US6866544B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for mounting an electromagnetic interference shielding cage to a circuit board
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 2003-03-25
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Granted: 2005-03-15
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Expires: 2023-03-25
Abstract
Abstract An EMI shield, or module cage, mounts to a circuit board such that a first portion of the module cage extends above a first planar surface of the circuit board and a second portion of the module cage extends below a second planar surface of the circuit board. The module cage surrounds a corresponding transceiver module and allows airflow to travel across the transceiver module and through the module cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planar surface of the circuit board to cool the transceiver module. In one arrangement, multiple module cages attach to the circuit board in a modular configuration. Such a configuration allows attachment, to the circuit board, of the number of module cages corresponding to the number of transceiver modules required or utilized by the circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin Casey
- 👤 Kurt Kordes
- 👤 Steven Fleming
- 👤 Robert Gregory Twiss
- 👤 M. Onder Cap
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:08
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/0058; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/659; H01R13/6591; H01R13/6594; H01R13/6585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a boundary, and a slot along a portion of the boundary, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and a module cage coupled to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A circuit board assembly comprising: a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a boundary, and a slot along a portion of the boundary, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and a module cage coupled to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the module cage defines a first ventilation opening in the first housing portion and a second ventilation opening in the second housing portion, the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening configured to allow air flow through the module cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface and second surface of the circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the module cage defines at least one connection pin and wherein the circuit board defines at least one plated through hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface of the circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a conductive ground-plane, the plated through hole being in electrical communication with the conductive ground plane; and an electrical fastener that fastens the at least one connection pin of the module cage to the at least one plated through hole to couple the module cage to the circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 1 further comprising a module connector electrically coupled to the circuit board and aligned with the slot defined by the circuit board and wherein: the second housing portion of the module cage defines a module connector opening configured to engage the module connector; and the module cage further comprises a module connector covering configured to attach to the module cage to cover the module connector opening, wherein the module cage and module connector covering are configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 4 wherein the module connector comprises a small form factor pluggable (SFP) connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 4 wherein the module connector comprises a 10 gigabit small form factor pluggable (XFP) connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 1 further comprising a module cage carrier coupled to the circuit board and coupled to the module cage, the module cage carrier configured to position the module cage within the slot defined by the circuit board such that the first portion of the module cage extends past the first surface of the circuit board and the second portion of the module cage extends past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage carrier and the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7 wherein the module cage carrier defines at least one connection pin and wherein the circuit board comprises: a conductive ground-plane; at least one plated through hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface of the circuit board, the plated through hole being in electrical communication with the conductive ground plane; and an electrical fastener that fastens the at least one connection pin of the module cage carrier to the at least one plated through hole to couple the module cage carrier to the circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7 wherein: the slot is configured to receive two or more module cages; and the module cage carrier is configured for attachment of two or more module cages to the module cage carrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 7 further comprising a module connector electrically coupled to the circuit board and aligned with the slot defined by the circuit board and wherein: the second housing portion of the module cage defines a module connector opening configured to engage the module connector; and the module cage further comprises a module connector covering configured to attach to the module cage to cover the module connector opening and to engage the module cage carrier, wherein the module cage, module connector covering, and module cage carrier are configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 10 wherein the module connector comprises a small form factor pluggable (SFP) connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 10 wherein the module connector comprises a 10 gigabit small form factor pluggable (XFP) connector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 1 further comprising a support mount coupled to the circuit board, the support mount having: a support plate attached to the circuit board and oriented substantially parallel to the second surface of the circuit board, the support plate having a first electromagnetic interference shielding connection; a face plate in communication with the support plate, the face plate configured to engage the module cage and provide access to the transceiver module; and a second electromagnetic interference shielding connection in communication with the face plate and oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The circuit board assembly of claim 13 further comprising a heat sink positioned within a space defined by the support plate and a second housing portion wall of the module cage, the heat sink in thermal contact with the support plate and the second housing portion wall, the heat sink configured to transmit heat from the transceiver module to the support plate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for assembling a circuit board assembly comprising the steps of: forming a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a boundary, and a slot along a portion of the boundary, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and coupling a module cage to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for assembling a circuit board assembly comprising the steps of: forming a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a boundary, and a slot along a portion of the boundary, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and coupling a module cage to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of coupling the module cage to the circuit board further comprises the step of coupling the module cage defining a first ventilation opening in the first housing portion and a second ventilation opening in the second housing portion, the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening configured to allow air flow through the module cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface and second surface of the circuit board.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of forming further comprises forming the circuit board having a conductive ground-plane and defining at least one plated through hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface of the circuit board, the plated through hole being in electrical communication with the conductive ground plane and further comprising the step of: fastening at least one connection pin, defined by the module cage, to the at least one plated through hole to couple the module cage to the circuit board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: coupling a module connector to the circuit board, the module connector aligned with the slot defined by the circuit board; engaging the module connector with a module connector opening defined by the second housing portion of the module cage; and attaching a module connector covering to the module cage to cover the module connector opening the module cage and module connector covering configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of coupling comprises the steps of: coupling the module cage to the module cage carrier; and coupling the module cage carrier to the circuit board, the module cage carrier configured to position the module cage within the slot defined by the circuit board such that the first portion of the module cage extends past the first surface of the circuit board and the second portion of the module cage extends past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage carrier and the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of forming further comprises forming the circuit board having a conductive ground-plane and at least one plated through hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface of the circuit board, the plated through hole being in electrical communication with the conductive ground plane and further comprising the steps of: fastening at least one connection pin defined by the module cage carrier to the at least one plated through hole to couple the module cage carrier to the circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of: configuring the slot, defined by the circuit board, to receive two or more module cages; configuring the module cage carrier for attachment of two or more module cages to the module cage carrier.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of: coupling a module connector to the circuit board, the module connector aligned with the slot defined by the circuit board; engaging the module connector with a module connector opening defined by the second housing portion of the module cage; and attaching a module connector covering to the module cage to cover the module connector opening; and engaging the module connector covering with the module cage carrier, wherein the module cage, module connector covering, and module cage carrier are configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling a support mount to the circuit board, the support mount having a support plate attached to the circuit board and oriented substantially parallel to the second surface of the circuit board, the support plate having a first electromagnetic interference shielding connection, a face plate in communication with the support plate, the face plate configured to engage the module cage and provide access to the transceiver module, and a second electromagnetic interference shielding connection in communication with the face plate and oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the circuit board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of positioning a heat sink within a space defined by the support plate and a second housing portion wall of the module cage, the heat sink in thermal contact with the support plate and the second housing portion wall, the heat sink configured to transmit heat from the transceiver module to the support plate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
A module cage assembly comprising: a module cage; and a module cage carrier coupled to the module cage, the module cage carrier configured to position the module cage within a slot defined by a circuit board such that the first portion of the module cage extends past the first surface of the circuit board and the second portion of the module cage extends past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage carrier and the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for a transceiver module.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
A module cage assembly comprising: a module cage; and a module cage carrier coupled to the module cage, the module cage carrier configured to position the module cage within a slot defined by a circuit board such that the first portion of the module cage extends past the first surface of the circuit board and the second portion of the module cage extends past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage carrier and the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for a transceiver module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
The module cage assembly of claim 25 wherein the module cage defines a first ventilation opening in the first portion and a second ventilation opening in the second portion, the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening configured to allow air flow through the module cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the circuit board.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The module cage assembly of claim 25 wherein the module cage carrier is configured for attachment of two or more module cages to the module cage carrier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
80 words
The module cage assembly of claim 25 wherein: the second portion of the module cage defines a module connector opening configured to engage a module connector of the circuit board; and the module cage further comprises a module connector covering configured to attach to the module cage to cover the module connector opening and to engage the module cage carrier, the module cage, module connector covering, and module cage carrier configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer system comprising: a frame; and at least one circuit board assembly coupled to the frame, the circuit board assembly having: a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a border, and a slot along a portion of the border, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and a module cage coupled to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer system comprising: a frame; and at least one circuit board assembly coupled to the frame, the circuit board assembly having: a circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a border, and a slot along a portion of the border, the slot configured to receive a transceiver module; and a module cage coupled to the circuit board, the module cage positioned within the slot defined by the circuit board and surrounding at least a portion of the transceiver module, the module cage having a first housing portion extending past the first surface of the circuit board and a second housing portion extending past the second surface of the circuit board, the module cage configured to provide electromagnetic interference shielding for the transceiver module.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
100 words
The computer system of claim 29 further comprising a support mount coupled to the circuit board assembly, the support mount having: a support plate attached to the circuit board and oriented substantially parallel to the second surface of the circuit board, the support having a first electromagnetic interference shielding connection; a face plate in communication with the support plate, the face plate configured to engage the module cage and provide access to the transceiver module; and a second electromagnetic interference shielding connection in communication with the face plate and oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the circuit board.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-03-14 | 2008-09-13 | 2009-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-03-14 | 2012-09-13 | 2013-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-03-14 | 2016-09-13 | 2017-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |