PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10736246-B2
Application Number: US-201816146501-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electromagnetic interference shielding having a magnetically attracted shield arm

Abstract:
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding can be couplable to a circuit board. The EMI shielding can include a fence couplable to the circuit board, a lid couplable to the fence, and a shield arm extending from the lid and being configured to couple to the fence. The shield arm can be hingedly or rotatably coupled to the lid. The shield arm can be magnetically couplable to the lid. The shield arm and/or the fence can include a magnet to provide a magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising:
 a fence couplable to the circuit board; 
 a lid couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the fence; and 
 a shield arm extending from the lid, wherein the shield arm is configured to move towards the fence, based on a magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence, to couple the shield arm to the fence to close off an opening or gap between the lid and the fence. 
 
     
     
       2. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the shield arm is hingedly or rotatably coupled to the lid. 
     
     
       3. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the shield arm is magnetically couplable to the fence and/or lid. 
     
     
       4. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the shield arm is configured to be brought into contact with the fence, to close off the opening or gap, based on the magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence. 
     
     
       5. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the fence comprises a permanent magnet and the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     
     
       6. The EMI shielding of  claim 5 , wherein the lid is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     
     
       7. The EMI shielding of  claim 5 , wherein the fence further comprises an outer conductive surface formed on the permanent magnet. 
     
     
       8. The EMI shielding of  claim 7 , wherein the outer conductive surface is formed by a metallic surface. 
     
     
       9. The EMI shielding of  claim 8 , wherein the metallic surface is a noble metal, a noble metal alloy, or nickel. 
     
     
       10. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the shield arm comprises a permanent magnet and the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the fence. 
     
     
       11. The EMI shielding of  claim 10 , wherein the fence comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     
     
       12. The EMI shielding of  claim 1 , wherein the shield arm, the lid, and the fence are configured to block, shield, or reduce EMI. 
     
     
       13. An electronic device comprising the EMI shielding of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding system, comprising:
 a wall portion; 
 a planar portion adjacent to the wall portion; and 
 a lateral portion extending from the planar portion and being configured to move towards the wall portion, based on a magnetic attraction between the lateral portion and the wall portion, to couple the lateral portion to the wall portion to close off an opening between the wall portion and the planar portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the wall portion is perpendicular to the planar portion. 
     
     
       16. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the lateral portion is magnetically couplable to the planar portion. 
     
     
       17. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the wall portion comprises a permanent magnet and the lateral portion is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the wall portion. 
     
     
       18. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the lateral portion comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the lateral portion is magnetically attracted to the wall portion. 
     
     
       19. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the EMI shielding system couplable to a circuit board. 
     
     
       20. The EMI shielding system of  claim 14 , wherein the wall portion is couplable to a circuit board, the planar portion being couplable to the wall portion and the circuit board. 
     
     
       21. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising:
 a fence including a permanent magnet, and being couplable to the circuit board; 
 a lid couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the fence; and 
 a shield arm extending from the lid and being configured to be magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence to couple the shield arm to the fence. 
 
     
     
       22. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising:
 a fence couplable to the circuit board; 
 a lid couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the fence; and 
 a shield arm extending from the lid and including a permanent magnet, wherein the shield arm is configured to be magnetically attracted to the fence to couple the shield arm to the fence. 
 
     
     
