Isolation system for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9548144-B2
Application number	US-201213679681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2012
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

An isolation system is provided for an electronic device that is configured to be mounted to a structure. The isolation system includes a flexible conductor configured to be electrically connected to the electronic device. The isolation system also includes an isolator configured to be coupled between the electronic device and the structure such that the isolator is configured to attenuate at least one of shock or vibration exerted on the electronic device. At least a portion of the isolator is electrically conductive. The isolator is electrically connected to the flexible conductor and is configured to be electrically connected to the structure such that the isolator provides an electrical path between the flexible conductor and the structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An isolation system for an electronic device that is configured to be mounted to a structure, the isolation system comprising:
an isolator configured to be coupled between the electronic device and the structure within a mounting opening of a mount of the electronic device such that the isolator is configured to attenuate at least one of shock or vibration exerted on the electronic device, the isolator extending between a structure end and an opposite distal end, the isolator including an electrically conductive bobbin that extends the length of the isolator between the structure end and the distal end, wherein the bobbin at the structure end of the isolator is configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the structure, wherein the isolator is defined by first and second discrete isolator segments that are coupled together to define the isolator, the first isolator segment defining the structure end of the isolator and including a first bobbin member, the second isolator segment defining the distal end of the isolator and including a second bobbin member that is discrete from the first bobbin member and couples to the first bobbin member to define the bobbin; and
a flexible conductive strap extending between a device end and an isolator end, the isolator end mechanically and electrically engaging the distal end of the bobbin outside of the mounting opening, the flexible conductive strap extending away from the mount, the device end being mechanically and electrically connected to the electronic device at a location remote from the mount and the isolator, the flexible conductive strap including an expansion bend along a length of the flexible conductive strap between the device end and the isolator end, the expansion bend configured to flex to allow the flexible conductive strap to accommodate relative movement between the electronic device and the isolator, wherein the bobbin provides an electrical path from the flexible conductive strap to the structure through the mount wherein the expansion bend of the flexible conductive strap is freestanding.

2. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible conductive strap comprises a conductive braid.

3. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible conductive strap does not extend through the mount opening of the mount.

4. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the isolator comprises an elastomeric bushing mounted on the bobbin, the bobbin having a central shaft extending between a first flange and a second flange, the first bobbin member defining the first flange and a first shaft segment of the central shaft, the second bobbin member defining the second flange and a second shaft segment of the central shaft, the elastomeric bushing extending around the bobbin and being held axially between the first flange and the second flange, the second flange of the bobbin being electrically connected to the isolator end of the flexible conductive strap and the first flange being configured to be electrically connected to the structure.

5. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the bobbin defines a central shaft extending through the bobbin between the distal end and the structure end, the isolator end of the flexible conductive strap being held between the distal end of the bobbin and a head of a mounting hardware such that the flexible conductive strap is held in direct mechanical engagement with the distal end of the bobbin, the mounting hardware extending through the central shaft of the bobbin and the mounting opening of the mount to couple the electronic device to the structure.

6. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the mount of the electronic device has a top side and a bottom side, the mounting opening extending between the top side and the bottom side, the flexible conductive strap engaging the distal end of the bobbin along the top side of the mount.

7. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the expansion bend of the flexible conductive strap is configured to flex a distance of up to approximately 0.2 inches from a resting position to accommodate relative movement between the electronic device and the isolator.

8. The isolation system of claim 1 , wherein the expansion bend of the flexible conductive strap is U-shaped and includes a vertex and bend segments on opposite sides of the vertex configured to move relative to each other to change a separation distance between the device end and the isolator end of the flexible conductive strap.

9. An isolation system for an electronic device that is configured to be mounted to a structure, the isolation system comprising:
an isolator coupled between the electronic device and the structure within a mounting opening of a mount of the electronic device, the isolator extending between a structure end and an opposite distal end, the isolator comprising:
an electrically conductive bobbin having a first flange, a second flange, and a central shaft extending therebetween, the first and second flanges each extending radially outward from the central shaft, the first flange defining the structure end of the isolator and being configured to be electrically connected to the structure, the second flange defining the distal end of the isolator; and
an elastomeric bushing mounted on the bobbin such that the elastomeric bushing extends around the central shaft of the bobbin axially between the first and second flanges of the bobbin, the elastomeric bushing engaging the electronic device to attenuate at least one of shock or vibration exerted on the electronic device; and

a flexible conductive strap extending between a device end and an isolator end, the isolator end mechanically and electrically engaging the second flange of the bobbin outside of the mounting opening, the flexible conductive strap extending away from the mount, the device end being mechanically and electrically connected to the electronic device at a location remote from the mount and the isolator, the flexible conductive strap including an expansion bend along a length of the flexible conductive strap between the device end and the isolator end, the expansion bend configured to flex to allow the flexible conductive strap to accommodate relative movement between the electronic device and the isolator, wherein the bobbin provides an electrical path from the flexible conductive strap to the structure through the mount wherein the expansion bend of the flexible conductive strap is freestanding.

10. The isolation system of claim 9 , wherein an approximate entirety of the electrical path provided by the bobbin extends through the mount.

11. The isolation system of claim 9 , wherein the first flange of the bobbin is configured to be hard mounted to the structure such that a structure side of the first flange engages the structure to electrically connect the bobbin to the structure.

12. The isolation system of claim 9 , wherein the bobbin is fabricated from stainless steel.

13. The isolation system of claim 9 , wherein the bobbin has an electrical resistance of less than approximately 2.5 milliohms.

14. The isolation system of claim 9 , wherein the isolator end of the flexible conductive strap is held in electrical and mechanical engagement with the second flange of the bobbin via a head of a mounting hardware, the mounting hardware extending through the central shaft of the bobbin and the mounting opening of the mount to couple the electronic device to the structure.

15. An electronic device assembly comprising:
an electronic device configured to be mounted to a structure, the electronic device including a mount that defines a mounting op

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Blazic Ernest Steven

Classifications

• H05K5/0073 Primary

  having specific features for mounting the housing on an external structure · CPC title

• H01B5/16 Primary

  comprising conductive material in insulating or poorly conductive material, e.g. conductive rubber (H01B1/14, H01B1/20 take precedence; insulating bodies with conductive admixtures H01B17/64; conductive paints C09D5/24) · CPC title