US 6,147,879 A · Assemblies of electrical devices and flexible containers therefor

Abstract

A flexible container and method for its manufacture, the container provided for housing an electronic device. e.g. a printed circuit board. The container has a laminate wall with a dielectric layer facing into a chamber defined by the container, and an EMI protection layer surrounding the dielectric layer. An opening is provided to the chamber to accept the electronic device and a wall region of the container holds electrically conductive elements which are isolated from each other and from the EMI protection layer. The conductive elements connect conductors on the inside of the chamber to conductors outside the container. The wall region is conveniently provided by a preformed panel which bridges a container aperture. An assembly of electronic device and container is also provided. A common opening may be provided for device acceptance and for location of the preformed panel. Also, instead of the conductive elements in the panel, insulated conductor wires extend from the electronic device, through and in sealing engagement with the panel, to extend beyond the container.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A flexible container defining a chamber for containing an electronic device, the container comprising:

a laminate construction wall having a dielectric layer facing inwardly into the chamber and an EMI protection layer surrounding the dielectric layer, the laminate construction wall defining an aperture;
a closeable opening to the chamber;
a plurality of electrically conductive elements present in a wall region of the container, the electrically conductive elements electrically isolated from each other and also from the EMI protection layer, and each of the conductive elements having one end facing into the chamber for electrical connection to a conductor within the container and another end facing outwards from the chamber for connection to a conductor outside the container;
and
a carrier, provided in the aperture and having a laminate construction, which holds the electrically conductive elements and bridges and closeably seals the aperture.

2 more elements

A method of making a flexible container defining a chamber for containing an electronic device comprising:

providing a partly finished container having a laminate construction wall comprising a dielectric layer facing inwardly into the chamber and an EMI protection layer surrounding the dielectric layer, the laminate construction wall defining a closeable opening to the chamber, and an aperture through the laminate construction wall of the partly finished container;
and
bridging and closing the aperture with a carrier having a laminate construction which includes at least one dielectric carrier layer and a plurality of electrically conductive elements held by the carrier, the conductive elements electrically isolated from each other and also from the EMI protection layer and each element having conductive ends located at opposite sides of the carrier, the carrier being sealably secured to the laminate construction wall with conductive ends of the conductive elements providing ends facing into the chamber for electrical connection to the electronic device and ends facing outwards from the chamber for connection to a conductor outside the container.

An assembly of an electronic device inside a flexible container comprising:

an electronic device having a plurality of electrical terminals;
and
a flexible container defining a closed chamber containing the electronic device, the container having a laminate construction wall which comprises a dielectric layer facing inwardly into the chamber and an EMI protection layer surrounding the dielectric layer, the laminate construction wall defining an aperture;
a plurality of electrical conductors electrically isolated from one another and electrically connected to electrical terminals of the electronic device, with first parts of the conductors within the chamber flexibly extending to a wall region of the container and second parts of the conductors extending through and being held by the wall region of the container to provide ends of the second parts of the conductors facing outwards from the container for connection to electrical conductors outside the container;
and
a carrier, provided in the aperture and having a laminate construction, which holds the electrically conductive elements and bridges and closeably seals the aperture.

3 more elements

A method of assembling an electronic device inside a flexible container comprising:

providing a flexible container defining a chamber and having a laminate construction wall comprising a dielectric layer facing inwardly into the chamber and an EMI protection layer surrounding the dielectric layer, the container also defining an opening to the chamber for insertion of the device into the chamber and an aperture;
providing a preformed assembly of the electronic device, individually insulated electrical conductors and a carrier having a laminate construction and a dielectric surface on one side, with the conductors passing through the carrier and second parts of the conductors sealingly held by the carrier;
inserting the preformed assembly through the opening and into the chamber with first parts of the conductors electrically connected to electrical terminals of the electronic device;
and
closing the chamber with the first parts of the conductors within the chamber and the second parts of the conductors extending through a wall region of the container and being electrically isolated from the EMI protection layer with outer ends of the conductors facing outwards from the container for connection to electrical means outside the container.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Assemblies of electrical devices and flexible containers therefor

Life of this patent

Assemblies of electrical devices and flexible containers therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24