Dynamic Grounding Contacts for Chassis Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical devices with surfaces that are poorly electrically coupled to ground can act as antennas, accumulating ambient voltage and causing interference or damage, and adhesive conductive strips used for coupling can peel away and change color over time.

Innovation Solution

Dynamic grounding contacts with a standoff, magnet, and contact element that adjust to maintain electrically conductive coupling between surfaces without adhesion, ensuring consistent contact and preventing color changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive conductive strips are used to couple chassis walls to ground, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but the strips peel away and change color over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical coupling reliabilityVSAvoidservice life of conductive strip

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the adhesive bonding system with a magnetic field-based system. Magnets embedded in the chassis wall attract the conductive contact element, creating a mechanically robust connection that eliminates peeling and degradation issues associated with adhesive strips while maintaining electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the bonding mechanism from chemical adhesion to magnetic attraction. By using magnets with specific magnetic field strengths and contact elements with appropriate magnetic properties, the system achieves reliable electrical coupling without the limitations of adhesive materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If fixed grounding contacts are used, then electrical coupling is established, but they cannot adapt to varying gap distances between chassis walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical coupling consistencyVSAvoidadaptability to gap variations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding contact element is designed to be movable rather than fixed. The magnetic force attracts the contact element toward the chassis wall, and the element can dynamically adjust its position to maintain electrical contact despite variations in gap distance, assembly tolerances, or thermal expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic field automatically adjusts the contact element's position to maintain optimal electrical coupling. The system self-regulates the contact pressure and position based on the magnetic attraction force, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The dynamic grounding contacts provide reliable and durable electrically conductive coupling, preventing voltage accumulation and maintaining efficiency by ensuring surfaces are effectively grounded, even in varying gap distances.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet, and a contact element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS11502450B2Systems for dynamically adjustable grounding connections

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A grounding contact configured to electrically couple a first chassis wall to a second chassis wall, that includes a standoff a magnet, and a contact element, where the standoff is rigidly coupled to the first chassis wall, where the contact element is directly contacting the second chassis wall, and where the contact element is disposed between the magnet and the second chassis wall.