Connecting device

Abstract

A connection device includes a compressible thermal pad, a connector assembly, and a protective structure. The connector assembly includes a shield. The shield defines a first insertion channel and has a bottom wall and a pressing structure. The first insertion channel has a first channel opening for insertion of a pluggable module. The bottom wall forms a bottom opening for the thermal pad to pass through into the first insertion channel. The protective structure includes a first resilient protective member disposed on the bottom wall and located between the first channel opening and the bottom opening. During insertion of the pluggable module into the first insertion channel, the pluggable module is supported by the first resilient protective member to maintain a gap between the heating surface of the pluggable module and the thermal pad. Then, the back surface of the pluggable module is pressed by the pressing structure, causing the first resilient protective member to elastically deform and bringing the heating surface closer to the thermal pad. This allows the surface of the thermal pad to fit seamlessly with the heating surface of the pluggable module, thereby improving heat dissipation.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a connecting device, and more particularly to a connecting device having a thermally conductive pad. [Previous Technology]

[0002] US Patent Publication No. US9980411B2 discloses a second elastic piece of an elastic clip adapted to elastically engage with the longitudinal edge of an opening on a circuit board, so as to install the elastic clip onto the opening of the circuit board. A groove is formed at each end of a contact boss of a heat sink, and a first elastic piece of the elastic clip is adapted to elastically engage with the groove of the heat sink, so that the heat sink can be installed onto the opening of the circuit board by the elastic clip, allowing the contact boss of the heat sink to contact a mating connector inserted into the port. However, the heat sink is a rigid heat sink with a finned structure at the bottom (its material is typically copper), and the contact boss of the heat sink will have gaps caused by surface roughness when contacting the mating connector, thus hindering effective heat exchange. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a connection device with improved heat dissipation.

[0004] Therefore, the connection device of the present invention is suitable for being disposed in a housing and for inserting a pluggable module. The pluggable module has a heating surface and a back surface located on the opposite side of the heating surface. The connection device includes a thermal pad, a circuit board, a connector assembly, and a protective structure. The thermal pad is disposed in the housing and is compressible. The circuit board includes a plate opening penetrating both opposite surfaces. The plate opening allows the thermal pad to pass through. The connector assembly is disposed on the side of the circuit board away from the housing and includes a shield. The shield defines a first insertion channel and has a bottom wall and a pressing structure for pressing against the back surface of the pluggable module. The first insertion channel has a first channel opening for insertion of the pluggable module. The bottom wall forms a bottom opening communicating with the first insertion channel and the plate opening. The bottom opening allows the thermal pad to pass through the first insertion channel. The protective structure is located in the first insertion channel and includes a first elastic protective member disposed on the bottom wall and located between the opening of the first channel and the bottom opening. The first elastic protective member is capable of elastic deformation. During the insertion of the pluggable module into the first insertion channel, the pluggable module is supported by the first elastic protective member to maintain a gap between the heating surface of the pluggable module and the thermal pad. Then, the back surface of the pluggable module is pressed by the pressing structure, causing the first elastic protective member to elastically deform and bringing the heating surface of the pluggable module closer to the thermal pad until it is in contact with the thermal pad.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first resilient protective member is a spring sheet. The first resilient protective member extends from the bottom wall in a direction away from the first channel opening and the circuit board.

[0006] In some embodiments, the distance from the top surface of the first elastic protective member to the bottom wall is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad to the bottom wall.

[0007] In some embodiments, the protective structure further includes two second elastic protective members disposed on the bottom wall and located further away from the first elastic protective member from the first channel opening. The two second elastic protective members are respectively located on two opposite sides of the bottom opening and are capable of elastic deformation. During the process of inserting the pluggable module into the first insertion channel, the pluggable module is supported by the first elastic protective member and the two second elastic protective members to maintain a gap between the heating surface of the pluggable module and the heat-conducting pad. Then, the back surface of the pluggable module is pressed by the pressing structure, causing the first elastic protective member and the two second elastic protective members to elastically deform, and causing the heating surface of the pluggable module to move towards the heat-conducting pad until it adheres to the heat-conducting pad.

[0008] In some embodiments, each of the second resilient protective members is a spring sheet. Each of the second resilient protective members extends from the bottom wall in a direction away from the first channel opening and the circuit board.

