EMI shielded module

Abstract

A module for containing a circuit is provided that attenuates emitted signals without the use of a cover. The module includes a housing and a receptacle. The housing has a front having a certain thickness and the receptacle is accessible from the front of the housing. The receptacle is shaped to receive a circuit component and forms a waveguide.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A module for containing a circuit, the module comprising: 
 a housing having a front having a certain thickness; and    a receptacle accessible from the front of the housing, the receptacle shaped to receive a circuit component wherein the receptacle forms a waveguide.    
     
     
         2 . A module according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of receptacles accessible from the front of the housing wherein each receptacle is shaped to receive an individual circuit component and each receptacle forms a waveguide.  
     
     
         3 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the receptacle has the shape of a rectangular chamber.  
     
     
         4 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the front of the housing is recessed in a region surrounding the receptacle.  
     
     
         5 . A module according to  claim 4  further comprising a cover shaped to fit within the recess wherein the cover extends over the receptacle.  
     
     
         6 . A module according to  claim 5  further comprising a means for attaching the cover to the front wall of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . A module according to  claim 5  further comprising a snapping barb for securing the cover to the front of the housing.  
     
     
         8 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the circuit component is a removable plug, the module further comprising: 
 a circuit board located in the interior of the housing wherein the circuit board has a conductive pathway on a first side of the circuit board and a second conductive pathway on a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface; and  
 a plug connector mounted on the circuit board for receiving the plug, wherein the plug has a first terminal and a second terminal extending from a back portion of the plug so that the first and second terminals are exposed in the back portion wherein the plug fits in the receptacle and is received in the plug connector and the first terminal is electrically coupled to the first conductive pathway on the first surface of the circuit board and the second terminal is electrically coupled to the second conductive pathway on the second surface of the circuit board.  
 
     
     
         9 . A module according to  claim 8  wherein the plug includes a third terminal located between the first and second terminals wherein the third terminal extends into the circuit board.  
     
     
         10 . A module according to  claim 9  wherein the circuit board is a layered circuit board and has a ground plane located in a center layer, wherein the third terminal of the plug contacts the ground plane layer of the circuit board.  
     
     
         11 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the front of the housing ranges from about 0.2 to about 0.8 inches.  
     
     
         12 . A module according to  claim 11  wherein the thickness is about 0.25 inches.  
     
     
         13 . A module according to  claim 11  wherein the thickness is about 0.75 inches.  
     
     
         14 . A module according to  claim 8  wherein the plug has a plastic housing and circuitry located in the plastic housing near the back portion of the plug so that when the plug is inserted in the receptacle and received by the plug connector, the circuitry is located in an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         15 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the housing is made of a conductive material.  
     
     
         16 . A module according to  claim 5  wherein the cover is made of a nonconductive material.  
     
     
         17 . A module according to  claim 5  wherein the cover when placed in the recessed opening of the front obstructs access to the receptacle.  
     
     
         18 . A module according to  claim 14  wherein the circuitry includes an attenuator circuit.  
     
     
         19 . A module according to  claim 8  further comprising 
 a plurality of coax connectors secured to a back of the housing; and  
 a plurality of connection locations on the circuit board wherein the coax connectors are coupled to the connection locations.  
 
     
     
         20 . A module according to  claim 19  wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of circuit components interconnected with one another and with the connection locations through a plurality of circuit paths wherein the plurality of circuit components includes splitter components for receiving a main signal from one of the connection locations and dividing the main signal into a plurality of branch signals delivered along the circuit paths to individual reaming ones of the connection locations.  
     
     
         21 . A module according to  claim 19  wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of circuit components interconnected with one another and with the connection locations through a plurality of circuit paths wherein the plurality of circuit components includes combiner components for receiving a plurality of branch signals from individual ones of the connection locations and combining the branch signals into a main signal delivered along the circuit paths to a remaining one of the connection locations.  
     
     
         22 . A module according to  claim 5  wherein the module has an emission rating of greater than 100 dB down from a carrier signal when the cover is removed.  
     
     
         23 . A module according to  claim 1  wherein the housing is made of conductive material and the waveguide is formed by the thickness of the housing.  
     
     
         24 . A module for containing a circuit, the module comprising: 
 a housing having a front having a certain thickness; and    a receptacle accessible from a surface of the housing, the receptacle shaped to receive a circuit component wherein the receptacle forms a waveguide.