Selective Application of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Protection and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Conformal Coatings Onto Circuit Card As

Eikos Inc. proposes to use a functionalized version of Nanoshield¿ (polymer nanocomposites developed by Eikos Inc.) which when formulated with commercially available conformal coatings will provide EMI shielding to CCA's (circuit card assemblies). Theadditives in Nanoshield¿ are used in such small amounts that coating properties (i.e. viscosity, transparency, etc.) and cost will not be appreciably affected. Formulating Nanoshield¿ with commercially available conformal coatings means that there willbe no need to develop, change, or modify existing resin systems or application devices (which can be quite costly). Another advantage of developing this additive is that it could potentially reduce shielding requirements by as much as 50% thus reducingthe mass, volume, and cost of military and commercial electronic devices. These coatings may also reduce the need for additional shielding that may be required as lower voltage integrated circuits are designed into military and civilian electronicsystems.The potential of formulating Nanoshield¿ into commercial conformal coatings for producing materials that will provide EMI shielding to circuit card assemblies (CCA's). This method of incorporated EMI shielding to commercial conformal coatingsopens the door for the production of lighter and less costly civilian and military CCA's. There is enormous interest in products intended to minimize the effects of EMI in a variety of industries, ranging from satellites to the automotive industry.Catalog vendors list hundreds of types of EMI shielding products, many could be supplanted by this technology. Most of the research and development of these products has been done domestically, and the U.S. remains the largest producer of EMI goods.Furthermore, this country is still the largest single market for ESD products. Estimates of the size of the EMI market well over $100 million.