       23. The EMI shielding of  claim 22 , wherein the fence comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     
     
       24. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising:
 a fence couplable to the circuit board; 
 a lid couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the fence; and 
 a shield arm extending from the lid, wherein the shield arm is configured to move towards the fence, based on a magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence, to couple the shield arm to the fence.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Aspects described herein generally relate to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for a circuit board (e.g. a printed circuit board), including EMI shielding that includes one or more shield arms. 
     Related Art 
     Electronic products emit electromagnetic radiation. On-board EMI shields have been used in electronic devices to suppress unintentional noise radiations from active circuits and motherboards. The conventional on-board shields require continuous mechanical-compressive force along the peripheral of the shield to have good shielding effectiveness. Mechanical screws, EMI clips, and or other interfaces are used to securely place the shield. However, the conventional mechanical approaches require tight design tolerance and expensive tooling cost to ensure sufficient mounting force and good bonding contact between shield lid and fence, as well as result in noise leakage due to mechanical deformation. In addition, shielding effectiveness depends largely on mechanical joint lifetime and will be substantially degraded through a number of assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the aspects of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the aspects and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the aspects. 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate an example circuit board having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example circuit board having an EMI shield that exhibits noise leakage due to mechanical deformation. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a circuit board having an EMI shield according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of a shielding arm as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a partial view of the EMI shield of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a circuit board having an EMI shield according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of a shielding arm as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a radiation noise coupling coefficient plot according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an electric field distribution analysis of a circuit board having conventional EMI shielding. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates an electric field distribution analysis of a circuit board having an EMI shield according to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate an example circuit board having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield that exhibits mechanical deformation. 
     
    
    
     The exemplary aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the aspects of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aspects, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the disclosure. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more systems, devices, apparatus, and/or assemblies configured to enhance EMI shielding.  FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate an example circuit board  105  having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield that includes a fence  120  and a lid  125  coupled to the circuit board  105  and fence  120  by one or more screws  130 . The lid  125  and fence enclose one or more components (e.g. chip  115 ) on the circuit board  105 . 
     In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the EMI shield system includes a one or more magnetized shielding bodies that provide continuous attractive force between two or more portions of the EMI shield (e.g. without any mechanical parts). Advantageously, the EMI shield improves shielding performance, relaxes design specifications, and reduces tooling cost. Further, magnetized shielding bodies maintain their magnetisms over time and may loses only a very small fraction of their magnetism over time (e.g. ˜1% over 10 years). As a result, EMI shielding systems according to the aspects of the present disclosure will sustain increased shielding performance regardless of a number of assemblies and address big drawback of mechanical joint lifetime for conventional mechanical approaches. That is, advantageously, exemplary aspects include a magnetically-assisted shielding configuration that provides continuous attractive-magnetic force without any mechanical parts. Aspects improve shielding performance, relax design specifications, and reduce tooling cost. 
       FIGS. 7A-7C  show a conventional on-board shield system.  FIG. 7A  is a top plan view and  FIGS. 7B-7C  are side perspective views. 
     The shield system shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C  has a shielding lid  705  secured with mechanical screws  710 , which cause mechanical deformation  715  of the lid  705  (e.g. at the periphery of the lid). The mechanical deformations  715  result in one or more openings or gaps forming between the lid  705  and the base of the shield or fences  707 . This undesirable mechanical distortion/deformation and warpage of the lid  705  may be caused by poor tooling and/or design tolerances result in inconsistent compressive-force along the peripheral and poor mounting joints with large electrical openings (gaps) between the fence and lid. As a result of the openings/gaps, significant electrical and/or electromagnetic noise/interference can leak or otherwise exit from the interior of the shield system and deteriorate shielding effectiveness. This is further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which is described in detail below. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a circuit board  205  having an EMI shield system  200 . The cross section is take along line A-A as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
     The circuit board  205  can be a printed circuit board (PCB) and can include a ground plane  210 . The circuit board  205  can support one or more chips  215 , such as one or more integrated circuits (ICs), processors, analog and/or digital circuit components, or the like. 
     The EMI shield system  200  includes one or more fences  220  that define the lateral dimensions of the EMI shield system  200 . The fences  220  are coupled to and extend from a surface of the circuit board  205 . The EMI shield system  200  further includes a lid or planar top portion  225  that is couplable to the fences  220 . The lid  225  is secured to the circuit board  205  and the fences  220  by one or more screws  225 . When secured to the circuit board  205  and the fences  220 , the lid  225  may exhibit mechanical deformation, distortion, and/or warpage  240  which causes an opening or gap  242  to form between the fence  220  and lid  225 . The EMI shield system  200  may also include one or more EMI gaskets  235  between the fences  220  and lid  225 . In this example, the opening or gap  242  is formed between the gasket  225  and the fence  220  (as shown), or between the gasket  235  and lid  225 . 
     The mechanical deformation, distortion, and/or warpage  240  which causes an opening or gap  242  to form may result in electrical and/or electromagnetic noise/interference to leak, escape, or otherwise exit the interior of the EMI shield system  200 . In this example, the interior refers to the area that is defined by the circuit board  205 , fence(s)  220 , and lid  225 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  a circuit board  305  having an EMI shield  300  according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3A  shows a cross-sectional view of a circuit board and EMI shield  300 . The cross section is similar to the cross section taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of a portion the EMI shield  300  as shown in  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3C  illustrates a partial view of the EMI shield  300  of  FIG. 3A . 
     The circuit board  305  can be a printed circuit board (PCB) and can include a ground plane  310 . The circuit board  305  can support one or more chips  315 , such as one or more integrated circuits (ICs), processors, analog and/or digital circuit components, or the like. 
     In an exemplary aspect, the EMI shield system  300  includes one or more fences or wall portions  320  that define the lateral dimensions of the EMI shield system  300 . The fences  320  are coupled to and extend from a surface of the circuit board  305 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, the EMI shield system  300  further includes a lid or planar top portion  325  that is couplable to the fences  320 . The lid  325  is secured to the circuit board  305  and the fences  320  by one or more fasteners  325 . The fasteners  325  can include, for example, screws, clips, bolts, connectors, or one or more other fasteners as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the arts. In an exemplary aspect, the lid  325  is made of metal or a metal alloy. 
     In an exemplary aspect, the fence(s)  320  includes a magnet (e.g. a permanent magnet). In an exemplary aspect, the fence(s)  320  is electrically conductive. In this example, the fence(s)  320  can include a conductive coating or finish  322 , such as a metallic surface or finish formed on outer surface of the fence  320 . In an exemplary aspect, the fence  320  is formed by a permanent magnet having a conductive outer surface  322 . In an exemplary aspect, the conductive outer surface  322  is metallic or formed of a metallic alloy. For example, the outer surface  322  can be formed by a noble metal, noble metal alloy, nickel, and/or one or more additional or alternative conductive materials as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In an exemplary aspect, the outer surface  322  is conductive and/or resistant to oxidation. 
     In an exemplary aspect, the EMI shield system  300  includes one or more shield arms  350  that are configured to couple the lid  325  to the fence  320 . The shield arm  350  extends from the lid  325  to the fence  320  across the opening/gap  342 . The shield arms  350  can also be referred to as lateral portions or segments, shield bodies, magnetized shield bodies, lips, skirts, peripheral skirts, peripheral walls or projections, edge shields, lateral covers, wings, peripheral wings, wing portions, wall or lid extensions, wall or lid extension members, a band (e.g. extending around the shield system), flanges, tabs, or the like. 
     When secured to the circuit board  305 , the lid  325  may exhibit mechanical deformation, distortion, and/or warpage  340  which causes an opening or gap  342  to form between the fence  320  and lid  325 . Advantageously, in one or more exemplary aspects, the shield arms  350  are configured to close, seal, or otherwise cover the open/gap  342  to prevent or reduce electrical and/or electromagnetic noise/interference/emissions leaking, escaping, or otherwise exiting (and/or entering) the interior of the EMI shield system  300 . This is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  which shows the noise/interference being blocked from escaping the interior. In this example, the noise is illustrated by curved arrow in  FIG. 3A  and a semi-circular arrow in  FIG. 3B . In an exemplary aspect, the interior refers to the area that is defined by the circuit board  305 , fence(s)  320 , and lid  325  in which the chip  315  is housed. This reduction or prevention of leakage is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6B . In an exemplary aspect, one or more components of the EMI shield system  300  (e.g. fence  320 , lid  325 , and/or arms  350 ) prevent or reduce electrical and/or electromagnetic noise/interference/emissions leaking, escaping, or otherwise exiting (and/or entering) the interior of the EMI shield system  300 . For example, one or more components of the EMI shield system  300  can be configured to reduce or prevent incoming and/or outgoing emissions of electromagnetic frequencies. 
     In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm(s)  350  are rotatably and/or hingedly coupled to the lid  325 . In this example, as illustrated by the curved arrow in  FIG. 3C , the shield arm  350  can rotate towards the fence  320  to close, seal, or otherwise cover the open/gap  342  formed between the lid  325  and the fence  320 . In this example, the shield arm  350  can be connected to the lid  325  by a hinge  355 . The hinge  355  may be a mechanical bearing, barrel hinge, living hinge, flexure bearing, flexible member or film, or other hinge means as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The hinge  355  couples the lid  325  and shield  350 , and allows the shield arm  350  to rotate about the end of the lid  325 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm  350  is magnetically attracted to the fence  320 . For example, the shield arm  350  is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet included in the fence  320 . In this example, the magnetic attraction causes the shield arm  350  to move (e.g. rotate) towards and couple to the fence  320 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3C , the shield arm  350  is coupled to the end of the lid  325  and rotatable towards the fence  320 . In this example, the shield arm  350  can be rotatably coupled or connected to the lid  325  (e.g. at an end of the lid  325 ). In an exemplary aspect, the rotation is caused by a magnetic attraction between the fence  320  and shield arm  350 . In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm  350  includes a magnet (e.g. permanent magnet) in addition to the permanent magnet within the fence  320 . In another aspect, the shied arm  350  includes a magnet and the magnet is omitted from the fence  320 . In an exemplary aspect, the magnets included in the shield arm  350 , fence  320 , and/or lid  325  are a ferrite permanent magnet, but are not limited thereto. For example, the magnets can be neodymium magnets, Alnico magnets, rare-earth magnets, or another magnet type as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm  350  is separable from the fence  325  and the fence  320 , and is magnetically attracted to the fence  320  (and/or the lid  325 ). For example, the shield arm  350  can include a magnet that results in a magnetic attraction between the shield arm  350  and the fence  320  and/or lid  325 . In another aspect, the shield arm  350  does not include a magnet is magnetically attracted to a magnet within the fence  320  and/or lid  325 . In an exemplary aspect, the lid  325  is also magnetically attracted to the fence  320  as shown by the downward dashed arrow in  FIG. 3C . 
     In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm  350  and/or lid  325  is a soft magnetic material (e.g. soft magnetic steel). In this example, the fence  320  can include a magnet that magnetically attracts the shield arm  350  and/or lid  325  to the fence  320 . In another aspect, the fence  320  is made of a soft magnetic material while the shield arm  350  includes a magnet. In another aspect, both the shield arm  350  and the fence  320  includes a magnet. A portion or all of the lid  325  may also include a magnet to increase the magnetic attraction between the fence  320 , lid  325 , and shield arm  350 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, the shield arm  350  is disposed within the perimeter formed by the fence  320  so as to be formed within the interior of the fences  320 . In this example, the shield arm  350  can extend down from the bottom surface of the lid  325  and move outward towards the interior-side of the fence  320 . In another aspect, the shield arm  350  is coupled (e.g. magnetically coupled) to the interior-side of the fence  320  and extend upward towards the bottom side of the lid  325  to close off the opening/gap  342 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, the fence  320  (e.g. outer surface  322 ), lid  325 , and/or shield arm  350  are formed of a conductive material and/or of a material that is resistant to oxidation. In this examples, lid  325  and/or shield arm  350  can include an outer conductive surface or coating similar to surface  322 . 
     In an exemplary aspect, with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4B , the EMI shield system  300  may also include one or more EMI gaskets  405  between the fences  320  and lid  325 . In aspects that include EMI gasket(s)  405 , the EMI shield system is referred to as EMI system  400  as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . In this example, the opening or gap  342  is formed between the gasket  405  and the fence  320  (as shown), or between the gasket  405  and lid  325  if the gasket  405  coupled to the fence  320 . 
