Electricity: conductors and insulators – Anti-inductive structures – Conductor transposition
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-18
2001-04-03
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Anti-inductive structures
Conductor transposition
C174S034000, C361S800000, C361S816000, C361S818000, C361S752000, C361S753000, C361S789000, C361S799000, C439S607070, C439S607560, C439S939000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211457
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to the protection of components used in an electronic device from electromagnetic interference (EMI), and especially to EMI protection of a communications interface between an electronic camera and an external device, such as a host computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is highly desirable to provide EMI shielding for a communications interface, in an electronic device in order to isolate the interface from EMI signals that might be generated by circuitry in the device. One such communications interface is an interface defined by the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc.) 1394-1995 standard. In the case of electronic imaging devices, the trend is toward development of smaller, tightly packed digital cameras. It is usually difficult, if not impossible, to remotely locate and thereby isolate a communications interface relative to the electronics in the camera, as could be done, e.g., in a computer system. Instead the interface lies well within the camera and closely adjacent to camera electronics. Thus it is especially important to isolate the interface from transmissions and signals that might be generated by circuitry in the camera.
The problem with some of the current communications interfaces, such as those which follow the IEEE 1394 interface standard, is that they are not designed to be electrically conductive to the product enclosure. More specifically, an interface defined by the IEEE 1394 interface standard, which is ordinarily attached to a circuit board in the camera, “floats” with respect to an opening in the product enclosure so that a connector plug can engage the forward area of the interface connector in the camera. This results in a “hot” area of EMI susceptibility, as well as a small “dead air” region between the connector and the enclosure that can act as an EMI radiator. Nonetheless, the general robustness of these interfaces often make them the desired choice for digital cameras. Particularly in the case of tightly packed high speed electronics in a modern digital camera, the performance of the camera may suffer unless EMI protection can be designed into the camera to include the communications interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a shielded communications interface located within an electronic device which is adapted to be connected to a plug of a peripheral external device and is subject to electromagnetic emissions (EMI) from electronic circuits which are grounded in the electronic device, the electronic device including an enclosure having an opening through which the electronic circuits are accessed and a conductive inner wall surface that is connected to the ground of the electronic circuits, the shielded communications interface comprising:
a connector including a conductive housing and a plurality of pins which establish electrical connection between the plug and the electronic circuits;
a conductive EMT shield extending at least partially around the conductive housing; and
means for fastening the conductive EMT shield to the conductive inner wall surface to thereby ground the conductive EMI shield and isolate EMI emissions generated by the electronic circuits in the electronic device from the connector.
One advantage of the invention is that the inventive design allows for supression of EMI by intimate electrical contact between the EMI shield and the grounded product enclosure, thereby allowing the use of the connector in high speed digital devices, such as digital cameras.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3311792 (1967-03-01), Scoville
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patent: 4641224 (1987-02-01), Reimer
patent: 4689723 (1987-08-01), Myers et al.
patent: 4744006 (1988-05-01), Duffeld
patent: 5329066 (1994-07-01), Hansson
patent: 5416673 (1995-05-01), Yoshimitsu et al.
patent: 5702271 (1997-12-01), Steinman
patent: 5709569 (1998-01-01), Buck et al.
patent: 5810620 (1998-09-01), Kobayashi et al.
Cama David M.
Chinnici Anthony G.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Eastman Kodak Company
Mancho Ronnie
Woods David M.
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