An optical module

Abstract

The present invention discloses an optical module, including a module housing and an unlocking member, wherein the module housing is a good conductor, the unlocking member includes a metal unlocking arm slidably arranged in the module housing, and a pull handle partially extending into the module housing and connected to the metal unlocking arm; the pull handle is a non-conductor, and a limiting structure for preventing one end of the metal unlocking arm connected to the pull handle from sliding out of the module housing is arranged in the module housing. The present invention can reduce the size of the EMI leakage hole to less than 2 mm by wrapping the metal unlocking arm on the unlocking member that may become an EMI transmitting antenna in the module housing, and setting the pull handle part of the unlocking member that passes through the housing as a non-conductor, thereby fundamentally solving the risk that the metal part of the unlocking member extending out of the module housing will lead out the EMI signal inside the housing, thereby achieving a better EMI shielding effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber communication, and in particular to an optical module. Background Art

[0002] In order to achieve reliable signal interaction with the motherboard, after the optical module is inserted into the interface, the mechanical structure of the module needs to ensure that the module can be stably locked after insertion, and can be quickly unlocked when it needs to be pulled out. Various MSAs (QSFP / QSFP+, SFP / SFP+, CFP / CFP2 / CFP4, XFP, etc.) have defined basic locking hanging point positions. For example, the locking hanging points of QSFP / QSFP+, CFP / CFP2 / CFP4, XFP, etc. are defined on both sides of the module, while the locking hanging points of SFP / SFP+ are defined at the bottom of the module. After the optical module is inserted into the chassis, the unlocking piece at the unlocking hanging point usually needs to be connected to the outside of the chassis shell through a part to interact with the operator to achieve unlocking. Since this part needs to slide relative to the optical film block module shell, it cannot be integrated with the optical module shell with good conductivity.

[0003] Considering the structural strength and fatigue reliability, the unlocking part on the optical module needs to be made of strong materials such as metal at least in the part that interacts with the hook on the motherboard cage (metal part with sharp edges) to achieve the unlocking function. The unlocking part is independent of the optical module housing and needs to slide relative to each other. The hook needs to be made of harder material, which leads to the fact that most of the existing side unlocking modules (such as QSFP, QSFP+, CFP / CFP2 / CFP4, XFP, etc.) use sheet metal to make the unlocking part. The sheet metal has an unlocking arm on both sides of the optical module. After the two unlocking arms extend out of the housing, the part of the optical module exposed outside the housing is connected by a beam, and the tail end is coated with rubber to form a straight-pull unlocking handle, or a rotating unlocking mechanism. Usually, the thickness of this sheet metal is only about 0.5mm, and it is easy to deform during the manufacturing and assembly process. If it is stretched, this sheet metal cannot pass through the EMI (electromagnetic interference, ElectromagneticInterference) shrapnel on the motherboard cage and the chassis, and the optical module shell is continuously connected. At this time, the extended part of the sheet metal unlocking part becomes an antenna. If the chassis where the optical film block is inserted happens to have an EMI emission limit, the EMI signal may be coupled to this part through the unlocking arm of the unlocking part inside the chassis, and then emitted outward through the sheet metal part exposed outside the chassis. We have observed in the laboratory that when this happens, it may cause a module EMI emission increase of more than 6dB.

[0004] Therefore, the prior art still needs to be improved and developed. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical module, thereby overcoming the problem that the unlocking piece on the existing optical module protrudes out of the metal part of the module housing, posing the risk of leading out the EMI signal inside the housing.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0007] The present invention provides an optical module, comprising a module shell and an unlocking member, wherein the module shell is a good conductor, and the unlocking member comprises a metal unlocking arm slidably arranged in the module shell, and a pull handle partially extending into the module shell and connected to the metal unlocking arm; the pull handle is a non-conductor, and a limiting structure is arranged in the module shell to prevent one end of the metal unlocking arm connected to the pull handle from sliding out of the module shell.

[0008] A further preferred solution of the present invention is that the module housing comprises a module upper cover and a module lower cover; an unlocking member installation groove is arranged in the module upper cover, and the metal unlocking arm is slidably arranged in the unlocking member installation groove.

[0009] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the handle comprises a handle body and a handle connecting portion arranged at one end of the handle body for connecting to a metal unlocking arm; the handle connecting portion has a handle narrowing portion, and one end of the unlocking member mounting groove is provided with a mounting slot narrowing portion that cooperates with the handle narrowing portion.

[0010] A further preferred solution of the present invention is that a cured EMI shielding strip is provided on the module lower cover; and EMI shielding strip adapters for tightly fitting and conducting with the cured EMI shielding strip are provided on both sides of the unlocking member installation groove.

[0011] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the limiting structure includes: a handle limiting shoulder arranged on the handle body near the handle connecting portion; and a module cover limiting shoulder arranged at one end of the unlocking member mounting groove, which is used to cooperate with the handle limiting shoulder to prevent the metal unlocking arm from sliding out of the module cover.

[0012] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the optical module further comprises a module PCBA arranged on the module cover, an optical cable assembly connected to the module PCBA, and an optical cable pressing block assembly for pressing and fixing the optical cable assembly on the module cover; the optical cable pressing block assembly is a good conductor.

[0013] A further preferred solution of the present invention is that the exposed optical fibers of the optical cable assembly are compressed and fixed in the upper cover of the module by an optical fiber compression block.

[0014] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is that: the optical cable clamp assembly comprises an upper optical cable clamp and an optical cable lower clamp; the upper optical cable clamp and the upper optical cable clamp are both good conductors; the unlocking piece mounting groove comprises a first mounting groove and a second mounting groove arranged on both sides of the module upper cover; a first transverse mounting groove is arranged between the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove, and a first conductive EMI strip arranged in the transverse mounting groove is tightly fitted and conductive with the upper optical cable clamp; a second transverse mounting groove corresponding to the first transverse mounting groove is arranged on the module lower cover; a second conductive EMI strip arranged in the second transverse mounting groove is tightly fitted and conductive with the lower optical cable clamp.

[0015] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the optical module further comprises a return spring, a spring mounting plate is arranged in the unlocking member mounting groove, the metal unlocking arm has a spring top plate corresponding to the spring mounting plate, and the return spring is arranged between the spring mounting plate and the spring top plate.

[0016] A further preferred solution of the present invention is that the metal unlocking arm and the handle connecting portion are connected together by a rubber encapsulation process.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present invention provides an optical module, which can reduce the size of EMI leakage holes to less than 2 mm by wrapping all the metal unlocking arms on the unlocking member that may become EMI transmitting antennas in the module shell, and setting the pull handle parts of the unlocking member that pass through the shell as non-conductors, thereby fundamentally solving the risk of the metal part of the unlocking member extending out of the module shell leading the EMI signal inside the casing, thereby achieving better EMI shielding effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of an optical module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is along Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in the BB direction.

[0021] Figure 4 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the unlocking member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a module upper cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the module lower cover of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of an optical module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention provides an optical module. To make the purpose, technical solution and effect of the present invention clearer and more specific, the present invention is further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0026] Refer to Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the optical module of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a module housing and an unlocking member, wherein the module housing is a good conductor, and the unlocking member includes a metal unlocking arm 3 slidably arranged in the module housing, and a pull handle 4 partially extending into the module housing and connected to the metal unlocking arm 3; the pull handle 4 is a non-conductor, preferably plastic, and a limiting structure is provided in the module housing for preventing the end of the metal unlocking arm 3 connected to the pull handle 4 from sliding out of the module housing; the module housing includes a module upper cover 1 and a module lower cover 2, and the module lower cover and the module upper cover together constitute the module housing to form a cavity for accommodating the unlocking member.

[0027] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the unlocking member is a double-arm structure with two metal unlocking arms, and the unlocking protrusion 31 on the unlocking arm needs to interact with the hook of the cage on the motherboard to complete the unlocking action. Figure 1 As shown, the module upper cover 1 is the assembly base, and the module lower cover 2 is locked on the module upper cover 1 by the first set screw 91. The module lower cover 2 and the module upper cover 1 are both good conductors and can effectively shield EMI. The pull handle of the present invention has basically the same cost as the existing pull handle, the same assembly difficulty, and can eliminate the risk of the unlocking piece with poor grounding conducting the EMI inside the chassis to the outside of the chassis.

[0028] The present invention wraps the metal unlocking arm on the unlocking member that may become an EMI transmitting antenna in the module shell, and sets the pull handle part of the unlocking member that passes through the shell as a non-conductor. This allows the metal part of the unlocking member to be exposed outside the module with a minimum length while satisfying the unlocking function. The size of the EMI leakage hole can be reduced to less than 2 mm, fundamentally solving the risk of the metal part of the unlocking member extending out of the module shell leading to the EMI signal inside the casing, thereby achieving a better EMI shielding effect.

