Electrical transceiver module with alternate peripheral device connector

• US 6,876,838 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Daly, John J., Pirillis, Alex, Skepnek, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/133,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/90.2, 455/90.1, 455/556, 455/557, 455/300, 455/575.1, 379/428.01, 379/433.05, 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an electrical transceiver module having a peripheral device connector to receive copper plugs having a profile equal to or larger than the outer profile of the standard module housing profile. An embodiment of the invention provides an RJ-45 receptacle as the peripheral device connector of an SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) transceiver. An embodiment of the invention provides a receptacle outer profile being larger than the main transceiver body outer profile in at least one dimension. An embodiment of the invention provides for a transceiver having a latch member and a latching point point disposed on a main body between a first end and a second end of the housing.

Claims

1. An electrical transceiver module comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end and a main body portion therebetween having a first width and a first height;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing and having circuit traces and electrical components mounted to the printed circuit board;

a host device connector at the first end providing for the module to be pluggably connected;

a base member at the second end having a second width that is greater than the first width; and

a peripheral device connector having a rectangular shaped connector housing and a receptacle opening formed by the connector housing, the receptacle opening at its broadest point having a third width that is approximately equal to or greater than the first width and the receptacle opening at its broadest point having a second height that is approximately equal to or greater than the first height and the peripheral device connector is mounted to the base member so that the connector housing and the base combine to provide an enlarged profile greater than the main body profile and the peripheral device connector having contacts protruding beyond the connector housing and electrically connected to the circuit traces of the printed circuit board.

2. The transceiver module of claim 1, wherein the base member is integrally formed with the housing.

3. The transceiver module of claim 1, wherein the base member encloses a protruding portion of the printed circuit board that provides a mounting area for the peripheral device connector.

4. The transceiver module of claim 3, wherein the peripheral device connector includes contact tails forming linear pins to be received in through holes of the printed circuit board.

5. The transceiver module of claim 3, wherein the peripheral device connector includes contact tails that are formed at a right angle in order to provide connection to the circuit traces exposed at an edge of the printed circuit board.

6. The transceiver module of claim 3, wherein the protruding portion includes a flex circuit attached thereto.

7. The transceiver module of claim 6, wherein the flex circuit includes through holes for receiving the contacts of the peripheral device connector.

8. The transceiver module of claim 1, wherein the host device connector is formed at least partially by an edge of the printed circuit board exposed at the first end.

9. The transceiver module of claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board includes contact fingers formed at the edge connected to the circuit traces of the printed circuit board.

10. The transceiver module of claim 8, wherein the host device connector is formed to be compliant with SFP MSA specification.

11. The transceiver module of claim 1, wherein the host device connector is provided by a connector that is separate from the module and is attached thereto at the first end.

12. A small form factor transceiver module comprising:

a main body including a host device connector provided at a first end, the main body having an outer profile; and

a frame forming a peripheral device connector having contacts exposed therein, the frame and contacts forming a receptacle for receiving an RJ-45 jack and the receptacle defining a receptacle outer profile being larger than the main body outer profile in at least one dimension and the receptacle disposed at a second end opposite the first end.

13. The transceiver module of claim 12, wherein the module includes a housing having printed circuit board mounted within the housing and the peripheral device connector electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

14. The transceiver module of claim 12, wherein the module housing includes a base member protruding at the second end for mounting of the peripheral device connector thereto.

15. The transceiver module of claim 14, wherein the base member encloses the printed circuit board to which the peripheral device connector is mounted.

16. The transceiver module of claim 14, wherein a connector housing of the peripheral device connector has a first width greater than the outer profile of the main body and the first width approximately equal to a second width of the base member.

17. The transceiver module of claim 14 further comprising a latch member having an extended body and the latch member mounted to the base member.

18. The transceiver module of claim 17 wherein the extended body provides for de-latching of the transceiver module from a host device.

19. The transceiver of claim 12 wherein the module includes a printed circuit board having an edge exposed at the first end and forming at least a portion of the host device connector.

20. A transceiver module comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end and at the housing'"'"'s narrowest portion, the housing having a first dimension;

the second end providing at its broadest portion a second dimension being greater than the first dimension;

a host device connector provided at the first end and having a male style connector; and

a peripheral device connector provided at the second end and having an outer profile including the second dimension.

21. The transceiver module of claim 20, wherein the peripheral device connector includes a connector housing forming a receptacle opening.

22. The transceiver module of claim 21, wherein the receptacle opening is formed to receive an RJ-45 jack.

23. The transceiver module of claim 20 wherein the housing includes a printed circuit board extending from the first end to the second end and the peripheral device connector electrically connected to the printed circuit board at the second end.

24. A small form factor transceiver module comprising:

a housing including a first end having a host connector and a main body extending therefrom and the first end and main body defining a first profile;

a second end having a second profile being larger in at least one dimension than the first profile;

a latching point disposed on the main body between the first and second end; and

a peripheral device connector disposed at the second end defining a receptacle having contacts exposed therein.

25. The module of claim 24 further comprising a latch member extending between the second end and the latching point and the latching point including an ejection tab.

26. The module of claim 25 wherein the ejection tab is disposed on the main body and does not extend past the second profile and a majority of the latch member is collinear with the second profile.

27. The module of claim 25 wherein the main body includes an ejection lever disposed at the latching point.

28. The module of claim 24 wherein the second end includes a slot extending between the second end and the latching point and a latch member mounted in the slot so that a body of the latch member is collinear with the second profile.

29. The module of claim 28 wherein the first overhang portion is adjacent the latching point disposed on the main body.

30. The module of claim 24 wherein the second end forms a first overhang portion that extends beyond the first profile and provides for an abutment wall on the second end that is formed generally transverse and adjacent to the main body.

31. The module of claim 30 further comprising a second overhang portion formed by the second end of a side opposite the first overhang portion.