Patent Application
20130258559
The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to transceiver assemblies.
Various types of fiber optic and copper based transceiver assemblies that permit communication between host equipment and external devices are known. Such transceiver assemblies include a pluggable module that is electrically connected to a host circuit board through a receptacle assembly. The receptacle assembly includes a metal cage (sometimes referred to as a “guide frame” or a “receptacle guide frame”) having an internal compartment that is configured to receive the pluggable module therein. The receptacle assembly also includes a receptacle connector that is mounted to the host circuit board and extends within the internal compartment of the cage. As the pluggable module is loaded into the internal compartment of the cage, a plug of the pluggable module is received within a receptacle of the receptacle connector to pluggably connect the pluggable module to the receptacle connector and thereby establish an electrical connection between the pluggable module and the host circuit board.
But, the plug of the pluggable module may become misaligned with the receptacle of the receptacle connector as the pluggable module is loaded into the internal compartment of the cage. For example, the pluggable module may be angled downward toward the host circuit board as the pluggable module is loaded into the internal compartment, such that the plug aligns below the receptacle of the receptacle connector. Longer pluggable modules may be especially susceptible to misalignment because the longer module must travel farther within the internal compartment to reach the receptacle connector.
Misalignment of the plug and the receptacle may prevent the pluggable module and the receptacle connector from being electrically connected together, which prevents the pluggable module from electrically connecting to the host circuit board. Misalignment of the plug and the receptacle may jam the pluggable module within the internal compartment of the cage. Jamming of the pluggable module within the internal compartment of the cage may make it difficult to remove the pluggable module and/or properly align the plug with the receptacle. Jamming of the pluggable module may damage the pluggable module, the cage, and/or the receptacle connector.
A need exists for a transceiver assembly that promotes alignment of a pluggable module with a receptacle connector as the pluggable module is loaded into a cage of the transceiver assembly.
In one embodiment, a cage is provided for a receptacle assembly that includes a receptacle connector. The cage includes a die cast body having side walls that are spaced apart to define an internal compartment of the die cast body therebetween. The die cast body has a front end that is open to the internal compartment of the die cast body. The internal compartment is configured to receive the receptacle connector therein. The internal compartment is configured to receive a pluggable module therein through the front end. An alignment plate is mounted to the die cast body. The alignment plate includes an alignment segment that extends between the side walls to form a bottom wall of the cage. The alignment segment includes an alignment surface that defines a bottom boundary of the internal compartment of the die cast body.
In another embodiment, a cage is provided for a receptacle assembly that includes a receptacle connector. The cage includes a die cast body having side walls that are spaced apart to define an internal compartment of the die cast body therebetween. The die cast body has a front end that is open to the internal compartment of the die cast body. The internal compartment is configured to receive the receptacle connector therein. The internal compartment is configured to receive a pluggable module therein through the front end. A bottom plate is mounted to the die cast body. The bottom plate includes a bottom segment that extends between the side walls to form a bottom wall of the cage. The bottom plate includes a latch member that is configured to cooperate with a latch feature of the pluggable module to latch the pluggable module to the cage.
In another embodiment, a transceiver assembly includes a pluggable module, and a receptacle assembly having a receptacle connector and a cage. The cage includes a die cast body having side walls that are spaced apart to define an internal compartment of the die cast body therebetween. The die cast body has a front end that is open to the internal compartment of the die cast body. The internal compartment is configured to receive the receptacle connector therein. The internal compartment is configured to receive the pluggable module therein through the front end. An alignment plate is mounted to the die cast body. The alignment plate includes an alignment segment that extends between the side walls to form a bottom wall of the cage. The alignment segment includes an alignment surface that defines a bottom boundary of the internal compartment of the die cast body.
The transceiver assembly 10 includes a pluggable module 12 configured for pluggable insertion into a receptacle assembly 14 that is mounted on a host circuit board 16. The host circuit board 16 may be mounted in a host system (not shown) such as, but not limited to, a router, a server, a computer, and/or the like. The host system typically includes a conductive chassis (not shown) having a panel (not shown) including one or more openings (not shown) extending therethrough in substantial alignment with the receptacle assembly 14. The receptacle assembly 14 is optionally electrically connected to the panel.
The pluggable module 12 is configured to be inserted into the receptacle assembly 14. Specifically, the pluggable module 12 is inserted into the receptacle assembly 14 through the panel opening such that a front end 18 of the pluggable module 12 extends outwardly from the receptacle assembly 14. The pluggable module 12 includes a housing 20 that forms a protective shell for a circuit board 22 that is disposed within the housing 20. The circuit board 22 carries circuitry, traces, paths, devices, and/or the like that perform transceiver functions in a known manner. An edge 24 of the circuit board 22 is exposed at a rear end 26 of the housing 20. In the exemplary embodiment, the circuit board 22 of the pluggable module 12 directly mates with a receptacle connector 28 of the receptacle assembly 14. In other words, the edge 24 of the circuit board 22 of the pluggable module 12 defines a plug 30 that is received within a receptacle 32 of the receptacle connector 28 to electrically connect the pluggable module 12 to the receptacle connector 28. Alternatively, a straddle mount connector (not shown) is mounted to the circuit board 22 and includes a plug (not shown) that is exposed at the rear end 26 of the housing 20 for plugging into the receptacle 32 of the receptacle connector 28. In the exemplary embodiment, the receptacle connector 28 includes two receptacles 32 and the pluggable module 12 includes two plugs 30 (only one plug 30 is visible herein) that plug into corresponding ones of the receptacles 32. But, the receptacle connector 28 may include any number of the receptacles 32 and the pluggable module 12 may include any number of the plugs 30.
In general, the pluggable module 12 and the receptacle assembly 14 may be used in any application requiring an interface between a host system and electrical and/or optical signals. The pluggable module 12 interfaces to the host system through the receptacle assembly 14 via the receptacle connector 28 of the receptacle assembly 14, which is located within an electrically conductive cage 34 (which is sometimes referred to as a “receptacle guide frame” or a “guide frame”). As illustrated in
The pluggable module 12 includes one or more latch features 44 for latching the pluggable module 12 to the cage 34. Each latch feature 44 cooperates with a corresponding latch member 46 of the cage 34 to latch the pluggable module 12 within the internal compartment 40 of the cage 34, as will be described below. In the exemplary embodiment, each latch feature 44 includes a recess 48 that extends into a side wall 50 of the housing 20 of the pluggable module 12. But, each latch feature 44 may additionally or alternatively include any other structure for cooperating with the corresponding latch member 46 of the cage 34, such as, but not limited to, an opening, an extension, a resiliently deflectable tab, a spring, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the pluggable module 12 includes two latch features 44. Specifically, although not visible in
The pluggable module 12 interfaces to one or more optical cables (not shown) and/or one or more electrical cables (not shown) through a connector interface 54 at the front end 18 of the module 12. Optionally, the connector interface 54 comprises a mechanism that cooperates with a fiber or cable assembly (not shown) to secure the fiber or cable assembly to the pluggable module 12. Suitable connector interfaces 54 are known and include adapters for the LC style fiber connectors and the MTP/MPO style fiber connectors offered by Tyco Electronics Corporation (Harrisburg, Pa.).
Although the cage 34 is shown as including only one internal compartment 40 and only one port 38 for electrically connecting a single pluggable module 12 to the host circuit board 16, the cage 34 may include any number of internal compartments 40 and ports 38, arranged in any pattern, configuration, arrangement, and/or the like (such as, but not limited to, any number of rows and/or columns), for electrically connecting any number of pluggable modules 12 to the host circuit board 16.
The side wall 60 extends from a top end 78 to an opposite bottom end 80. The side wall 62 extends from a top end 82 to an opposite bottom end 84. The body 56 is mounted to the host circuit board 16 (
The side walls 60 and 62 include interior sides 90 and 92, respectively. The interior sides 90 and 92 may stop sideways (e.g., in the directions of the arrows A and B, respectively) migration of the pluggable module 12 (
The body 56 includes one or more mounting features 106 for mounting the bottom plate 58 to the body 56, as will be described below. In the exemplary embodiment, each mounting feature 106 includes an extension 108 that extends outwardly from the exterior side 94 or 96 of the corresponding side wall 60 or 62, respectively. The mounting feature 106 can also be seen in
The body 56 of the cage 34 may be a die cast body that is formed using a die cast process. In other words, the side walls 60 and 62, the rear wall 64, and the bracket 66 may be integrally formed using a die cast process.
The bottom plate 58 includes the latch members 46 of the cage 34 that cooperate with the latch features 44 of the pluggable module 12 (
In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom plate 58 includes two latch members 46. But, the bottom plate 58 may include any number of latch members 46. The latch members 46 extend outwardly from the bottom segment 112 at the front end 114 in the exemplary embodiment. But, each latch member 46 may extend from the bottom segment 112 at any location along the length of the bottom segment 112. Optionally, the latch flanges 128 include mounting tabs 132 that facilitate mounting the bottom plate 58 to the body 56, as described below.
The body 110 of the bottom plate 58 includes one or more mounting flanges 134. Each mounting flange 134 cooperates with a corresponding mounting feature 106 (
In addition or alternatively to the mounting flanges 134 and/or the openings 136, the bottom plate 58 may include any other structure that enables the bottom plate 58 to be mounted to the body 56, such as, but not limited to, a recess, an extension, a resiliently deflectable tab, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom plate 58 includes two mounting flanges 134. But, the bottom plate 58 may include any number of mounting flanges 134. The mounting flanges 134 extend outwardly from the bottom segment 112 at the rear end 116 in the exemplary embodiment. But, each mounting flange 134 may extend from the bottom segment 112 at any location along the length of the bottom segment 112.
The body 110 of the bottom plate 58 may be a cut and formed body 110 that is cut from a material and then formed to include the shape of the body 110. In such embodiments wherein the body 110 is a cut and formed body, the bottom plate 58 is considered to be a cut and formed bottom plate 58. Cutting processes include, but are not limited to, water cutting, stamping, laser cutting, punching, cutting using a saw, drill bit, plane, mill, and/or other solid cutting tool, and/or the like. Forming processes include, but are not limited to, drawing, bending, and/or the like. When the body 110 is fabricated using a cutting process, the body 110 may be cut from a reel of material, from a blank of material, from an approximately flat sheet of material, from an approximately flat material, from a rod of material, and/or the like.
The mounting flanges 134 of the bottom plate 58 extend along the exterior side 94 or 96 of the corresponding side wall 60 and 62, respectively. Alternatively, the mounting flanges 134 extend along the interior side 90 or 92 of the corresponding side wall 60 and 62, respectively. The mounting flanges 134 of the bottom plate 58 cooperate with the mounting features 106 of the body 56 with a snap-fit connection. The extensions 108 of the mounting features 106 are received within the openings 136 of the corresponding mounting flanges 134 to hold the bottom plate 58 to the body 56.
When the bottom plate 58 is mounted to the cage body 56, the bottom segment 112 extends between the side walls 60 and 62 to form a bottom wall of the cage 34. Specifically, the bottom segment 112 extends between the bottom ends 80 and 84 of the side walls 60 and 62, respectively, such that the bottom segment 112 covers at least a portion of the bottom opening 88 of the cage body 56. The alignment surface 122 thus forms a bottom boundary of the internal compartment 40.
In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom segment 112 extends approximately entirely across the width of the bottom opening 88 from the bottom end 80 of the side wall 60 to the bottom end 84 of the side wall 62, such that the bottom segment 112 covers an approximate entirety of the width of the bottom opening 88. But, the bottom segment 112 may extend across any amount and portion of the width of the bottom opening 88 such that the bottom segment 112 covers any amount and portion of the width of the bottom opening 88. As can be seen in
The receptacle assembly 14 (for example the cage 34 and the receptacle connector 28) are mounted on a surface 140 of the host circuit board 16. As can be seen in
The engagement between the alignment surface 122 and the bottom surface 138 of the pluggable module 12 stops downward (e.g., along the axis 142 in the direction of the arrow C) migration of the pluggable module 12 as the pluggable module 12 is loaded into the internal compartment 40. The predetermined alignment position of the alignment surface 122, as well as the engagement between the module 12 and the surface 122, thus aligns, and/or maintains an alignment between, the plugs 30 of the pluggable module 12 and the receptacles 32 of the receptacle connector 28.
The bottom plate 58 of the cage 34 is mounted to the body 56 of the cage 34 such that the latch flanges 128 of the latch members 46 of the bottom plate 58 are positioned to cooperate with the latch features 44 of the pluggable module 12. As the pluggable module 12 is loaded into the internal compartment 40 of the cage 34, the resiliently deflectable tabs 130 of the latch flanges 128 are deflected, against the bias thereof, via engagement with the housing 20 of the pluggable module 12. As the pluggable module 12 is fully received into the internal compartment 40, the resiliently deflectable tabs 130 are received into the recesses 48 of the latch features 44 with a snap-fit connection. The latch members 46 of the bottom plate 58 thus cooperate with the latch features 44 of the pluggable module 12 to latch the pluggable module 12 within the internal compartment 40 of the cage 34.
The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a transceiver assembly that promotes alignment of a pluggable module with a receptacle connector as the pluggable module is loaded into a cage of the transceiver assembly. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a cage having an alignment feature and a latching feature that are integrated into the same component. For example, the bottom plate 58 of the cage 34 includes both the alignment surface 122 and the latch members 46.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