[0029] Further, see Figure 5 , Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, the module upper cover 1 is provided with an unlocking member installation groove 10, and the metal unlocking arm 3 is slidably arranged in the unlocking member installation groove 10. The unlocking member installation groove 10 forms a guide rail or a slide rail after the module upper cover and the module base are closed, and the metal unlocking arm 3 slides forward and backward along it. Preferably, the metal unlocking arm 3 is connected to the handle connecting part through a rubber coating layer, that is, the metal part of the unlocking member and the unlocking member handle part are connected to form a whole through a rubber coating process, so that the joint part of the two is a non-conductor, and the part of the unlocking member that passes through the EMI shielding layer formed by the shell is all plastic.

[0030] Further, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the handle 4 includes a handle body 40, and a handle connection portion 41 provided at one end of the handle body 40 for connecting with the metal unlocking arm 3; the handle connection portion 41 has a handle narrowing portion 49 (handle narrowing position), and one end of the unlocking member installation slot 10 is provided with a mounting slot narrowing portion 19 (unlocking member installation slot narrowing position) that matches the handle narrowing portion 49. The unlocking member installation slot narrowing position is used to match the handle narrowing position to minimize EMI leakage, and the handle portion passing through this narrowing position is non-conductive and will not form an antenna.

[0031] Preferably, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the limiting structure includes: a handle limiting shoulder 48 disposed on the handle body 40 near the handle connecting portion 41; and a module cover limiting shoulder 18 disposed at one end of the unlocking member mounting groove 10, for cooperating with the handle limiting shoulder 48 to prevent the metal unlocking arm 3 (the end connected to the handle) from sliding out of the module cover 1.

[0032] Further, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, a cured EMI shielding strip 27 is provided on the module lower cover 2; and EMI shielding strip adapters 17 for tightly fitting and conducting with the cured EMI shielding strip 27 are provided on both sides of the unlocking member installation groove 10. The EMI shielding strip adapter 17 and the cured EMI shielding strip 27 are in close contact, fit and conduct to seal the leakage.

[0033] Further, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, the optical module also includes a module PCBA 5 (Printed Circuit Board + Assembly) arranged on the module cover 1, an optical cable assembly 6 (module optical cable assembly) connected to the module PCBA 5, and an optical cable pressing block assembly for pressing and fixing the optical cable assembly 6 on the module cover 1; the optical cable pressing block assembly is a good conductor; preferably, the exposed optical fiber 61 of the optical cable assembly 6 is pressed and fixed in the module cover 1 by an optical fiber pressing block 73. The optical fiber pressing block presses the bare fiber in the optical cable assembly onto the conductive shell to minimize the EMI leakage caused by the optical cable. The module PCBA is protected by a cavity formed by the module lower cover and the module upper cover, which is the module circuit part and realizes the function of the optical module. The optical cable assembly is the optical path part of the module.

[0034] Further, such as Figure 1 , Figure 7 As shown, in this embodiment, the optical cable pressing block assembly includes an upper optical cable pressing block 71 and a lower optical cable pressing block 72; the upper optical cable pressing block and the lower optical cable pressing block are both good conductors and can effectively shield EMI; Figure 1 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the unlocking member installation slot 10 includes a first installation slot and a second installation slot symmetrically arranged on both sides of the module upper cover 1; a first transverse installation slot 16 is arranged between the first installation slot and the second installation slot, and a first conductive EMI rubber strip 15 (conductive rubber strip for EMI shielding) arranged in the transverse installation slot is closely fitted and connected with the upper cable pressing block 71 to seal leakage; a second transverse installation slot 26 corresponding to the first transverse installation slot 16 is arranged on the module lower cover 2; a second conductive EMI rubber strip 25 arranged in the second transverse installation slot 26 is closely fitted and connected with the lower cable pressing block 72 to seal leakage. The optical cable pressing block assembly 7 is fixed to the module housing by a second set screw 92.

[0035] Further, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 7 As shown, in this embodiment, the optical module also includes a return spring 8, a spring mounting plate 14 (return spring top position) is arranged in the unlocking member mounting groove 10, the metal unlocking arm 3 has a spring top plate 34 corresponding to the spring mounting plate 14, and the return spring 8 is arranged between the spring mounting plate 14 and the spring top plate 34, that is, one end of the return spring 8 rests on the spring mounting plate 14, and the other end rests on the spring top plate 34. The return spring 8 ensures that the unlocking member is normally in a non-unlocked state.

