Apparatus for electromagnetic interference and electrostatic discharge shielding of hot plug-connected hard disk drives

Apparatus for shielding a first disk drive from electromagnetic radiation radiating from an area on a second disk drive, the first and second disk drives being installed in a sheet metal cage structure, the sheet metal cage structure being conductively attached to earth ground, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing for enclosing the second disk drive, said housing being made of an electrically conductive material and having perforated and unperforated portions, said unperforated portion overlying the area on the second disk drive from which the electromagnetic radiation originates when the second disk drive is enclosed by the housing;
• means for electrically coupling said housing to the second disk drive;
• and
• means for dissipating the electromagnetic radiation to earth ground.

A shield to protect a first disk drive previously installed in a sheet metal housing from an electrostatic discharge produced when a second disk drive having static electricity thereon is initially being inserted rearwardly into the sheet metal housing adjacent the first disk drive, the shield comprising:

• first means for surrounding the first disk drive with conductive material;
• second means for surrounding the second disk drive with conductive material;
• means for conducting the static electricity from the second disk drive to said second conductive material surrounding means;
• means for electrically coupling said first conductive material surrounding means to the sheet metal housing;
• means for electrically coupling said first conductive material surrounding means to the first disk drive;
• and
• means mounted on a rear portion of said second conductive material surrounding means for conducting the static electricity from said second conductive material surrounding means to the sheet metal housing,
• whereby when said rear portion of said second conductive material surrounding means is initially inserted into the sheet metal housing the static electricity is conducted to the sheet metal housing via said conducting means mounted on a rear portion of said second conductive material surrounding means and not to the first disk drive which is protected by said first conductive material surrounding means from the electrostatic discharge.

Apparatus for supporting, providing a plug connection for, and shielding a disk drive, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing cage structure having an open front end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, and first and second opposite side walls extending between said open front end and said rear end wall and having facing surfaces;
• first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions and interiors along their lengths, said guide channel members being mounted on said facing surfaces of said first and second side walls in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend toward said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith;
• a support tray member having opposite side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion;
• a plug circuit board mounted on said rear end portion of said support tray member for movement therewith in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position a rear portion of the mounted plug circuit board is conductively and removably received within said plug socket;
• means for securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith;
• means for electrically coupling said plug circuit board to the disk drive;
• a conductive cover having a top portion and side portions, said cover being disposed on said support tray member for covering the disk drive;
• two sheet metal grounding spring members, each of said sheet metal grounding spring members being mounted to a rear portion of one of said conductive cover side portions such that when said support tray member is slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members said sheet metal grounding spring members electrically couple to said housing cage structure facing surfaces;
• sheet metal grounding clip members carried by said guide channel members and deformingly pressed against said first and second side walls of said housing cage structure;
• and
• cooperatively engageable means on said conductive cover for grounding the disk drive as said support tray member is being moved through said cage structure toward and away from said operating position.