Abstract:
A gasket assembly structure including a frame which includes a front half and a back half joined together with a plurality of interlocking tabs located around a perimeter of the frame, defining a window, and an electromagnetic gasket, constrained between the front half and the back half of the frame; where the electromagnetic gasket lines an interior perimeter of the window and partially extends from the frame into the window, and a passageway through the window of the frame with boarders defined by the constrained electromagnetic gasket. A housing structure including a receptacle recessed within an opening on a front side of the housing, the receptacle is rigidly attached to the housing, and a gasket assembly recessed within the opening and located between the front side of the housing and the receptacle, where the gasket assembly is directly secured to the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to electronic cable connections for electronic transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to electromagnetic cable gaskets. 
         [0002]    Cables and cable connections need to be electromagnetic compliant, such that electronic emission of the cable and the cable connection is minimized and does not generate electromagnetic disturbances to other electronic components. Gaskets placed at cable connections help to minimize electromagnetic disturbances and reduce both the emission of electromagnetic disturbances from the cable and the introduction of external electromagnetic disturbances into the cable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a gasket assembly structure is provided. The gasket assembly structure may include a frame including a front half and a back half joined together with a plurality of interlocking tabs located around a perimeter of the frame, defining a window, and an electromagnetic gasket, constrained between the front half and the back half of the frame; where the electromagnetic gasket lines an interior perimeter of the window and partially extends from the frame into the window, and a passageway through the window of the frame with boarders defined by the constrained electromagnetic gasket. 
         [0004]    According to another embodiment, a housing structure is provided. The housing structure may include a receptacle recessed within an opening on a front side of the housing, the receptacle is rigidly attached to the housing, and a gasket assembly recessed within the opening and located between the front side of the housing and the receptacle, where the gasket assembly is directly secured to the housing and comprises a passageway defined by an electromagnetic gasket constrained between a front half and a back half of a frame. 
         [0005]    According to another embodiment, a housing structure is provided. The structure may include a receptacle recessed within an opening on a front side of the housing, the receptacle is rigidly attached to the housing, and a gasket assembly recessed within the opening and located between the front of the housing and the receptacle, the gasket assembly is directly secured to the housing and comprises a passageway defined by an electromagnetic gasket constrained between a front half and a back half of a frame, where the receptacle receives a cable assembly to form a cable connection between the cable assembly and the housing, and the passageway is sized and dimensioned to receive a connector body of a cable assembly such that the connector body is in direct contact with the electromagnetic gasket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first assembly according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a gasket assembly according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of a gasket assembly according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the gasket assembly of  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a second assembly according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Elements of the figures are not necessarily to scale and are not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. For clarity and ease of illustration, scale of elements may be exaggerated. The detailed description should be consulted for accurate dimensions. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Detailed embodiments of the claimed structures and methods are disclosed herein; however, it can be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the claimed structures and methods that may be embodied in various forms. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of this invention to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments. 
         [0014]    References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
         [0015]    For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosed structures and methods, as oriented in the drawing figures. The terms “overlying”, “atop”, “on top”, “positioned on” or “positioned atop” mean that a first element, such as a first structure, is present on a second element, such as a second structure, wherein intervening elements, such as an interface structure may be present between the first element and the second element. The term “direct contact” means that a first element, such as a first structure, and a second element, such as a second structure, are connected without any intermediary conducting, insulating or semiconductor layers at the interface of the two elements. 
         [0016]    In the interest of not obscuring the presentation of embodiments of the present invention, in the following detailed description, some processing steps or operations that are known in the art may have been combined together for presentation and for illustration purposes and in some instances may have not been described in detail. In other instances, some processing steps or operations that are known in the art may not be described at all. It should be understood that the following description is rather focused on the distinctive features or elements of various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Electromagnetic interference (or EMI) or disturbance occurs when the performance of electronic equipment is degraded due to the electromagnetic radiation emissions from an external source. Electronic equipment should be designed to minimize both electromagnetic radiation emission and any electromagnetic interference introduced into the electronic equipment from an external source. EMI may also occur as the result of static electricity, or the imbalance of electrical charges on the surface or within a material. A static electric charge may occur when two different materials touch and separate. Electromagnetic shielding to isolate electronic devices and cables can help reduce EMI. An example of electromagnetic shielding is barriers, for example a gasket at a cable connection. 
