Patent Publication Number: US-2022232743-A1

Title: Electronic device and shielding structure thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 110101594, filed on Jan. 15, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular to an electronic device with a shielding structure. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional electronic devices include a circuit board, a connector, and a module card (such as a wireless communication card). The connector is disposed on the circuit board. The module card is inserted into the connector to be coupled to the circuit board. The connector is commonly formed by plastic packaging. When the high-speed transmitted signal of the module card passes through the connector, this generates a high-frequency noise. The high-frequency noise may be received by the antenna of the electronic device, causing serious signal interference. 
     Additionally, the module card may need to be inserted into the connector at a particular insertion angle (for example, the M.2 card needs to be inserted into the connector at a tilted insertion angle). Therefore, it is difficult to provide a shielding structure which can sufficiently cover the connector, because the module card may collide with the shielding structure during insertion. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are provided to address the aforementioned difficulty. 
     In one embodiment, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a circuit board, a connector, a shielding frame and a shielding cover. The connector is disposed on the circuit board. The shielding frame is disposed on the circuit board, wherein the connector is disposed in the shielding frame. The shielding cover is detachably connected to the shielding frame, wherein when the shielding cover is combined with the shielding frame, an inlet is formed between the shielding frame and the shielding cover, and the shielding frame and the shielding cover are adapted to block an interference signal. 
     In one embodiment, the electronic device further comprises a module card, wherein the module card is adapted to pass through the inlet and connect to the connector. 
     In one embodiment, the shielding cover comprises a first elastic coupling unit, and the first elastic coupling unit is adapted to connect to a first side of the module card. 
     In one embodiment, the shielding frame comprises a second elastic coupling unit, which is adapted to connect to the second side of the module card. The second side is opposite the first side. The first elastic coupling unit and/or the second elastic coupling unit is directly coupled to the module card. 
     In one embodiment, the module card comprises a first shielding member, the first shielding member is disposed on the first side, and the first elastic coupling unit abuts the first shielding member. 
     In one embodiment, the module card comprises a second shielding member, the second shielding member is disposed on the second side, and the second elastic coupling unit abuts the second shielding member. 
     In one embodiment, the module card comprises a ground window, and the first elastic coupling unit or the second elastic coupling unit is directly coupled to the module card via the ground window. 
     In one embodiment, the elastic coupling unit comprises a plurality of first elastic sheets, the first elastic sheets extend in a first direction, each first elastic sheet comprises a first curved portion, and the first curved portion is adapted to abut the first side of the module card. 
     In one embodiment, the second elastic coupling unit comprises a plurality of second elastic sheets, the second elastic sheets extend in a second direction, each second elastic sheet comprises a second curved portion, the second curved portion is adapted to abut the second side of the module card, and the first direction is opposite to the second direction. 
     In one embodiment, a second gap is formed between the two adjacent second elastic sheets, and the second gap is 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal. 
     In one embodiment, a first gap is formed between the two adjacent first elastic sheets, and the first gap is 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal. 
     In one embodiment, the shielding frame comprises a plurality of frame wedging portions, the shielding cover comprises a plurality of cover wedging portions, and the cover wedging portions are adapted to wedge the frame wedging portions. 
     In one embodiment, the frame wedging portions are protrusions, and the cover wedging portions are recesses. 
     In one embodiment, the shielding frame comprises a first frame sidewall, a second frame sidewall and a third frame sidewall, the first frame sidewall is parallel to the third frame sidewall, the second frame sidewall is perpendicular to the first frame sidewall, the second frame sidewall corresponds to the inlet, and the frame wedging portions are formed on the first frame sidewall, the second frame sidewall and the third frame sidewall. 
     In one embodiment, the shielding cover further comprises a cable management slot. 
     In one embodiment, a shielding structure is provided. The shielding structure includes a shielding frame and a shielding cover. The shielding cover is detachably connected to the shielding frame, wherein when the shielding cover is combined with the shielding frame, an inlet is formed between the shielding frame and the shielding cover, and the shielding frame and the shielding cover are adapted to block an interference signal. 
     The shielding structure can sufficiently cover the connector, blocking the interference signal, and decreasing the amount of noise. The shielding structure of the embodiment of the invention includes the shielding cover and the shielding frame. When the user inserts the module card (such as M.2 module card) into the connector, the shielding cover can be removed from the shielding frame to prevent the shielding cover from being interfered with by the module card. After the module card is combined with the connector, the shielding cover can be rejoined with the shielding frame to provide a sufficient shielding effect. The shielding cover can be repeatedly combined with the shielding frame and detached from the shielding frame, and it is convenient for the user. 
