EMI/RFI shielding for electronic assemblies

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, a significantly improved EMI/RFI shielding gasket is provided for heavy duty wiping applications which not only is highly durable and inexpensive to provide, but which also serves as a guide to facilitate the insertion of a heavy cabinet in a manner which will not damage the EMI/RFI shielding.
In a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, an integral strip of material having spring-like characteristics (such as a flexible phosphor bronze or beryllium copper alloy with a tin finish plate for corrosion protection) is inexpensively formed into an integral EMI/RFI shielding strip having projecting longitudinally-spaced spring fingers disposed in a wiping direction and located at spaced distances dependent upon the frequencies for which EMI/RFI shielding is to be provided.
These strips are used to provide EMI/RFI shielding for heavy duty wiping insertions and, accordingly, are mounted (such as by riveting) on the cabinet walls so as to be adjacent to the wiping sides of each inserted electronic assembly for which wiping EMI/RFI shielding is required.
The shape, spacing, projection distance and compression provided by the integral spring fingers formed in each strip are chosen so that a highly durable and inexpensive EMI/RFI shield is achieved, wherein each spring finger makes a relatively high pressure direct contact with the adjacent cabinet housing wall, and wherein the cumulative effect of the spring fingers additionally provides a guiding action during insertion of the electronic assembly.
The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects, uses and advantages thereof will become evident from the following description of a particular preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.