     Advantageously, because EMI shield system  300  and EMI shield system  400  include one or more shield arms  350 , the systems provide increased EMI shielding reliability and effectiveness by reducing or preventing openings/gaps within the EMI shielding. In particular, the systems of the present disclosure provide improved EMI shielding even in cases where mechanical warpage/deformation may result (e.g. along the peripheral of the on-board shield). 
     Further, the magnetized bodies (e.g. magnetized fence  320  and/or shield arms  350 ) advantageously generate continuous attractive force between one another without requiring mechanical parts. This improves bonding joints and contacts, leading to improvements in the EMI shielding effectiveness and performance, while reducing tooling cost, relaxing design specifications, and reducing effects of mechanical joint lifetimes. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a radiation noise coupling coefficient plot  500  according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. 
     The plot  500  includes the radiation noise coupling coefficient (dB) with respect to Frequency (GHz) for conventional shielding  505  and EMI shielding systems  510  according to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. The radiation noise coupling coefficient for the exemplary EMI shielding systems shown as line  510  is reduced by 30 or more decibels (e.g. 30-50 dB) compared to conventional shielding designs. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates an electric field distribution analysis of a circuit board having conventional EMI shielding.  FIG. 6B  illustrates an electric field distribution analysis of a circuit board having an EMI shield according to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 6A , conventional designs generates unintentional resonances due to electrical openings/gaps resulting from poor/inconsistent mechanical-compressive force. This can result in increased radio-frequency and/or electromagnetic interference. 
     Advantageously, EMI shielding systems according to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure provide improved noise shielding as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example 1 is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising: a fence couplable to the circuit board; a lid couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the fence; and a shield arm extending from the lid and being configured to couple to the fence. 
     Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the shield arm is hingedly or rotatably coupled to the lid. 
     Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the shield arm is magnetically couplable to the fence and/or lid. 
     Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3, wherein the shield arm is configured to close off an opening or gap between the lid and the fence. 
     Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4, wherein the shield arm is configured to move towards the fence, to close off the opening or gap, due to a magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence. 
     Example 6 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5, wherein the shield arm is configured to be brought into contact with the fence to close off the opening or gap due to a magnetic attraction between the shield arm and the fence. 
     Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6, wherein the fence comprises a permanent magnet and the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, wherein the lid is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     Example 9 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 7-8, wherein the fence further comprises an outer conductive surface formed on the permanent magnet. 
     Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 9, wherein the outer conductive surface is formed by a metallic surface. 
     Example 11 includes the subject matter of Examples 10, wherein the metallic surface is a noble metal, a noble metal alloy, or nickel. 
     Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11, wherein the shield arm comprises a permanent magnet and the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the fence. 
     Example 13 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 12, wherein the fence comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the shield arm is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the fence. 
     Example 14 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-13, wherein the shield arm, the lid, and/or the fence are configured to block, shield, or reduce EMI. 
     Example 15 is an electronic device comprising the EMI shielding of any of Examples 1-14. 
     Example 16 is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding system, comprising: a wall portion; a planar portion adjacent to the wall portion; and a lateral portion extending from the planar portion and being configured to couple to the wall portion. 
     Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, wherein the wall portion is perpendicular to the planar portion. 
     Example 18 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-17, wherein the lateral portion is magnetically couplable to the planar portion. 
     Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-18, wherein the lateral portion is configured to move towards the wall portion based on a magnetic attraction between the lateral portion and the wall portion to close off an opening between the wall portion and planar portion. 
     Example 20 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-19, wherein the wall portion comprises a permanent magnet and the lateral portion is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the wall portion. 
     Example 21 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-20, wherein the lateral portion comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the lateral portion is magnetically attracted to the wall portion. 
     Example 22 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-21, wherein the EMI shielding system couplable to a circuit board. 
     Example 23 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-22, wherein the wall portion is couplable to a circuit board, the planar portion being couplable to the wall portion and the circuit board. 
     Example 24 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-23, wherein the wall portion, planar portion, and/or lateral portion are configured to block, shield, or reduce EMI. 
     Example 25 is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding couplable to a circuit board, comprising: first shielding means couplable to the circuit board; second shielding means couplable to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the first shielding means; and third shielding means extending from the second shielding means and being configured to couple to the first shielding means. 
     Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 25, wherein the third shielding means is hingedly or rotatably coupled to the second shielding means. 
     Example 27 includes the subject matter of Example 25, wherein the third shielding means is magnetically couplable to the first shielding means and/or second shielding means. 
