A connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism

Abstract

The present invention provides a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism, wherein the heat dissipation mechanism comprises a cage body, a cage heat sink is externally mounted on the cage body through a spring clip, an adjustment mechanism is arranged between the cage body and the cage heat sink, and a reset mechanism is arranged on the adjustment mechanism; the optical module contacts the adjustment mechanism during the process of inserting into the cage body, and drives the adjustment mechanism to move horizontally, thereby causing the cage heat sink to descend under the action of the spring clip, and the bottom surface of the cage heat sink contacts the optical module, and during the process of pulling out the optical module from the cage body, the adjustment mechanism can be reset under the action of the reset mechanism, causing the cage heat sink to rise and separate from the optical module. The present invention improves the existing connection method between the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism, reduces the processing quality requirements for the surface of the optical module, reduces the pressure on the circuit board of the optical module, and greatly improves the heat dissipation performance. When the optical module is plugged in or out, it will not rub against the cage heat sink, the operating resistance is greatly reduced, the hand feel is significantly improved, and it is not easy to damage the surface of the optical module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical module heat dissipation, and in particular to a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism. Background Art

[0002] In the field of optical communications, there are a large number of hot-swappable optical module development agreements (MSA), including SFP / SFP28 / DSFP / QSFP / QSFP+ / QSFP28 / QSFP-DD / OSFP / XFP / CFP / CFP2 / CFP4 / CFP8 / CXP / CDFP / SNAP12, etc. In the future, MSA upgrades will still use the hot-swappable module method. In order to facilitate the replacement of hot-swappable optical modules, the customer's equipment board will be equipped with a cage to guide and fix the optical module. This determines that the part where the optical module is inserted into the cage cannot be designed with a heat sink, and an external heat sink is required on the cage to dissipate heat for the optical module. The current heat sinks are all buckled on the top of the cage with spring clips, and their bottom surface is interference fit with the top surface of the optical module housing. When the optical module is inserted, the heat sink will be lifted up and pressure will be maintained. The spring clip will continue to maintain pressure to achieve heat transfer between the heat sink and the optical module.

[0003] This method is widely used, but the following problems have always existed: 1. The optical module is always under pressure from the heat sink during the plugging and unplugging process, which generates friction, damaging the surface of the optical module and increasing the plugging and unplugging resistance; 2. The pressure between the heat sink and the surface of the optical module cannot fully guarantee the heat transfer effect, so that high-power optical modules need to improve the top surface flatness and roughness to improve heat dissipation. Although some optical module protocols (such as QSFP-DD and OSFP) allow heat dissipation grooves on the module, they are limited to the parts that are not inserted into the cage, and increase the processing difficulty of the optical module housing. Its size is limited by the protocol and affects the heat dissipation effect. 3. When the optical module is working, the top surface of the shell is continuously under pressure from the heat sink. This force will be transmitted to the gold finger part, causing the optical module circuit board to be deformed. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism.

[0005] The present invention is achieved in that:

[0006] The present invention provides a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism, wherein the heat dissipation mechanism comprises a cage body, a cage heat sink is externally mounted on the cage body through a spring clip, an adjustment mechanism is arranged between the cage body and the cage heat sink, and a reset mechanism is arranged on the adjustment mechanism; the optical module contacts the adjustment mechanism during the process of being inserted into the cage body, and drives the adjustment mechanism to move horizontally, thereby causing the cage heat sink to descend under the action of the spring clip, and the bottom surface of the cage heat sink contacts the optical module, and during the process of pulling the optical module out of the cage body, the adjustment mechanism can be reset under the action of the reset mechanism, thereby causing the cage heat sink to rise and be separated from the optical module.

[0007] Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism is a slide plate, and downwardly bent hooks are relatively arranged on the slide plate. During the insertion process, the optical module can contact with the hook to drive the slide plate to move horizontally.

[0008] Furthermore, a boss is provided on the slide, and a groove is provided on the bottom surface of the cage heat sink. The boss and the groove cooperate with each other. When the boss is located in the groove, the cage heat sink descends, and when the boss is located outside the groove, the cage heat sink rises.

[0009] Furthermore, a thermal pad is provided on the bottom surface of the cage heat sink.

[0010] Furthermore, an opening is provided on the sliding sheet for the thermal pad to pass through.

[0011] Furthermore, the spring clip is provided with a crossbeam, which is embedded in a cross groove of the cage radiator.

[0012] Furthermore, an equipment panel is connected to the entrance of the cage body.

[0013] Furthermore, the resetting mechanism includes a handle, which is close to the entrance of the cage body, and a through hole is opened on the device panel for the handle to pass through.

[0014] Furthermore, the reset mechanism is a spring steel wire, and a baffle is provided at one end of the slide away from the opening of the cage body. The spring steel wire is passed through the baffle, and the tail end of the spring steel wire abuts against the baffle.

[0015] Furthermore, the reset mechanism is a stopper with a spring, and a stopper is provided at one end of the slide away from the cage body opening, and a spring extends out from a side of the stopper close to the stopper and abuts against the stopper.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. The present invention improves the connection mode between the existing optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism. When the optical module is inserted, the cage heat sink is lowered under the action of the adjustment mechanism to contact the optical module, which greatly reduces the processing quality requirements on the surface of the optical module, reduces the pressure on the optical module circuit board, and greatly improves the heat dissipation performance.

[0018] 2. By adopting the connection method of the present invention, the optical module will not rub against the cage heat sink when plugging and unplugging, the operation resistance is greatly reduced, the feel is significantly improved, and the surface of the optical module is not easily damaged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is an exploded view of Example 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 A diagram showing the position relationship between the heat sink and the sliding plate in an empty state in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 A diagram showing the position relationship between the heat sink and the sliding plate in the working state in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 It is an exploded view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of another angle of Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0028] Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0029] Fig.10 This is a schematic structural diagram of another angle of embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0030] In the figure: 1-cage body; 2-cage heat sink; 3-spring clip; 4-slide; 5-boss; 6-groove; 7-hook; 8-thermal pad; 9-spring steel wire; 10-block; 11-device panel; 12-block; 13-spring; 14-handle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] See also Figure 1-2 The embodiment of the present invention provides a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism, wherein the heat dissipation mechanism includes a cage body, a cage heat sink is externally mounted on the cage body through a spring clip, an adjustment mechanism is arranged between the cage body and the cage heat sink, and a reset mechanism is arranged on the adjustment mechanism. When the optical module is inserted into the cage body, it contacts the adjustment mechanism and drives the adjustment mechanism to move horizontally, thereby causing the cage heat sink to descend under the action of the spring clip, and the bottom surface of the cage heat sink contacts the optical module. When the optical module is pulled out of the cage body, the adjustment mechanism can be reset under the action of the reset mechanism, thereby causing the cage heat sink to rise and separate from the optical module.

[0034] The entrance of the cage body is connected to an equipment panel, and the adjustment mechanism is a slide with a boss on it. The boss supports the cage radiator. A groove is provided on the bottom of the cage radiator. The boss and the groove cooperate with each other. When the boss is in the groove, the cage radiator descends, and when the boss is outside the groove, the cage radiator rises.

[0035] A downwardly bent hook is relatively arranged on the slide. During the insertion process, the optical module can contact the hook to drive the slide to move horizontally, thereby driving the boss on the slide to move into the groove, and the cage heat sink descends under the action of the spring clip; further, a cross beam is provided on the spring clip, and the cross beam is embedded in the cross groove of the cage heat sink, so that the cage heat sink is fixed on the cage body and will not move laterally.

[0036] A thermal pad is provided on the bottom of the cage heat sink, and an opening is provided on the slide for the thermal pad to pass through. The thermal pad strengthens the heat transfer between the cage heat sink and the optical module, and accelerates the dissipation of heat.

[0037] The reset mechanism is a spring steel wire. A baffle is provided at one end of the slide away from the cage body opening. The spring steel wire is passed through the baffle. The spring steel wire is stuck between the cage heat sink and the slide. The elastic part at the tail of the spring steel wire will support the slide.

[0038] See also Figure 3-4 When this connection method is adopted, the cage heat sink has an empty state and a working state. When the optical module is inserted into the cage body, after the optical module contacts the hook of the slide, the optical module drives the slide to move forward and pushes open the tail of the spring steel wire. The boss set on the slide will move into the groove of the cage heat sink. The cage heat sink descends under the pressure of the spring clip, and the thermal pad is pressed against the surface of the optical module to achieve the heat conduction function, and the heat sink reaches the working state; when the optical module is pulled out of the cage body, the optical module and the hook of the slide are slowly separated, the tail of the spring steel wire presses against the slide to return the slide, and the boss set on the slide will lift the cage heat sink along the edge slope of the groove on the bottom surface of the cage heat sink. The cage heat sink rises to an empty state, and the thermal pad is separated from the optical module to prevent the optical module from damaging the thermal pad.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] See also Figure 5-6 The embodiment of the present invention provides a connection method between an optical module and a heat dissipation mechanism, wherein the heat dissipation mechanism includes a cage body, a cage heat sink is externally mounted on the cage body through a spring clip, an adjustment mechanism is arranged between the cage body and the cage heat sink, and a reset mechanism is arranged on the adjustment mechanism. When the optical module is inserted into the cage body, it contacts the adjustment mechanism and drives the adjustment mechanism to move horizontally, thereby causing the cage heat sink to descend under the action of the spring clip, and the bottom surface of the cage heat sink contacts the optical module. When the optical module is pulled out of the cage body, the adjustment mechanism can be reset under the action of the reset mechanism, thereby causing the cage heat sink to rise and separate from the optical module.

