TW201628279A - Small form factor pluggable connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a small form factor pluggable connector. A locking and unlocking mechanism of the connector includes a rotating member rotatably mounted on a cover, a fastening rod pivoting the rotating member on the cover, a spring member providing an elastic force for locking and unlocking, an actuator slidably mounted on the cover, and an U-shape connect member. The spring member is located under a latching arm of the rotating member. When the latching arm is forced to rotate downward under an external force, the spring member is compressed. When the external force is removed, the spring member can be restored to its original state and push the latching arm upward. The small form factor pluggable connector of the present invention is easy to be operated and can efficiently realize the locking and unlocking functions.

Description

Small pluggable connector

The present invention relates to a plug connector, and more particularly to a small form factor pluggable connector having a latch and unlock mechanism.

Currently, Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) connectors are used for common high-speed direct-connect cables and high-speed fiber optic cables. Generally, a locking mechanism is disposed on the SFP connector. When the SFP connector is docked with a socket connector, the SFP connector needs to first protrude into a mask member, and the SFP connector is utilized by the locking mechanism. It is fixed into the mask to ensure its docking safety with the socket connector. When the connection needs to be disconnected, the SFP connector has to be separated from the mask by an unlocking mechanism for quick withdrawal.

However, as connectors become smaller and smaller, the density of the socket connectors in the electronic device is gradually increasing, and the mechanism for fixing or separating the SFP connector from the mask member becomes increasingly complicated, and its operation is also complicated. It has become more difficult.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new small pluggable connector that simplifies its latching and unlocking mechanism to further simplify its unlocking operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a small form factor pluggable connector that can be effectively latched or unlocked, and that the latching and unlocking mechanism operates in an extremely convenient and fast manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be derived from the technical features disclosed herein. Learn more about it.

In accordance with the above objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a small form factor pluggable connector comprising a base, an outer cover mounted to the base, and a latch and unlocking mechanism mounted to the outer cover. The top surface of the outer cover is formed with a recess and a fixed passage located behind the recess, and an elongated hole penetrating through the left and right surfaces of the outer cover is formed on both sides of the fixed passage. The locking and unlocking mechanism comprises: a rotating member, a fixing rod, an elastic member, an actuating member, and a U-shaped connecting member. The rotating member is rotatably mounted on the outer cover, the rotating member has a main body receivable in the fixing passage, a shaft hole formed on the main body and penetrating through the left and right surfaces of the main body, and a shaft hole located in the shaft hole a latching arm extending forwardly from the front surface of the main body and extending into the recess, a hook disposed on a top surface of the latching arm and protruding from the recess, and a hook An inner recess formed at the rear of the shaft hole and formed on the bottom surface of the body. The fixing rod is inserted into the through hole of the outer cover and the shaft hole of the rotating member, and the rotating member is pivotally connected to the outer cover. The elastic member is used to provide elastic force for the buckle and the unlocking. The elastic member is assembled in the recess of the outer cover and is located below the holding arm of the rotating member. When the holding arm is subjected to an external force, it is forced to rotate downward. At this time, the elastic member is compressed, and when the external force is released, the elastic member is restored to its original shape and the holding arm is lifted up. The actuating member is slidably assembled to the outer cover, the actuating member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is assembled in the fixed passage and inserted into the rotating member The main body is spaced from the bottom surface of the fixed passage; the second end portion extends rearward from the first end portion for the user to pull backward to drive the first end portion to slide backward. The U-shaped connector is configured to connect the actuating member and the rotating member, the U-shaped connecting member has two free sides, wherein a free edge is rotatably fixed to the first end of the actuating member, and The other free edge abuts against the inner recess of the rotating member.

In one embodiment, one of the bottom surfaces of the fixed passage of the outer cover is disposed a notch is formed at a rear end of the main body of the rotating member, and a notch engages with the protrusion in the fixing passage; a first end portion of the actuating member is formed with a protrusion corresponding to the outer cover An opening, and the length dimension of the opening is greater than a length dimension of the bump.

In one embodiment, the top cover of the outer cover has a first surface adjacent the front end and a second surface adjacent the rear end, the second surface being higher than the first surface, the first surface and the second surface Forming a shoulder between the surface; the recess is formed on the first surface at a position close to the shoulder; the fixing passage is formed on the second surface of the outer cover and penetrates the shoulder and the rear surface of the outer cover The bottom surface of the recess extends obliquely toward the upper rear to the bottom surface of the fixed passage; the elongated perforation is adjacent to the shoulder, and the elongated perforation is cut into two segments by the fixed passage; an elastic is formed on the bottom surface of the recess The housing accommodates the cavity.

