CN216748199U - Optical transceiver and optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical transceiver for connection between an optical receptacle and an electrical receptacle is disclosed. The optical transceiver includes an electrical connector and an optical connector. The optical transceiver has an electronics housing that holds the electrical and optical connectors in relative position to each other, thereby allowing simultaneous connection of the electrical and optical receptacles. The electrical and optical connectors are movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the electronic device housing when engaged or disengaged with respective electrical and optical receptacles.

Description

Optical transceiver and optical switch

[ technical field ] A method for producing a semiconductor device

The present invention relates generally to optical transceivers, and more particularly to a dual socket transceiver that allows for the sequential connection of optical signal sockets and electrical signal sockets.

[ background of the invention ]

With the advent of computing application clouds, decentralized network systems have been widely adopted. The network system contains many connected devices including servers, switches and other components that exchange data. In the past, the connections between such devices were roughly wired connections, but with increasing demands for speed and data volume, faster optical signal cables have been used. For example, transmission speeds in recent optical systems exceed 10Gbps and reach 100Gbps, thereby satisfying the need for increased data capacity and speed.

Optical signals are transmitted and received by transceivers having electronic components that are necessary to relay the optical signals and convert such signals to standard electrical signals. An optical transceiver transmits and receives optical signals through an optical connector that mates with an optical actuator, which includes a light emitting device and a light receiving device, each made of semiconductor material. An optical transceiver includes an electronic component and an optical connector. A plug-in optical transceiver is one type of optical transceiver. The optical transceiver is inserted into or removed from a transceiver jack (cage) provided on a printed circuit board in an optical switching device. The optical connector of the transceiver is fitted to an optical receptacle in the optical switch device.

Optical transceivers convert optical signals to electrical signals and are often used to integrate optical switches into modules that are connected via conventional copper wire based networks. Currently, a fiber optic network switch will have a series of optical signal receptacles, such as Multi-fiber Pull Off (MPO) receptacles, that can transmit and receive optical data to and from an optical network. Such switches will also have a series of sockets for transmitting and receiving lower bandwidth electrical signals, such as Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) sockets. Data communication between the optical receptacle and the electrical receptacle requires an electrical-to-optical transceiver interface (interface) that connects the optical receptacle to the electrical receptacle in the optical switch. Since such transceivers are easily damaged, they need to be able to be plugged into and unplugged from the corresponding receptacle in order to be replaced when damaged. Currently, separate optical transceivers must be used in conjunction with separate connector cables to connect to the corresponding electrical outlets.

The order of connection is also important since the optical connection to the optical transceiver should be made before connecting to the electrical outlet. Providing a separate cable for connecting a known optical transceiver may therefore lead to a wrong connection sequence for connecting the cable to the electrical socket before inserting the transceiver into the optical socket.

Therefore, there is a need for an optical transceiver that allows connection between an optical signal receptacle and an electrical signal receptacle. There is also a need for an optical transceiver that can be locked and unlocked to allow both types of connectors to be connected in sequence. There is also a need for an optical transceiver that can be easily deployed to connect an optical receptacle to an electrical receptacle.

[ Utility model ] content

The terms of the embodiments and similar terms (e.g., embodiments, configurations, features, examples, and options) are intended to broadly refer to all subject matter of the present invention and claims below. Several statements containing these various terms should be understood as not limiting the meaning or scope of the subject matter described herein or the following claims. Embodiments of the invention covered herein are defined by the claims, rather than the teachings of the invention. This summary is a high-level overview of various features of the invention and introduces some of the concepts described more fully in the detailed description section that follows. This novel disclosure is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the entire specification of the invention, including all drawings and each claim appropriately scaled.

According to certain features of the present invention, an optical transceiver is disclosed. The optical transceiver includes an electrical connector and an optical connector. The optical transceiver has an electronic device housing that holds the electrical connector and the optical connector in a relative position to each other, the electronic device housing allowing simultaneous connection of a respective electrical receptacle and optical receptacle, wherein the electronic device housing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the electronic device housing when the electrical connector and the optical connector are engaged with or disengaged from the respective electrical receptacle and optical receptacle.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is to provide the electrical connector as a quad small form-factor pluggable connector. Another embodiment is where the optical connector is a multi-fiber connector. Another embodiment is the optical transceiver comprising a handle coupled to the electrical connector and the optical connector. Another embodiment is the optical transceiver comprising a housing connecting the electrical connector and the optical connector, the housing being movable relative to the electronics chassis. Another embodiment is the optical transceiver comprising a backplane coupled to the electronics chassis. A first spring has one end located on the back plate and an opposite end abutting a first male member of the housing, the disengagement of the optical connector from the optical receptacle compressing the first spring. The optical transceiver also includes a second spring having one end positioned on the back plate and an opposite end abutting a second male member of the housing. The electrical connector disengages the electrical receptacle causing the second spring to compress. Another embodiment is for the distance between the extended position and the retracted position of the optical connector to be shorter than the distance between the extended position and the retracted position of the electrical connector. The optical connector is mated with the optical receptacle before the electrical connector is mated with the electrical receptacle. Another embodiment is the optical transceiver further comprising an electrical latch coupled to the electrical connector, the electrical latch comprising a latching mechanism mateable with the electrical receptacle. Another embodiment is to provide the electrical receptacle with a receptacle having a prong. The latching mechanism of the electrical latching component is a hook-like member that fits (fit) into a recess in the electronic device housing. The hook-like member prevents the prongs from bending away from the electrical latch component when the electrical receptacle is connected to the electrical connector. Another embodiment is the optical transceiver comprising an optical latch member coupled to the optical connector. The optical latch component includes a latching mechanism that is mateable with the optical receptacle. Another embodiment is where the latching mechanism is a protrusion that prevents a pin of the optical receptacle from bending away from the latching component when the optical receptacle is connected to the optical connector. Another embodiment is for the optical transceiver to include an electronic device housed in the electronic device housing for converting electrical signals to optical signals. Another embodiment is directed to an electronic device housing comprising a first arm holding the optical connector and a parallel second arm holding the electrical connector. Another embodiment is where the optical receptacle is one of a plurality of optical receptacles on an optical switch, and where the electrical receptacle is one of a plurality of electrical receptacles on the optical switch.

Another disclosed example is an optical switch having an optical receptacle carrying an optical signal and an electrical receptacle carrying an electrical signal, the optical receptacle and the electrical receptacle being configured to receive data from each other. The optical switch includes an attachable optical transceiver coupling the electrical receptacle with the optical receptacle. The optical transceiver includes an electrical connector and an optical connector. The optical transceiver includes an electronics housing that holds the electrical and optical connectors in a relative position to each other. The electronic device housing allows for simultaneous connection of the electrical and optical receptacles. The electrical and optical connectors are movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the electronic device housing when engaged or disengaged with the respective electrical and optical receptacles.

Another disclosed example is an optical transceiver for connecting an optical receptacle to an electrical receptacle. The optical transceiver includes an electronic device housing having a first arm and a parallel second arm. The optical transceiver includes an optical connector and an optical connector latch mechanism that are received in the first arm and attached to the optical connector. The light latch mechanism is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The optical transceiver includes an electrical connector connected to an electrical connector latching mechanism housed in the second arm. The electrical connector latching mechanism is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A handle is connected to the optical connector latch mechanism and the electrical connector latch mechanism.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every feature, of the present invention. Rather, the foregoing novel disclosure provides examples of some of the novel features and characteristics set forth herein. The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for illustration purposes only.

[ description of the drawings ]

The invention, together with its advantages, will be best understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of the various embodiments or the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1A is a cut-away perspective view of an optical switch coupled to an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the optical switch of FIG. 1A coupled to an exemplary optical transceiver assembly, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 2A is a bottom perspective view of the example dual-connector optical transceiver assembly shown in fig. 1A and 1B, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a top perspective exploded view of parts of the example dual-connector optical transceiver of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of a handle and housing assembly of the example dual connector optical transceiver assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

fig. 3B is a front view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 3C is a bottom view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 3D is a side view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 3E is a top view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 3F is a bottom view of a housing relative to an electronic device housing, a mobile electrical connector, and an optical connector of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 4A is a bottom view of an example optical transceiver assembly attached to a receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 4B is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary optical transceiver attached to a receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 4C is a bottom view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly disengaged from a receptacle to allow removal of the optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 4D is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary optical transceiver disengaged from a receptacle to allow removal of the optical transceiver assembly in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 4E is a bottom view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly removed from an optical switch in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

