Circuit card assembly with shielding assembly for reducing EMI emissions

Claim 2

A circuit card assembly adapted to be coupled to a housing for reducing electromagnetic interference, the housing having a front opening and electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said front opening, said circuit card assembly comprising: an insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board; an elongated, insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip extending along said insulative faceplate and having a first longitudinal end with single contact means for electrically engaging the electroconductive means of the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing and a second longitudinal end without contact means for avoiding electrical engagement with the electroconductive means of the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip other than to the electroconductive means of the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing.

Claim 3

A circuit card assembly according to claim 1, wherein said conductive strip is a thin metallic strip.

Claim 4

A circuit card assembly according to claim 2, wherein said faceplate includes means for fixedly coupling said conductive strip thereto.

Claim 5

A circuit card assembly according to claim 3, wherein said conductive strip has a mounting hole with a predetermined width extending therethrough, and said means for fixedly coupling includes a post extending outwardly from said faceplate with a cross-sectional width slightly larger than the width of said mounting hole.

Claim 6

A circuit card assembly according to claim 1, wherein said insulative board has a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along one of said edges of said insulative board for engaging an edge connector mounted on the housing; and said grounding means includes a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage the edge connector on the housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing.

Claim 7

A circuit card assembly according to claim 5, wherein said conductive strip and said contact means are formed by a thin metallic strip with a substantially flat body portion overlying a rear surface of said faceplate and a resilient, blade, spring contact extending outwardly from said body portion.

Claim 8

A circuit card assembly according to claim 6, wherein said body portion of said conductive strip also includes an outwardly extending metallic grounding lug portion with an opening therethrough, and said grounding path includes a contact area surrounding a first mounting opening in said board and a first screw extending through said openings in said grounding lug portion and said board for electrically coupling said grounding path to said conductive strip and for coupling said faceplate to said board.

Claim 9

A circuit card assembly according to claim 7, wherein said faceplate includes a first mounting lug with a first threaded opening for threadedly receiving said first screw such that said grounding lug portion of said conductive strip overlies said first mounting lug.

Claim 10

A circuit card assembly according to claim 8, wherein said faceplate further includes a second mounting lug with a second threaded opening spaced vertically from said first mounting lug, and said insulative board further includes a second mounting opening for receiving a second screw therethrough, said second screw being threadedly received in said second threaded opening in said second mounting lug to secure said faceplate to said board.

Claim 11

A circuit card according to claim 1, wherein said grounding means extends along said insulative board without direct electrical connection to said electronic circuitry.

Claim 12

An electrical assembly, comprising: a grounded housing having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall coupled to said sidewalls, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shelves coupled to said sidewalls and said rear wall to form a bay with a front opening, electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said front opening, and at least one electrical connector coupled to said rear wall; at least one elongated, insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board, said insulative board being removeably received in said housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip extending along said insulative faceplate and having a first longitudinal end with contact means for electrically engaging a first portion of said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing and a second longitudinal end without contact means for avoiding electrical engagement between said second end of said conductive strip and a second portion of said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip other than to said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing.

Claim 13

An electrical assembly, comprising: a grounded housing having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall coupled to said sidewalls, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shelves coupled to said sidewalls and said rear wall to form a bay with a front opening, electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said front opening, and at least one electrical connector coupled to said rear wall; at least one elongated, insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board, said insulative board being removeably received in said housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip extending along said insulative faceplate and having a first longitudinal end with contact means for electrically engaging a first portion of said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing and a second longitudinal end without contact means for avoiding electrical engagement between said second end of said conductive strip and a second portion of said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip other than to said electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing.

Claim 14

An electrical assembly according to claim 11, wherein said conductive strip is a thin metallic strip.

Claim 15

An electrical assembly according to claim 12, wherein said faceplate includes means for fixedly coupling said conductive strip thereto.

Claim 16

An electrical assembly according to claim 13, wherein said conductive strip has a mounting hole with a predetermined width extending therethrough, and said means for fixedly coupling includes a post extending outwardly from said faceplate with a cross-sectional width slightly larger than the width of said mounting hole.

Claim 17

An electrical assembly according to claim 11, wherein said insulative board has a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along said rear edge of said insulative board for engaging said electrical connector of said housing; and said grounding means includes a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage said electrical connector on said housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing.

Claim 18

An electrical assembly according to claim 15, wherein said conductive strip and said contact means are formed by a thin metallic strip with a substantially flat body portion overlying a rear surface of said faceplate and a resilient, blade, spring contact extending outwardly from said body portion.