     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  shows an electronic device of an embodiment of the invention, wherein a module card is combined with the electronic device; 
         FIG. 1B  shows the electronic device of the embodiment of the invention, wherein the module card is not combined with the electronic device; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the shielding frame and the shielding cover of the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the shielding frame and the shielding cover of the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of the embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a module card of another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1A  shows an electronic device of an embodiment of the invention, wherein a module card is combined with the electronic device.  FIG. 1B  shows the electronic device of the embodiment of the invention, wherein the module card is not combined with the electronic device. With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the electronic device E of the embodiment of the invention includes a circuit board  3 , a connector  4 , a shielding frame  2  and a shielding cover  1 . The connector  4  is disposed on the circuit board  3 . The shielding frame  2  is disposed on the circuit board  3 . The connector  4  is disposed in the shielding frame  2 . The shielding cover  1  is detachably connected to the shielding frame  2 . When the shielding cover  1  is combined with the shielding frame  2 , an inlet I is formed between the shielding frame  2  and the shielding cover  1 , and the shielding frame  2  and the shielding cover  1  are adapted to block an interference signal. In one embodiment, the electronic device E further comprises a module card  5 , wherein the module card  5  is adapted to pass through the inlet I and connect to the connector  4 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the shielding frame and the shielding cover of the embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the shielding frame and the shielding cover of the embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the shielding cover  1  comprises a first elastic coupling unit  11 , and the first elastic coupling unit  11  is adapted to connect to a first side  501  of the module card  5 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the shielding frame  2  comprises a second elastic coupling unit  21 . The second elastic coupling unit  21  is adapted to connect a second side  502  of the module card  5 . The second side  502  is opposite to the first side  501 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of the embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIGS. 1A, 2 and 4 , in one embodiment, the first elastic coupling unit  11  and/or the second elastic coupling unit  21  is directly coupled to the module card. With reference to  FIG. 1A , in one embodiment, the module card  5  comprises a first shielding member  51 . The first shielding member  51  is disposed on the first side  501 . The first elastic coupling unit  11  abuts the first shielding member  51 , and the first elastic coupling unit  11  is grounded by being coupled to the first shielding member  51 . In one embodiment, the module card  5  comprises a second shielding member  52 . The second shielding member  52  is disposed on the second side  502 . The second elastic coupling unit  21  abuts the second shielding member  52 , and the second elastic coupling unit  21  is grounded by being coupled to the second shielding member  52 . In this embodiment, the first elastic coupling unit  11  and the second elastic coupling unit  21  elastically abut the module card  5  and are coupled to the module card  5 . However, the disclosure is not meant to restrict the invention. For example, the first elastic coupling unit  11  and the second elastic coupling unit  21  may be wedged to the module card  5  and are coupled to the module card  5 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a module card of another embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG. 5 , in another embodiment, the module card  5 ′ comprises a ground window  53 . The first elastic coupling unit  11  is directly coupled to a ground layer of the module card  5 ′ via the ground window  53 . In another embodiment, the second elastic coupling unit  21  can be directly coupled to the ground layer of the module card via the ground window. The disclosure is not meant to restrict the invention. 
     In the embodiment of the invention, the first elastic coupling unit and/or the second elastic coupling unit is directly coupled to the module card. The shielding structure (including the shielding frame and the shielding cover) is grounded. The high-frequency noise (interference signal) is blocked from leaking. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the elastic coupling unit  11  comprises a plurality of first elastic sheets  111 . The first elastic sheets  111  extend in a first direction X 1 . Each first elastic sheet  111  comprises a first curved portion  112 . The first curved portion  112  is adapted to abut the first side of the module card. In this embodiment, the first curved portion  112  is adapted to abut the first shielding member  51  on the first side of the module card. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the second elastic coupling unit  21  comprises a plurality of second elastic sheets  211 . The second elastic sheets  211  extend in a second direction X 2 . Each second elastic sheet  211  comprises a second curved portion  212 . The second curved portion  212  is adapted to abut the second side of the module card. The first direction X 1  is opposite to the second direction X 2 . In this embodiment, the second curved portion  212  is adapted to abut the second shielding member  52  on the second side of the module card. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, a first gap d 1  is formed between the two adjacent first elastic sheets  111 , and the first gap d 1  is 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal. By the value of the first gap being 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal, the shielding ability of the shielding structure toward the interference signal is improved. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, a second gap d 2  is formed between the two adjacent second elastic sheets  211 , and the second gap d 2  is 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal. By the value of the second gap being 1/50˜ 1/20 of the wavelength of the interference signal, the shielding ability of the shielding structure toward the interference signal is improved. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the shielding frame  2  comprises a plurality of frame wedging portions  22 . The shielding cover  1  comprises a plurality of cover wedging portions  12 . The cover wedging portions  12  are adapted to wedge the frame wedging portions  22 . In one embodiment, the frame wedging portions  22  are protrusions, and the cover wedging portions  12  are recesses. However, the disclosure is not meant to restrict the invention. In another embodiment, the frame wedging portions  22  can be recesses, and the cover wedging portions  12  can be protrusions. Utilizing the cover wedging portions and the frame wedging portions of the embodiment of the invention, the shielding cover can be repeatedly combined with the shielding frame and detached from the shielding frame, and it is convenient to user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the shielding frame  2  comprises a first frame sidewall  201 , a second frame sidewall  202  and a third frame sidewall  203 . The first frame sidewall  201  is parallel to the third frame sidewall  203 . The second frame sidewall  202  is perpendicular to the first frame sidewall  201 . The second frame sidewall  202  corresponds to the inlet I. The frame wedging portions  22  are formed on the first frame sidewall  201 , the second frame sidewall  202  and the third frame sidewall  203 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment, the shielding cover  1  further comprises a cable management slot  19 . The cable inside the electronic device can be restricted by the cable management slot  19 . 
     The shielding structure can sufficiently cover the connector, blocking the interference signal, and decreasing the amount of noise. The shielding structure of the embodiment of the invention includes the shielding cover and the shielding frame. When the user inserts the module card (such as M.2 module card) into the connector, the shielding cover can be removed from the shielding frame to prevent the shielding cover from being interfered with by the module card. After the module card is combined with the connector, the shielding cover can be rejoined with the shielding frame to provide a sufficient shielding effect. The shielding cover can be repeatedly combined with the shielding frame and detached from the shielding frame, and it is convenient for the user. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device and be a wireless communication device. The module card can be a wireless communication card. The disclosure is not meant to restrict the invention. 
     Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term). 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.