US5597979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
EMI shielding having flexible condustive sheet and I/O Gasket
Assignee: Schlegel Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-12
•
Granted: 1997-01-28
•
Expires: 2015-05-12
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device is shielded against electromagnetic interference using a flexible conductive sheet forming a shield barrier or enclosure. The sheet has electrically insulating polymer material exposed on the surface of at least one face. Conductive material is embedded in or laminated on the sheet so as to be exposed selectively. More particularly, a nonconductive surface area is formed, especially oriented inwardly to avoid electrical shorts, but also exposed inwardly or outwardly where necessary to ground the shield barrier or to engage with another conductive body. The flexible sheet can form a loose envelope with a flange-like gasket at an open end. The gasket can be used to improve physical contact with a conductive body, and preferably also admits I/O connectors that need to traverse the shield barrier, and advantageously have external shielding that is grounded to the shielding barrier for continuing the shielding enclosure. Alternatively or additionally, openings are provided in the sheet for access, the conductive material being insulated around a perimeter or the openings by insulating lips which prevent unwanted shorting. This permits changing or adding circuit chips without removing the shield, and can be provided with a flap closure for minimizing the gap in the shield. The flexible envelope can be joined to a circuit ground by clamping the gasket or the conductive fibers on an exposed face to a the I/O connector, to a common ground, or to an external grounded panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel T. Courtney
- 👤 Kenneth W. Hermann
- 👤 Stanley R. Miska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:47
CPC Classifications
G; G12; G12B; G12B17/00; G12B17/02; H; H05; H05K; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/0043; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An electromagnetic shield, comprising: a flexible sheet comprising an electrically insulating material; a conductive material substantially coextensive with the flexible sheet and defining a shielding barrier, the insulating material spacing the conductive material from at least an exposed insulating area on at least one surface of the flexible sheet on at least one side thereof, and the conductive material being exposed at another area on at least one side thereof, presenting an exposed contact area for coupling electrically to the conductive material; wherein the flexible sheet substantially forms an enclosure for a circuit element, the enclosure having an opening, and wherein the insulating area and the contact area are arranged selectively, for protecting portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material, and for coupling the conductive material to a conductive body; and, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a flange associated with the opening, a part of the contact area being disposed on the flange.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electromagnetic shield, comprising: a flexible sheet comprising an electrically insulating material; a conductive material substantially coextensive with the flexible sheet and defining a shielding barrier, the insulating material spacing the conductive material from at least an exposed insulating area on at least one surface of the flexible sheet on at least one side thereof, and the conductive material being exposed at another area on at least one side thereof, presenting an exposed contact area for coupling electrically to the conductive material; wherein the flexible sheet substantially forms an enclosure for a circuit element, the enclosure having an opening, and wherein the insulating area and the contact area are arranged selectively, for protecting portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material, and for coupling the conductive material to a conductive body; and, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a flange associated with the opening, a part of the contact area being disposed on the flange.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The shield of claim 1, wherein the insulating area comprises an insulating lip of predetermined width extending around a periphery of the opening for protecting said portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shield of claim 1, wherein the flange is resiliently compressible, thereby forming a conductive gasket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shield of claim 3, wherein the gasket is formed at least partly by folding the flexible sheet adjacent the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The shield of claim 4, further comprising a resilient core in the gasket, and wherein the flexible sheet is folded around the resilient core for resiliently bearing the contact area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The shield of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet is formed into a hollow envelope by at least one seam, and further comprising means for electrically connecting the conductive material across the seam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The shield of claim 6, wherein the conductive material is exposed on a conductive side of the envelope opposite from the insulating face, and wherein the seam comprises a fold at which the conductive sides of adjacent portions of the flexible sheet are overlapped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The shield of claim 1, wherein the opening is adapted to engage around an electrical connector having conductors for traversing the shielding barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shield of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector comprises an external conductive shield and the contact area is arranged to bear against said external conductive shield, for continuing the shielding barrier along the connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
In combination, a shield and a shielded circuit element, comprising: the shield having a flexible sheet comprising an electrically insulating material and a conductive material substantially coextensive with the flexible sheet and defining a shielding barrier, the insulating material spacing the conductive material from at least an exposed insulating area on at least one surface of the flexible sheet on at least one side thereof, and the conductive material being exposed at another area on at least one side thereof, presenting an exposed contact area for coupling electrically to the conductive material; wherein the flexible sheet substantially forms an enclosure for the circuit element, the enclosure having an opening, and wherein the insulating area and the contact area are arranged selectively, for protecting portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material, and for coupling the conductive material to a conductive body; and, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a flange associated with the opening, a part of the contact area being disposed on the flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
In combination, a shield and a shielded circuit element, comprising: the shield having a flexible sheet comprising an electrically insulating material and a conductive material substantially coextensive with the flexible sheet and defining a shielding barrier, the insulating material spacing the conductive material from at least an exposed insulating area on at least one surface of the flexible sheet on at least one side thereof, and the conductive material being exposed at another area on at least one side thereof, presenting an exposed contact area for coupling electrically to the conductive material; wherein the flexible sheet substantially forms an enclosure for the circuit element, the enclosure having an opening, and wherein the insulating area and the contact area are arranged selectively, for protecting portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material, and for coupling the conductive material to a conductive body; and, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a flange associated with the opening, a part of the contact area being disposed on the flange.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the insulating area comprises an insulating lip of predetermined width extending around a periphery of the opening for protecting said portions of the circuit element from contact with the conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the flange is resiliently compressible, thereby forming a conductive gasket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 12, wherein the gasket is formed at least partly by folding the flexible sheet adjacent the opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 13, further comprising a resilient core in the gasket, and wherein the flexible sheet is folded around the resilient core for resiliently bearing the contact area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet is formed into a hollow envelope by at least one seam, and further comprising means for electrically connecting the conductive material across the seam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein the conductive material is exposed on a conductive side of the envelope opposite from the insulating face, and wherein the seam comprises a fold at which the conductive sides of adjacent portions of the flexible sheet are overlapped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The shield of claim 10, wherein the opening is adapted to engage around an electrical connector having conductors for traversing the shielding barrier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shield of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector comprises an external conductive shield and the contact area is arranged to bear against said external conductive shield, for continuing the shielding barrier along the connector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2875435A
Cited
US2913577A
Cited
US3383455A
Cited
US3436467A
Cited
US3572499A
Cited
US3622432A
Cited
US3731202A
Cited
US3756399A
Cited
US4037009A
Cited
US4227037A
Cited
US4471015A
Cited
US4678699A
Cited
US4631214A
Cited
US4647714A
Cited
US4774148A
Cited
US4750957A
Cited
US4658958A
Cited
US4896001A
Cited
US4654755A
Cited
DE3638123A1
Cited
US4785136A
Cited
US5137782A
Cited
US4863789A
Cited
US5031076A
Cited
US5005106A
Cited
US5008486A
Cited
US5023394A
Cited
US5226210A
Cited
US5198290A
Cited
US5170009A
Cited
JPH03276799A
Cited
EP0460469A1
Cited
US5239125A
Cited
US5270493A
Cited
US5115140A
Cited
US5166864A
Cited
US5134245A
Cited
US5164542A
Cited
US5136119A
Cited
US5394304A
Cited
US5436803A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |