ELECTRONIC MODULES HAVING INTEGRATED LEVER-ACTIVATED LATCHING MECHANISMS

• US 20070149005A1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Togami, Chris, Newhouse, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/76.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence

Abstract

An integrated latching mechanism for use with a user pluggable electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module, is disclosed. The latching mechanism allows the user to selectively latch the module within a corresponding host port by manipulation of a pivot lever. Movement of the pivot lever causes a locking pin to extend and latch the module within the port. Conversely, movement of the pivot lever can disengage the locking pin and thereby allow the user to extract the module from within the port. The pivot lever can further include a biasing member that biases the pivot lever in a locked position.

Claims

1. A transceiver module for use in a communications network, the module comprising:

a cable receptacle that is capable of receiving one or more cable connectors;

a movable pivot block rotatably engaged with the cable receptacle and having a locking member that is configured to selectively engage a host port, the pivot block being configured to allow removal of the module from within a host port, wherein movement of the pivot block manipulates the locking member in a manner so as to disengage the module from within the host port; and

a biasing member that biases the moveable pivot block in a locked position.

2. A transceiver module as defined in claim 1, wherein the moveable pivot block is shaped so as to prevent the manipulation of the locking member when a fiber optic cable connector is disposed within the fiber optic cable receptacle.

3. A transceiver module as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a metal portion of a housing of the transceiver module that is formed as a leaf spring.

4. A transceiver module as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing member is biased against a top surface of the moveable pivot block so as to operatively secure the moveable pivot block.

5. A transceiver module as defined in claim 1, wherein the moveable pivot block pivots about a pivot point.

6. A transceiver module as defined in claim 1, wherein the moveable pivot block is a cantilevered portion of a housing of the transceiver module.

7. An optical transceiver module having transceiver electronics and optics to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals, the module comprising:

a fiber optic cable receptacle that is capable of receiving one or more fiber optic cable connectors;

a movable pivot block rotatably engaged with the cable receptacle and having a locking member that is configured to selectively engage a host port, the pivot block being configured to allow removal of the module from within a host port, wherein movement of the pivot block manipulates the locking member in a manner so as disengage the module from within the host port; and

a biasing member that biases the moveable pivot block in a latched position.

8. An optical transceiver module as defined in claim 7, wherein the moveable pivot block is shaped so as to prevent the manipulation of the locking member when a fiber optic cable connector is disposed within the fiber optic cable receptacle.

9. An optical transceiver module as defined in claim 7, wherein the biasing member is a metal portion of a housing of the transceiver module that is formed as a leaf spring.

10. An optical transceiver module as defined in claim 7, wherein the biasing member is biased against a top surface of the moveable pivot block so as to operatively secure the moveable pivot block.

11. An optical transceiver module as defined in claim 7, wherein the moveable pivot block pivots about a pivot point.

12. An optical transceiver module as defined in claim 7, wherein the moveable pivot block is a cantilevered portion of a housing of the transceiver module.

13. A small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber optic transceiver module comprising:

a housing portion containing a printed circuit board having transceiver electronics and optics to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals;

a moveable pivot block, wherein movement of the moveable pivot block disengages the module from within a host port and exertion of a pulling force on the moveable pivot block permits the module to be withdrawn from the host port;

a locking member, formed on the pivot block, the locking member configured to selectively engage the module within the host port, and wherein the locking member is selectively disengaged by movement of the moveable pivot block by applying a force to a leading edge portion on the pivot block; and

a biasing member that biases the moveable pivot block in a latched position.

14. A module as defined in claim 13, wherein the moveable pivot block disengages the module from within the host port by manipulating the pivot block against a biasing force of a biasing member.

15. A module as defined in claim 13, wherein the moveable pivot block is a cantilevered portion of the housing.

16. A module as defined in claim 13, wherein the biasing member is a metal portion of the housing portion that is formed as a leaf spring.

17. A module as defined in claim 13, wherein the biasing member is biased against a top surface of the moveable pivot block so as to operatively secure the moveable pivot block.

18. A transceiver module, comprising:

a housing portion;

a connector portion attached to the housing portion and configured to removably receive one or more cable connectors;

a pivot block including a pivot arm that rotatably engages the connector portion, the pivot block being rotatable between a first pivot block position where the module is latched to a host port, and a second pivot block position where the module is unlatched from the host port; and

a biasing member that biases the moveable pivot block.

19. The transceiver module as recited in claim 18, wherein the pivot block includes a pivot arm rotatably engaged with the connector portion.

20. The transceiver module as recited in claim 18, wherein the biasing member is a metal portion of the housing portion that is formed as a leaf spring.

21. The transceiver module as recited in claim 18, wherein the pivot block is biased into the first pivot block position.

22. The transceiver module as recited in claim 18, wherein the pivot block is positioned on top of the connector portion.

23. The transceiver module as recited in claim 18, wherein the biasing member is biased against a top surface of the pivot block so as to operatively secure the moveable pivot block.