In one embodiment, a boss is formed on a bottom surface of the latching arm of the rotating member; a side wall of the inner recess of the rotating member is inclined, and a side wall of the inner recess is vertical.

In one embodiment, the elastic member is a cylindrical spring, and the top end of the cylindrical spring is sleeved on the boss of the latching arm, and the bottom end of the cylindrical spring is received in the elastic member receiving cavity. .

In one embodiment, a convex hull is further formed on the top surface of the first end portion, and the convex hull is received in the inner concave portion of the rotating member; a fixing hole is formed in the convex hull.

In one embodiment, one of the free edges of the U-shaped connector is rotatably secured in the fixing hole of the actuator, and the other free edge abuts against the recess of the rotating member. On the side wall.

In one embodiment, the U-shaped connector is a U-shaped ring.

In one embodiment, the top surface of the main body of the rotating member is flat, and the bottom surface thereof is stepped; when the rotating member is mounted on the outer cover, the top surface of the main body and the outer cover The two surfaces are flush.

In one embodiment, the small form-factor pluggable connector further includes a grounding shell surrounding and fixed to the periphery of the base and the outer cover and adjacent to the shoulder; the rear end of the grounding shell An elastic sheet is formed having a plurality of outwardly bent and extending toward the shoulder.

Compared with the prior art, the small-sized pluggable connector of the present invention has a locking and unlocking mechanism, which is easy to operate and can effectively perform the functions of locking and unlocking.

1‧‧‧Small pluggable connector

10‧‧‧ Pedestal

20‧‧‧ Cover

21‧‧‧ first surface

22‧‧‧ second surface

23‧‧‧ Shoulder

24‧‧‧ dent

240‧‧‧Flexible housing

25‧‧‧Fixed channels

250‧‧‧Bumps

251‧‧‧Perforation

30‧‧‧ Grounding shell

31‧‧‧Elastic film

40‧‧‧Lock and unlock mechanism

41‧‧‧Rotating parts

410‧‧‧ Subject

411‧‧‧Axis hole

412‧‧‧Bucking arm

413‧‧‧ hook

414‧‧‧ Inside recess

4140‧‧‧ front side wall

4142‧‧‧back side wall

415‧‧‧ top surface

416‧‧‧ bottom

417‧‧ ‧ gap

418‧‧‧Boss

42‧‧‧Fixed rod

43‧‧‧Flexible parts

430‧‧‧Top

431‧‧‧ bottom

44‧‧‧Acoustic

440‧‧‧ first end

441‧‧‧second end

442‧‧‧ openings

443‧‧‧ convex hull

444‧‧‧Fixed holes

45‧‧‧U-connector

450‧‧‧First free side

451‧‧‧Second free side

9‧‧‧Mask pieces

90‧‧‧ buttonhole

901‧‧‧ inner edge

1 is a schematic perspective view of a small form factor pluggable connector of the present invention.

2 is a schematic view showing the disassembly and unlocking mechanism and the outer cover and the base of the small pluggable connector of the present invention.

3 is a schematic view showing the structure of each part of the lock and unlock mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a schematic structural view of the combination of the buckle and the unlocking mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional structural view showing the structural positional relationship between the latch and the unlocking mechanism of the small form factor pluggable connector of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional structure of a mask member for receiving the small form factor pluggable connector of the present invention.

The following description of the embodiments is provided to illustrate the specific embodiments of the invention. The directional terms mentioned in the present invention, such as "upper", "lower", "before", "after", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", etc., are only referred to as additional figures. Direction, for example, According to the product structure direction of Figure 1. Therefore, the directional language used is for the purpose of illustration and understanding of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the small form factor pluggable connector 1 of the present invention mainly includes a base 10 , an outer cover 20 mounted on the base 10 , a surrounding and fixed to the base 10 and the same A grounding shell 30 around the outer cover 20 and a latch and unlocking mechanism 40 mounted on the outer cover 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer cover 20 has a first surface 21 near its front end and a second surface 22 near its rear end, wherein the second surface 22 is higher than the first surface 21, so at the first A shoulder 23 is formed between the surface 21 and the second surface 22. In this embodiment, the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are the top surfaces of the outer cover 20, and the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 divide the small pluggable connector 1 into two. Front and rear. Basically, the front portion of the first surface 21 is inserted into a mask member 9 as shown in FIG. 6 to interface with a socket connector (not shown), and the rear portion of the second surface 22 is exposed. Outside the mask member 9. The grounding shell 30 is wrapped around the front portion of the small form factor pluggable connector 1 and adjacent to the shoulder portion 23. The rear end of the grounding shell 30 is formed with a plurality of elastic pieces 31 which are bent outward and extend toward the shoulders 23, and are located on the grounding shell 30 when the small-sized pluggable connector 1 is inserted into the masking member 9. The elastic pieces 31 will be in elastic contact with the inner wall surface of the mask member 9 to ensure that the two form a complete ground path.

