Liquid-cooled optical module, sealing method of liquid-cooled optical module and sealing detection method

Abstract

The present application relates to a liquid-cooled optical module, a sealing method for the liquid-cooled optical module, and a sealing detection method. The above-mentioned liquid-cooled optical module includes: an optical engine and a sealing component; the sealing component is fastened to the optical engine; the sealing component includes a fastened outer shell and a cover plate; the optical engine is used to transmit optical signals; and the sealing component is used to seal the optical engine. The embodiment of the present application can fasten the sealing components such as the outer shell and the cover plate, and can use the outer shell sealing method to design the outer shell of the liquid-cooled optical module with a high waterproof level through the fastened outer shell and the cover plate and other sealing components, thereby avoiding the problem of poor sealing caused by the use of sealing methods such as injection molding and glue pouring in related technologies, and thus can improve the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a liquid-cooled optical module, a sealing method for the liquid-cooled optical module, and a sealing detection method. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technology, optical communication technology has been widely used in various fields due to its large communication capacity and low loss. When information is transmitted through optical fiber, various types of optical transmission modules are generated. Since optical transmission modules generate high power consumption and high heat dissipation costs during use, coolant is required to dissipate heat from optical transmission modules.

[0003] However, the traditional sealing method for liquid-cooled optical modules has the problem of poor sealing. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a liquid-cooled optical module, a sealing method for the liquid-cooled optical module, and a sealing detection method for the liquid-cooled optical module, which can improve the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a liquid-cooled optical module, the liquid-cooled optical module comprising: an optical engine and a sealing assembly; the sealing assembly is fastened to the optical engine; the sealing assembly comprises a housing and a cover plate fastened to each other;

[0006] The optical engine is used to transmit optical signals;

[0007] The sealing component is used to seal the light engine.

[0008] In one of the embodiments, the mating surfaces of the housing and the cover are in Z-shaped contact.

[0009] In one of the embodiments, the sealing assembly further includes a connecting member, and the connecting member is used to fasten the outer shell and the cover plate together.

[0010] In one embodiment, the sealing component further includes a connecting layer, and the connecting layer includes a sealant.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connection layer is disposed between the housing, the cover plate and the connection member.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the light engine includes a circuit board, and the connection layer is further disposed between the housing, the cover plate and the circuit board.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, the optical engine includes an optical fiber, the sealing assembly further includes a buckle, and the connecting layer is further disposed between the housing, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the sealing assembly further includes a sealing gasket and a sealing plug, wherein the sealing gasket and the sealing plug are used to seal the outer shell, and the connecting layer is also disposed between the outer shell, the sealing gasket and the sealing plug.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present application also provides a sealing method for a liquid-cooled optical module, the method comprising:

[0016] A sealant is provided at a preset position of the liquid-cooled optical module; the preset position includes at least one of a position between the housing, the cover plate and the connector of the liquid-cooled optical module, a position between the housing, the cover plate and the circuit board, a position between the housing, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle, and a position between the housing, the sealing gasket and the sealing screw plug;

[0017] The circuit board, the optical fiber, the buckle and the cover plate are arranged in the housing to obtain a sealed liquid-cooled optical module.

[0018] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a sealing detection method, the method comprising:

[0019] Connecting the unopened air pipe to the vent valve port of the housing in the liquid-cooled optical module, and placing the liquid-cooled optical module in a container including a fluorinated liquid;

[0020] Delivering a preset gas to the liquid-cooled optical module through a gas pipe;

[0021] The sealing test result is determined according to whether there are bubbles around the preset area where the liquid-cooled optical module is located.

[0022] The above-mentioned liquid-cooled optical module, sealing method of liquid-cooled optical module and sealing detection method, the liquid-cooled optical module includes: an optical engine and a sealing component; the sealing component is tightly connected to the optical engine; the sealing component includes a tightly connected shell and a cover plate; the optical engine is used to transmit optical signals; the sealing component is used to seal the optical engine. The embodiment of the present application can tightly connect the sealing components such as the shell and the cover plate, and can use the shell sealing method to design the shell of the liquid-cooled optical module with a high waterproof level through the tightly connected sealing components such as the shell and the cover plate, thereby avoiding the problem of poor sealing caused by the use of sealing methods such as injection molding and glue filling in related technologies, so that the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application or related technical descriptions will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a liquid-cooled optical module in one embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a housing and a cover plate in one embodiment;

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealing assembly including a connecting piece in one embodiment;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealing assembly including a circuit board in one embodiment;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealing assembly including a circuit board in another embodiment;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealing assembly including a press buckle in one embodiment;

[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealing assembly including a sealing gasket and a sealing screw plug in one embodiment;

[0031] Figure 8 A structural breakdown diagram of a liquid-cooled optical module in an embodiment;

[0032] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the internal details of the structure of a liquid-cooled optical module in one embodiment;

[0033] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of a process of sealing a liquid-cooled optical module in one embodiment;

[0034] Fig.11 A top view of the sealant coating of a liquid-cooled optical module in one embodiment;

[0035] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a sealing detection method in one embodiment;

[0036] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of using a sealing detection method to perform sealing detection in an embodiment.

[0037] Reference numerals:

[0038] 1. Optical engine; 2. Sealing assembly; 01. Housing; 02. Cover; 21. Connecting layer; 03. Lens; 04. Optical fiber pigtail; 05. Circuit board; 06. Electrical chip; 07. Buckle; 08. Optical fiber; 09. Press buckle; 10. Sealing screw plug; 11. Sealing gasket; 12. Tail sleeve; 13. Connector; 14. Pull ring; 15. Unlocking piece; 16. Spring; 17. MPO; 18. Silicone heat sink. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by technicians in the technical field to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0041] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0042] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0043] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0044] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0045] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be the only implementation method.

[0046] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0047] With the development of communication technology, optical communication technology has been widely used in various fields due to its large communication capacity and low loss. When information is transmitted through optical fiber, various types of optical transmission modules are generated. Due to the growing demand for high-computing application industries such as artificial intelligence and / or machine learning, higher-speed optical communication is required, resulting in high power consumption and high heat dissipation costs during the use of optical transmission modules, so coolant is needed to dissipate heat from the optical transmission modules.

[0048] In traditional technology, the optical engine and the transmission optical path are designed and sealed or sealed by secondary process to make a liquid-cooled optical module to ensure that the optical signal can enter the external optical fiber smoothly after coming out of the chip in the optical transmission module without being affected by the coolant. However, the traditional liquid-cooled optical module has problems such as difficult design, complex process, high manufacturing cost, inconvenient product rework resulting in high scrap rate, lack of testability of product sealing, poor overall high temperature resistance, and signal integrity being easily affected. For example, the traditional liquid-cooled optical module uses secondary sealing process methods such as glue sealing or glue filling. The sealing effect is difficult to detect by naked eye observation or conventional instrument inspection, and it is impossible to determine whether the sealing quality meets the use requirements through some data quantification. Therefore, there is currently no effective method or standard for detecting the sealing of liquid-cooled optical modules. Liquid-cooled optical modules have more manufacturing processes, and it is impossible to guarantee a 100% qualified pass rate for each process. Once there are sealing and compatibility problems, the liquid-cooled optical module can be disassembled and analyzed, and this process will cause irreversible damage to the liquid-cooled optical module. Therefore, the traditional sealing method for liquid-cooled optical modules has the problem of poor sealing.

[0049] Based on the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a liquid-cooled optical module, a sealing method for the liquid-cooled optical module, and a sealing detection method, which are specifically described as follows.

[0050] In one embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, a liquid-cooled optical module is provided, and the liquid-cooled optical module comprises: an optical engine 1 and a sealing assembly 2; the sealing assembly 2 is fastened to the optical engine 1; the sealing assembly 2 comprises a fastened shell and a cover plate;

[0051] An optical engine 1, used for transmitting optical signals;

[0052] The sealing component 2 is used to seal the light engine.

[0053] The optical engine 1 may include but is not limited to components such as lenses, electronic chips, circuit boards, connectors, and optical fibers. The sealing component 2 may include but is not limited to a housing and a cover plate that are tightly connected, wherein the housing may be a bottom housing of a liquid-cooled optical module, and the cover plate may be an upper cover of the liquid-cooled optical module. Of course, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the materials of the housing and the cover plate.

[0054] In the embodiment of the present application, the liquid-cooled optical module includes an optical engine 1 and a sealing component 2, and the sealing component 2 is tightly connected to the optical engine 1. The optical engine 1 can transmit optical signals to realize optical communication, and the sealing component 2 can seal the optical engine 1 to ensure that the optical engine has good sealing. The sealing component 2 may include a tightly connected outer shell and a cover plate. Optionally, the outer shell and the cover plate may be connected only by connecting parts such as screws; or, the outer shell and the cover plate may be connected only by a connecting layer including a sealant; or, the outer shell and the cover plate may be connected by connecting parts such as screws and a connecting layer including a sealant. Of course, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific connection method of the outer shell and the cover plate. In this way, the outer shell of the optical engine 1 can be sealed with a high waterproof level by means of the sealing component 2 such as a tightly connected outer shell and cover plate.

[0055] In the above-mentioned liquid-cooled optical module, the liquid-cooled optical module includes: an optical engine and a sealing component; the sealing component is tightly connected to the optical engine; the sealing component includes a tightly connected housing and a cover plate; the optical engine is used to transmit optical signals; and the sealing component is used to seal the optical engine. The embodiment of the present application can tightly connect the sealing components such as the housing and the cover plate, and can use the housing sealing method to design the housing of the liquid-cooled optical module with a high waterproof level through the tightly connected sealing components such as the housing and the cover plate, thereby avoiding the problem of poor sealing caused by the use of sealing methods such as injection molding and glue filling in related technologies, so that the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module can be improved.

[0056] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the mating surfaces of the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 are in Z-shaped contact.

[0057] In the present application embodiment, combined Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the structure of the housing and the cover plate in one embodiment is shown in FIG. The housing 01 and the cover plate 02 can both be made of zinc alloy, and the surfaces of the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 are nickel-plated, and the mating surfaces of the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 are set to be in Z-shaped contact. In this way, the housing and the cover plate in Z-shaped contact in this embodiment can ensure that the housing and the cover plate can be tightly connected.

[0058] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 3 As shown, the sealing assembly 2 further includes a connecting member 13, and the connecting member 13 is used to fasten the housing and the cover plate together.

[0059] In the present application embodiment, Figure 3 As shown, Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of a sealing assembly including a connector in an embodiment. The sealing assembly 2 further includes a connector 13, which is used to fasten the housing and the cover plate. For example, the connector 13 may be a fastening screw, which can fasten the housing 01 and the cover plate 02. In this way, the connection strength between the housing and the cover plate can be further ensured or improved.

[0060] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 2 As shown, the sealing assembly 2 further includes a connecting layer 21, and the connecting layer 21 includes a sealant.

[0061] In the present application embodiment, combined Figure 2 As shown, the assembly gap between the contact surfaces of the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 is filled with sealant. It should be noted that the sealant selected in the embodiment of the present application has excellent adhesion to the nickel substrate. In this embodiment, by providing a connecting layer, the housing and the cover plate can be further fastened and connected.

[0062] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 3 As shown, the connection layer 21 is arranged between the housing 01 , the cover plate 02 and the connection member 13 .

[0063] In the present application embodiment, combined Figure 3 As shown, the assembly gap between the connector 13 and the housing 01 can be filled with sealant, the assembly gap between the connector 13 and the cover plate 02 can be filled with sealant, and the assembly gap between the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 can be filled with sealant, that is, the assembly gaps between the housing 01, the cover plate 02 and the connector 13 are all filled with sealant. In this way, it can be further ensured that the connector can firmly connect the housing and the cover plate.

