I/O connectors with extendable faraday cage

• US 8,067,701 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Eugene, Hardell, Dave, Keiper, Steven, Schen, John, Cabral, Steve, Brock, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US12/202,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20090173534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 174/356, 174/357, 174/358, 174/377, 174/380, 174/385, 361/816, 361/818, 361/679.4
• US Class Current: 174/356
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/00 Communication cables or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0218 by printed shielding conductors, ground planes or power plane H05K1/0236 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0224 Patterned shielding planes, ground planes or power planes H05K1/0253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09618 Via fence, i.e. one-dimensional array of vias
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09681 Mesh conductors, e.g. as a ground plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

An apparatus providing one or more I/O connections to a computer. The apparatus includes a Faraday cage generally about a flex cable, or other computing element, that may translate when the I/O ports to the computer are utilized. The embodiment maintains the Faraday cage for the flex cable or element as the I/O port housing opens or closes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrically shielding an interior element, comprising:

a chassis defining a notch;

a first gasket electrically coupled to a first portion of the notch;

a second gasket electrically coupled to a second portion of the notch;

a conductive sock placed between the first gasket and the second gasket and electrically coupled to both the first gasket and the second gasket; and

a connector shell electrically coupled to the conductive sock;

wherein the chassis, the first gasket, the second gasket, the conductive sock and the connector shell collectively prevent at least some noise from entering or exiting an interior of the chassis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable passing through the conductive sock between the first gasket and the second gasket.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the conductive sock is electrically coupled to the ground plane of the cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are comprised of a flexible conductive material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flexible conductive material comprises:

a first layer of a rubber or flexible polymer; and

a second metal layer bonded thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive sock is comprised of a metal foil.

7. An apparatus for electrically shielding an interior element of a computer, comprising:

a computer body defining a notch;

a first gasket electrically coupled to a first portion of the notch;

a second gasket electrically coupled to a second portion of the notch and to the first gasket;

a conductive sock placed between the first gasket and the second gasket and electrically coupled to both the first gasket and the second gasket; and

a connector shell electrically coupled to the conductive sock;

wherein the computer body, the first gasket, the second gasket, the conductive sock and the connector shell collectively prevent at least some noise from entering an interior of the computer body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the computer body, the first gasket, the second gasket, the conductive sock and the connector shell further collectively prevent at least some noise from exiting an interior of the computer body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer body, the first gasket, the second gasket the conductive sock and the conductive sock collectively define a first Faraday cage.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the notch defines an I/O port for the computer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a cable passing through the conductive sock and electrically coupled to the I/O port;

wherein

the conductive sock is located between the first gasket and the second gasket.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the conductive sock is electrically coupled to the ground plane of the cable.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the conductive sock is comprised of a metal foil.

14. A method for electrically shielding an interior element of an electronic system, comprising:

providing a chassis defining a notch;

electrically coupling a first gasket to a first portion of the notch;

electrically coupling a second gasket to a second portion of the notch;

placing a conductive sock between the first gasket and the second gasket;

electrically coupling the conductive sock to both the first gasket and the second gasket; and

coupling a connector shell to the conductive sock via at least one connector;

wherein the chassis, the first gasket, the second gasket the conductive sock and the connector shell collectively prevent at least some noise from exiting an interior of the chassis.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

passing a cable through the conductive sock between the first gasket and the second gasket.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

electrically coupling the conductive sock to the ground plane of the cable.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing a shield over a portion of the at least one connector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connector shell houses a digital video interface connector.