As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially rectangular recess 24 is formed at a position on the first surface 21 of the outer cover 20 adjacent to the shoulder 23 for receiving a portion of the latch and unlocking mechanism 40; The second surface 22 of the outer cover 20 defines a fixed passage 25 extending through the shoulder portion 23 and the rear surface of the outer cover 20. The fixed passage 25 and the recess 24 are located along the length of the outer cover 20. a center line, and the fixed channel 25 is coupled to the recess 24, the solid The fixed passage 25 is for receiving the lock and another portion of the unlocking mechanism 40. In detail, an elastic member accommodating cavity 240 (see FIG. 5) is further formed on the bottom surface of the recess 24, and the bottom surface of the recess 24 extends obliquely toward the rear upper side to the bottom surface of the fixed passage 25. A bump 250 is disposed at a central position of the rear end of the bottom surface of the fixed passage 25. In the embodiment, the recess 24 and the fixing channel 25 are both formed on the top surface of the outer cover 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an elongated through hole 251 penetrating the left and right surfaces of the outer cover 20 is formed on both sides of the fixed passage 25, the elongated through hole 251 is adjacent to the position of the shoulder portion 23, and the elongated through hole 251 is fixed by the fixing. Channel 25 is cut into two segments.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the lock and unlock mechanism 40 includes a rotating member 41, a fixing rod 42, an elastic member 43, an actuating member 44, and a U-shaped connecting member 45.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 41 is rotatably mounted on the outer cover 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The rotating member 41 has a main body 410, and is formed on the main body 410 and extends through the main body 410. a shaft hole 411 of the surface, a latching arm 412 located in front of the shaft hole 411 and protruding forward from the front surface of the main body 410, a hook 413 disposed on the top surface of the latching arm 412, and a The inner hole 414 is formed on the bottom surface 416 of the main body 410 behind the shaft hole 411. In this embodiment, the top surface 415 (shown in FIG. 2) of the main body 410 is flat, and the bottom surface 416 is stepped or uneven; a central portion of the rear end of the main body 410 is formed with a notch 417 on the bottom surface of the fixed channel 25 is engaged with the notch 417; a bottom surface of the latching arm 412 is formed with a boss 418; the front side wall 4140 of the inner recess portion 414 is inclined, and the rear side wall 4142 of the inner recess portion 414 is It is upright.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, when the rotating member 41 is mounted on the outer cover 20, the main body 410 is received in the fixed passage 25 of the outer cover 20, and the main body 410 is The top surface 415 is flush with the second surface 22 of the outer cover 20, and the shaft hole 411 is also aligned with the through hole 251 of the outer cover 20; the holding arm 412 and the boss 418 extend into the outer cover 20 In the recess 24, the hook 413 above the latching arm 412 is located outside the recess 24 and protrudes from the first surface 21 of the outer cover 20; the notch 417 at the rear end of the main body 410 is just opposite to the fixed passage The bumps 250 on the bottom surface of the 25 mesh.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the fixing rod 42 can be inserted into the through hole 251 of the outer cover 20 and the shaft hole 411 of the rotating member 41 , so that the rotating member 41 is pivotally connected to the outer cover 20 . .

