Planar Spring Contact Shielding for Expansion Card Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronics enclosures, such as those using PCI and PCIe standards, are insufficient in suppressing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) due to inadequate conductive connections between expansion cards and the enclosure, leading to unacceptable levels of EMR emission.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating planar spring contacts within conductive columns that form the openings in the enclosure, which deform to establish electrical contact with the edges of the expansion card's backplate, creating a contiguous conductive boundary to enhance EMR shielding by forming a more effective Faraday cage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If standard conductive connections are used between expansion cards and enclosure, then device compatibility and ease of installation are maintained, but electromagnetic radiation suppression is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive connection is segmented into multiple components: the conductive backplate, conductive columns at each corner, and planar spring contacts. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving superior EMR suppression without compromising compatibility with standard expansion card installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar spring contacts introduce a dynamic element to the otherwise static conductive connection. The springs deform elastically during card insertion and maintain continuous contact pressure, ensuring reliable electrical connection and consistent EMR shielding performance while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If larger openings are provided in the enclosure for expansion cards, then card installation and external cabling access are facilitated, but electromagnetic radiation leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding structure implements local quality enhancement at critical locations where EMR leakage is most likely to occur. Conductive columns are positioned at the corners of the opening, and planar spring contacts are placed at the edges of the backplate, creating localized zones of enhanced conductivity that effectively seal the opening without requiring the opening itself to be smaller.
3Reliability
If conventional conductive backplate connections are used, then manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness are maintained, but the conductive boundary continuity is insufficient for effective Faraday cage formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple conductive elements (backplate, columns, and spring contacts) into a unified conductive boundary system. The planar spring contacts act as intermediaries that electrically connect the backplate edges to the conductive columns, merging these separate components into a continuous Faraday cage structure that reliably suppresses EMR leakage.
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 solution effectively reduces electromagnetic radiation emissions by creating a contiguous conductive boundary, improving the containment of EMR within the enclosure without altering existing standards or increasing user effort during card insertion.
Implementation Method 1
The planar spring contact deforms to force a second longitudinal side edge of the backplate surface panel... into an opposing shielding conductor
Implementation Method 2
an effective Faraday cage has to surround the emitting sources of radiation. In general, this is achieved by enclosing the emitting sources in a conductive enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a planar spring contact component coupled to a computer housing card enclosure that makes electrical contact with an inserted expansion card, to help form an electromagnetic shield around an opening in the card enclosure provided for external access to the expansion card. A planar spring contact component is electrically coupled to a conductive column that forms a first longitudinal side of an opening in a computer housing card enclosure. The planar spring contact component contacts a longitudinal side edge of a backplate surface panel of an expansion card when the expansion card is inserted into the card enclosure. The planar spring contact component deforms to force the opposite side edge of the backplate surface panel in a first planar direction, relative to a plane of the surface panel of the backplate, into an opposing shielding conductor, which may be a planar spring contact component of another conductive column.