassis wall opening, wherein the frame has a plurality of spring fingers interconnected about a perimeter of the central opening in the frame, wherein each spring finger defines a central axis that extends outwardly away from the central opening, wherein the plurality of spring fingers incline along the central axis to extend out of a plane defined by a substantially planar portion of the frame, and wherein each spring finger includes opposing tabs extending laterally relative to the central axis and inclined toward the plane.