[0064] In one embodiment, in combination Figure 3 As shown, the light engine 1 includes a circuit board 05 , and the connection layer 21 is further arranged between the housing 01 , the cover 02 and the circuit board 05 .

[0065] The circuit board 05 may include but is not limited to any one of a PCB board (Printed Circuit Board), a PCBA board (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), and the like.

[0066] In the present application embodiment, Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4The schematic diagram of the structure of the sealing assembly including the circuit board in one embodiment is shown in FIG. The circuit board 05 can be arranged between the housing 01 and the cover plate 02, and the assembly gap between the housing 01 and the circuit board 05 is filled with sealant. In the embodiment of the present application, preferably, the width of the bonding surface between the housing 01 and the cover plate 02 and the circuit board 05 is greater than 1.5 mm. Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sealing component including a circuit board in another embodiment, wherein the bonding surface between the outer shell 01 and the circuit board 05 is designed with a 0.15 mm groove, and the 0.15 mm groove gap in the middle of the bonding surface between the outer shell 01 and the circuit board 05 can be filled with sealant; the bonding surface between the cover plate 02 and the circuit board 05 is designed with a 0.15 mm groove, and the 0.15 mm groove gap in the middle of the bonding surface between the cover plate 02 and the circuit board 05 can be filled with sealant; in addition, the grooves of the outer shell 01 and the cover plate 02 are not in direct contact with the high-speed circuit signals on the circuit board 05.

[0067] In this embodiment, by arranging the connection layer between the outer shell, the cover plate and the circuit board, the outer shell, the cover plate and the circuit board can be fastened and connected by the sealant, which can further ensure the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module.

[0068] In one embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the optical engine 1 includes an optical fiber 08 , the sealing assembly 2 also includes a buckle 09 , and the connection layer 21 is further disposed between the housing 01 , the cover plate 02 , the optical fiber 08 and the buckle 09 .

[0069] In the present application embodiment, combined Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 The structure diagram of a sealing component including a buckle in one embodiment, wherein, optionally, the optical fiber 08 can be a ribbon optical fiber, or, it can also be other types of optical fibers. Of course, the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the optical fiber. Preferably, the buckle 09 can be made of zinc alloy nickel-plated material, and a groove can be designed on the buckle 09. Based on this, the above-mentioned connecting layer 21 can also be arranged between the housing 01, the cover plate 02, the optical fiber 08 and the buckle 09, that is, the housing 01, the cover plate 02, the optical fiber 08, the buckle 09 can be pressed together. Figure 6 The structure shown is assembled, and the gaps between the housing 01 , the cover plate 02 , the optical fiber 08 and the buckle 09 may be filled with sealant.

[0070] In this embodiment, by arranging the connecting layer between the outer shell, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle, that is, the gaps between the outer shell, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle can be filled with sealant. In this way, the outer shell, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle can be fastened and connected by the sealant, which can further ensure the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module.

[0071] In one embodiment, if Figure 7 As shown, the sealing assembly 2 further includes a sealing gasket 11 and a sealing plug screw 10 , which are used to seal the housing 01 , and the connecting layer 21 is also disposed between the housing 01 , the sealing gasket 11 and the sealing plug screw 10 .

[0072] In the present application embodiment, combined Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sealing assembly including a sealing gasket and a sealing plug screw in an embodiment. A sealing plug screw hole can be designed on the housing 01, so that the housing 01 can be sealed by the sealing gasket 11 and the sealing plug screw 10, and the above-mentioned connecting layer 21 can be arranged between the housing 01, the sealing gasket 11 and the sealing plug screw 10, that is, the gap between the housing 01, the sealing gasket 11 and the sealing plug screw 10 can be filled with sealant. Among them, the sealing plug screw 10 provides a pre-tightening force for the sealing gasket 11. In this way, a sealing test valve can be arranged in the liquid-cooled optical module, wherein the sealing test valve can include the sealing gasket 11 and the sealing plug screw 10, so that the sealing test valve can be used to perform a sealing test on the liquid-cooled optical module later.

[0073] In this embodiment, by arranging the connection layer between the housing, the sealing gasket and the sealing screw plug, the housing, the sealing gasket and the sealing screw plug can be fastened and connected by the sealant, which can further ensure the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module. In addition, it is also convenient to use the sealing test valve designed in the embodiment of the present application to effectively test the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module.

[0074] In an optional embodiment, a complete liquid-cooled optical module is provided, such as Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a structural breakdown diagram of a liquid-cooled optical module in an embodiment; Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the internal details of the structure of a liquid-cooled optical module in an embodiment, wherein the liquid-cooled optical module includes an optical engine 1 and a sealing assembly 2, wherein the optical engine 1 includes a lens (LENS) 03, an optical fiber pigtail (Pigtail) 04, a circuit board 05, an electrical chip 06, a buckle 07, an optical fiber 08, a tail sleeve 12, etc., and the sealing assembly 2 includes a housing 01, a cover 02, a buckle 09, a sealing screw plug 10, a sealing gasket 11, a connector 13, a pull ring 14, an unlocking member 15, a spring 16, an MPO (Multi-Fiber Push On connector) 17, a silicone heat sink 18, etc.

[0075] Among them, each component has been introduced in the above embodiments and will not be described again here.

[0076] The embodiment of the present application can fasten and connect sealing components such as the outer shell and the cover plate, and can use the outer shell sealing method to design the outer shell of the liquid-cooled optical module with a high waterproof level through the fastened outer shell and the cover plate and other sealing components, thereby avoiding the problem of poor sealing caused by sealing methods such as injection molding and glue pouring in related technologies, and thus can improve the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module.

[0077] In one embodiment, Fig.10 As shown, a sealing method for a liquid-cooled optical module is provided, and the sealing method for the liquid-cooled optical module includes:

[0078] S101, setting sealant at a preset position of the liquid-cooled optical module; the preset position includes at least one of the position between the outer shell, cover plate and connector of the liquid-cooled optical module, the position between the outer shell, cover plate and circuit board, and the position between the outer shell, cover plate, optical fiber and buckle.

[0079] S102, placing the circuit board, the optical fiber, the buckle and the cover in the housing to obtain a sealed liquid-cooled optical module.

[0080] In the embodiment of the present application, in the first step, the MPO on the ribbon optical fiber can be inserted into the LENS of the semi-finished PCBA, and ultraviolet curing UV glue can be applied, and the UV glue can be cured by ultraviolet light to fasten the MPO to the LENS. The second step is to use alcohol to ultrasonically clean the bottom shell, upper cover, and buckle, and use an alcohol dust-free cloth to clean part of the PCBA (such as the front section). The third step is to remove the film protective layer on the ribbon optical fiber, clean the ribbon optical fiber with alcohol, and then apply excess sealant to the corresponding position on the buckle. The fourth step is to use a precision dispensing needle to apply excess sealant to the corresponding position of the bottom shell, and at the same time immerse the buckle in the sealant so that the buckle is covered with sealant all around. The fifth step is to install the PCBA with the silicone heat sink into the bottom shell, and place the optical fiber ribbon flat in the card slot of the bottom shell, press the buckle into the card slot, and apply sealant to the assembly gaps of the PCBA, optical fiber ribbon, and buckle. If sealant overflows from the above-mentioned locations where sealant is applied, it means that the amount of glue is appropriate, and the excess overflowed sealant can be removed at this time. The sixth step is to use a dispensing syringe to apply excess sealant to the corresponding positions of the upper cover, and install the upper cover into the bottom shell, and then inject excess sealant into the sealing screw plug hole to lock the fastening screw. At this time, if sealant overflows from the assembly gaps between the upper and lower fastening screws and the bottom shell, it means that the amount of glue is appropriate. After that, wipe off the sealant overflowing from the assembly gap and wait for the sealant to solidify. After the sealant is cured, a sealed liquid-cooled optical module can be obtained.

[0081] The preset position may include but is not limited to at least one of the positions of the housing, cover plate and connector of the liquid-cooled optical module, the housing, cover plate and circuit board, the housing, cover plate, optical fiber and buckle, the housing, sealing gasket and sealing screw plug. For example, Fig.11 As shown, Fig.11 This is a top view of the sealant coating of the liquid-cooled optical module in one embodiment. Fig.11 The black area in the figure is a schematic diagram of the sealant coating area, that is, the sealant can be applied to Fig.11 The black area in .

[0082] In this embodiment, by setting sealant at a preset position of the liquid-cooled optical module, and setting the circuit board, optical fiber, buckle and cover plate in the shell, a sealed liquid-cooled optical module is obtained. The liquid-cooled optical module can be effectively sealed through the shell sealing method.

[0083] In one embodiment, Fig.12 As shown, a sealing detection method is provided, and the sealing detection method comprises:

[0084] S201, connecting the unopened air pipe to the vent valve port of the shell in the liquid-cooled optical module, and placing the liquid-cooled optical module in a container including a fluorinated liquid.

[0085] S202, delivering a preset gas to the liquid-cooled optical module through a gas pipe;

[0086] S203, determining a sealing test result according to whether bubbles exist around a preset area where the liquid-cooled optical module is located.

[0087] The air pipe may be a high-pressure air pipe, and the preset gas may be a high-pressure gas. The container may include but is not limited to a transparent beaker, etc. Optionally, in addition to the fluorinated liquid, the container may also contain other liquids with rapid volatility. Of course, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. The preset area around the liquid-cooled light module may be the area around the liquid-cooled light module.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present application, for example, Fig.13 As shown, Fig.13The schematic diagram of a sealing test method for sealing test in an embodiment is as follows: in the first step, the thread of the high-pressure air pipe connector can be screwed into the vent valve port of the housing to connect the unopened air pipe to the vent valve port of the housing in the liquid-cooled light module, and the entire liquid-cooled light module is sunk into a transparent beaker filled with fluorinated liquid. In the second step, the air pressure is set to 0.2MPA (equivalent to 2 atmospheres), the high-pressure gas is turned on, that is, the high-pressure gas is delivered to the liquid-cooled light module through the air pipe, and it is kept still for three minutes. After that, whether bubbles emerge in the preset area where the liquid-cooled light module is located is observed through the transparent beaker. If bubbles emerge in the preset area where the liquid-cooled light module is located, the sealing test result of the liquid-cooled light module is determined to be unqualified in sealing effect; if no bubbles emerge in the preset area where the liquid-cooled light module is located, the sealing test result of the liquid-cooled light module is determined to be qualified in sealing effect.

[0089] In addition, after the sealing test, excess sealing glue can be applied to the air hole screw thread of the upper shell of the liquid-cooled optical module, and nitrogen can be injected into the interior of the shell using an air needle, and the sealing gasket can be put on the sealing screw plug and locked to the vent valve port, and then left to stand for a preset period of time to wait for the sealant to solidify. In this way, the sealant can be used to effectively seal the position between the shell, the sealing gasket and the sealing screw plug. For example, the preset time period can be 24 hours. Of course, the present embodiment does not limit the preset time period. Afterwards, after the sealing test, the photoelectric performance test can also be performed on the installation pull ring, unlocking piece, spring, and other parts.

[0090] In this embodiment, an unopened air pipe can be connected to the vent valve port of the outer shell of the liquid-cooled light module, and the liquid-cooled light module can be placed in a container including a fluorinated liquid. Then, a preset gas is transported to the liquid-cooled light module through the air pipe. Thus, the sealing test result can be accurately determined based on whether there are bubbles around the preset area where the liquid-cooled light module is located. In this way, the liquid-cooled light module can be accurately and effectively tested for sealing.

[0091] Based on the above embodiments, it can be seen that the embodiments of the present application provide a shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module with superior sealing, low cost, and efficient heat dissipation, and provide an excellent manufacturable process flow (i.e., a sealing method for liquid-cooled optical modules). This process method has strong platform scalability and can be directly implemented on ordinary optical engines. It is not limited to a single product solution and product shell packaging form, and is suitable for immersion, spraying, cold plate, and air cooling. It overcomes the technical limitations of traditional injection molding, glue pouring, and device sealing. In addition, a dedicated sealing detection structural component is designed for the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module, and a sealing detection process method is also provided, which solves the pain point that the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module industry cannot be detected.

[0092] Specifically, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0093] First, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module solves the problem of difficult sealing design technology in a limited space.

[0094] The shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module adopts a sealed shell design solution, which does not occupy the internal space. Through the structural design method of technical means, the width of the sealing surface space is effectively increased, avoiding the risk of sealing failure caused by insufficient sealing surface width, and filling the gap between the bottom shell and the upper cover and the PCBA with special sealant to eliminate the impact of the assembly gap on the sealing. The new liquid-cooled liquid-cooled optical module forms a sealed space with a waterproof level higher than IP68, which can effectively prevent the coolant from entering the shell for a long time. The products of this solution have not experienced sealing failure in the coolant pressurized at 0.2MPa for 72 hours and immersed in 0.5m deep coolant for more than 200 days.

[0095] Second, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module solves the problems of sealing and compatibility testability.

[0096] The sealed shell type liquid-cooled optical module is designed with a sealing detection valve on the bottom shell. With the test method developed by our company, it is only necessary to pass high-pressure gas and observe whether there are bubbles overflowing around the module to determine whether the sealing effect meets the standard. Products with unsatisfactory sealing effects will not be contaminated by coolant to the optical engine or optical path due to airtightness testing, ensuring that each shipped sealed shell type liquid-cooled optical module has sealing quality. By adjusting the air pressure and reading the value of the pressure regulating valve, the data quantification of the sealing effect is achieved, providing a reliable test value basis for the sealing effect.

[0097] Third, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module solves the problems of poor manufacturability and high manufacturing cost.

[0098] The liquid cooling modification of the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module only requires glue dispensing in the specified area. The curing process does not require ultraviolet curing and heating baking. No special equipment is required for manufacturing, and no professional technical workers are required. It is suitable for mass production and the manufacturing process cost is low. Therefore, this application has calculated that the amount of sealing glue required for the modification of a new liquid-cooled optical module is less than 1 ml, and the cost of sealing glue is extremely low.

[0099] Fourth, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module solves the problem of insufficient high-temperature resistance of high-power type modules.

[0100] Generally, the sealant used in the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module has a temperature range of -40 to 150°C, and a softening temperature greater than 120°C. The area where the sealant is used is far from the heat-generating electronic components. When the new optical engine is subjected to a high temperature of 100°C, the internal gas expansion pressure is about 0.3 atmospheres, or 0.03MPa, and its thermal expansion pressure is much lower than the sealing test 0.2MPa, which makes the sealing of the liquid-cooled optical module have better high temperature resistance. The shell of the new liquid-cooled optical module is fixed with fastening screws, and there is sealant on the thread to bond and prevent loosening. In addition, there is sealant filling between the bottom shell and the upper cover, which makes the new liquid-cooled optical module have excellent shock resistance.

[0101] Fifth, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module has good heat dissipation and optoelectronic properties.

[0102] The new liquid-cooled optical module adopts a shell sealing solution, so the coolant cannot contact the inside, allowing the silicone heat sink to be used in the heating area inside the module. This makes the new liquid-cooled optical module and the air-cooled optical engine have the same heat dissipation capacity, which meets the application of heat conduction medium scenarios such as spray, cold plate, and air cooling. The shell sealing solution of the new liquid-cooled optical module, the PCBA is not protected by sealing materials, and the transmission of high-speed signals can be ignored by the sealing materials. Therefore, the new liquid-cooled optical module shows better optoelectronic performance.

[0103] Sixth, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module solves the problem of difficult maintenance.

[0104] The sealant used in the new liquid-cooled optical module is relatively soft in texture, with a shore (support) hardness of 35A. There is no damage after the upper cover and bottom shell of the outer shell are disassembled, the PCBA, and the optical fiber ribbon are separated. There is no need to remove the residual glue, and the sealant can be directly applied again for reuse, which solves the technical difficulty of repairing the liquid-cooled optical module.

[0105] Seventh, the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module has open process technology.

[0106] The shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module only has technical requirements for the shell design and the selection of sealing glue. The sealed shell liquid-cooled optical module is modified based on the air-cooled optical engine, and does not involve changes in hardware solutions, optical solutions, and process solutions. This patent is based on the QSFP packaging shell for sealing design. The shell design and sealing design method and test method of the shell-sealed liquid-cooled optical module are also suitable for SFP / OSFP / QSFP-DD and other optical engine packaging size forms.

[0107] It should be understood that, although the steps in the flowcharts involved in the above embodiments are displayed in sequence according to the indication of the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in sequence according to the order indicated by the arrows. Unless there is a clear explanation in this article, the execution of these steps is not strictly limited in order, and these steps can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least a part of the steps in the flowcharts involved in the above embodiments may include multiple steps or multiple stages, and these steps or stages are not necessarily executed at the same time, but can be executed at different times, and the execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily carried out in sequence, but can be executed in turn or alternately with other steps or at least a part of the steps or stages in other steps.

[0108] The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0109] The above embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled optical module, characterized in that: The liquid-cooled optical module comprises: a light engine and a sealing assembly; the sealing assembly is tightly connected to the light engine; the sealing assembly comprises a tightly connected housing and a cover plate; The optical engine is used to transmit optical signals; The sealing component is used to seal the light engine.

2. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The matching surfaces of the housing and the cover plate are in Z-shaped contact.

3. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sealing assembly further comprises a connecting piece, and the connecting piece is used for fastening and connecting the housing and the cover plate.

4. The liquid-cooled optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sealing assembly further comprises a connecting layer, and the connecting layer comprises a sealant.

5. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connecting layer is arranged between the housing, the cover plate and the connecting member.

6. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The light engine includes a circuit board, and the connection layer is further arranged between the housing, the cover plate and the circuit board.

7. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The optical engine includes an optical fiber, the sealing assembly also includes a buckle, and the connecting layer is further arranged between the housing, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle.

8. The liquid-cooled optical module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sealing assembly also includes a sealing gasket and a sealing plug, wherein the sealing gasket and the sealing plug are used to seal the housing, and the connecting layer is also arranged between the housing, the sealing gasket and the sealing plug.

9. A sealing method for a liquid-cooled optical module, characterized in that: The method comprises: A sealant is provided at a preset position of the liquid-cooled optical module; the preset position includes at least one of a position between the housing, the cover plate and the connector of the liquid-cooled optical module, a position between the housing, the cover plate and the circuit board, a position between the housing, the cover plate, the optical fiber and the buckle, and a position between the housing, the sealing gasket and the sealing screw plug; The circuit board, the optical fiber, the buckle and the cover plate are arranged in the housing to obtain a sealed liquid-cooled optical module.

10. A sealing detection method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Connecting the unopened air pipe to the vent valve port of the housing in the liquid-cooled optical module, and placing the liquid-cooled optical module in a container including a fluorinated liquid; Delivering a preset gas to the liquid-cooled optical module through a gas pipe; The sealing test result is determined according to whether there are bubbles around the preset area where the liquid-cooled optical module is located.

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