Extending latch mechanism for a pluggable optical module

• US 7,101,093 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Hsiao, Cheng-ta, Tsai, Cheng-Hung, Lee, Chun-Sheng, Lee, Shun-Tien
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/972,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/60, 385/70, 385/72, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/80, 385/88, 385/92, 385/93, 385/94, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• 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 6/4269 with heat sinks or radiation fins
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An extending latch mechanism for a pluggable optical module includes a resilient member and a lever coupling with each other. The lever is turnable to drive and deform the resilient member and to retract the resilient member transversely in the optical module so that the optical module may be removed directly. The structure is simple and easy to fabricate and assemble. It is reliable and convenient to use.

Claims

1. An extending latch mechanism for a pluggable optical module to selectively couple the pluggable optical module on an electronic device, comprising:

a holding trough located on the optical module having two ends each including a latch notch and an extracting channel, and a sloped surface abutting the latch notch;

a resilient member located in the holding trough having a latch section on one end extending outside the latch notch and another end formed a driving portion extending outside the extracting channel, and a contact portion formed in a middle portion pressing the sloped surface; and

a lever pivotally located on the optical module abutting the extracting channel turnable relative to the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion to make the contact portion to slide on the sloped surface and the latch section to retract from the latch notch into the holding trough.

2. The extending latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch notch and the retracting channel are located on two neighboring sides of the optical module and substantially normal to each other.

3. The extending latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is bent to form the contact portion.

4. The extending latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving portion is formed by bending one end of the resilient member extended outside the retracting channel to couple on the lever.

5. The extending latch mechanism of claim 4, wherein the lever has a stub shaft and a strut connecting to the stub shaft, the driving portion being coupled with the stub shaft and keeping the lever close to the optical module in normal conditions.

6. The extending latch mechanism of claim 5, wherein the strut has a distal end spaced from the stub shaft at a distance greater than an interval between the lever and the optical module such that the lever is turnable about the stub shaft relative to the optical module to allow the strut to press the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion.

7. The extending latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lever has a handle and a strut extended from the handle, the strut having a stub shaft located thereon to couple with the optical module and allow the lever to turn relative to the optical module.

8. The extending latch mechanism of claim 7, wherein the driving portion of the resilient member is coupled with the stub shaft to keep the lever close to the optical module in normal conditions.

9. The extending latch mechanism of claim 8, wherein the strut has a distal end spaced from the stub shaft at a distance greater than an interval between the lever and the optical module such that the lever is turnable about the stub shaft relative to the optical module to allow the strut to press the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion.

10. The extending latch mechanism of claim 8 further having a sliding trough to hold the stub shaft and limit outward extending distance of the stub shaft and the lever.

11. An extending latch mechanism for a pluggable optical module to selectively couple the pluggable optical module on an electronic device, comprising:

two holding troughs located on the optical module having respectively two ends each including a latch notch and an extracting channel, and a sloped surface abutting the latch notch;

two resilient members located respectively in the holding troughs having a latch section on one end extending outside the latch notch and another end formed a driving portion extending outside the extracting channel, and a contact portion formed in a middle portion pressing the sloped surface; and

a lever pivotally located on the optical module abutting the extracting channel turnable relative to the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion to make the contact portion to slide on the sloped surface and the latch section to retract from the latch notch into the holding trough.

12. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the two retracting channels are located on two neighboring sides.

13. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the two latch notches are located on two opposite sides.

14. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the two resilient members are extended from the driving portions and connected to each other.

15. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the latch notch and the retracting channel are located on two neighboring sides of the optical module and substantially normal to each other.

16. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the resilient member is bent to form the contact portion.

17. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the driving portion is formed by bending one end of the resilient member extended outside the retracting channel to couple on the lever.

18. The extending latch mechanism of claim 17, wherein the lever has a stub shaft and a strut connecting to the stub shaft, the driving portion being coupled with the stub shaft and keeping the lever close to the optical module in normal conditions.

19. The extending latch mechanism of claim 18, wherein the strut has a distal end spaced from the stub shaft at a distance greater than an interval between the lever and the optical module such that the lever is turnable about the stub shaft relative to the optical module to allow the strut to press the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion.

20. The extending latch mechanism of claim 11, wherein the lever has a handle and a strut extended from the handle, the strut having a stub shaft located thereon to couple with the optical module and allow the lever to turn relative to the optical module.

21. The extending latch mechanism of claim 20, wherein the driving portion of the resilient member is coupled with the stub shaft to keep the lever close to the optical module in normal conditions.

22. The extending latch mechanism of claim 21, wherein the strut has a distal end spaced from the stub shaft at a distance greater than an interval between the lever and the optical module such that the lever is turnable about the stub shaft relative to the optical module to allow the strut to press the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards through the driving portion.

23. The extending latch mechanism of claim 22 further having a sliding trough to hold the stub shaft and limit outward extending distance of the stub shaft and the lever.

24. An extending latch mechanism for a pluggable optical module to selectively couple the pluggable optical module on an electronic device, comprising:

a holding trough located on the optical module having one end which includes a latch notch and a sloped surface abutting the latch notch;

a resilient member coupled on the optical module having a latch section on one end extending outside the latch notch and a contact portion formed in a middle portion pressing the sloped surface; and

a lever pivotally located on the optical module and coupled on the resilient member turnable relative to the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards to make the contact portion to slide on the sloped surface and the latch section to retract from the latch notch into the holding trough.

25. The extending latch mechanism of claim 24, wherein the resilient member is bent to form the contact portion.

26. The extending latch mechanism of claim 24, wherein the lever has a handle and a strut extended from the handle, the strut having a stub shaft located thereon to couple with the optical module and allow the lever to turn relative to the optical module.

27. The extending latch mechanism of claim 26, wherein the strut has a distal end spaced from the stub shaft at a distance greater than an interval between the lever and the optical module such that the lever is turnable about the stub shaft relative to the optical module to allow the strut to press the optical module to stretch the resilient member outwards.

28. The extending latch mechanism of claim 26 further having a sliding trough to hold the stub shaft and limit outward extending distance of the stub shaft and the lever.

29. The extending latch mechanism of claim 24, wherein the resilient member is reedlike.