Compact, Rugged Enclosure for PC-Based Electronic Circuits

Figure 1 depicts a compact enclosure enabling the operation of personal-computer (PC)-based electronic circuits in harsh environments. The electronic circuits in question are commercial off-the-shelf Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) and Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) printed-circuit boards. The enclosure provides electrical connections and mechanical shielding of the boards. The enclosure serves as a shield against radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI) between the enclosed boards and any exterior equipment. The enclosure also provides mechanical restraint (with some compression) to enable the boards to withstand shock and vibration.