US6339536B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
I/O shield bracket assembly
Assignee: Dell USA LP
•
Filing: 1999-11-10
•
Granted: 2002-01-15
•
Expires: 2019-11-10
Abstract
Abstract An I/O shield bracket for an I/O window of a computer system chassis. The I/O shield bracket includes mechanisms for reducing electromagnetic radiation that emanates from the edge of the I/O shield bracket and the edge of the I/O window. In one embodiment, the I/O shield bracket includes an embossed portion that resides next to the edge of the I/O window. In another embodiment, the I/O shield bracket includes shield tabs that overlap an I/O window ledge surrounding the I/O window. An I/O gasket made of an electrically conductive material may be mounted to the I/O shield bracket to provide shielding between the I/O shield bracket and I/O connectors. The I/O shield bracket may include snap fingers for removably attaching the I/O shield bracket to a computer system chassis.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Buican
- 👤 Ty R. Schmitt
- 👤 Robert F. Poe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/181; G06F1/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; a circuit board housed in the chassis; at least one computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board; an I/O shield bracket removably attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; means for reducing the electromagnetic radiation radiating from between an edge of the chassis defining the I/O window and the I/O shield bracket, and wherein the means includes an embossed portion of the I/O shield bracket, edges of the embossed portion residing next to surfaces of the chassis defining the I/O window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; a circuit board housed in the chassis; at least one computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board; an I/O shield bracket removably attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; means for reducing the electromagnetic radiation radiating from between an edge of the chassis defining the I/O window and the I/O shield bracket, and wherein the means includes an embossed portion of the I/O shield bracket, edges of the embossed portion residing next to surfaces of the chassis defining the I/O window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein in the means for reducing further includes means for providing a interface between the edge of the chassis and the I/O shield bracket that includes an approximate 90 degree bend.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein: the chassis further includes a window ledge extending towards the interior of the chassis, the window ledge defining the I/O window; wherein the means includes shielding tabs extending from edges of the I/O shield bracket and overlapping portions of the window ledge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 3 wherein the window ledge is separately formed and attached to a chassis panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 3 further comprising: a plurality of snap fingers extending from edges of the I/O shield bracket at locations between the shielding tabs, the snap fingers engaging portions of the chassis to attach the I/O shield bracket to the chassis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising: an I/O gasket of electrically conductive material mounted to the interior side of the I/O shield bracket, the I/O gasket defining at least one hole for a computer connector to be accessible from outside of the chassis; wherein the I/O gasket provides electromagnetic shielding between the I/O shield bracket and the computer connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising: means for preventing the attachment of the I/O shield bracket in an improper orientation with respect to the chassis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one snap finger extending from the I/O shield bracket and engaging a portion of the chassis to attach the I/O shield bracket to the chassis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 8 wherein each of the at least one snap finger includes a portion that resides in a hole defined in the chassis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; at least one computer connector; an I/O shield bracket attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector to be accessible from the outside of the chassis, the I/O shield bracket including an embossed portion, edges of the embossed portion residing next to surfaces of the chassis defining the I/O window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; at least one computer connector; an I/O shield bracket attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector to be accessible from the outside of the chassis, the I/O shield bracket including an embossed portion, edges of the embossed portion residing next to surfaces of the chassis defining the I/O window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein the embossed portion extends outward from the interior of the computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 10 further comprising: means for preventing the attachment of the I/O shield bracket in an improper orientation with respect to the chassis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 10 further comprising: at least one snap finger extending from an edge of the I/O shield bracket and engaging a portion of the chassis to attach the I/O shield bracket to the chassis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 13 wherein: the chassis further includes a window ledge extending towards the interior of the chassis, the window ledge defining the I/O window; the at least one snap finger engaging a portion of the outer side of the window ledge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein: the chassis further includes a window ledge extending towards the interior of the chassis, the window ledge defining the I/O window; the embossed portion extending into the window ledge from the interior of the chassis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The computer system of claim 10 further comprising: an I/O gasket of electrically conductive material mounted to an interior side of the I/O shield bracket, the I/O gasket defining at least one hole for a computer connector to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; wherein the I/O gasket provides electromagnetic shielding between the I/O shield bracket and the computer connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein: the chassis further includes a window ledge extending towards the interior of the chassis, the window ledge defining the I/O window; edges of the embossed portion resides next to interior surfaces of the window ledge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein: the at least one hole is defined in the embossed portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein the I/O shield bracket is removably attached to the chassis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; a circuit board housed in the chassis; at least one computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board; an I/O shield bracket removably attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; an I/O gasket of electrically conductive material mounted to the interior side of the I/O shield bracket, the I/O gasket defining at least one hole for receiving a computer connector to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; wherein the I/O gasket provides electromagnetic shielding between the I/O shield bracket and the computer connector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer system comprising: a chassis, the chassis defining an I/O window for computer connectors to be accessible from outside the chassis; a circuit board housed in the chassis; at least one computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board; an I/O shield bracket removably attached to the chassis and extending across at least a substantial portion of the I/O window, the I/O shield bracket defining at least one hole for a computer connector fixably coupled to the circuit board to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; an I/O gasket of electrically conductive material mounted to the interior side of the I/O shield bracket, the I/O gasket defining at least one hole for receiving a computer connector to be accessible from the outside of the chassis; wherein the I/O gasket provides electromagnetic shielding between the I/O shield bracket and the computer connector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 20 further comprising: means for reducing the electromagnetic radiation radiating from between an edge of the chassis defining the I/O window and the I/O shield bracket.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 20 wherein: a connector of the at least one connector includes a base portion residing generally parallel to the I/O window, the I/O gasket is in electrical contact with the base portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 20 wherein the electrically conductive gasket is made of an electrically conductive foam material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer system of claim 20 wherein: the I/O shield bracket further includes at least two tabs extending towards the interior of the computer system in a generally perpendicular direction to an interior side of the bracket, each tab residing within a mounting slit defined by the I/O gasket to mount the I/O gasket to the I/O shield.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the at least one hole is defined in the embossed portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the embossed portion of the I/O shield bracket defines a plurality of holes for computer connectors to be accessible from the outside of the chassis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 10 wherein the embossed portion of the I/O shield bracket defines a plurality of holes for computer connectors to be accessible from the outside of the chassis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4496627A
Cited
US4764422A
Cited
US5191544A
Cited
US5225629A
Cited
US5584983A
Cited
US5591482A
Cited
US5347430A
Cited
US5519585A
Cited
US5383096A
Cited
US5527104A
Cited
US5684271A
Cited
US5564930A
Cited
US5500789A
Cited
US5855818A
Cited
US5567740A
Cited
US5661640A
Cited
US5742003A
Cited
US5770822A
Cited
US5808867A
Cited
US5913698A
Cited
US6023415A
Cited
US6053586A
Cited
US5934775A
Cited
US6166325A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-01-14 | 2005-07-16 | 2006-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-14 | 2009-07-16 | 2010-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-14 | 2013-07-16 | 2014-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |