Optical transceivers and optical communication components

Abstract

An optical transceiver includes a housing, a locking member, and a latching member. The locking member is disposed in the housing and detachably locked into a cage. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The latching member is movably disposed in the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. When the latching member is in the unlocked position, the locking member is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latching member is in the locked position, the movement of the locking member in the release direction is restricted by the latching member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical communication, and in particular to an optical communication component comprising a cage and an optical transceiver. Background Technology

[0002] Optical modules, such as optical transceivers, are typically installed in electronic communication equipment in modern high-speed communication networks. To increase system design flexibility and reduce maintenance burden, optical transceivers are plugged into corresponding cages within the communication equipment to form optical communication components. Various specifications and standards have been proposed to define the electrical-to-mechanical interface between the optical transceiver and its corresponding cage, such as XFP (10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable) and QSFP (Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable) standards for 10 Gigabit communication rates, or other specifications such as QSFP-DD (Dual Density) and QSFP-28, to accommodate different transmission rates.

[0003] A locking mechanism is provided to securely fasten the optical transceiver to the cage. On the other hand, the optical transceiver needs to include a release mechanism so that it can be smoothly released from the cage when necessary.

[0004] For existing optical transceivers inserted into corresponding cages, the transceiver may be accidentally released from the cage. In particular, when the transceiver's handle is a non-rotatable rubber or plastic handle, to reduce manufacturing costs, the handle may be normally extended rather than retractable, allowing the operator to unintentionally pull or bump the handle, causing the latch to detach from the cage. When the latch is unexpectedly moved, causing the transceiver to release from the cage, the latch is expected to be pushed back to its original position by the elastic element to re-engage with the cage. However, other components or structures of the communication equipment near the transceiver may rub against the latch, affecting the re-engagement between the latch and the cage. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides an optical transceiver that helps solve the problem of existing optical transceivers lacking a preventive locking mechanism to prevent the transceiver from accidentally detaching from the cage. The present invention also provides an optical communication assembly including the said optical transceiver.

[0006] The optical transceiver disclosed in this invention is suitable for pluggable insertion into a cage. The optical transceiver includes a housing, a locking member, and a latching member. The locking member is disposed in the housing and detachably locked into the cage. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The latching member is movably disposed in the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. When the latching member is in the unlocked position, the locking member is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latching member is in the locked position, the movement of the locking member in the release direction is restricted by the latching member.

[0007] The present invention also discloses an optical transceiver suitable for pluggable insertion into a cage. The optical transceiver includes a housing, a locking element, a latching element, and a pull handle.

[0008] A locking element is disposed within the housing. The locking element is movable relative to the housing in the release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The locking element includes a connected locking arm and a limiting portion. The locking arm extends in the release direction and is detachably engaged with the cage, and the limiting portion extends in a direction not parallel to the release direction. A latch is pivotally connected to the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. A pull handle is fixed to the locking element. When the latch is in the unlocked position, the locking element is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latch is in the locked position, the latch is at least partially located between the pull handle and the optical port of the optical transceiver, and interference between the latch and the limiting portion restricts the movement of the locking element.

[0009] The optical communication assembly disclosed in this invention includes a cage and an optical transceiver inserted into the cage. The optical transceiver includes a housing, a locking member, and a latching member. The locking member is disposed in the housing and detachably locked into the cage. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The latching member is movably disposed in the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. When the latching member is in the unlocked position, the locking member is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latching member is in the locked position, the movement of the locking member in the release direction is restricted by the latching member.

[0010] According to the optical transceiver and optical communication assembly disclosed in this invention, the optical transceiver includes a latching member movably disposed within a housing. When the latching member is in the unlocked position, the engaging member is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction; and when the latching member is in the locked position, the movement of the engaging member in the release direction is restricted by the latching member. The latching member in the unlocked position cannot interfere with the movement of the engaging member, thus the engaging member can move freely in the release direction to engage with the cage, and can also move freely in the opposite direction to disengage from the cage. The latching member in the locked position obstructs the movement path of the engaging member, thus preventing the engaging member from disengaging from the cage, thereby preventing accidental release of the optical transceiver.

[0011] The above description of the content of this invention and the following description of the embodiments are used to demonstrate and explain the spirit and principle of this invention, and to provide a further explanation for the protection of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the optical transceiver.

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A top view of the optical transceiver.

[0015] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the optical transceiver.

[0016] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of the optical transceiver.

[0017] Figure 6 To include according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 An exploded view of the optical communication components of an optical transceiver.

[0018] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the latch of an optical transceiver in the optical communication assembly in the unlocked position.

[0019] Figure 8 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the latch of an optical transceiver in the locked position in an optical communication assembly.

[0020] [Explanation of Labels in the Attached Image]

[0021] 1a Optical transceiver

[0022] 2 Optical communication components

[0023] 1b Cage

[0024] 10. Shell

[0025] 100 trench

[0026] 101 Optical Port

[0027] 102 Ethernet port

[0028] 110 Upper shell

[0029] 120 Lower shell

[0030] 130 Side View

[0031] 131 Depression groove

[0032] 140 Top surface

[0033] 20-card assembly

[0034] 210 Connecting Arm

[0035] 220 locking arm

[0036] 230 Restricted Department

[0037] 231 Support Section

[0038] 232 Restricted Section

[0039] 240 slotting

[0040] 30 latches

[0041] 310 Shaft

[0042] 320 Stop section

[0043] 40 pull handle

[0044] 50 elastic elements

[0045] D1 Release Direction

[0046] D2 direction Detailed Implementation

[0047] The following detailed description of the features and advantages of the present invention in the embodiments is sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. Based on the content, scope of protection, and drawings disclosed in this specification, those skilled in the art can easily understand the related objectives and advantages of the present invention. The following embodiments further illustrate the viewpoints of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0048] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 . Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the optical transceiver, and Figure 3 for Figure 1 A top view of the optical transceiver. In this embodiment, the optical transceiver 1a may include a housing 10, a locking member 20, a latching member 30, and a pull handle 40. One or more optical communication components may be provided within the housing 10, such as an optical transmitting submodule (TOSA) and / or an optical receiving submodule (ROSA).

[0049] The housing 10 may include an upper housing member 110 and a lower housing member 120 assembled together. The housing 10 may be configured to be housed in a cage. Figures 1 to 3 (Not shown) to implement optical communication, the details of which will be described later. It is worth noting that the housing 10, which comprises two assemblies (upper housing 110 and lower housing 120), is not intended to limit the invention. In some embodiments, the housing of the optical transceiver may be a single piece.

[0050] Viewed as a whole, housing 10 may include a side surface 130, and a recessed groove 131 may be formed on the side surface 130. The recessed groove 131 may extend along the optical port 101 of the optical transceiver 1a toward the electrical port 102. The optical port 101 may include a connector or a socket for transmitting optical signals, and the electrical port 102 may include wires or contact pads for transmitting electrical signals.

[0051] The engaging member 20 may include a connecting arm 210 and an engaging arm 220 connected together. The connecting arm 210 may be disposed on the top surface 140 of the housing 10, and the engaging arm 220 may be movably disposed within a recessed groove 131 formed on the side surface 130. Specifically, the engaging member 20 may move relative to the housing 10 along a release direction D1 from the electrical port 102 toward the optical port 101, and the engaging member 20 may further include a limiting portion 230 connected to the engaging arm 220. The engaging arm 220 may extend along the release direction D1, and the limiting portion 230 may extend along a direction D2 that is not parallel to the release direction D1. Figure 2 An example is shown of a pair of latching members 20, with each latching member 20 having a latching arm 220 located on opposite sides of the housing 10.

[0052] The latch 30 may be disposed on the housing 10 and rotatable relative to the housing 10 to have an unlocked position and a locked position. Specifically, the latch 30 may be pivotally connected to the top surface 140 of the housing 10. The latch 30 may be configured to restrict the movement of the engaging member 20 along the release direction D1, as will be described in detail later.

[0053] The pull handle 40 can be secured to the locking member 20. Specifically, the pull handle 40 can be a flexible handle made of a non-metallic material, such as plastic or rubber. The operator can pull the locking member 20 in the release direction D1 by inserting a finger into the opening on the pull handle 40.

[0054] The optical transceiver 1a may further include one or more resilient elements 50 housed within the housing 10. The engaging member 20 is movable in the release direction D1 to actuate the resilient element 50. Compression of the resilient element 50 by the engaging member 20 helps to return the engaging member 20 to its normal position.

[0055] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 . Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of the optical transceiver, and Figure 5 for Figure 3 A partially magnified view of the optical transceiver. The limiting portion 230 of the engaging member 20 may include a connected support section 231 and a limiting section 232. The support section 231 may be connected to the engaging arm 220 and located between the engaging arm 220 and the limiting section 232. The support section 231 may extend along a direction D2 that is not parallel to the release direction D1, and the limiting section 232 may be substantially perpendicular to the support section 231. The support section 231 may serve as a platform for the latching member 30 to rest on, and the limiting section 232 may serve as a protrusion that interferes with the latching member 30.

[0056] Furthermore, the engaging member 20 may include a slot 240 formed on the edge of the engaging member 20, and the slot 240 extends along the release direction D1. Specifically, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a slot 240 may be formed in the connecting arm 210 of the engaging member 20. The slot 240 may be configured to receive the latch 30.

[0057] Figure 6 To include according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 An exploded view of the optical communication component of the optical transceiver. In this embodiment, the optical communication component 2 may include a cage 1b and the aforementioned optical transceiver 1a. The optical transceiver 1a can be plugged into the cage 1b in a pluggable manner. The engaging member 20 is detachably engaged with the cage 1b by hooking the engaging arm 220 into the groove 100 formed on the cage 1b.

[0058] When the latch 30 is in the unlocked position, the engaging member 20 is allowed to move relative to the housing 10 in the release direction D1. Figure 7 for Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the latch of the optical transceiver in the unlocked position in an optical communication assembly. The latch 30 in the unlocked position is relatively upright, with its shaft 310 housed within the slot 240, and its stop 320 located above the housing 10 or within the opening of the handle 40. In the unlocked position, the latch 30 does not interfere with the engaging member 20; therefore, the engaging member 20 can move freely in the release direction D1 to disengage from the cage 1b, and can also move freely in the opposite direction to engage and secure with the cage 1b.

[0059] When the latch 30 is in the locked position, the movement of the engaging member 20 along the release direction D1 is restricted by the latch 30. Figure 8 for Figure 6This is a schematic diagram showing the latch of an optical transceiver in the locked position within an optical communication assembly. The latch 30, in the locked position, rests against the support section 231 of the limiting portion 230 of the engaging member 20, and the stop portion 320 of the latch 30 is positioned between the pull handle 40 and the optical port 101 of the optical transceiver 1a. Movement of the engaging member 20 is restricted by the interference between the latch 30 and the limiting portion 230. Specifically, when the engaging member 20 is pulled, the stop portion 320 of the latch 30 obstructs the movement path of the limiting section 232 of the limiting portion 230, preventing the engaging member 20 from disengaging from the cage 1b, thereby preventing the optical transceiver 1a from being accidentally released from the cage 1b. Furthermore, when the engaging member 20 is slightly pulled along the release direction D1, the engaging member 20 may still compress against the elastic member 50. However, the slight movement of the engaging member 20 caused by the interference between the limiting part 230 and the latching member 30 is insufficient to release the hook relationship between the engaging member 20 and the groove 100. As a result, the engaging member 20 will only retract to the normal position of the engaging arm 220, which is stably hooked into the groove 100 by the elastic member 50. In other words, the engaging member 20 can maintain engagement with the cage 1b.

[0060] According to the optical transceiver and optical communication assembly disclosed in this invention, the optical transceiver includes a latching member movably disposed within a housing. When the latching member is in the unlocked position, the engaging member is allowed to move relative to the housing in the release direction; and when the latching member is in the locked position, the movement of the engaging member in the release direction is restricted by the latching member. The latching member in the unlocked position cannot interfere with the movement of the engaging member, thus the engaging member can move freely in the release direction to engage with the cage, and can also move freely in the opposite direction to disengage from the cage. The latching member in the locked position obstructs the movement path of the engaging member, thus preventing the engaging member from disengaging from the cage, thereby preventing accidental release of the optical transceiver.

Claims

1. An optical transceiver, suitable for pluggable insertion into a cage, characterized in that, The optical transceiver includes: case; A locking member is disposed in the housing and detachably locked to the cage. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The locking member includes a connected locking arm and a limiting part. as well as A latch is movably disposed in the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. The latch can move between the unlocked position and the locked position without the engaging member moving relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latch is in the unlocked position, the engaging member is allowed to move relative to the housing along the release direction. When the latch is in the locked position, the limiting portion is at least partially located between the latch and the optical port of the optical transceiver in the release direction, and the movement of the engaging member along the release direction is limited by the interference between the latch and the limiting portion of the engaging member.

2. The optical transceiver as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The engaging arm extends along the release direction and engages detachably with the cage, and the limiting portion extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction.

3. The optical transceiver as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting part includes a limiting section and a supporting section connected together. The supporting section is connected to the engaging arm and extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction, and the limiting section is perpendicular to the supporting section. When the latch is in the locked position, the latch is at least partially supported on the support section, and the interference between the latch and the limiting section restricts the movement of the engaging member.

4. The optical transceiver as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The latch is pivotally connected to the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing to be in the unlocked position or the locked position.

5. The optical transceiver as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The latch includes a slot formed on the edge of the latch, the slot extending along the release direction, and the latch in the unlocked position is at least partially received within the slot.

6. The optical transceiver as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pull handle that is fixed to the locking component.

7. The optical transceiver as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The latch, located in the locked position, is at least partially situated between the pull handle and the optical port of the optical transceiver.

8. The optical transceiver as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The pull handle is a flexible handle made of non-metallic material.

9. An optical transceiver, suitable for pluggable insertion into a cage, characterized in that, The optical transceiver includes: case; A locking member is disposed in the housing. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The locking member includes a connected locking arm and a limiting part. The locking arm extends along the release direction and is detachably locked with the cage, and the limiting part extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction. A latching member, pivotally connected to the housing, has an unlocked position and a locked position, and the latching member is pivotable between the unlocked position and the locked position without the engaging member moving relative to the housing in the release direction; as well as The pull handle is fixed to the locking component; When the latch is in the unlocked position, the engaging member is allowed to move relative to the housing along the release direction, and When the latch is in the locked position, the latch is at least partially located between the pull handle and the optical port of the optical transceiver, the limiting portion is at least partially located between the latch and the optical port of the optical transceiver in the release direction, and the interference between the latch and the limiting portion restricts the movement of the locking member.

10. The optical transceiver as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The limiting part includes a limiting section and a supporting section connected together. The supporting section is connected to the engaging arm and extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction, and the limiting section is perpendicular to the supporting section. When the latch is in the locked position, the latch rests at least partially against the support section, and the interference between the latch and the limiting section restricts the movement of the engaging member.

11. The optical transceiver as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The pull handle is a flexible handle made of non-metallic material.

12. An optical communication component, characterized in that, Include: cage; and An optical transceiver, inserted into the cage, and the optical transceiver includes: case; A locking member is disposed in the housing and detachably locked to the cage. The locking member is movable relative to the housing in a release direction from the electrical port of the optical transceiver toward the optical port of the optical transceiver. The locking member includes a connected locking arm and a limiting part. as well as A latch is movably disposed in the housing and has an unlocked position and a locked position. The latch can move between the unlocked position and the locked position without the engaging member moving relative to the housing in the release direction. When the latch is in the unlocked position, the engaging member is allowed to be pulled away from the cage along the release direction. When the latch is in the locked position, the limiting portion is at least partially located between the latch and the optical port of the optical transceiver in the release direction, and the movement of the engaging member along the release direction is limited by the interference between the latch and the limiting portion of the engaging member, and the engaging member remains engaged with the cage.

13. The optical communication component as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The engaging arm extends along the release direction and engages detachably with the cage, and the limiting portion extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction.

14. The optical communication component as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The limiting part includes a limiting section and a supporting section connected together. The supporting section is connected to the engaging arm and extends in a direction that is not parallel to the release direction, and the limiting section is perpendicular to the supporting section. When the latch is in the locked position, the latch rests at least partially against the support section, and the interference between the latch and the limiting section restricts the movement of the engaging member.

15. The optical communication component as described in claim 12, characterized in that, It also includes a pull handle that is fixed to the locking component.

16. The optical communication component as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The latch, located in the locked position, is at least partially situated between the pull handle and the optical port of the optical transceiver.

17. The optical communication component as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The pull handle is a flexible handle made of non-metallic material.

Images