         [0018]    An electronic device which is electromagnetic compliant (EMC) minimizes the generation of electromagnetic disturbances which may influence other electronic devices. One method of controlling the EMC of an electronic device is by using electromagnetic gaskets at the cable connections. 
         [0019]    The present invention generally relates to electronic cable connections for electronic transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to electromagnetic cable gaskets. One way to control electromagnetic disturbances between electronic components may include using a robust electromagnetic gasket located within a receptacle housing of a cable connection. One embodiment by which to control electromagnetic disturbances between electronic components is described in detail below by referring to the accompanying drawings in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of a first assembly  100  is shown in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. The first assembly  100  may include a receptacle housing  102  and a cable assembly  104 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The cable assembly  104  may include any cable assembly known in the art, such as, for example, a single-conductor cable, a multi-conductor cable, or a fiber optic cable. The cable assembly  104  may include a connector body  106  and one or more wire bundles  108  terminated within and extending from a back end of the connector body  106 . In general, a front end of the connector body  106  may be rectangular in shape; however it may be any shape or size suitable for the number of wires or number of wire bundles  108 . For example, the front end of the connector body  106  may alternatively be circular, triangular, trapezoidal, or square in shape. The connector body  106  may generally be made of a metal or a conductive plastic. 
         [0021]    The receptacle housing  102  may be any component designed with a receptacle (not shown) for receiving the cable assembly  104  to form a cable connection. The cable connection formed between the cable assembly  104  and the receptacle housing  102  may be used for either power transmission, signal transmission, or both. In an embodiment, the receptacle housing  102  may be a primary interface for all cable connections to and from a server, or a mainframe as a standalone component or an integrated component. The receptacle housing  102  may be made from any suitable material known in the art. Suitable materials may be those which offer structural integrity to physically support the requisite cable connections along with conductive properties used as part of an EMC shielding solution. 
         [0022]    Most typically, the receptacle housing  102  may include an opening  114  in which the receptacle may be positioned at or near a bottom or back of the opening  114 . When forming the cable connection between the cable assembly  104  and the receptacle housing  102 , the cable assembly  104  may be inserted into the opening  114  upon which it engages with the receptacle to complete the cable connection. 
         [0023]    In the present example, the receptacle housing  102  may include multiple openings  114 , each designed to receive a single cable assembly  104  to form a single cable connection. The multiple openings  114  may be separated by a divider  112  which may provide gross alignment when inserting the cable assembly  104  into the receptacle housing  102 . The receptacle housing  102  may further include a gasket assembly  110  which may be used to minimize static electricity and EMI and prevent damage to other electronic devices. The gasket assembly  110  is described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The gasket assembly  110  may be secured within the opening  114  and form or provide a passageway  314  ( FIG. 3 ) that is sized and dimensioned to receive the connector body  106  of the cable assembly  104 . In an embodiment, one gasket assembly  110  may be provided for multiple openings  114  of a single receptacle housing  102 . In such cases, the one gasket assembly  110  may provide an equal number of passageways as there are openings  114 . In another embodiment, one gasket assembly  110  may be provided for each opening  114 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , an isometric view of the gasket assembly  110  is shown in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 2  illustrates an assembled view of the gasket assembly  110  and  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the gasket assembly  110 .  FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the gasket assembly  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The gasket assembly  110  may include a frame and one or more electromagnetic gaskets  308  (hereinafter “gasket”) supported by the frame. The frame may include a front half  302  and a back half  304 . The one or more gaskets  308  may be secured or captured between the front half  302  and the back half  304  of the frame. 
         [0025]    The front half  302  may be secured to the back half  304  using any known technique, for example, fasteners, glue, hooks, snaps, clips, or some combination thereof. In an embodiment, the front half  302  and the back half  304  may each have one or more corresponding tabs  306 , which when engaged with one another may join and secure the front half  302  to the back half  304 , and constrain the one or more gaskets  308 . In an embodiment, the front half  302  may include a plurality of mating protrusions  320  positioned along a perimeter or outside edge, and the back half  304  may include a plurality of mating recesses  322  positioned along a perimeter or outside edge. As such, each of the mating recesses  322  receive one of the mating protrusions  320  to interlock the front half  302  to the back half  304 . Each of the front half  302  and the back half  304  of the frame may include a window  312 , which when assembled with the gaskets  308  as the gasket assembly  110 , provide a passageway  314  designed to receive the connector body  106  of the cable assembly  104  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0026]    The frame, including the front half  302  and the back half  304 , may be made from any suitable material known in the art. Suitable materials may be those which offer structural integrity, wear resistance as well as conductive properties. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the front half  302  and back half  304  is made from a conductive material or has conductive properties such that electricity may be conducted from the gasket  308  to the receptacle housing  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The conductive material of the frame will provide a path to ground between the gasket  308  and the receptacle housing  102  ( FIG. 1 ), for any static electricity or EMI generated when the cable assembly  104  is pushed into and out of the receptacle housing  102  ( FIG. 1 ) in direct contact with the gasket assembly  110 . In an embodiment, either the front half  302 , the back half  304  or both may be made from a conductive material, such as, a metal or a conductive polymer. For example, either the front half  302 , the back half  304  or both may be made from a metal, such as aluminum. Alternatively, either the front half  302  or the back half  304  may be made from a plastic or a composite. In some instances, the front half  302  may be made from a metal, such as, aluminum and the back half may be made from a plastic, such as, ABS, or vice versa. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the gasket assembly  110  includes three passageways  314 , each designed to receive a single cable assembly  104 . The passageways  314  of the gasket assembly  110  may generally correspond with the openings  114  of the receptacle housing  102 . As such, the passageway  314  may generally have a complementary shape to that of the connector body  106 . For example, if the front end of the connector body  106  is substantially rectangular then the corresponding passageway  314  is also substantially rectangular. It should be noted, that while the embodiment depicted in the figures includes three passageways  314 , any number of passageways  314  may be included in the gasket assembly  110 . The number of passageways  314  may generally match the number of cable assemblies  104  for which the receptacle housing  102  is designed to receive; however, it is conceivable for the gasket assembly  110  to have fewer passageways  314  than the number of openings  114  in the receptacle housing  102 . In an embodiment, the receptacle housing  102  may include three openings  114  and the gasket assembly  110  may include only two passageways  314 , in which one of the openings  114  in the receptacle housing  102  may be free of any gasket assembly  110 . In another embodiment, the receptacle housing  102  may include four openings  114  and two gasket assemblies  110  each having two passageways  314 . 
         [0028]    As described herein, each passageway  314  may include four gaskets  308 , one on each of the horizontal and vertical interior surfaces of the frame. As such, the gasket assembly  110  illustrated in the figures comprises a total of three passageways  314  and twelve gaskets  308 . The shape of the passageway  314  may dictate the number of gaskets  108  required. In a preferred embodiment, the gaskets  108  may substantially surround the circumference or perimeter of the passageway. It should be noted that in the present case, four gaskets  108  substantially surround the perimeter of the passageway  314 , even though adjacent gaskets  108  may be separated by a small space in the corners of the passageway  314 . Finally, the gaskets  308  may be embodied in different shapes and configurations which may also change the number of gaskets required. 
         [0029]    The gasket  308  is designed to occupy and thereby shield a gap that exists between the cable assembly  104  and the receptacle housing  102 . Specifically, the gasket  308  is used to suppress electromagnetic interference. The gasket  308  reflects and absorbs incident radiation. The higher the attenuation of the shielding, the more effective it is at keeping in or out the undesired electromagnetic interference. The gasket  308  must be mechanically stable to ensure a continuous grounding and must be designed to facilitate repeated insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104  to and from the receptacle housing  102 . 
         [0030]    The gasket  308  may be able to occupy both the maximum and minimum distance of the gap between the connector body  106  and the frame of the gasket assembly  110  to ensure effecting EMI shielding. As such, each gasket  308  is provided with a plurality of springs  324  which provide the requisite flexibility capable of occupying the variable gaps between the connector body  106  and the frame of the gasket assembly  110 . The springs  324  have a height (h) and a length (l) as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The height (h) of the springs  324  may preferably be greater than a minimum distance of the gap between the connector body  106  ( FIG. 1 ) and the frame when the cable assembly  104  ( FIG. 1 ) is inserted into the receptacle housing  102 . When inserting and removing the cable assembly  104  to and from the receptacle housing  102 , the springs  324  are compressed vertically, thus reducing the height (h) of the springs  324 . As a result, the length (l) of the springs  324  increases. At the maximum distance of the gap, the gasket  308  may preferably be compressed about 25% to ensure adequate contact and proper shielding; however, the gasket  308  may be compressed as much as 50% or 75% of its original, uncompressed, height (h). 
         [0031]    As mentioned previously, the gasket  308  is secured or constrained between the front half  302  and the back half  304  of the frame. Each of the front half  302  and the back half  304  of the frame may include a mating lip  326 , and the gasket  308  includes a corresponding mating channel  328 . The mating lip  326  of the back half  304  and the corresponding mating channel  328  of the gasket  308  is designed with an interference fit to provide a ridged connection between the back half  304  of the frame and the gasket  308 . The mating lip  326  of the front half  302  and the corresponding mating channel  328  of the gasket  308  is designed with a slip fit to allow for compression of the springs  324 . The slip fit between the mating lip  326  of the front half  302  and the corresponding mating channel  328  of the gasket  308  is essential to allow the length (l) of the spring  324  to increase as it is compressed during insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104  to and from the receptacle housing  102 . In addition, adequate clearance or space must be provided between an end of the mating lip  326  of the front half  302  and a bottom of the corresponding mating channel  328  of the gasket  308  to allow the length of the spring  324  to increase as it is compressed. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the spring  506  may have an interference fit to the back half  304  such that the spring  324  may move minimally during the insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104  from the gasket assembly  110 . Continuing in this embodiment, the spring  324  may fit to the front half  302  in such a manner that the insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104  may cause the spring  324  to compress and a portion of the spring  324  around the front half  302  may move away from the back half  304  to allow for the spring  324  movement. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the gasket  308  is made of a conductive material, such as a metal. Non-limiting examples of conductive material include magnesium, aluminum, zinc, steel, brass, stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper, nickel, silver, and alloys thereof. Further, the gasket  308  may be plated to provide a protective finish to improve its function and durability. It should be noted that galvanic action between the gasket  308  and the connector body  106  ( FIG. 1 ) should be considered when selecting the material or the plating of the gasket  308 . In general, gasket  308  may be one continuous piece with individual springs  324 . The individual springs  324  of the gasket  308  allow the gasket  308  to return to its original shape after it is no longer in contact with the connector body  106  ( FIG. 1 ) of the cable assembly  104 . 
         [0034]    The gasket  308  may alternatively be referred to in the industry as an EMI shielding strip or an EMI shielding finger stock gasket. Alternatively, the gasket  308  may include metalized fabric, conductive foam, conductive elastomer or mesh. 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, a locating ramp  316  or chamfer may be provided around the perimeter of the window  312  of the front half  302  of the frame. The locating ramp  316  on the front half  302  of the frame is critical to protect the gasket  308  and ensure that the gasket  308  is not dislodged or damaged during insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104 . Specifically, the locating ramp  316  is sufficiently tall enough to protect a leading edge  318  of the gasket  308  and at a suitable angle and length to assist with fine alignment of the connector body  106  during insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104 . Stated differently, the locating ramp  316  will guide and align the cable assembly  104  when it is inserted into the housing. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of a second assembly  200  is shown in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. The second assembly  200  may include a chassis  210 , a card  220 , the receptacle housing  102  and one or more cable assemblies  104 . It should be noted that, while the embodiment depicted in the figures includes six cards  220 , any number of the cards  220  may be part of the second assembly  200 . The second assembly  200  is an example of an arrangement of the receptacle housing  102  and the cable assembly  104  as implemented in a server or mainframe computer. 
         [0037]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the gasket  308  provides EMI shielding, and may also securely hold the cable assembly  104  in place after the insertion of the cable assembly  104  into the receptacle housing  102  to create the requisite cable connection(s). In an embodiment, the cable assembly  104  is inserted into the receptacle housing  102 . At the time of the insertion, the springs  324  of the gasket  308  of the frame will compress, allowing a secure fit between the connector body  106  and the receptacle housing  102 , thus minimizing the gap between the cable assembly  104  and the receptacle housing  102 . The springs  324  of the gasket  308  provides a ground to the receptacle housing  102 , minimize the electronic emission of the cable assembly  104  and minimizes the introduction of external electromagnetic disturbances into the cable assembly  104 . In this embodiment, the wire bundles  108  may have cable connections to the server or to the mainframe which the receptacle housing  102  is a part of. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, the gasket  308  and the frame may fit together such that the gasket  308  remains in place during the insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104 . The springs  324  of the gasket  308  may compress during insertion of the cable assembly  104  and return to their original shape after the removal of the cable assembly  104 . A gasket assembly  110  mounted within the housing  102  may preferably be durable and robust so as to prevent the gasket  308  from being damaged. This is especially important because damaged portions of the gasket  308  can potentially break free and become lodge further within the opening  114  potentially causing a short circuit at the receptacle. Therefore, special care was taken in the design of the gasket assembly  110 , especially in the design of the frame. In particular, this was a challenge to design the gasket assembly  110  to withstand multiple insertions and removals of the cable assembly  104 . 
         [0039]    Housing electromagnetic gaskets  308  for a cable connection within the receptacle housing  102  is a unique feature of this invention and has several advantages over the traditional location of housing electromagnetic gaskets  308  externally on an exterior perimeter of the connector body  106  of a cable assembly  104 . The advantages of housing the gasket assembly  110  within the receptacle housing  102  include the physical protection of the gasket assembly  110 , reduced handling of the gasket assembly  110 , physical protection of an operator due to recessed gaskets  308 , and reduced system maintenance costs. 
         [0040]    Housing the gasket assembly  110  within the receptacle housing  102  helps to protect the gasket assembly  110  from external exposure and handling during cable assembly  104  insertion and removal from the receptacle housing  102 . In this embodiment, an operator who is responsible for the insertion and the removal of the cable assembly  104  into and out of the receptacle housing  102  may not have direct contact with the gasket assembly  110  and the operator may be protected from any sharp points of the gasket. Continuing in this embodiment, the gasket assembly  110  is also protected from the operator during the insertion and removal of the cable assembly  104  from the receptacle housing  102 , which may result in a reduction of cable assembly  104  damage. The reduction of cable assembly  104  damage will help to reduce system maintenance costs. In this embodiment, there is also an improved cable esthetic due to the removal of the gaskets  308  from the connector boy  106  of the cable assembly  104 . It may be noted that not all advantages of the present invention are include above. 
         [0041]    The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.