Optical module with lever that abuts case to release latch from locking state with cage which accommodates optical module

• US 7,325,975 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Yasushi, Nakano, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUDE, TIMOTHY L
• Application Number:
  US10/844,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/54
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• 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

An optical module has a lever for bending a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating a case of the optical module in a direction in which a retaining hole formed through the spring plate comes off a latch formed on the case. The lever has a shaft pivotably supported on the case, a tongue disposed on one side of the shaft, and an actuator disposed on the opposite side of the shaft with respect to the tongue. The lever pivotally moves about the shaft in response to a movement of the tongue toward the case, causing the actuator to press the spring plate to bend in the foregoing direction. A user can readily release the latch by moving the tongue toward the case, and withdraw the optical module from the cage through a simple manipulation of pulling the case out while holding the case and tongue together.

Claims

1. An optical module comprising:

a case for containing elements for making optical communications, said case having a latch which is retained in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating said case; and

a lever for bending said spring plate in a direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch,

wherein said lever includes a shaft pivotably supported on said case, a tongue disposed on one side of said shaft, and an actuator disposed on an opposite side of the shaft with respect to said tongue, said lever being configured to make a pivotal movement about said shaft in response to a movement of said tongue toward said case, such that said actuator presses said spring plate to bend in said direction, said lever pivoting about an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of withdrawal of said case from said cage, and

said latch and said lever are disposed on the same surface of said case, said surface of said case being formed with a lever stopping surface to which said tongue abuts, and

said lever is configured to move said actuator to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch when said tongue comes into abutment to said lever stopping surface.

2. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein:

said case includes a connection port on a front end surface thereof for connection with a connector which is connected to a cable; and

said lever is configured such that as said tongue is moved toward said case when said connector is in connection to said connection port, said tongue comes into abutment to said connector to prevent said actuator from moving to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch.

3. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein said latch and said lever are arranged on a bottom surface of said case, said tongue having a weight larger than the weight of said actuator.

4. The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising:

an urging member for urging said lever in a direction in which said tongue is moved away from said case.

5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein:

said optical module accommodated in said cage is withdrawn from said cage in a direction forward of a front end surface of said case, and

said lever is movable over a range within a region forward of the front end surface of said case.

6. The optical module according to claim 5, wherein:

said lever is movable over a range within a region delimited by an extension of a top surface of said case forward of the front end surface of said case and an extension of a bottom surface of said case forward of the front end surface of said case.

7. An optical module comprising:

a case for containing elements for making optical communications, said case having a latch which is retained in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating said case; and

an unlocking member for bending said spring plate in a first direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch,

wherein said optical module is configured such that said unlocking member bends said spring plate when said unlocking member is pressed toward said case in a second direction opposite said first direction, causing said retaining hole which retains said latch to come off said latch,

said unlocking member comprises a lever having a shaft pivotably supported on said case, a tongue disposed on one side of said shaft, and an actuator disposed on the opposite side of the shaft with respect to said tongue,

said lever is configured to make a pivotal movement about said shaft in response to a movement of said tongue toward said case, such that said actuator presses said spring plate to bend in said direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch, and

said case and said tongue can be held together with said tongue being moved close to said case,

said latch and said lever are arranged on the same surface of said case, said surface of said case being formed with a lever stopping surface to which said tongue abuts, and

said lever is configured such that said actuator moves to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch when said tongue comes into abutment to said lever stopping surface.

8. The optical module according to claim 7, wherein said latch and said lever are arranged on a bottom surface of said case, said tongue having a weight larger than the weight of said actuator.

9. The optical module according to claim 7, further comprising:

an urging member for urging said lever in a direction in which said tongue is moved away from said case.

10. An optical module comprising:

a case for containing elements for making optical communications, said case having a latch which is retained in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating said case; and

an unlocking member for bending said spring plate in a first direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch,

wherein said optical module is configured such that said unlocking member bends said spring plate when said unlocking member is pressed toward said case in a second direction opposite said first direction, causing said retaining hole which retains said latch to come off said latch,

said unlocking member comprises a lever having a shaft pivotably supported on said case, a tongue disposed on one side of said shaft, and an actuator disposed on the opposite side of the shaft with respect to said tongue,

said lever is configured to make a pivotal movement about said shaft in response to a movement of said tongue toward said case, such that said actuator presses said spring plate to bend in said direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch, and

said case and said tongue can be held together with said tongue being moved close to said case,

said case includes a connection port on a front end surface thereof for connection with a connector which is connected to a cable, and

said lever is configured such that as said tongue is moved toward said case when said connector is in connection to said connection port, said tongue comes into abutment to said connector to prevent said actuator from moving to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch.

11. An optical module comprising:

a case for containing elements for making optical communications, said case having a latch which is retained in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by a cage for accommodating said case; and

an unlocking member for bending said spring plate in a first direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch,

wherein said optical module is configured such that said unlocking member bends said spring plate when said unlocking member is pressed toward said case in a second direction opposite said first direction, causing said retaining hole which retains said latch to come off said latch,

said unlocking member comprises a lever having a shaft pivotably supported on said case, a tongue disposed on one side of said shaft, and an actuator disposed on the opposite side of the shaft with respect to said tongue,

said lever is configured to make a pivotal movement about said shaft in response to a movement of said tongue toward said case, such that said actuator presses said spring plate to bend in said direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch, and

said case and said tongue can be held together with said tongue being moved close to said case,

said optical module accommodated in said cage is withdrawn from said cage in a direction forward of a front end surface of said case;

said lever is movable over a range within a region forward of the front end surface of said case,

said lever is movable over a range within a region delimited by an extension of a top surface of said case forward of the front end surface of said case and an extension of a bottom surface of said case forward of the front end surface of said case.

12. An optical module comprising:

a case insertable in a cage, which is connected with a connector and has a latch arranged on a predetermined surface of said case, for being retainable in a retaining hole formed through a spring plate possessed by said cage; and

a lever, arranged on said predetermined surface, for bending said spring plate in a direction in which said retaining hole comes off said latch, said lever comprises a shaft pivotably supported on said predetermined surface, a tongue, disposed on one side of said lever, has a leading edge projecting past an end surface of said case and an actuator is disposed on an opposite side of said lever,

wherein said leading edge comes into abutment with said connector to prevent said lever from moving to a position at which said retaining hole comes off said latch.