FIG. 4F is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly removed from an optical switch in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 5A illustrates a top close-up view of the latching mechanism of two connectors of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly mated with an individual receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 5B is a close-up perspective view of the latching mechanism of an optical connector of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly mated with an individual receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 5C is a bottom perspective close-up view of an exemplary electrical connector latching mechanism of an optical transceiver assembly mated with an electrical receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 6A illustrates a top close-up view of the latching mechanism of two connectors of an exemplary optical transceiver assembly disengaged from an individual receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 6B is a top perspective close-up view of an exemplary optical transceiver latch mechanism in a mated position and a released position, in accordance with certain features of the present invention;

fig. 6C is a bottom perspective close-up view of the latching mechanism of the electrical connector of the exemplary optical transceiver, disengaged from the electrical receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention; and

fig. 6D is a bottom perspective close-up view of the latching mechanism of the electrical connector of the exemplary optical transceiver assembly, fully disengaged from the electrical receptacle, in accordance with certain features of the present invention.

[ notation ] to show

100 optical switch

110 casing

112 high-density organic substrate circuit board

114 switching logic controller

116 optical module

120 optical socket

122 electrical socket/signal port

124, jack

130 rear panel

132 optical network socket

150 optical transceiver assembly

210 casing

212 handle

214 electronic equipment case

216 four-channel small-package pluggable latch mechanism

218 four-channel small-package pluggable connector

220 multi-core optical fiber latch mechanism

222 multi-core optical fiber connector

224 cover plate

230,232 side wall

234 bottom plate

236 back plate

238 spring

240 grip part

242,244 opposite ends

246 narrow slot

248 crossbar Member

250 connecting member

252,254 end projections

256 guiding convex parts

260,262 guide projection

264 supporting arm

270,272: male member

310 stopping convex piece

400 circuit board

410 main body

412 connector

414,416 pin

432 open end portion

434 four-channel small-package pluggable socket

440,442 pins

510 first arm part

512 the second arm part

514 transverse part

516 rear barrier

520,522 close-up inset

530 hook member

532 inner shell

534,536 opposite side parts

538 recess

540 outer cover

542,544 parallel convex parts

550,552 close-up illustrations

560,562 opposite side parts

564 groove

566 stop end

568 central groove

570,572 hook Member

574 triangular extending convex part

600,602 close-up inset

604 inset

[ detailed description ] embodiments

Various embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like or equivalent elements throughout. The drawings are not to scale and are provided solely for illustrating features and characteristics of the present invention. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail for illustrative purposes. Various embodiments are not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Moreover, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement some features and characteristics of the present invention.

For the purposes of this embodiment, the singular includes the plural and vice versa unless explicitly stated otherwise. The term "including" means "including, but not limited to". Moreover, approximating language, such as "about" (about), and the like, may be used herein to mean, for example, "(at)," (near at), "(within 3-5% of," (within 3-5%) of, "within acceptable manufacturing tolerances," or any logical combination thereof. Moreover, directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "above," and "below" are intended to refer to equivalent directions as depicted in the referenced drawings; as understood from the context of reference objects or elements, e.g., from the common location of objects or elements; or other description as such.

The present invention is directed to an optical transceiver assembly having an optical connector and an electrical connector. The optical transceiver allows simultaneous connection of an optical connector to an optical signal receptacle and an electrical connector to an electrical signal receptacle. The optical transceiver allows the optical connector to be connected before the electrical signal connector is connected to ensure a proper connection sequence. The optical transceiver includes a handle that allows a user to engage and disengage the optical and electrical connectors from corresponding receptacles on an optical signal device, such as an optical switch. The optical connector and the electrical connector are movable relative to a housing of the optical transceiver assembly. Pulling the handle disengages the connector from the receptacle and then allows the chassis of the optical transceiver assembly to be pulled away.

Fig. 1A is a cut-away perspective view of an exemplary optical communication device, in this example an optical switch 100. The optical switch 100 includes a housing 110 that holds support components such as power supplies, fans, storage devices, and controllers. The optical switch 100 transmits (route) the optical signal transmitted and received from the optical fiber to an external networking device, such as a server. The optical switch 100 is an optical component based on a common package that manages the optical signals transmitted and received from the optical fibers. A controller, such as a processor, acts to switch signals between the optical fiber and the conventional electrical signal port. The optical switch 100 allows signals to be exchanged at high speed between different nodes, such as data centers, in a network environment.

