Floating Transceiver Assembly with Fixed Heatsink

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transceiver assemblies face thermal management challenges due to inadequate heat dissipation from heatsinks, particularly in active optical cable applications, where manufacturing tolerances create gaps that hinder effective heat transfer and convective cooling is insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A transceiver assembly design where the transceiver and receptacle float within a cage, allowing alignment with a monolithic heatsink on a common datum plane, and a compression connector system that biases the transceiver against a fixed heat exchanger for enhanced thermal contact and heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a floating heatsink design is used to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, then ease of assembly is improved, but heat dissipation capacity deteriorates due to gaps between transceiver and heatsink

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidheat dissipation capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the heatsink to float independently, the patent inverts the approach by making the transceiver assembly float within a fixed cage structure. The transceiver and receptacle float together as a unit, biased by a compression connector to maintain continuous contact with the fixed heatsink, thereby eliminating gaps while preserving tolerance accommodation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The compression connector acts as an intermediary mechanism that applies continuous biasing force to the floating transceiver assembly, ensuring maintained thermal contact between the transceiver and heatsink while allowing the assembly to float within the cage to accommodate manufacturing variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If transceiver and receptacle are fixed within the cage, then structural stability is improved, but thermal contact is worsened due to gaps from manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic elements (springs and compression connectors) that allow the transceiver assembly to float and adjust its position within the cage, transforming a static fixed structure into a dynamic system that maintains optimal thermal contact while accommodating manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The compression connector changes the mechanical state of the transceiver assembly by applying continuous biasing force, transforming the system from a gap-prone static contact to a pressure-maintained dynamic contact that ensures consistent thermal coupling despite dimensional variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If convective cooling is used, then device complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation is insufficient for active optical cable applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system complexityVSAvoidheat dissipation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heatsink from the floating cage structure and makes it a fixed component, while taking out the complexity of active cooling by enhancing passive cooling effectiveness through improved thermal contact, thereby separating the thermal management function from the mechanical support function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design ensures maximum heat transfer by maintaining continuous contact between the transceiver and heat exchanger, improving thermal management and allowing for both active and passive cooling methods, even with varying transceiver heights due to manufacturing tolerances.

Implementation Method 1

maximum heat transfer by maintaining continuous contact between the transceiver and heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heatsink 150 provides convective cooling by air flowing over the heatsink 150

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11621523B2Transceiver assembly array with fixed heatsink and floating transceivers

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 SAMTEC INC

AI summary

A cage assembly includes a cage including a top wall and a bottom wall and an electrical receptacle positioned between the top wall and the bottom wall such that the electrical receptacle floats within the cage in opposite directions between the top wall and the bottom wall.