Patent US5095616A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5095616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grounding method for use in high frequency electrical circuitry
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
•
Filing: 1990-10-26
•
Granted: 1992-03-17
•
Expires: 2010-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A grounding method for use in high frequency electrical circuitry has a conductive elastomeric member with a low resistivity per square. The conductive elastomeric member is placed in contact with the ground plane of a circuit board and a conductive housing within which the circuit board is situated. The conductive elastomeric member is deformed to flow into discontinuities of a ground path between the ground plane and the conductive housing so that the discontinuities do not act as antennae to radiate energy in response to high frequency signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis T. Veenendaal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:04
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/002; H05K9/0039; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126; Y10T29/49155; Y10T29/49158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of grounding a circuit board in a high frequency environment, the circuit board having a ground plane on one side, to a conductive housing within which the circuit board is situated comprising the steps of: forming a conductive elastomer having a low resistivity per square, the conductive elastomer having a configuration to fill a cavity within the conductive housing formed between the circuit board and walls of the conductive housing; placing the conductive elastomer within the cavity to provide electrical contact between the ground plane of the circuit board and the walls of the conductive housing; and deforming the conductive elastomer to cause the conductive elastomer to flow into discontinuities in a ground path between the ground plane and the walls to prevent radiation of energy from the discontinuities.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of grounding a circuit board in a high frequency environment, the circuit board having a ground plane on one side, to a conductive housing within which the circuit board is situated comprising the steps of: forming a conductive elastomer having a low resistivity per square, the conductive elastomer having a configuration to fill a cavity within the conductive housing formed between the circuit board and walls of the conductive housing; placing the conductive elastomer within the cavity to provide electrical contact between the ground plane of the circuit board and the walls of the conductive housing; and deforming the conductive elastomer to cause the conductive elastomer to flow into discontinuities in a ground path between the ground plane and the walls to prevent radiation of energy from the discontinuities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the forming step comprises the step of impregnating a block of elastomeric material with a conductive material to form the conductive elastomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the forming step comprises the steps of: filling a relatively thin sheet of flexible polymer with a conductive material to produce a conductive sheet; placing the conductive sheet in the bottom of a mold; and backfilling the conductive sheet with a flexible polymer material to produce the conductive elastomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the forming step comprises the steps of: laying a plurality of closely spaced electrical conductors on a sacrificial substrate to form a flexible connector sheet; placing the flexible connector sheet in the bottom of a mold; backfilling the flexible connector sheet with a flexible polymer material to cover the conductors; and removing the sacrificial substrate to produce the conductive elastomer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for grounding a circuit board, the circuit board having a ground plane on one side, to a conductive housing within which the circuit board is situated comprising: a conductive elastomer having a low resistivity per square, the conductive elastomer being situated within the housing and being positioned to provide electrical connection between the ground plane and the conductive housing; and means for deforming he conductive elastomer to cause the conductive elastomer to flow into discontinuities of a ground path between the ground plane and the conductive housing to eliminate spurious energy radiation caused by the discontinuities in response to high frequency signals.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for grounding a circuit board, the circuit board having a ground plane on one side, to a conductive housing within which the circuit board is situated comprising: a conductive elastomer having a low resistivity per square, the conductive elastomer being situated within the housing and being positioned to provide electrical connection between the ground plane and the conductive housing; and means for deforming he conductive elastomer to cause the conductive elastomer to flow into discontinuities of a ground path between the ground plane and the conductive housing to eliminate spurious energy radiation caused by the discontinuities in response to high frequency signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the conductive elastomer comprises a block of elastomeric material impregnated with a conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the conductive elastomer comprises: a sheet of a flexible polymer filled with a conductive material; and a backing of a flexible polymer material adhered to the sheet of the flexible polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the conductive elastomer comprises a block of flexible polymer material having a plurality of conductive leads laid on the surface of the block.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of manufacturing a conductive elastomeric member comprising the steps of: laying a plurality of closely spaced electrical conductors on a sacrificial substrate to form a flexible connector sheet; placing the flexible connector sheet in the bottom of a mold; backfilling the flexible connector sheet with a flexible polymer material covering the conductors; and removing the sacrificial substrate to produce the conductive elastomeric member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of manufacturing a conductive elastomeric member comprising the steps of: laying a plurality of closely spaced electrical conductors on a sacrificial substrate to form a flexible connector sheet; placing the flexible connector sheet in the bottom of a mold; backfilling the flexible connector sheet with a flexible polymer material covering the conductors; and removing the sacrificial substrate to produce the conductive elastomeric member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3389461A
Cited
US3786375A
Cited
US4092664A
Cited
JPS5553902A
Cited
US4650054A
Cited
US4741101A
Cited
US4777456A
Cited
JPS6459993A
Cited
JPS6467997A
Cited
JPH0277199A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |