Latching mechanism and electronic module having same

Abstract

A latching mechanism for latching a housing of an optical transceiver to be inserted through a window on a panel of a communication device into a cage provided in the communication device. The latching mechanism has: an opening formed on a side wall of the housing; an engaging member housed in the housing; a spring member being operable to push out the engaging member in its release state; a pulling member being operable to draw the engaging member in the housing by transforming the spring member toward the front end of the housing; and a movable sleeve being operable to move in a direction to leave the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments according to the invention will be explained below referring to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional plan view of the optical transceiver showing the latching mechanism in the first preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional plan view showing that the optical transceiver in FIG. 1 is latched to the communication device;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional plan view showing that the optical transceiver in FIG. 1 is released from the communication device;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional plan view showing that the optical transceiver in FIG. 1 is inserted to the communication device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the left side of the front end in the housing of the optical transceiver in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective view of the left side of the front end of the optical transceiver in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged perspective view of the spring member in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is an exterior perspective view of the communication device and the optical transceiver;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the communication device and the optical transceiver; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of the optical transceiver inserted in the cage, wherein FIG. 9A shows when latched and FIG. 9B shows that latching is released.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism for latching a housing of an optical transceiver to be inserted through a window on a panel of a communication device into a cage provided in the communication device, comprising: an opening formed on a side wall of the housing;an engaging member housed in the housing, the engaging member being operable to protrude outward from the housing through the opening to engage with the cage;a spring member comprising one end connected to an in-housing part of the engaging member and an other end connected to a front end of the housing, the spring member being operable to push out the engaging member in its release state;a pulling member engaged with the spring member, the pulling member being operable to draw the engaging member in the housing by transforming the spring member toward the front end of the housing; anda movable sleeve connected to the pulling member and provided outside the front end of the housing, the movable sleeve being operable to move in a direction to leave the housing.

2. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: an engaging member guide extending obliquely from the opening toward inside the housing,wherein the engaging member is operable to protrude obliquely backward and outward from the housing by being slid along the engaging member guide.

3. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring member holding groove formed at the front end of the housing, the spring member holding groove having a predetermined groove width,wherein the spring member comprises a waveform portion formed at the other end, the waveform portion having amplitude a little wider than the groove width of the spring member holding groove, andthe spring member is secured to the housing by putting the waveform portion in the spring member holding groove.

4. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the spring member comprises a bending portion in doglegged shape formed between the one end and the other end, andthe pulling member is engaged with the bending portion.

5. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the engaging member comprises a flat part formed on a side facing an inside of the cage, the flat part being formed longer than distance from an edge of the window of the communication device to a loading slot of the cage.

6. The latching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the engaging member comprises engaging members disposed on both sides of the housing, the engaging members having a same shape and being formed to be symmetrical to each other when one of the engaging members is turned over.

7. An electronic module with a latching mechanism for latching a housing of the electronic module to be inserted through a window on a panel of a communication device into a cage provided in the communication device, the latching mechanism comprising: an opening formed on a side wall of the housing;an engaging member housed in the housing, the engaging member being operable to protrude outward from the housing through the opening to engage with the cage;a spring member comprising one end connected to an in-housing part of the engaging member and an other end connected to a front end of the housing, the spring member being operable to push out the engaging member in its release state;a pulling member engaged with the spring member, the pulling member being operable to draw the engaging member in the housing by transforming the spring member toward the front end of the housing; anda movable sleeve connected to the pulling member and provided outside the front end of the housing, the movable sleeve being operable to move in a direction to leave the housing.