[0041] The entrance of the cage body is connected to an equipment panel, and the adjustment mechanism is a slide with a boss on it. The boss supports the cage radiator. A groove is provided on the bottom of the cage radiator. The boss and the groove cooperate with each other. When the boss is in the groove, the cage radiator descends, and when the boss is outside the groove, the cage radiator rises.

[0042] A downwardly bent hook is relatively arranged on the slide. During the insertion process, the optical module can contact the hook to drive the slide to move horizontally, thereby driving the boss on the slide to move into the groove, and the cage heat sink descends under the action of the spring clip; further, a cross beam is provided on the spring clip, and the cross beam is embedded in the cross groove of the cage heat sink, so that the cage heat sink is fixed on the cage body and will not move laterally.

[0043] A thermal pad is provided on the bottom of the cage heat sink, and an opening is provided on the slide for the thermal pad to pass through. The thermal pad strengthens the heat transfer between the cage heat sink and the optical module, and accelerates the dissipation of heat.

[0044] In this embodiment, the reset device adopts a block with a spring. A block is provided at the end of the slide away from the opening of the cage body. The spring extends out from the side of the block close to the block and abuts against the block. When the optical module is inserted, the spring is compressed and deformed as the slide moves. When the optical module is pulled out, the spring recovers its deformation and drives the slide to reset.

[0045] Example 3

[0046] See also Figure 7 , 8 Different from the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, the resetting device adopts a handle, which is used for manual resetting. The handle is arranged near the cage entrance, and a through hole is provided on the device panel for the handle to pass through.

[0047] Example 4

[0048] See also Fig. 9 , 10 , which is different from Example 3, the handle of this embodiment adopts a different design.

[0049] The reset devices of Examples 3 and 4 are manually operated using a handle design, which requires modification of the customer's panel so that the handle can be removed from the panel for easy operation; the reset devices of Examples 1 and 2 do not require manual operation, have an automatic reset function, and do not require additional improvements to the device panel.

[0050] Compared with the existing connection method, the present invention drives the cage heat sink to rise and fall by designing an adjustment mechanism. The spring clip only needs to provide a very small pressure to allow the thermal pad to fully contact the top surface of the optical module. The optical module will not rub against the cage heat sink when plugging in and out, the operating resistance is greatly reduced, the feel is significantly improved, and the surface of the optical module is not easily damaged, which greatly reduces the processing quality requirements for the surface of the optical module and reduces the pressure on the optical module circuit board.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for connecting an optical module to a heat dissipation mechanism, characterized in that: The heat dissipation mechanism comprises a cage body, a cage heat sink is externally mounted on the cage body through a spring clip, an adjustment mechanism is arranged between the cage body and the cage heat sink, and a reset mechanism is arranged on the adjustment mechanism; the optical module contacts the adjustment mechanism during the insertion into the cage body, and drives the adjustment mechanism to move horizontally, so that the cage heat sink descends under the action of the spring clip, and the bottom surface of the cage heat sink contacts the optical module; when the optical module is pulled out from the cage body, the adjustment mechanism can be reset under the action of the reset mechanism, so that the cage heat sink rises and is separated from the optical module; The adjustment mechanism is a slide, and a boss is provided on the slide. The boss supports the cage heat sink. A groove is provided on the bottom surface of the cage heat sink, and the boss and the groove cooperate with each other. The slide is relatively provided with downwardly bent hooks, and the optical module can contact the hook during the insertion process to drive the slide to move horizontally.

2. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A thermal pad is provided on the bottom surface of the cage heat sink.

3. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding sheet is provided with an opening for the thermal pad to pass through.

4. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring clip is provided with a crossbeam which is embedded in a cross groove of the cage radiator.

5. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The entrance of the cage body is connected with an equipment panel.

6. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The reset mechanism comprises a handle, which is close to the entrance of the cage body, and a through hole is provided on the device panel for the handle to pass through.

7. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The reset mechanism is a spring steel wire, and a blocking piece is provided at one end of the slide away from the opening of the cage body. The spring steel wire is passed through the blocking piece, and the tail end of the spring steel wire abuts against the blocking piece.

8. The method for connecting the optical module and the heat dissipation mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The reset mechanism is a stopper with a spring, and a stopper is provided at one end of the slide away from the cage body opening, and a spring extends out from one side of the stopper close to the stopper and abuts against the stopper.

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