Claim 19

An electrical assembly according to claim 16, wherein said body portion of said conductive strip also includes an outwardly extending metallic grounding lug portion with an opening therethrough, and said grounding path includes a contact area surrounding a first mounting opening in said board and a first screw extending through said openings in said grounding lug portion and said board for electrically coupling said grounding path to said conductive strip and for coupling said faceplate to said board.

Claim 20

An electrical assembly according to claim 17, wherein said faceplate includes a first mounting lug with a first threaded opening for threadedly receiving said first screw such that said grounding lug portion of said conductive strip overlies said first mounting lug.

Claim 21

An electrical assembly according to claim 11, wherein said grounding means includes a contact pad releasably coupled to said electrical connector of said housing for grounding said conductive strip to said housing.

Claim 22

An electrical assembly according to claim 11, wherein said grounding means extends along said insulative board without direct electrical connection to said electronic circuitry.

Claim 23

A circuit card assembly adapted to be coupled to a housing for reducing electromagnetic interference, the housing having a front opening and electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said opening, said circuit card assembly comprising: an insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board with a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along one of said edges of said insulative board for engaging an edge connector mounted on the housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip having first and second ends, said strip extending along said insulative faceplate with contact means at said first end of said strip but not at said second end of said strip for electrically engaging the electroconductive means of the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip to the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing, said grounding means having a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage the edge connector on the housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing.

Claim 24

A circuit card assembly adapted to be coupled to a housing for reducing electromagnetic interference, the housing having a front opening and electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said opening, said circuit card assembly comprising: an insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board with a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along one of said edges of said insulative board for engaging an edge connector mounted on the housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip having first and second ends, said strip extending along said insulative faceplate with contact means at said first end of said strip but not at said second end of said strip for electrically engaging the electroconductive means of the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip to the housing upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing, said grounding means having a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage the edge connector on the housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into the housing.

Claim 25

A circuit card assembly according to claim 21, wherein said conductive strip is a thin metallic strip.

Claim 26

A circuit card assembly according to claim 21, wherein said conductive strip and said contact means are formed by a thin metallic strip with a substantially flat body portion overlying a rear surface of said faceplate and a resilient, blade, spring contact extending outwardly from said body portion.

Claim 27

An electrical assembly, comprising: a grounded housing having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall coupled to said sidewalls, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shelves coupled to said sidewalls and said rear wall to form a bay with a front opening, electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said front opening, and at least on electrical edge connector coupled to said rear wall; at least one insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board with a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along said rear edge of said insulative board for engaging said edge connector of said housing, said insulative board being removeably received in said housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip having first and second ends, said strip extending along said insulative faceplate with contact means at said first end of said strip but not at said second end of said strip for electrically engaging the electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip to said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, said grounding having a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage said edge connector on said housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing.

Claim 28

An electrical assembly, comprising: a grounded housing having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall coupled to said sidewalls, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shelves coupled to said sidewalls and said rear wall to form a bay with a front opening, electroconductive means providing a grounded closed-loop electromagnetic wave energy path peripherally surrounding said front opening, and at least on electrical edge connector coupled to said rear wall; at least one insulative board having a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of spaced side edges extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges, and electronic circuitry distributed over said insulative board with a plurality of electrical contact pads electrically coupled to said electronic circuitry and positioned along said rear edge of said insulative board for engaging said edge connector of said housing, said insulative board being removeably received in said housing; an insulative faceplate coupled to said insulative board along said front edge; and shielding means, coupled to said insulative board and said faceplate, for reducing electromagnetic interference, said shielding means including: an electrically conductive strip having first and second ends, said strip extending along said insulative faceplate with contact means at said first end of said strip but not at said second end of said strip for electrically engaging the electroconductive means of said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, and grounding means, coupled to said insulative board and electrically coupled to said conductive strip, for positively grounding said conductive strip to said housing upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing, said grounding having a printed grounding path and a contact pad printed on said insulative board with said contact pad of said grounding means being adapted to engage said edge connector on said housing substantially simultaneously with said contact pads of said electronic circuitry upon insertion of said insulative board into said housing.

Claim 29

An electrical assembly according to claim 24, wherein said conductive strip is a thin metallic strip.

Claim 30

An electrical assembly according to claim 25, wherein said faceplate includes means for fixedly coupling said conductive strip thereto.

Claim 31

An electrical assembly according to claim 26, wherein said conductive strip has a mounting hole with a predetermined width extending therethrough, and said means for fixedly coupling includes a post extending outwardly from said faceplate with a cross-sectional width slightly larger than the width of said mounting hole.