Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a metal shielding frame, and in particular to a metal shielding frame adapted to be utilized on a socket.

USB <NUM>, whose transmission speed reaches <NUM>. 8Gbps, is a popular transmission specification utilized in electronic devices nowadays. However, the broadband noise generated by the USB <NUM> connector falls within the frequency range used by Wi-Fi <NUM>. This noise deteriorates the Wi-Fi signal transmission. In particular, the noise decreases the transmission speed and effective range of the Wi-Fi signal. Patent documents <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT> and <CIT> each describe sockets which utilize a metal shielding frame.

Embodiments of the invention are provided to address the aforementioned difficulty.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid deterioration of signal transmission and/or avoid any speed reduction or range limitations.

In one embodiment, a metal shielding frame is provided. The metal shielding frame is adapted to be disposed in a socket, wherein the socket is adapted to be electrically connected to a connector. The metal shielding frame includes a sleeve-shaped frame body and at least one ground hemming portion. The sleeve-shaped frame body includes a first enclosed edge. The ground hemming portion is formed on the first enclosed edge. The socket includes a socket case and a socket joint. The socket case surrounds the socket joint. The sleeve-shaped frame body is adapted to be inserted between the socket case and the socket joint.

In one or more embodiments, the connector may include a connector case and a connector joint.

In one or more embodiments, the connector case may surround the connector joint.

In one or more embodiments, a plurality of protrusions may be formed on an inner wall of the sleeve-shaped frame body.

In one or more embodiments, the protrusions may be adapted to abut the connector case.

In one or more embodiments, the metal shielding frame may include a plurality of elastic sheets.

In one or more embodiments, the sleeve-shaped frame body may include a second enclosed edge.

In one or more embodiments, the elastic sheets may be formed on the second enclosed edge and extend to the interior of the sleeve-shaped frame body.

In one or more embodiments, the elastic sheets may be adapted to be wedged into the connector case.

In one or more embodiments, a plurality of frame openings may be formed on the sleeve-shaped frame body.

In one or more embodiments, the socket case may include a plurality of socket wedging portions.

In one or more embodiments, the socket wedging portions may be wedged into the frame openings.

In another embodiment, a socket module is provided. The socket module includes a socket and a metal shielding frame. The socket includes a socket case and a socket joint, wherein the socket case surrounds the socket joint. The metal shielding frame includes a sleeve-shaped frame body and at least one ground hemming portion, wherein the sleeve-shaped frame body includes a first enclosed edge, the ground hemming portion is formed on the first enclosed edge, and the sleeve-shaped frame body is located between the socket case and the socket joint.

In one or more embodiments, the socket and the metal shielding frame may be integrally formed.

In one or more embodiments, the socket case may include a plurality of socket wedging portions, and the sleeve-shaped frame body may cover the socket wedging portions.

In further another embodiment, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a metal housing, a circuit board, a socket and a metal shielding frame.

The circuit board is disposed in the metal housing. The socket is disposed on the circuit board, wherein the socket includes a socket case and a socket joint, and the socket case surrounds the socket joint. The metal shielding frame includes a sleeve-shaped frame body and at least one ground hemming portion. The sleeve-shaped frame body includes a first enclosed edge. The ground hemming portion is formed on the first enclosed edge. The sleeve-shaped frame body is located between the socket case and the socket joint. The ground hemming portion abuts the metal housing.

Compared to the conventional art (without utilizing the metal shielding frame), the metal shielding frame with no frame opening (for example, the metal shielding frame of the first, second or third embodiment) of the embodiment of the invention can decrease the noise radiation energy by <NUM>%. Additionally, the metal shielding frame with the frame openings (for example, the metal shielding frame of the fourth embodiment) of the embodiment also can sufficiently reduce the noise radiation energy due to the grounding and tolerance compensation means.

The metal shielding frame of the embodiment of the invention can be directly inserted into the conventional socket to reduce noise interference. In one embodiment, the metal shielding frame compensates the tolerance so that the connector can be sufficiently connected to the socket, and the conventional problems of poor contact and noise leakage are prevented. In another embodiment, the metal shielding frame covers the gap around the socket wedging portions, and reduces noise interference. In further another embodiment, the metal shielding frame is grounded to the metal housing of the electronic device, and the noise is reduce by being transmitted to the metal housing.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a socket module of an embodiment of the invention. <FIG> is an assembled view of the socket module of the embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the socket module M of the embodiment of the invention includes a socket <NUM> and a metal shielding frame <NUM>. The socket <NUM> includes a socket case <NUM> and a socket joint <NUM>. The socket case <NUM> surrounds the socket joint <NUM>. The metal shielding frame <NUM> includes a sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> and at least one ground hemming portion <NUM>. The sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> is made of a metal material and includes a first enclosed edge <NUM>. The ground hemming portion <NUM> is formed on the first enclosed edge <NUM>. The sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> is located between the socket case <NUM> and the socket joint <NUM>. In one embodiment, the sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> is adapted to be inserted between the socket case <NUM> and the socket joint <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the socket module of the embodiment of the invention being connected to a connector. With reference to <FIG>, the socket <NUM> is adapted to be electrically connected to the connector <NUM>. Particularly, the connector <NUM> includes a connector case <NUM> and a connector joint (not shown). The connector case <NUM> surrounds the connector joint (not shown).

<FIG> shows a metal shielding frame of a first embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, a plurality of protrusions <NUM> are formed on an inner wall of the sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM>. The protrusions <NUM> are adapted to abut the connector case <NUM>. The protrusions <NUM> compensate the tolerance, and the connector <NUM> can thus tightly fit to the metal shielding frame <NUM>. In this embodiment, the metal shielding frame <NUM> compensates the tolerance, and the connector <NUM> is therefore sufficiently connected to the socket <NUM>. The conventional problems of poor contact and noise leakage are prevented.

<FIG> shows a metal shielding frame of a second embodiment of the invention. <FIG> shows the metal shielding frame of the second embodiment of the invention connected to the connector. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the metal shielding frame <NUM> further includes a plurality of elastic sheets <NUM>. The sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> includes a second enclosed edge <NUM>. The elastic sheets <NUM> are formed on the second enclosed edge <NUM> (by bending) and extend to the interior of the sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM>. The elastic sheets <NUM> are adapted to be wedged into the connector case <NUM>. The connector case <NUM> surrounds the connector joint <NUM>. The elastic sheets <NUM> compensate the tolerance, and the connector <NUM> can thus tightly fit to the metal shielding frame <NUM>. In this embodiment, the metal shielding frame <NUM> compensates the tolerance, and the connector <NUM> is therefore sufficiently connected to the socket <NUM>. The conventional problems of poor contact and noise leakage are prevented.

<FIG> shows a metal shielding frame of a third embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the ground hemming portion <NUM>' of the metal shielding frame <NUM> is formed by another shape. The disclosure is not meant to restrict the invention.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the socket case <NUM> includes a plurality of socket wedging portions <NUM>. The socket wedging portions <NUM> abut the sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM>. The sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM> covers the socket wedging portions <NUM>. Therefore, the metal shielding frame (<NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>) covers the gap around the socket wedging portions <NUM>, and reduces noise interference.

<FIG> shows a metal shielding frame and a socket of a fourth embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, a plurality of frame openings <NUM> are formed on the sleeve-shaped frame body <NUM>' of the metal shielding frame <NUM>. The socket case <NUM> includes a plurality of socket wedging portions <NUM>. The socket wedging portions <NUM> are wedged into the frame openings <NUM>. In this embodiment, the metal shielding frame <NUM> can be sufficiently connected to the socket <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a socket module of a fifth embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the socket and the metal shielding frame are integrally formed. In other words, the structural characteristic of the metal shielding frame mentioned above is incorporated to the socket case <NUM>' of the socket <NUM>° of this embodiment. The socket case <NUM>' has protrusions <NUM> adapted to abut the connector case <NUM>. The protrusions <NUM> compensate the tolerance, and the connector <NUM> can thus tightly fit to the socket case <NUM>'. In this embodiment, there is no opening on the side wall, the top wall and the bottom wall of the socket case <NUM>', and the noise interference is reduced.

<FIG> shows an electronic device of the embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, the electronic device E of the embodiment of the invention includes a metal housing <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, the socket <NUM> mentioned above and the metal shielding frame <NUM> mentioned above. The circuit board <NUM> is disposed in the metal housing <NUM>. The socket <NUM> is disposed on the circuit board <NUM>. The ground hemming portion <NUM> abuts the metal housing <NUM>. In the embodiment of the invention, the ground hemming portion <NUM> abuts the interior of the metal housing <NUM>. Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is pulled out from the socket <NUM>, the metal shielding frame <NUM> is restricted by the metal housing <NUM> from being removed with the connector <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the details of the ground hemming portion of the embodiment of the invention. With reference to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the ground hemming portion <NUM> protrudes over a combination plane P at which the metal housing <NUM> is combined with the metal shielding frame <NUM>. Thus, after the assembly, the ground hemming portion <NUM> presses the metal housing <NUM> continuously (applies elastic force on the metal housing <NUM>), and provides reliable grounding function. In this embodiment, the metal shielding frame <NUM> is grounded to the metal housing <NUM> of the electronic device E, and the noise is reduce by being transmitted to the metal housing <NUM>.

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).

Claim 1:
A socket module, comprising:
a socket (<NUM>), comprising a socket case (<NUM>) and a socket joint (<NUM>), wherein the socket case (<NUM>) surrounds the socket joint (<NUM>), and the socket (<NUM>) is adapted to be electrically connected to a connector (<NUM>); and
a metal shielding frame (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the socket (<NUM>), comprising:
a sleeve-shaped frame body (<NUM>, <NUM>'), comprising a first enclosed edge (<NUM>) and a second enclosed edge (<NUM>); and
at least one ground hemming portion (<NUM>), formed on the first enclosed edge (<NUM>); and
a plurality of elastic sheets (<NUM>), wherein the elastic sheets (<NUM>) extend to the interior of the sleeve-shaped frame body (<NUM>, <NUM>');
wherein the sleeve-shaped frame body (<NUM>, <NUM>') is adapted to be inserted between the socket case (<NUM>) and the socket joint (<NUM>),
characterized in that the elastic sheets (<NUM>) are formed on the second enclosed edge (<NUM>) of the sleeve-shaped frame body (<NUM>, <NUM>').