Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-22
2004-03-16
Zarroli, Michael C. (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
C385S088000, C439S352000, C361S728000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical transceiver module; in particular, the invention relates to an easily removable optical transceiver module.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers are increasingly being connected to communications lines and other devices or networks with the computers performing as servers for the peripherally connected computers or devices. The volume of data sent and received by the computer serving as a server of a network is such that the networks are advantageously constructed using fiber optic lines in order to increase the throughput of data.
Fiber optic lines and the associated fiber optic signals require transceivers to convert optical light pulse signals to electronic signals which are usable by the computer. Such an optical transceiver module includes a transmitter optical subassembly and a receiver optical subassembly to send and receive the optical signals.
Industry standards have been established to define the physical parameters of these modules and, particularly, the overall interface. This permits the interconnection of different devices manufactured by different manufacturers without the use of physical adapters.
Since about 1990, the fiber optic industry has been using a so-called “SC duplex fiber optic connector system” as the optical fiber connector interface on the front of fiber optic transceivers. The physical separation between the transmitter optical subassembly and receiver optical subassembly (TOSA and ROSA, respectively) for the SC duplex connector is approximately 12.7 mm. However, the industry is now converting to so-called “Small Form Factor optical connectors” and associated “Small Form Factor optical transceiver.” In the so-called Small Form Factor optical connectors, the separation between the transmitter optical subassembly and receiver optical subassembly is established at approximately 6.25 mm, less than half the separation of the prior SC duplex connector. The Small Form Factor (SFF) standard establishes a module enclosure, having a 9.8 mm height and a width of 13.5 mm, and allows a minimum of 24 transceivers arranged across a standard rack opening. The reduction in size from the former SC duplex connector standard to the Small Form Factor standard requires both substantial redevelopment and redesign.
Moreover, the Small Form Factor optical fiber connector interface has been adopted as a standardized removable module. The optical transceiver module may be connected to a module interface on the host circuit board of a computer in a removable manner. Thus, when the optical transceiver module is abnormal, it can be removed from the circuit board so as to be checked.
Recently, referring to
FIG. 1
a,
FIG. 1
b,
FIG. 1
c,
FIG. 1
d
and
FIG. 1
e,
an optical transceiver module
20
is disposed on a communication device
10
, such as a computer, in a hot plugged manner.
As shown in
FIG. 1
a,
the communication device
10
comprises a case
11
, a printed circuit board
12
and a cage
13
. The case
11
is provided with a first opening
111
for the optical transceiver module
20
passing through.
As shown in
FIG. 1
b,
the printed circuit board
12
is provided with a socket
14
thereupon, and the socket
14
is provided with a slot
141
for insertion of the optical transceiver module
20
. The cage
13
is disposed on the printed circuit board
12
, as shown in
FIG. 1
b,
and it is provided with a second opening
131
, a third opening
132
, and an engaging member
133
. The second opening
131
is used for the optical transceiver module
20
to pass through, and the third opening
132
is used for the socket
14
to pass through. The engaging member
133
, having a hole
134
, deflects in a predetermined range. In addition, since the cage
13
is provided with protrusions
135
at the bottom, there is a gap between the bottom of the cage
13
and the printed circuit board
12
. Thus, when the cage
13
is disposed on the printed circuit board
12
, the gap is used for deflection of the engaging member
133
.
The conventional optical transceiver module
20
is shown in
FIG. 1
c,
and is provided with a chassis
21
, an optical subassembly
22
and a housing
23
. The optical subassembly
22
, disposed on the chassis
21
, is used to convert the optical light pulse signals to electronic signals that are usable by the communication device
10
. The housing
23
is attached to the chassis
21
so that the optical subassembly
22
is located between the chassis
21
and the housing
23
. The chassis
21
is provided with a protrusion
211
and a sliding member
24
at the bottom.
Referring to
FIG. 1
d
, to dispose the optical transceiver module
20
in the communication device
10
, the optical transceiver module
20
passes through the first opening
111
of the case
11
in a manner such that the opposite side
231
of the chassis
21
of the optical transceiver module
20
faces the communication device
10
. Then, the optical transceiver module
20
is located inside the cage
13
in the case
11
, and the optical subassembly
22
electrically connects with the socket
14
and the protrusion
211
of the chassis
21
engages the hole
134
as shown in
FIG. 1
e
. At this time, part of the chassis
21
is located outside the case
11
, and such part includes the sliding member
24
.
To remove the optical transceiver module
20
from the communication device
10
, the sliding member
24
is pushed along an arrow X in
FIG. 1
e
so as to deform the engaging member
133
. Thus, the engaging member
133
is deformed so that the protrusion
211
disengages from the hole
134
on the engaging member
133
. As a result, the optical transceiver module
20
is removed.
The conventional optical transceiver module
20
has the following disadvantages:
1. The removing action between the optical transceiver module
20
from the communication device
10
is inconvenient. Specifically, after the sliding member
24
is pushed along an arrow X to disengage the chassis
21
and the cage
13
, the whole optical transceiver module
20
is pulled out along a direction opposite to the direction X. Thus, since the removing action requires two manual steps in different directions, it is very inconvenient for users.
2. Since the chassis
21
is provided with a sliding member
24
, the assembly time and cost increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to address the disadvantages of the aforementioned optical transceiver module, the invention provides an easily removable optical transceiver module.
Accordingly, the invention provides an optical transceiver module adapted for a cage with an engaging member. The optical transceiver module comprises a chassis and a separating portion. The chassis, having a protrusion, is disposed inside the cage in a removable manner. The protrusion engages the engaging member when the chassis is located inside the cage. The separating portion, integrally formed on the chassis, pushes the engaging member to separate the protrusion and the engaging member.
In a preferred embodiment, the separating portion comprises a main rod and an actuating rod. The main rod is integrally formed on the chassis. The actuating rod is integrally formed on the main rod in a manner such that can rotate around the main rod.
Furthermore, the actuating rod is provided with a push part and a prying part for prying the engaging member, and the push part and the prying part rotate in opposite directions around the main rod.
Furthermore, a portion, abutting the engaging member, of the prying part is V-shaped.
In another preferred embodiment, the engaging member is provided with a hole for engaging the protrusion.
In another preferred embodiment, the optical transceiver module further comprises an optical subassembly and a housing. The optical subassembly is disposed on the chassis. The housing is attached to the chassis so that the optical subassembly is located between the chassis and the housing.
In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides an optical transceiver mo
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Delta Electronics , Inc.
Zarroli Michael C.
LandOfFree
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