[0036] Refer to Figures 1 to 7As shown in the figure, after completing the pre-assembly, put the unlocking piece into the unlocking piece installation slot in the upper cover of the module, press the reset spring, and the reset spring will push the unlocking piece forward to the non-unlocking position (stable state) through the reset spring on it. The narrowing part of the handle of the unlocking piece is just in the narrowing part of the installation slot. There are EMI tapes around the gaps of the narrowing part of the installation slot. Figure 3 As shown in the cross-sectional view of the narrowed portion of the mounting slot, the present invention can reduce the EMI leakage caused by the unlocking member to less than 2 mm. When the operator pulls the unlocking member to unlock, the unlocking member will reach the unlocking position (non-steady state) through the contact between the limit shoulder of the handle of the unlocking member and the limit shoulder of the module cover. The operator's excessive pulling force will not act on the narrowed portion of the handle. The narrowed portion of the handle only needs to overcome the elastic force of the unlocking protrusion to push up the cage hook on the motherboard.

[0037] The metal part of the unlocking piece of this embodiment (the part that may become the EMI transmitting antenna) is completely wrapped in the cavity formed by the upper cover and the lower cover of the module. The part of the unlocking piece that passes through the EMI shielding layer formed by the outer shell is all plastic, and the leakage hole formed is small in size (2mm), which fundamentally solves the risk of the metal part of the unlocking piece extending out of the module shell leading the EMI signal inside the shell. The contact surface between the side of the optical module shell and the EMI shrapnel of the cage on the mainboard is complete, without sliding parts, and can be better contacted / grounded, thereby having a better EMI shielding effect. The optical module of this embodiment is an implementation of the QSFP / QSFP+ module, similar to the MSA optical module, such as the XFP optical module, CFP / CFP2 / CFP4 and other unlocking hooks on the side of the optical module can adopt the technical solution of the present invention.

[0038] It should be understood that the application of the present invention is not limited to the above examples. For ordinary technicians in this field, improvements or changes can be made based on the above description. All these improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical module, comprising a module housing and an unlocking member, characterized in that: The module housing is a good conductor, and the unlocking member includes a metal unlocking arm slidably arranged in the module housing, and a pull handle partially extending into the module housing and connected to the metal unlocking arm; the pull handle is a non-conductor, and a limiting structure is arranged in the module housing to prevent the end of the metal unlocking arm connected to the pull handle from sliding out of the module housing; The module housing comprises a module upper cover and a module lower cover; an unlocking member installation slot is arranged in the module upper cover, and the metal unlocking arm is slidably arranged in the unlocking member installation slot; The handle includes a handle body and a handle connecting portion arranged at one end of the handle body for connecting to a metal unlocking arm; the handle connecting portion has a handle narrowing portion, and one end of the unlocking member mounting groove is provided with a mounting groove narrowing portion that cooperates with the handle narrowing portion.

2. The optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cured EMI shielding strip is arranged on the lower cover of the module; and EMI shielding strip adapters for tightly fitting and conducting with the cured EMI shielding strip are arranged on both sides of the unlocking piece installation groove.

3. The optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting structure includes: a handle limiting shoulder disposed on the handle body near the handle connecting portion; and a module upper cover limiting shoulder disposed at one end of the unlocking member mounting slot and used to cooperate with the handle limiting shoulder to prevent the metal unlocking arm from sliding out of the module upper cover.

4. The optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical module also includes a module PCBA arranged on the module cover, an optical cable assembly connected to the module PCBA, and an optical cable pressing block assembly for pressing and fixing the optical cable assembly on the module cover; the optical cable pressing block assembly is a good conductor.

5. The optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The exposed optical fiber of the optical cable assembly is pressed and fixed in the module upper cover by an optical fiber pressing block.

6. The optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The optical cable pressing block assembly comprises an upper optical cable pressing block and a lower optical cable pressing block; both the upper optical cable pressing block and the lower optical cable pressing block are good conductors; The unlocking member installation slot includes a first installation slot and a second installation slot arranged on both sides of the module upper cover; A first transverse installation groove is provided between the first installation groove and the second installation groove, and a first conductive EMI rubber strip provided in the transverse installation groove is closely fitted and connected with the upper pressing block of the optical cable; The module lower cover is provided with a second transverse mounting groove corresponding to the first transverse mounting groove; the second conductive EMI rubber strip arranged in the second transverse mounting groove is closely fitted and connected with the optical cable lower pressing block.

7. The optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical module further comprises a return spring, a spring mounting plate is arranged in the unlocking member mounting groove, the metal unlocking arm comprises a spring top plate corresponding to the spring mounting plate, and the return spring is arranged between the spring mounting plate and the spring top plate.

8. The optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal unlocking arm and the handle connecting part are connected together through a rubber coating process.

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