Spring-Loaded Electromagnetic Shield for PCB Force Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic shields apply excessive force and torque to printed circuit boards during assembly, potentially damaging components and hinder conformal coating due to rigid contact with the housing surface, leading to inadequate shielding and potential dendrite growth issues.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic shield with electrically conductive walls and spring-loaded fingers that extend at angles to contact the housing surface, reducing force transmission, allowing conformal coating, and providing multiple points of contact to conform to irregular surfaces, thereby minimizing torque and enhancing shielding effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electromagnetic shields use rigid contact with housing, then electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is improved, but excessive force and torque are applied to printed circuit boards causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spring-loaded fingers as flexible contact elements instead of rigid structures. These spring fingers provide compliant contact with the housing interior surface, allowing the electromagnetic shield to maintain electrical connection and shielding effectiveness while accommodating housing variations and preventing excessive force transmission to the printed circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the contact elements from rigid to spring-loaded, introducing elasticity and compliance. This parameter change allows the shield to maintain electromagnetic effectiveness through electrical contact while reducing the force and torque applied to mounting surfaces, solving the contradiction between shielding performance and mechanical stress.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional electromagnetic shields use flat contact surfaces, then assembly is simplified, but conformal coating is hindered due to uneven contact and incomplete coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contact interface into multiple discrete spring-loaded fingers rather than using a single flat contact surface. This segmentation allows conformal coating material to access and coat all surfaces uniformly, including areas behind and between the spring fingers, while maintaining assembly simplicity through the modular finger structure that contacts the housing at multiple points.
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 reduces the risk of component damage, enables complete conformal coating, and improves electromagnetic isolation by absorbing assembly forces and conforming to housing irregularities, addressing the limitations of conventional shields.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electrically conductive spring loaded fingers extending from an end of at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive walls and configured to contact an inner surface of the housing
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic shield separates the first portion and the second portion and is configured to electromagnetically isolate the electronic circuitry of the first portion from the second portion
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, in general, an apparatus includes an electrically conductive housing including a first portion and second portion, the first portion including electronic circuitry. An electromagnetic shield separates the first portion and the second portion and is configured to electromagnetically isolate the electronic circuitry of the first portion from the second portion. The electromagnetic shield includes a plurality of electrically conductive walls partially separating the first portion and the second portion, a plurality of electrically conductive spring loaded fingers extending from an end of at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive walls and configured to contact an inner surface of the housing. Together, the plurality of electrically conductive walls and the plurality of electrically conductive spring loaded fingers separate the first portion and the second portion.