The optical package includes a high density organic substrate circuit board 112, a switching logic controller 114, and an optical module 116. In this example, sixteen optical modules 116, in groups of four, are disposed on circuit board 112. In this example, the optical modules 116 are arranged around the switching logic controller 114. The switching logic controller 114 in this example is an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that includes switching logic for transferring signals between the optical modules 116 via the connection pins. Each optical module 116 has three fiber array ports on the side facing away from the logic controller 114. One of the fiber array ports transmits optical signals and the second fiber array port receives optical signals. The third fiber array port is optically connected to an external light source module to receive a continuous wave laser signal to drive the optical module 116. Each optical module 116 is optically coupled to a series of fiber array ports or optical receptacles 120. In this example, the optical receptacle is a multicore fiber receptacle, but other types of optical receptacles may be used. The optical switch 100 has a controller, such as a central processing unit, also coupled to standard electrical interface circuitry that is connected to the electrical signal port 122. In this example, the electrical signal ports 122 are quad small form-factor pluggable receptacles that each include a receptacle 124, the receptacles 124 allowing a quad small form-factor pluggable connector to be inserted. Other types of electrical signal connectors may be used.

Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the housing 110 of the optical switch 100 of fig. 1A, showing a back panel 130 holding the optical receptacle 120. The series of electrical receptacles 122 are interposed between the light receptacles 120 and are positioned on the top row of the back panel 130. Electrical signals from electrical receptacle 122 may be converted to optical signals for optical receptacle 120. Another series of optical network receptacles 132 are disposed below the row of optical receptacles 120 and electrical receptacles 122. The network jack 132 allows communication with a network node, such as a server, that is connected to the optical switch 100 by a fiber optic cable.

In this example, a high speed optical signal from one of the optical receptacles 120 may be converted to a low speed electrical signal for receipt by one of the electrical receptacles 122. Similarly, a low speed electrical signal transmitted by one of the electrical receptacles 122 may be converted to a high speed optical signal for receipt by one of the optical receptacles 120. To connect one of the optical receptacles 120 to an adjacent electrical receptacle 122, the example optical transceiver assembly 150 may be plugged to connect one of the optical receptacles 120 with one of the adjacent electrical receptacles 122. Fig. 1A-1B illustrate an example optical transceiver assembly 150 attached to the optical switch 100 on the back panel 130, and the optical transceiver assembly 150 removed from the optical switch 100.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the example dual optical transceiver assembly 150 of fig. 1A-1B. Fig. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the components of the exemplary transceiver assembly 150. Fig. 3A is a top perspective view of housing 210 and handle 212. Figure 3B is a front view of an example optical transceiver assembly 150. Figure 3C is a bottom view of the example optical transceiver assembly 150. Figure 3D is a side view of an example optical transceiver assembly 150. Figure 3E is a top view of an example optical transceiver assembly 150. Referring to fig. 2A through 2B and 3A through 3E, the optical transceiver assembly 150 is a two-in-one connector carrier for connecting an optical receptacle and an electrical receptacle. The example optical transceiver assembly 150 includes a housing 210, a handle 212, an electronics chassis 214, a quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216, a quad small form-factor pluggable connector 218, a multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220, and a multi-core fiber optic connector 222. The example optical transceiver assembly 150 has a two-in-one connector configuration including a quad small form-factor pluggable connector 218 for electrical signals and a multi-core fiber connector 222 for optical signals. The electronics chassis 214 contains circuitry to convert electrical signals from the quad small form factor pluggable connector 218 into optical signals for the multi-core fiber optic connector 222. The electronics enclosure 214 has a bottom panel and walls, enclosed by a cover 224. The bottom panel of the electronics chassis 214 has various slots that allow the registration features of the housing to attach to the four-lane small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220. The cover plate 224 may be attached to the electronics enclosure 214 by fastening means, such as screws. The housing 210 is attached to a quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and a multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 and moves relative to the electronics chassis 214. The handle 212 is connected to a quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and a multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 via the housing 210 to facilitate insertion of the optical transceiver assembly 150. The configuration of the optical transceiver assembly 150 allows the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122 and the multi-fiber receptacle 120 to be connected in sequence when the optical transceiver assembly 150 is attached to the optical switch 100, as shown in fig. 1A.

The housing 210 of the optical transceiver assembly 150 includes a sidewall 230 and a sidewall 232 joined by a bottom plate 234. The housing 210 is attached to the electronics chassis 214 to cover the electronics chassis 214. A back plate 236 is attached to the side of the electronics chassis 214 providing a stop for one end of two springs 238. The springs 238 are mounted in channels formed in the bottom panel of the electronics enclosure 214. The quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 are fixedly attached to the handle 212 via the housing 210. Thus, the latch mechanism 216 and the latch mechanism 220, the housing 210, and the handle 212 all move relative to the electronic device housing 214. The opposite end of the spring 238 contacts a boss extending from the bottom plate 234 of the housing 210.

The handle 212 includes a curved grip portion 240 having two opposing ends 242 and 244. The opposite end 242 and the opposite end 244 each include an outer slot 246. The grip portion 240 includes a crossbar member 248 connecting the end 242 and the end 244. A connecting member 250 extends from crossbar member 248 to connect handle 212 with a mating registration feature in housing 210. The connecting member 250 moves through the aperture in the back plate 236. The side walls 230 and 232 each have an end projection 252 and an end projection 254, respectively, that extend into the slots 246 of the ends 242 and 244 of the handle 212. The slot 246 of the handle 212 may be secured to the end tab 252 and the end tab 254 via rivets, screws, or other connectors.

The side walls 230 of the housing 210 include internal registration features that contact the electronic device chassis 214 to guide the housing 210 for movement relative to the electronic device chassis. The side walls 230 include guide tabs 256 at the end opposite the end tabs 252 to help maintain the housing 210 in position relative to the electronics chassis 214. The side walls 232 of the housing 210 include internal registration features that guide the movement of the housing 210 relative to the electronic device chassis. A guide projection 260 extends from the end of the side wall 232 opposite the end projection 254. The opposite guide protrusions 262 extend parallel to the guide protrusions 260. The base plate 234 includes a cut-out parallel to the side wall 232 that includes a downwardly extending support arm 264 that supports the guide projection 262. The guide tabs 260 and 262 include internal registration features that guide movement of the housing 210 relative to the portion of the electronic device chassis 214 that retains the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216.

The multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 is attached to the housing 210 and is movable relative to the electronic device housing 214 by moving the handle 212. The bottom plate 234 of the housing 210 has two upwardly extending projections 270 and 272. The projections 270 and 272 extend through slots in the bottom panel of the electronics enclosure 214 and mate with registration features of the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220. The quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 attaches to a registration feature of the housing 210 that is located inside the guide bosses 260 and 262, facing the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216. The quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 is thus movable relative to the electronic device housing 214 by moving the handle 212. As shown in fig. 3A, the bottom plate 234 includes two stop tabs 310 that extend through corresponding slots in the bottom panel of the electronic device housing 214. The stop lug 310 holds one end of the spring 238. Moving the housing 210 may thus cause the spring 238 to compress between the stop tab 310 and the back plate 236 of the electronic device housing 214.

As will be explained, the four-way small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 are movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the electronic device housing 214. Figure 3F illustrates positioning of the housing 210 between the extended and retracted positions of the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220.

The spring tension of the spring 238 in the unconstrained state generally maintains the quad small outline pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 in the extended position, as shown in the top of figure 3F. The pull handle 212 moves the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 to the retracted position while compressing the spring 238 against the boss 310. The male members 310 contact stop features of the bottom panel of the electronic device housing 214 in the fully retracted position, as shown below in fig. 3F.

Fig. 4A-4F are bottom and bottom perspective views illustrating a sequence for removing the optical transceiver assembly 150 from the optical switch 100 of fig. 1. Similar elements are labeled with the same reference numerals in fig. 4A through 4F as their counterparts in fig. 1 through 3. Fig. 4A-4B illustrate the optical transceiver assembly 150 fully inserted into the housing 110 of the optical switch 100. The optical switch 100 includes a circuit board 400 that holds one of the multifiber fiber receptacles 120 and one of the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacles 122. The multifiber receptacle 120 has a body 410 with optical interface electronics (optical interface electronics). The body 410 includes a mating connector 412 and two pins 414 and 416 that engage the multifiber locking mechanism 220 to maintain the multifiber in the multifiber connector 222 in optical communication with the mating connector 412 of the multifiber receptacle 120.

The quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122 includes a receptacle 124, the receptacle 124 having walls that guide a quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216. The receptacle 124 has an open end 432 to allow insertion of the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216. The opposing latching end of the receptacle 124 has a quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 434 that mates with the quad small form-factor pluggable connector 218 to allow electrical signal communication. The receptacle 124 has two prongs 440 and 442 near the open end 432 that mate with the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216.

When the optical transceiver assembly 150 is inserted into the housing 110, the handle 212 is pushed in relative to the electronics housing 214. The spring 238 between the rear plate 236 and the protruding member 310 of the electronic device housing 214 is in an unconstrained state. In the inserted position, the four-way small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 are in an extended position relative to the electronic device housing 214. The multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 thus mates with the two prongs 414 and 416, and the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 mates with the prongs 440 and 442.

The optical transceiver assembly 150 may be removed from the chassis 110 by pulling on the handle 212. The handle 212 moves the housing 210, and thus the attached quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220, to the retracted position and compresses the spring 238 between the boss 310 and the back plate 236. By retracting the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220, the multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220 disengages from the two prongs 414 and 416, and the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 disengages from the prongs 440 and 442.

Figures 4C through 4D illustrate the optical transceiver assembly 150 when a user pulls the handle 212 and housing 210 away from the back plate 236. Pulling the handle 212 causes the housing 210 to move the quad small outline pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 to a retracted position relative to the electronic device chassis 214. As the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 are attached to the handle 212 and the housing 210, they move toward the back plate 236. The male member 310 of the housing 210 compresses the spring 238 against the back plate 236.

Movement of the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 within the electronic device housing 214 to the retracted position disengages the prongs 440 and the prongs 442 and, thus, the quad small form-factor pluggable connector 218 disengages from the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122. At the same time, movement of the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220 within the electronic device housing 214 to the retracted position disengages the prongs 414 and the prongs 416, thereby disengaging the multi-fiber connector 222 from the multi-fiber receptacle 120.

Once the four-way small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multifiber latch mechanism 220 are disengaged from the four-way small form factor pluggable receptacle 122 and the multifiber receptacle 120, the pulling force from the handle 212 causes the four-way small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multifiber latch mechanism 220 to fully retract and remove the electronic device chassis 214 from the receptacle 120 and the receptacle 122. The optical transceiver assembly 150 may thus be completely removed as shown in fig. 4E-4F. When the optical transceiver assembly 150 is completely removed, the handle 212 and housing 210 are no longer pulled away from the electronics chassis 214. The spring 238 thus returns to the unconstrained state and the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220 return to the extended position in the electronic device chassis 214.

Reinserting the optical transceiver assembly 150 involves grasping the handle 212 and pushing the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 into the corresponding quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122 and multicore fiber receptacle 120. The optical transceiver assembly 150 may be pushed forward toward the housing 110. The distance between the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 in its extended and retracted positions is shorter than the distance between the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 in its extended and retracted positions. The multi-fiber connector 222 is flexible and therefore can be compressed after the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220 is mated with the multi-fiber receptacle 120. The length of the extension and retraction strokes of the multi-fiber connector 222 matches the sliding distance of the gold finger connection in the quad small form-factor pluggable connector 218. Thus, pins 414 and 416 first engage multicore fiber latch mechanism 220. The multi-fiber connector 222 is compressed as the optical transceiver assembly 150 moves forward until the prongs 440 and 442 engage the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216, as shown in fig. 4A-4B. In this manner, optical connections are made first through the multifiber receptacle 120, and then electrical signal connections are made through the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122. This ensures that the design of the optical transceiver assembly 150 enables the connection sequence of first making an optical connection and then making an electrical connection to be followed automatically and correctly.

Fig. 5A-5B are top and top perspective views of the example optical transceiver assembly 150 showing the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 220 and the multicore fiber latch mechanism 216 mated into the corresponding quad small package pluggable receptacle 122 and multicore fiber receptacle 120. Figure 5C is a bottom close-up perspective view of the quad small-package pluggable latch mechanism 216 that mates with the quad small-package pluggable receptacle 122. Similar elements are labeled with the same reference numerals in fig. 5A through 5C as their counterparts in fig. 1 through 2. As shown in fig. 5A-5B, the electronic device housing 214 includes a first arm 510 having an internal registration feature that retains the multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220, and a second arm 512 having an internal registration feature that retains the four-lane, small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216. A transverse portion 514 engages the arm portion 510 and the arm portion 512 and holds electronics (not shown) that convert electrical signals to optical signals. The parallel inner walls of the first arm portion 510 allow the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Movement of the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220 away from the extended position is limited by a back barrier (backstop)516 shown in FIG. 5B. A portion of the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 extends outward from the second arm 512 to mate with a mating quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle, such as the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122. The parallel inner walls of the second arm 512 provide guidance for movement of the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 between the extended position and the retracted position. The stop tab 310 of the housing 210 contacts a corresponding stop formed on the bottom panel of the electronic device chassis 214, as shown in figure 3A, stopping the housing 210 and the attached quad small form factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 and multi-core fiber latch mechanism 220 as they approach the backplane 236.

As shown in close-up inset 520 in fig. 5A and close-up inset 522 in fig. 5B, the multifiber receptacle 120 includes two pins 414 and 416, each of which has an end defined by a hook-shaped member 530. The multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 includes an inner housing 532 having two opposing sides 534 and 536. Side 534 and side 536 each have a recess 538 into which hook member 530 of respective pin 414 and pin 416 fits. When the multifiber latch mechanism 220 is fully pushed into the multifiber receptacle 120, the prongs 414 and the hook members 530 of the prongs 416 mate with the notches 538 on the side portions 534 and 536 of the inner housing 532. The outer housing 540 of the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 encases the inner housing 532. The housing 540 includes parallel projections 542 and 544 extending from one end of the housing 540. The parallel projection 542 and the parallel projection 544 are positioned over the pins 414 and 416 of the multifiber receptacle when the multifiber latch mechanism 220 is in the extended position. In the extended position, the tabs 542 and 544 retain the hook member 530 in the recess 538.

Similarly, as shown in the close-up inset 550 of figure 5A and the close-up inset 552 of figure 5B, the receptacle 124 of the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122 includes two prongs 440 and 442 that are cut away from respective sides of the receptacle 124. Both prongs 440 and prongs 442 may thus bend inward from the sides of the receptacle 124. As shown in fig. 5C, the arm portion 512 includes two opposing side portions 560 and 562 that retain the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216. The quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 moves between an extended position and a retracted position between the inner surfaces of the opposing sides 560 and 562. The outer surfaces of opposing sides 560 and 562 include grooves 564 defining stop ends 566. A central recess 568 is formed in the recess 564. The guide tabs 260 and 262 of the housing 210 include respective hook members 570 and 572 that fit within the slot created between the inside surface of the receptacle 124 and the groove 564. The lateral movement of the hook member 570 and hook member 572 stops against the stop end 566. The ends of the hook member 570 and hook member 572 include triangular extending tabs 574 that abut the stop end 566. Hook members 570 and hook members 572 each have an elongated body including portions that fit within grooves 564 and central groove 568. Because of the grooves 564 and 568, the hook members 570 and 572 fit under the respective prongs 440 or 442 to allow the prongs 440 and 442 to flex inward and engage the extending tabs 574 of the respective hook members 570 and 572. Thus, when the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 is fully pushed into the quad small package pluggable receptacle 122, the hook members 570 and 572 are held in place by the prongs 440 and 442 bending inward and contacting the respective extending tabs 574.

When the handle 212 of the optical transceiver assembly 150 is pulled, the locking mechanism is unlocked between the sockets 120 and 122 and the latching mechanisms 216 and 220, as shown in fig. 6A-6B. Similar elements are labeled with the same reference numerals in fig. 6A through 6B as their counterparts in fig. 1 through 2. As shown in the close-up inset 600 in FIG. 6A and the close-up inset 602 in FIG. 6B, pulling on the handle 212 in FIG. 5A causes the multifiber fiber latch mechanism 220 to be pulled away from the multifiber fiber receptacle 120 and the electronic device chassis 214. This causes the projections 542 and 544 of the housing 540 of the multifiber latch mechanism 220 to be pulled away from the pins 414 and 416 of the multifiber receptacle 120. Once the tabs 542 and 544 are completely pulled away from the prongs 414 and 416, as shown in inset 604, the prongs 414 and 416 may flex outwardly, thereby allowing the hook-shaped member 530 to move out of the recess 538. As the multifiber latch mechanism 220 is pulled out, the angled sides of the recess 538 force the prongs 414 and the hook members 530 of the prongs 416 out of the recess 538. In this manner, the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 may be detached from the multicore fiber receptacle 120. As the handle 212 continues to be pulled, the multicore fiber latch mechanism 220 is pulled to the backstop 516. Once the multifiber latch mechanism 220 contacts the backstop 516, the electronics chassis 214 is also pulled along with the handle 212, allowing the complete optical transceiver assembly 150 to be pulled away.

Similarly, fig. 6C and 6D show close-up perspective views of the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 disengaging from the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122. As described above, the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 is pulled back to a retracted position relative to the electronic device housing 214 via the handle 212, as shown in fig. 5A. When the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 is pulled back, the hook members 570 and 572 of the respective male members 260 and 262 of the housing 210 are pulled away from the stop ends 566 of the respective notches 564 on the side portions 560 and 562 of the arm 512 of the electronic device chassis 214, as shown in fig. 6C. As the hook members 570 and 572 are pulled further back, the extending tabs 574 are pulled back and push the prongs 440 and prongs 442 of the sides of the receptacle 124 of the quad small form factor pluggable receptacle 122 to flex outwardly, thus releasing the hook members 570 and 572 of the tabs 260 and 262 of the housing 210, as shown in fig. 6D. Because the male member 574 is no longer secured between the retention end 566 and the prongs 440 and 442, the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 may move freely. The quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 may thus disengage from the quad small form-factor pluggable receptacle 122, and both the arm 512 and the quad small form-factor pluggable latch mechanism 216 may fully disengage.

Because the arms 510 and 512 of the electronics chassis 214 secure the quad small package pluggable latch mechanism 216 and the multi-fiber latch mechanism 220 in a position relative to each other, the optical transceiver assembly 150 allows for connection to optical and electrical outlets without the use of cables. The example optical transceiver described herein includes a multi-fiber optical connector and a quad small form-factor pluggable electrical connector. However, other types of optical connectors, such as External Laser Small Form Factor (ELSFP) connectors, may be incorporated into the example optical transceiver. Additionally, other types of electrical connectors, such as eight-channel small form-factor pluggable (QSFP-DD) and small form-factor pluggable (SFP) connectors, may be incorporated into the example optical transceiver.

Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous variations may be made in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the present invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (10)

1. An optical transceiver, comprising:

an electrical connector;

an optical connector; and

an electronic equipment housing holding the electrical connector and the optical connector in a relative position to each other, the electronic equipment housing allowing simultaneous connection of a respective electrical socket and an optical socket, wherein the electronic equipment housing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the electronic equipment housing when the electrical connector and the optical connector are engaged with or disengaged from the respective electrical socket and optical socket.

2. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a quad small form-factor pluggable connector.

3. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein the optical connector is a multi-fiber connector.

4. The optical transceiver of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the electrical connector and the optical connector.

5. The optical transceiver of claim 1, further comprising a housing connecting the electrical connector and the optical connector, wherein the housing is movable relative to the electronics chassis.

6. The optical transceiver of claim 5, further comprising:

a back plate connected to the electronic device case;

a first spring having one end positioned on the back plate and an opposite end abutting a first male member of the housing, wherein disengagement of the optical connector from the optical receptacle compresses the first spring; and

a second spring having one end located on the back plate and an opposite end abutting a second male member of the housing, wherein disengagement of the electrical connector from the electrical receptacle causes compression of the second spring.

7. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein a distance between the extended position and the retracted position of the optical connector is shorter than a distance between the extended position and the retracted position of the electrical connector, wherein the optical connector is mated with the optical receptacle before the electrical connector is mated with the electrical receptacle.

8. The optical transceiver of claim 1, wherein the electronics housing includes a first arm and a parallel second arm, the first arm holding the optical connector and the second arm holding the electrical connector.

9. An optical switch, comprising:

an optical socket for carrying optical signals;

an electrical receptacle carrying electrical signals, the optical receptacle and the electrical receptacle being configured to receive data from each other;

an attachable optical transceiver coupling the electrical receptacle with the optical receptacle, the optical transceiver comprising:

an electrical connector;

an optical connector; and

an electronic equipment housing holding the electrical connector and the optical connector in relative positions to each other, the electronic equipment housing allowing simultaneous connection of a respective electrical socket and an optical socket, wherein the electronic equipment housing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the electronic equipment housing when the electrical connector and the optical connector are engaged with or disengaged from the respective electrical socket and optical socket.

10. An optical transceiver for connecting an optical receptacle to an electrical receptacle, the optical transceiver comprising:

an electronic device housing having a first arm and a parallel second arm;

an optical connector;

an optical connector latch mechanism housed in the first arm portion and attached to the optical connector, the optical connector latch mechanism being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

an electrical connector;

an electrical connector latching mechanism housed in the second arm and attached to the electrical connector, the electrical connector latching mechanism being movable between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a handle connected to the optical connector latch mechanism and the electrical connector latch mechanism.

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