Mitigating electromagnetic interference in a computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9717169-B2
Application number	US-201514867539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 28, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for mitigating electromagnetic interference within a computing device. A base unit is coupled to an inside of a computing device. One or more conductive elements are coupled to the base unit. The one or more conductive elements are located within an air flow such that the one or more conductive elements are movable in response to air movement generated by the air flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a base unit coupled to an inside of a computing device; and
one or more conductive elements coupled to the base unit, the one or more conductive elements made of a flexible conductive material that randomly moves while coupled to the base unit in response to air movement generated by an air flow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the one or more conductive elements corresponds to a lowest frequency desired to be reduced within the computing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more conductive elements has a length corresponding to a range of frequencies being emitted within the computing device such that a conductive element that is longer than a different conductive element reduces a larger range of frequencies being emitted than the different conductive element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of conductive elements are coupled to the base unit, and wherein the plurality of conductive elements comprise conductive elements of different lengths.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base unit comprises a suspension unit coupled to the computing device at one or more locations, the one or more conductive elements coupled to the suspension unit at one or more locations along a length of the suspension unit, the suspension unit positioning the one or more conductive elements away from a structure of the computing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base unit with the coupled one or more conductive elements is disposed within the computing device at a location that minimizes interference with the flow of air within the computing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the base unit and the one or more conductive elements are made of a single piece of material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more conductive elements is more rigid near an end that is coupled to the base unit than near an end that is not coupled to the base unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive elements comprises a conductive layer insulated by a non-conductive layer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive elements are electrically connected to the base unit such that a conductive path travels from the base unit to each of the one or more conductive elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the base unit is electrically connected to an enclosure of the computing device such that a conductive path is generated from the enclosure to the base unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air flow is generated by one or more components of the computing device, the one or more conductive elements being movable without power and without additional fans.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive elements comprise one or more of:
flexible strips;
rotatable blades; and
flexible panels.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive elements are made from conductive materials comprising one or more of:
metalized plastic;
sheet metal;
metal foil; and
conductive fabric.

15. A method comprising:
providing a base unit comprising one or more conductive elements coupled to the base unit, the one or more conductive elements made of a flexible conductive material that randomly moves while coupled to the base unit in response to air movement generated by an air flow; and
coupling the base unit with the one or more conductive elements to an inside of a computing device such that the one or more conductive elements are located within the air flow.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a length of each of the one or more conductive elements corresponds to a lowest frequency desired to be reduced within the computing device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more conductive elements has a length corresponding to a range of frequencies being emitted within the computing device such that a conductive element that is longer than a different conductive element reduces a larger range of frequencies being emitted than the different conductive element.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of conductive elements are coupled to the base unit, and wherein the plurality of conductive elements comprise conductive elements of different lengths.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the base unit comprises a suspension unit coupled to the computing device at one or more locations, the one or more conductive elements coupled to the suspension unit at one or more locations along a length of the suspension unit, the suspension unit positioning the one or more conductive elements away from a structure of the computing device.

20. A system comprising:
a computing device;
a base unit coupled to an inside of the computing device; and
one or more conductive elements coupled to the base unit, the one or more conductive elements made of a flexible conductive material that randomly moves while coupled to the base unit in response to air movement generated by an air flow.

Assignees

• Lenovo Entpr Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Bodette Edward J
• Benefield Stuart B
• Crowder Michael H
• Dillon Brad E

Classifications

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/20

  Cooling means · CPC title

• H05K9/0081 Primary

  Electromagnetic shielding materials, e.g. EMI, RFI shielding (H05K9/0003 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/203

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title

• H05K7/20727

  within server blades for removing heat from heat source · CPC title