[0009] In some embodiments, the distance from the top surface of each of the second elastic protective members to the bottom wall is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad to the bottom wall.

[0010] In some embodiments, the connecting device is adapted to allow two pluggable modules to be inserted. The shielding cover further includes two sidewalls extending from the left and right sides of the bottom wall away from the circuit board, a rear wall connected to the rear sides of the two sidewalls, a top wall connected to the side of the two sidewalls and the rear wall away from the bottom wall, and a pressing unit disposed between the bottom wall and the top wall. The pressing unit has two pressing structures disposed above and below each other. The lower pressing structure, together with the bottom wall, the two sidewalls, and the rear wall, defines the first insertion channel. The upper pressing structure, together with the top wall, the two sidewalls, and the rear wall, defines a second insertion channel. The second insertion channel has a second channel opening. The second channel opening and the first channel opening face forward and are respectively for inserting the two pluggable modules. The two pressing structures are respectively used to press against the back surfaces of the two pluggable modules.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pressing structure is one of an elastic structure and a lifting surface structure.

[0012] In some embodiments, the elastic structure has a plate and at least one elastic abutment extending from the plate. The at least one elastic abutment is used to press against the back surface of the pluggable module.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lifting surface structure has a base portion and a protrusion extending from the base portion. The distance from the protrusion to the shield in a vertical direction is less than the distance from the base portion to the shield in the vertical direction. The protrusion is used to press against the back surface of the pluggable module.

[0014] In some embodiments, the two pressure structures are arranged at different heights and together define a heat dissipation space.

[0015] In some embodiments, the connecting device further includes a positioning structure. The positioning structure has at least one positioning member extending from one side of the wall of the bottom opening toward the other side of the wall of the bottom opening. At least one of the positioning members is inserted into the thermal pad to position the thermal pad.

[0016] The advantages of this invention are: by using the protective structure to bring the pluggable module face-to-face with the compressible and deformable thermal pad, the surface of the thermal pad can be seamlessly attached to the heat-generating surface of the pluggable module, thereby improving heat dissipation. Furthermore, it prevents the thermal pad from being damaged by friction with the pluggable module, thus improving the durability of the connection device. In addition, the thermal pad conducts heat to the housing, achieving a large-area heat dissipation effect through the housing.

Implementation Method

[0017] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the connecting device of the present invention is shown. For ease of explanation, the connecting device is defined as having a front-back direction X, a left-right direction Y that is not parallel to the front-back direction X, and a top-bottom direction Z that is not parallel to the front-back direction X and the left-right direction Y. In this embodiment, the front-back direction X, the left-right direction Y, and the top-bottom direction Z are shown as mutually perpendicular, but are not limited thereto. The front-back direction X is illustrated by pointing from the lower left of the drawing to the upper right of the drawing (arrow direction is back, reverse is front), the left-right direction Y is illustrated by pointing from the lower right of the drawing to the upper left of the drawing (arrow direction is left, reverse is right), and the top-bottom direction Z is illustrated by pointing from the bottom of the drawing to the top of the drawing (arrow direction is up, reverse is down).

[0018] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the connecting device is suitable for mounting in a housing 100 (partially shown in the figures) and for connecting two pluggable modules 200 (see Figure 1). The top surface of the housing 100 is recessed downward to form a groove 101 (see Figure 4). Each pluggable module 200 is, for example, a small form-factor plugable (SFP) connector, but is not limited thereto. Each pluggable module 200 extends along the front-rear direction X and has a heating surface 203 that generates heat during operation, and a back surface 204 located on the opposite side of the heating surface 203. In this embodiment, the heating surface 203 and the back surface 204 of each pluggable module 200 are located on the upper and lower sides of the pluggable module 200, respectively. When two pluggable modules 200 are plugged into the connector, the back surfaces 204 of the two pluggable modules 200 are arranged face to face.

[0019] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the connecting device includes a thermal pad 300, a circuit board 400, a connector assembly 500, and a protective structure 600. The thermal pad 300 is, for example, a thermally conductive pad (PAD) and is compressible. The bottom of the thermal pad 300 is disposed in the groove 101 of the housing 100, and the top of the thermal pad 300 protrudes from the groove 101. The thermal pad 300 is used to conduct heat energy to the housing 100, thereby achieving a large-area heat dissipation effect through the housing 100. In this embodiment, the interior of the thermal pad 300 is a highly thermally conductive material that can be molded into any shape, such as graphene powder or thermal paste, and is covered by a flexible material, such as a plastic film, but is not limited thereto.

[0020] The circuit board 400 (partially shown in the figure) has a circuit pattern not shown in the figure and extends along the front-back direction X and the left-right direction Y. The circuit board 400 includes a board opening 401 that passes through the upper and lower opposite sides. The board opening 401 allows the thermal pad 300 to pass through from bottom to top.

[0021] The connector assembly 500 is located on the side of the circuit board 400 away from the housing 100, and includes a socket connector 1, a shield 2, and four grounding elements 3. The socket connector 1 is, for example, a 2*N type back-to-back (belly to belly) stacked connector, and includes an upper socket 11 and a lower socket 12 located below the upper socket 11. The socket connector 1 is inserted into the circuit board 400 and electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the circuit board 400. The upper socket 11 and the lower socket 12 respectively allow two pluggable modules 200 to be detachably plugged in (i.e., electrically connected).

[0022] For example, the shielding cover 2 is constructed by stamping and bending a metal plate and is inserted into the circuit board 400. The shielding cover 2 has a bottom wall 21 extending along the front-back direction X and the left-right direction Y, two side walls 22 extending from the left and right sides of the bottom wall 21 in a direction away from the circuit board 400 (i.e., upward), a rear wall 23 connected to the rear side of the two side walls 22, a top wall 24 connected to the side of the two side walls 22 and the rear wall 23 away from the bottom wall 21, and a pressing unit 4 disposed between the bottom wall 21 and the top wall 24.

[0023] The pressing unit 4 has two pressing structures 41 arranged at the top and bottom. The two pressing structures 41 are respectively used to press against the back surface 204 of the pluggable module 200, and are spaced apart from the bottom wall 21 and the top wall 24 respectively. The lower pressing structure 41, together with the bottom wall 21, the two side walls 22, and the rear wall 23, defines a first insertion channel 5. The first insertion channel 5 is used for the lower socket 12 to be disposed at its rear end, and has a first channel opening 51 facing forward. The upper pressing structure 41, together with the top wall 24, the two side walls 22, and the rear wall 23, defines a second insertion channel 6. The second insertion channel 6 is used for the upper socket 11 to be disposed at its rear end, and has a second channel opening 61 facing forward. The second channel opening 61 and the first channel opening 51 are respectively used for the two pluggable modules 200 to be inserted from the outside to the inside. When the first insertion channel 5 is used to insert the corresponding pluggable module 200, the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 faces the bottom wall 21. When the second insertion channel 6 is used to insert the corresponding pluggable module 200, the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 faces the top wall 24. However, in some embodiments, the socket connector 1 may only include the lower socket 12, and the upper socket 11 and the pressing structure 41 located above can be omitted. That is, the pressing unit 4 only has a pressing structure 41 that is spaced apart from the bottom wall 21 and defines the first insertion channel 5, depending on the actual needs.

[0024] Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the bottom wall 21 forms a bottom opening 211 that connects the first insertion channel 5 and the plate opening 401. The bottom opening 211 allows the top of the thermal pad 300 to pass through the first insertion channel 5 from bottom to top, so that the thermal pad 300 protrudes from the bottom wall 21, and the hole wall of the bottom opening 211 restricts the movement of the thermal pad 300 in the front-rear direction X or the left-right direction Y. Four grounding members 3 are respectively disposed on the front side of the bottom wall 21, the two side walls 22, and the top wall 24.

[0025] Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the protective structure 600 is located in the first insertion channel 5 and includes a first elastic protective member 601 disposed on the bottom wall 21 and located between the first channel opening 51 and the bottom opening 211, and two second elastic protective members 602 disposed on the bottom wall 21 and located further away from the first elastic protective member 601 than the first elastic protective member 601. The first elastic protective member 601 can elastically deform under force. Specifically, the first elastic protective member 601 is a spring sheet. The first elastic protective member 601 is integrally formed and extends from the bottom wall 21 in a direction away from the first channel opening 51 and the circuit board 400 (i.e., towards the rear and upward). The distance from the top surface of the first elastic protective member 601 to the bottom wall 21 is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad 300 to the bottom wall 21, that is, the height of the first elastic protective member 601 protruding from the bottom wall 21 is greater than the height of the thermal pad 300 protruding from the bottom wall 21. As shown in Figure 6, when the corresponding pluggable module 200 is inserted into the first plug-in channel 5, the pluggable module 200 is supported by the first elastic protective member 601 so that the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 and the thermal pad 300 are kept in a gap, so as to avoid the surface of the heat sink 300 being damaged by friction from the pluggable module 200.

[0026] Referring to Figures 4, 7 to 10, the two second elastic protective members 602 are located on opposite sides (left and right sides) of the bottom opening 211, and can elastically deform under force. Specifically, each second elastic protective member 602 is a spring sheet. Each second elastic protective member 602 extends from the bottom wall 21 in a direction away from the first channel opening 51 and the circuit board 400 (i.e., towards the rear and upward). The distance from the top surface of each second elastic protective member 602 to the bottom wall 21 is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad 300 to the bottom wall 21, that is, the height of each second elastic protective member 602 protruding from the bottom wall 21 is greater than the height of the thermal pad 300 protruding from the bottom wall 21.

[0027] Referring to Figures 7 to 14, during the process of inserting the corresponding pluggable module 200 into the first insertion channel 5, the pluggable module 200 is first supported by the first elastic protective member 601 and the two second elastic protective members 602 (one example is shown in the figure) as shown in Figure 8 or Figure 10, so that the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 maintains a gap with the heat-conducting pad 300. Then, the back surface 204 of the pluggable module 200 is pressed by the pressing structure 41 located below as shown in Figure 12 or Figure 14, so that the first elastic protective member 601 and the two second elastic protective members 602 (see Figure 14, one example) elastically deform, and the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 moves towards the heat-conducting pad 300 until it fits the heat-conducting pad 300 (see Figure 12). In this way, during the insertion of the pluggable module 200 into the first insertion channel 5, the front and rear of the pluggable module 200 are supported simultaneously. This reduces the friction between the pluggable module 200 and the thermal pad 300 during insertion, preventing wear on the thermal pad 300. Furthermore, the thermal pad 300 is compressed and deformed by the downward pressure of the pluggable module 200, fitting snugly against the pluggable module 200 without gaps. This allows the heat generated by the operation of the pluggable module 200 to be conducted to the thermal pad 300 with the maximum contact area, and then to the housing 100 through the thermal pad 300, thereby improving the heat dissipation of the thermal pad 300.

[0028] Referring to Figure 3, although the groove 101 and the plate opening 401 are sufficient to position the thermal pad 300, preferably, the connecting device also includes a positioning structure 700. The positioning structure 700 has two positioning members 701 extending from two opposite sides (here, the left and right sides are used as examples) of the hole wall of the bottom opening 211 in a direction that approaches each other. The two positioning members 701 are respectively inserted into the left and right sides of the thermal pad 300, so that the thermal pad 300 is restricted from moving to achieve the positioning effect. And the heat energy conducted by the thermal pad 300 can be conducted to the bottom wall 21 of the shield 2 by the two positioning members 701, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the thermal pad 300. However, in some embodiments, the number of positioning members 701 may be only one or more, and the positioning members 701 may be located at any position on the hole wall of the bottom opening 211, depending on the actual needs.

[0029] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the pressing structure 41 is one of an elastic structure 41a and a lifting surface structure 41b. In this embodiment, the upper pressing structure 41 is the elastic structure 41a, and the lower pressing structure 41 is the lifting surface structure 41b. The elastic structure 41a is located above the lifting surface structure 41b and, together with the top wall 24, the two side walls 22, and the rear wall 23, defines the second insertion channel 6. The lifting surface structure 41b, together with the bottom wall 21, the two side walls 22, and the rear wall 23, defines the first insertion channel 5. However, in other embodiments, the positions of the elastic structure 41a and the lifting surface structure 41b can be interchanged, or both pressing structures 41 can be elastic structures 41a, or both pressing structures 41 can be lifting surface structures 41b. The implementation of the two pressing structures 41 is not limited to the foregoing description.

[0030] Referring to Figures 4, 6, and 12, the elastic structure 41a has a plate 411a and a plurality of elastic pressing members 412a extending from the plate 411a in a direction away from the lifting surface structure 41b and close to the rear wall 23 (i.e., towards the rear and upward). Each elastic pressing member 412a is used to press against the back surface 204 of the pluggable module, so that the heating surface 203 is in contact with the top wall 24. In this embodiment, the number of elastic pressing members 412a is shown as three, but the number of elastic pressing members 412a may also be only one, two, or more than four, depending on the actual needs. As shown in Figure 12, when the corresponding pluggable module 200 is inserted into the second insertion channel 6, the back surface 204 of the pluggable module 200 is pressed by a plurality of elastic pressing members 412a, so that the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 is attached to the top wall 24, and the heat energy emitted by the pluggable module 200 inserted into the second insertion channel 6 can be conducted to the shield 2, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect.

[0031] Referring to Figures 6 and 15, the lifting surface structure 41b has a base portion 411b extending along the front-rear direction X, a protrusion 412b protruding from the base portion 411b and closer to the rear wall 23 than the base portion 411b, and a guide surface 413b adjacent to the base portion 411b than the protrusion 412b and connected on opposite sides to the sides of the base portion 411b and the protrusion 412b away from the elastic structure 41a. The guide surface 413b is an inclined surface or a curved surface. The distance from the bottom surface of the protrusion 412b to the bottom wall 21 of the shield 2 in the vertical direction Z is less than the distance from the bottom surface of the base portion 411b to the bottom wall 21 of the shield 2 in the vertical direction Z. During the process of inserting the corresponding pluggable module 200 into the first insertion channel 5 along the front-rear direction X, the guide surface 413b first guides the pluggable module 200 toward the protrusion 412b. Then, the protrusion 412b presses against the back surface 204 of the pluggable module 200 to ensure that the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200 fits against the top surface of the thermal pad 300 as shown in FIG12, thereby achieving the effect of improving heat dissipation.

[0032] Referring to Figure 11, preferably, the pressing unit 4 also has a ventilation seat 42 located in front of the two pressing structures 41 and presenting itself as a hollow cuboid. The front side of the ventilation seat 42 forms a plurality of vent holes 421. The two pressing structures 41 are spaced apart vertically and together with the ventilation seat 42 define a heat dissipation space 414 that connects the plurality of vent holes 421. The plurality of vent holes 421 and the heat dissipation space 414 allow gas to circulate, and the heat energy of the two pluggable modules 200 can be radiated to the heat dissipation space 414 through the two pressing structures 41, thereby achieving an improved heat dissipation effect. In this embodiment, the elastic structure 41a and / or the lifting surface structure 41b are formed by stamping, bending, or casting of a metal plate, but are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the elastic structure 41a and the lifting surface structure 41b extend to the upper and lower surfaces of the ventilation seat 42, respectively. However, in some embodiments not shown in the figures, the elastic structure 41a and the lifting surface structure 41b may also be integrally formed components with a cross-section that is slightly U-shaped (the U-shaped opening faces to the right), without being limited to a specific form.

[0033] In summary, by using the protective structure 600 to bring the pluggable module 200 face-to-face against the compressible and deformable thermal pad 300, the surface of the thermal pad 300 can be seamlessly attached to the heating surface 203 of the pluggable module 200, thereby improving heat dissipation. Furthermore, it prevents the thermal pad 300 from being damaged by friction with the pluggable module 200, thus improving the durability of the connection device. Therefore, the purpose of this invention is indeed achieved. In addition, the thermal pad 300 conducts heat to the housing 100, achieving a large-area heat dissipation effect through the housing 100.

[0034] However, the above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0035] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: FIG1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the connecting device of the present invention disposed in a housing and adapted for the insertion of two pluggable modules; FIG2 is a perspective view illustrating the implementation details of the embodiment and the housing; FIG3 is a perspective view different from FIG2; FIG4 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to FIG2; FIG5 is a cross-sectional view similar to line VV in FIG2, illustrating a state in which the two pluggable modules are inserted into a first insertion channel and a second insertion channel of the embodiment; FIG6 is a partial enlarged view of FIG5; FIG7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG5, illustrating another state in which the two pluggable modules are inserted into the first insertion channel and the second insertion channel; FIG8 is a partial enlarged view of FIG7; FIG9 is a cross-sectional view similar to line IX-IX in FIG2, illustrating the implementation of the two pluggable modules and the embodiment in this other state; FIG10 is a partial enlarged view of FIG9. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5, illustrating another state during the insertion of the two pluggable modules into the first and second pluggable channels; Figure 12 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 9, illustrating the implementation of the two pluggable modules and the embodiment in another state; Figure 14 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a perspective view of a lifting surface structure of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A connecting device suitable for being disposed in a housing and for being plugged into by a pluggable module, the pluggable module having a heating surface and a back surface located on the opposite side of the heating surface, the connecting device comprising: a thermal pad disposed in the housing and compressible; a circuit board including a plate opening penetrating the two opposite surfaces, the plate opening for the thermal pad to pass through; A connector assembly, disposed on the side of the circuit board away from the housing, includes a shielding cover defining a first insertion channel and having a bottom wall and a pressing structure for pressing against the back surface of the pluggable module. The first insertion channel has a first channel opening for insertion of the pluggable module. The bottom wall forms a bottom opening communicating between the first insertion channel and a board opening, the bottom opening allowing a thermal pad to pass through the first insertion channel. A protective structure is also provided, located in the first insertion channel, and includes a first elastic protective member disposed on the bottom wall and located between the first channel opening and the bottom opening. The first elastic protective member is elastically deformable. During the process of inserting the pluggable module into the first plug-in channel, the pluggable module is supported by the first elastic protective member to maintain a gap between the heating surface of the pluggable module and the thermal pad. Then, the back surface of the pluggable module is pressed by the pressing structure, causing the first elastic protective member to elastically deform and causing the heating surface of the pluggable module to move towards the thermal pad until it fits the thermal pad.

2. The connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The first elastic protective element is a spring sheet that extends from the bottom wall in a direction away from the first channel opening and the circuit board.

3. The connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The distance from the top surface of the first elastic protective member to the bottom wall is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad to the bottom wall.

4. The connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The protective structure also includes two second elastic protective members disposed on the bottom wall and farther away from the first channel opening than the first elastic protective member. The two second elastic protective members are respectively located on two opposite sides of the bottom opening and can elastically deform during the process of the pluggable module being inserted into the first insertion channel. The pluggable module is supported by the first elastic protective member and the two second elastic protective members to maintain a gap between the heating surface of the pluggable module and the heat-conducting pad. Then, the back surface of the pluggable module is pressed by the pressing structure, causing the first elastic protective member and the two second elastic protective members to elastically deform and causing the heating surface of the pluggable module to move towards the heat-conducting pad until it fits the heat-conducting pad.

5. The connection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, Each of the second elastic protective elements is a spring sheet, and each of the second elastic protective elements extends from the bottom wall in a direction away from the first channel opening and the circuit board.

6. The connection device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The distance from the top surface of each of the second elastic protective members to the bottom wall is greater than the distance from the top surface of the thermal pad to the bottom wall.

7. The connection device as described in claim 1, adapted for connecting two of the pluggable modules, wherein, The shield also has two side walls extending from the left and right sides of the bottom wall away from the circuit board, a rear wall connected to the rear side of the two side walls, a top wall connected to the side of the two side walls and the rear wall away from the bottom wall, and a pressing unit disposed between the bottom wall and the top wall. The pressing unit has two pressing structures disposed above and below. The lower pressing structure, together with the bottom wall, the two side walls, and the rear wall, defines the first insertion channel. The upper pressing structure, together with the top wall, the two side walls, and the rear wall, defines a second insertion channel. The second insertion channel has a second channel opening. The second channel opening and the first channel opening face forward and are respectively for the insertion of two pluggable modules. The two pressing structures are respectively used to press against the back surface of the two pluggable modules.

8. The connection device as described in claim 1 or 7, wherein, The pressing structure is either an elastic structure or a lifting surface structure.

9. The connection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The elastic structure has a plate and at least one elastic abutment extending from the plate, the at least one elastic abutment being used to press against the back surface of the pluggable module.

10. The connection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The lifting surface structure has a base portion and a protrusion protruding from the base portion. The distance from the protrusion to the shield in a vertical direction is less than the distance from the base portion to the shield in the vertical direction. The protrusion is used to press against the back surface of the pluggable module.

11. The connection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The two pressure-resistant structures are spaced apart, one above the other, and together define a heat dissipation space.

12. The connecting device as claimed in claim 1 further includes a positioning structure, wherein, The positioning structure has at least one positioning member extending from one side of the hole wall of the bottom opening toward the other side of the hole wall of the bottom opening, and the at least one positioning member is inserted into the thermal pad to position the thermal pad.

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