US5561584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical ground plane apparatus
Assignee: VTech Communications Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-09-30
•
Granted: 1996-10-01
•
Expires: 2013-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board having an analog section and a digital section where the analog section of the circuit board has distributed thereon analog circuitry, and the digital section has distributed thereon digital circuitry. The analog section further has a connector which connects the analog circuitry to circuitry external to the circuit board. The circuit board is disposed within a chassis, which is operably connected to earth ground. The electrical ground plane apparatus includes an analog ground, a digital ground and a coupling circuit. The digital ground is operably connected to the analog ground at a location proximate the power supply connection and the analog ground is operably connected to the chassis through a coupling circuit. The coupling circuit is located proximate the connector so as to substantially minimize the flow of RF energy into the connector and, in turn, into the external circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 Engne Tang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:31
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0216; H05K9/00; H05K9/0007; H05K9/002; H05K9/0039; H05K1/0215; H05K1/023; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/0929; H05K2201/093; H05K2201/09654; H05K2201/09663; H05K2201/09818; H05K2201/09972; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10015; H05K2201/10022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board disposed within a chassis, said chassis being operably connected to earth ground, said circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said analog section further having a connector which connects said analog circuitry to circuitry external to said circuit board, said ground plane apparatus comprising: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section said analog grounding means being operably connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis, said coupling means being proximate said connector and operably connecting said analog grounding means to said chassis so as to substantially minimize the flow of RF energy through said connector to a signal generating unit, while allowing for direct coupling of said analog section to said digital section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board disposed within a chassis, said chassis being operably connected to earth ground, said circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said analog section further having a connector which connects said analog circuitry to circuitry external to said circuit board, said ground plane apparatus comprising: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section said analog grounding means being operably connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis, said coupling means being proximate said connector and operably connecting said analog grounding means to said chassis so as to substantially minimize the flow of RF energy through said connector to a signal generating unit, while allowing for direct coupling of said analog section to said digital section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a resistor and a capacitor in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said resistor has a first and second terminal and said capacitor has a third and fourth terminal, said first terminal being operably connected to said analog grounding means, said fourth terminal being operably connected to said chassis, each of said at least one connector is connected to said second and third terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said analog grounding means is operably connected to said digital grounding means through a single section proximate a power supply connection, said single section comprising a thick metal trace such that both said analog grounding means and said digital grounding means have approximately the same grounding potential, said single section further serving to preclude the formation of ground loops.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said ground plane apparatus comprising: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section, said analog grounding means being directly connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said ground plane apparatus comprising: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section, said analog grounding means being directly connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said ground plane apparatus consisting essentially of: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section, said analog grounding means being operably connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrical ground plane apparatus for a circuit board having an analog section and a digital section, said analog section having distributed thereon analog circuitry, said digital section having distributed thereon digital circuitry, said ground plane apparatus consisting essentially of: means for grounding said analog section; means for grounding said digital section, said analog grounding means being operably connected to said digital grounding means; and means for coupling said analog grounding means to said chassis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5231308A
Cited
US5287008A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-01 | 2000-04-01 | 2000-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-01 | 2004-04-01 | 2004-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-01 | 2008-04-01 | 2008-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |