De-latching mechanisms for fiber optic modules

• US 6,814,502 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumentum Operations, LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Kee S., Ming, Tat T., Pang, Ron C., Chiu, Liew C., Sim, Yong P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Richard H
• Application Number:
  US10/331,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/76-77, 385/62, 385/70, 385/71, 385/63, 385/53
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

Rotate-and-pull mechanisms for fiber optic modules. The rotate-and-pull mechanisms have a lever-actuator to unlatch and withdraw a fiber optic module from a cage assembly or a module receptacle. The lever-actuator pivotally couples to the fiber optic module so that when lever-actuator is rotated about its pivot point, the lever-actuator causes the second actuator to release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly. The lever-actuator includes an actuating-tab to cause the second actuator to move when the lever-actuator is rotated. By pulling the lever-actuator away from the cage assembly, the fiber optic module is withdrawn from the cage assembly. A belly-to-belly mounting configuration is introduced for the rotate-and-pull release fiber optic modules.

Claims

1. A de-latch mechanism for fiber optic modules comprising:

a lever-arm actuator rotationally coupled to a fiber optic module, the lever-arm actuator having a pivot point; and

a sliding actuator slidingly coupled to the fiber optic module,

wherein rotating the lever-arm actuator about the pivot point, the lever-arm actuator couples to the sliding actuator and the sliding actuator slides to release the fiber optic module from a cage assembly.

2. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the lever-arm actuator includes

an actuating tab coupled to the lever-arm actuator, wherein the actuating tab rotates with the lever-arm actuator about the pivot point and couples to a first end of the sliding actuator to cause the sliding actuator to slide and release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.

3. The de-latch mechanism of claim 2 wherein

the first movable rotational actuator rotates about an axis at the pivot point and

the actuating tab rotates about the axis with the lever-arm actuator.

4. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein

pulling the lever-arm actuator causes the fiber optic module to withdraw from the cage assembly.

5. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a pivot fastener coupled to the fiber optic module at the pivot point of the lever-arm actuator, the pivot fastener to rotationally couple the lever-arm actuator to the fiber optic module.

6. The de-latch mechanism of claim 5 wherein

the pivot fastener includes a pin.

7. The de-latch mechanism of claim 5 wherein

the pivot fastener includes a hole in the lever-arm actuator to rotationally couple to a pin.

8. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the de-latch mechanism permits arranging multiple fiber optic modules in a belly-to-belly configuration without obstructing an adjacent de-latch mechanism.

9. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the pivot point is an axis about which the lever-arm actuator rotates.

10. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the lever-arm actuator is a bail latch actuator, the bail latch actuator has a first end rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module at the pivot point and a second end free to rotate away from the fiber optic module to release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly and enable a finger to pull on the bail latch to withdraw the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.

11. The de-latch mechanism of claim 10 wherein

the sliding actuator is movably coupled to the fiber optic module to slide along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

12. The de-latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the lever-arm actuator includes

a center member having a first end and a second end, the center member being rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module to rotate about the pivot point;

and

at least one lever arm having a first end coupled to and extending from the center member to a second, end opposite the first end, the second end of the lever arm being free to rotate away from the fiber optic module.

13. A de-latch mechanism for fiber optic modules comprising:

a lever-arm actuator with a pivot point;

a spring coupled to the lever-arm actuator around the pivot point, the spring to apply a bias force to the lever-arm actuator; and

a sliding actuator, wherein rotating the lever-arm actuator about its pivot point causes the sliding actuator to slide thereby releasing a fiber optic module from a cage assembly.

14. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein the lever-arm actuator includes

an actuating tab coupled to the lever-arm actuator, wherein the actuating tab rotates when the lever-arm actuator is rotated about its pivot point thereby causing the second actuator to slide and release a fiber optic module from a cage assembly.

15. The de-latch mechanism of claim 14 wherein

the actuating tab rotates about the same axis as the lever-arm actuator when the lever-arm actuator is rotated.

16. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein

pulling the lever-arm actuator causes a fiber optic module to withdraw from a cage assembly.

17. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein

the spring is a biasing spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a wind-up spring, or a coil spring to apply the bias force.

18. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein

the pivot point is a first axis and the lever-arm actuator is rotationally coupled to the fiber opticmodule to rotate about the first axis.

19. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein

the lever-arm actuator is a bail latch actuator, the bail latch actuator has a first end rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module at the pivot point and a second end free to rotate away from the fiber optic module to release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly and enable a finger to pull on the bail latch to withdraw the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.

20. The de-latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein the lever-arm actuator includes

a center member having a first end and a second end, the center member being rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module to rotate about the pivot point;

and

at least one lever arm having a first end a coupled to and extending from the center member to second end opposite the first end, the second end of the lever arm being free to rotate away from the fiber optic module.

21. A de-latch mechanism comprising:

rotational means for disengaging a fiber optic module, the rotational means rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module;

sliding means movably coupled to the fiber optic module;

wherein rotating the rotational means about a pivot point causes the sliding means to slide and release the fiber optic module from a cage assembly.

22. The de-latch mechanism of claim 21 wherein

the rotational means includes

an actuating means coupled to the rotational means, wherein the actuating means rotates when the rotational means is rotated about the pivot point thereby causing the sliding means to slide and release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.

23. The de-latch mechanism of claim 22 wherein

the actuating means rotates about an axis at the pivot point with the rotational means.

24. The de-latch mechanism of claim 21 wherein

pulling the rotational means causes the fiber optic module to withdraw from the cage assembly.

25. The de-latch mechanism of claim 21 wherein

the de-latch mechanism permits arranging multiple fiber optic modules in a belly-to-belly configuration without obstructing an adjacent de-latch mechanism.

26. The de-latch mechanism of claim 21 wherein the lever-arm actuator is a bail latch actuator, the bail latch actuator has a first end rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module at the pivot point and a second end free to rotate away from the fiber optic module to release the fiber optic module from the cage assembly and enable a finger to pull on the bail latch to withdraw the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.

27. The de-latch mechanism of claim 21 wherein the lever-arm actuator includes

a center member having a first end and a second end, the center member being rotationally coupled to the fiber optic module to rotate about the pivot point;

and

at least one lever arm having a first end coupled to and extending from the center member to a second end opposite the first end, the second end of the lever arm being free to rotate away from the fiber optic module.