     Example 28 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-27, wherein the third shielding means is configured to close off an opening or gap between the second shielding means and the first shielding means. 
     Example 29 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-28, wherein the third shielding means is configured to move towards the first shielding means, to close off the opening or gap, due to a magnetic attraction between the third shielding means and the first shielding means. 
     Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-29, wherein the third shielding means is configured to be brought into contact with the first shielding means to close off the opening or gap due to a magnetic attraction between the third shielding means and the first shielding means. 
     Example 31 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-30, wherein the first shielding means comprises a permanent magnet and the third shielding means is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the first shielding means. 
     Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 31, wherein the second shielding means is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the first shielding means. 
     Example 33 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 31-32, wherein the first shielding means further comprises an outer conductive surface formed on the permanent magnet. 
     Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 33, wherein the outer conductive surface is formed by a metallic surface. 
     Example 35 includes the subject matter of Examples 34, wherein the metallic surface is a noble metal, a noble metal alloy, or nickel. 
     Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-35, wherein the third shielding means comprises a permanent magnet and the third shielding means is magnetically attracted to the first shielding means. 
     Example 37 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 36, wherein the first shielding means comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the third shielding means is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the first shielding means. 
     Example 38 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 25-37, wherein the third shielding means, the second shielding means, and/or the first shielding means are configured to block, shield, or reduce EMI. 
     Example 39 is an electronic device comprising the EMI shielding of any of Examples 25-38. 
     Example 40 is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding system, comprising: first shielding means; second shielding means adjacent to the first shielding means; and third shielding means extending from the second shielding means and being configured to couple to the first shielding means. 
     Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, wherein the first shielding means is perpendicular to the second shielding means. 
     Example 42 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-41, wherein the third shielding means is magnetically couplable to the second shielding means. 
     Example 43 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-42, wherein the third shielding means is configured to move towards the first shielding means based on a magnetic attraction between the third shielding means and the first shielding means to close off an opening between the first shielding means and second shielding means. 
     Example 44 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-43, wherein the first shielding means comprises a permanent magnet and the third shielding means is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet of the first shielding means. 
     Example 45 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-44, wherein the third shielding means comprises a permanent magnet and the permanent magnet of the third shielding means is magnetically attracted to the first shielding means. 
     Example 46 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-45, wherein the EMI shielding system couplable to a circuit board. 
     Example 47 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-46, wherein the first shielding means is couplable to a circuit board, the second shielding means being couplable to the first shielding means and the circuit board. 
     Example 48 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 40-47, wherein the first shielding means, second shielding means, and/or third shielding means are configured to block, shield, or reduce EMI. 
     Example 49 is an apparatus comprising the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of any of Examples 1-48. 
     Example 50 is an electronic device comprising the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of any of Examples 1-48. 
     Example 51 is a wireless communication device comprising the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of any of Examples 1-48. 
     Example 52 is an apparatus as shown and described. 
     Example 53 is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield as shown and described. 
     CONCLUSION 
     The aforementioned description of the specific aspects will so fully reveal the general nature of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific aspects, without undue experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed aspects, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance. 
     References in the specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “an exemplary aspect,” etc., indicate that the aspect described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every aspect may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same aspect. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an aspect, 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 aspects whether or not explicitly described. 
     The exemplary aspects described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary aspects are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary aspects. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180928
Publication Date: 20200804
Grant Date: 20200804
Priority Date: 20180928
Inventors: LEE, JAEJIN
CHEN, CHUNG-HAO
HSU, Hao-Han
LI, XIANG
LIAO, JUN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K9/0032", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10371", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0216", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/181", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/0707", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10371", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09618", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/284", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0032", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/284", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09618", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/0707", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0024", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09818", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10371", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 69946791