# US 12,009,311 B2 · Circuit systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,311 B2 - Document ID: US12009311B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/106,907 - Filed: 2020-11-30 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-15 - Assignees: Snap Inc. - Applicants: Snap Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Andrew Steger; Emily Lauren Clopp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009311B2 ## CPC - H05K 9/0026: {integrally formed from metal sheet} - H05K 1/0216: {Reduction of cross-talk, noise or electromagnetic interference (grounding H05K1/0215)} - H05K 1/147: {at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit (H05K1/148 takes precedence)} - H05K 1/148: {Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means} - H05K 3/368: {parallel to each other (H05K3/361 takes precedence)} - H05K 9/0081: {Electromagnetic shielding materials, e.g. EMI, RFI shielding (H05K9/0003 takes precedence)} - H10W 42/20: protecting against electromagnetic or particle radiation, e.g. light, X-rays, gamma-rays or electrons - H05K 9/0024: {Shield cases mounted on a PCB, e.g. cans or caps or conformal shields} - H05K 9/0052: {Shielding other than Faraday cages} - H05K 9/0071: {Active shielding} - H05K 2201/0707: Shielding - H05K 2201/09027: Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular - H05K 2201/09063: Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections - H05K 2201/10371: Shields or metal cases - H05K 2201/10409: Screws - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract Various circuit board systems and methods of use and manufacture thereof are disclosed. A circuit board system can have a first circuit board including a substrate and a first component susceptible to electromagnetic interference carried by the substrate. The system can also include a second circuit board including a second substrate, and a shield engaged to the substrate of the first component, the shield at least partially covering the first component and being configured to protect the first component from electromagnetic interference, wherein the shield couples the substrate of the first circuit board to the substrate of the second circuit board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit board system comprising: a first circuit board comprising a substrate and a first component susceptible to electromagnetic interference carried by the substrate; a flexible circuit element separate from the first circuit board; and a dual-purpose connector-shield mounted on the first circuit board, the connector-shield comprising: a shield formation that is configured and positioned to at least partially shield the first component from electromagnetic interference; and a connection mechanism that is engaged with the flexible circuit element to couple the connector-shield and therefore the first circuit board to the flexible circuit element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, further including a second circuit board comprising a respective substrate spaced from the substrate of the first circuit board, the flexible circuit element being fastened to and projecting from the substrate of the second circuit board into engagement with the connection mechanism, so that the substrates of the first circuit board and the second circuit board are connected together via engagement of the flexible circuit element with the connection mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuit board system of claim 2, wherein the connector-shield is of one-piece construction, the shield formation and the connection mechanism being integrally connected together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, wherein the connector-shield is of folded metal plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a tab that projects from the shield formation and that defines a connection opening therethrough, the flexible circuit element extending through the connection opening to couple the connector-shield to the flexible circuit element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit board system of claim 5, wherein the flexible circuit element is an elongate component extending transversely through the tab via the connection opening, the connection opening being substantially complementary in shape to the flexible circuit element in cross-sectional profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The circuit board system of claim 5, wherein the flexible circuit element extends widthwise for substantially a full extent of a largest dimension of the connection opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The circuit board system of claim 5, wherein the flexible circuit element is an elongate component that is, on a side of the connection opening furthest from the second circuit board, curved to lock the first and second circuit boards together by preventing withdrawal of the flexible circuit element from the connection opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit element comprises an array of conductors bonded to a dielectric film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, wherein a physical connection between the first and second circuit boards to retain a consistent spatial arrangement of the first and second circuit boards relative to each other is provided exclusively by engagement of the flexible circuit element with the connection mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The circuit board system of claim 1, wherein the shield formation substantially encapsulates the first component on a major outer surface of the substrate of the first circuit board. ### Claim 12 A circuit board system comprising: a circuit board comprising a rigid, substantially planar substrate on which is carried circuitry that includes a first component susceptible to electromagnetic (EM) interference; an flexible circuit element attached to a component of the circuit board system separate from the circuit board, the flexible circuit element comprising an elongate flexible substrate that is fixed to and projects from said separate circuit board component, one or more conductors being carried on the flexible substrate; a shield component fastened to the substrate of the circuit board, the shield component including an EM shield configured and positioned to provide EM shielding to the first component; and a coupling formation that forms part of the shield component and that is fixed to the EM shield, the coupling formation being engaged with the flexible substrate such as to couple the shield component to the flexible circuit element, the circuit board and said separate circuit board component thereby being physically coupled together via engagement of the coupling formation of the shield component with the flexible circuit element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The circuit board system of claim 12, wherein the substrate is deformable during circuit board installation into a non-rectilinear shape and being capable of holding the non-rectilinear shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit board system of claim 13, wherein the coupling formation and the flexible circuit element connects together the circuit board and said separate circuit board component such as to permit relative pivotal movement of the circuit board and said separate circuit board component about the coupling formation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The circuit board system of claim 12, wherein said separate circuit board component is a second circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The circuit board system of claim 12, wherein the shield component is of one-piece construction, the EM shield and the coupling formation being integrally formed from a single piece of material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The circuit board system of claim 16, wherein the shield component is of formed metal plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The circuit board system of claim 16, wherein the coupling formation a projecting tab defining therethrough a peripherally enclosed opening through which the flexible substrate of the flexible circuit element extends.