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the elastic member 43 is located in the recess 24 of the outer cover 20 and is located below the latching arm 412 of the rotating member 41 for providing elastic force for the latch and the unlocking. . Specifically, the elastic member 43 is placed in the elastic member accommodating chamber 240 (shown in FIG. 5) of the outer cover 20. When the holding arm 412 is forced to rotate downward by an external force, the elastic member 43 is compressed, and when the external force is released, the elastic member 43 is restored to the original state and the holding arm 412 is lifted up. In detail, generally, the elastic member 43 is in a free state, and the hook 413 on the holding arm 412 protrudes from the first surface 21 of the outer cover 20 (as shown in FIG. 1). When the small pluggable connector 1 enters the mask member 9 (shown in FIG. 6), the hook 413 is pressed down by the inner wall surface of the mask member 9, but due to the latching arm 412 The elastic member 43 is placed underneath, so that the buckle 413 can be downwardly displaced by the pressing arm 412 pressing the elastic member 43 to smoothly enter the mask member 9 when the small pluggable connector 1 is After fully entering the mask member 9, the hook 413 can automatically rebound into a buttonhole 90 on the mask member 9, thereby fixing the small pluggable connector 1 to the mask member 9. , preventing it from coming off the mask member 9.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the elastic member 43 is a cylindrical spring, and the elastic member 43 is a cylindrical spring. The top end 430 of the cylindrical spring is placed on the boss 418 of the latching arm 412, and the bottom end 431 of the cylindrical spring is received in the elastic member receiving cavity 240 (shown in FIG. 5) of the outer cover 20. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the actuator 44 is slidably assembled to the outer cover 20, and includes a first end 440 and a second end 441, wherein the first end 440 is assembled The fixing passage 25 of the outer cover 20 is inserted between the main body 410 of the rotating member 41 and the bottom surface of the fixing passage 25; the second end portion 441 extends rearward from the first end portion 440 and forms a longer length. The pull strap is for the user to pull the first end 440 backward when unlocking. In this embodiment, an opening 442 is formed on the first end portion 440 to match the protrusion 250, and the length dimension of the opening 442 is larger than the length dimension of the protrusion 250, and the width dimension of the two is substantially the same. When the actuating member 44 is assembled to the outer cover 20, the projection 250 located on the outer cover 20 can fit into the opening 442 of the actuating member 44, and the actuating member 44 can also be accommodated in the opening 442. Move back and forth within the distance. In addition, a convex slat 443 is formed on the top surface of the first end portion 440. The front surface of the convex hull 443 is the same as the front side wall 4140 of the inner concave portion 414 of the rotating member 41. Therefore, the convex hull 443 can be accommodated. In the inner recess 414 of the rotating member 41. Further, a fixing hole 444 is formed in the convex hull 443 (reference numeral 444 is shown in Fig. 3).

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 together, the U-shaped connecting member 45 is used to connect the actuating member 44 and the rotating member 41. The U-shaped connecting member 45 has two substantially parallel free edges 450 and 451. The first free edge 450 is inserted and rotatably fixed in the fixing hole 444 of the actuating member 44, and the second free edge 451 of the U-shaped connecting member 45 abuts against the inner recess 414 of the rotating member 41. After the side wall 4142. In the present embodiment, the U-shaped connector 45 is a U-shaped ring.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 at the same time. In actual use, the small pluggable connector 1 is inserted into the mask member 9 with the top surface facing downward, and the hook 413 enters the mask member 9. of The inside of a buttonhole 90 is blocked by the inner edge 901 of the buttonhole 90, thereby preventing the small pluggable connector 1 from being detached from the mask member 9. When the unlocking is required, the second end 441 of the actuating member 44 can be pulled back (see FIG. 2), thereby driving the first end 440 to move rearward with the first free edge 450 of the U-shaped connecting member 45. Since the second free edge 451 of the U-shaped connector 45 is blocked by the rear sidewall 4142 of the inner recess 414 and cannot be translated backward, the second free edge 451 can only rotate upward with the first free edge 450 as a rotating shaft, thereby A portion of the rotating member 41 located behind the shaft hole 411 is upwardly raised; and a portion of the rotating member 41 located in front of the shaft hole 411 (for example, the holding arm 412) will be downward with the fixing rod 42 as a rotating shaft Turn. At this time, the holding arm 412 presses the elastic member 43 downward, so that the hook 413 is caught in the recess 24 of the outer cover 20 and is withdrawn from the button hole 90 of the mask member 9, thereby the small pluggable The connector 1 can be pulled out of the mask member 9. After the small pluggable connector 1 is pulled out, the latch and unlocking mechanism 40 will return to the initial state again under the action of the elastic member 43.

1‧‧‧Small pluggable connector

10‧‧‧ Pedestal

20‧‧‧ Cover

21‧‧‧ first surface

22‧‧‧ second surface

23‧‧‧ Shoulder

24‧‧‧ dent

25‧‧‧Fixed channels

250‧‧‧Bumps

251‧‧‧Perforation

30‧‧‧ Grounding shell

31‧‧‧Elastic film

40‧‧‧Lock and unlock mechanism

41‧‧‧Rotating parts

412‧‧‧Bucking arm

415‧‧‧ top surface

42‧‧‧Fixed rod

43‧‧‧Flexible parts

44‧‧‧Acoustic

440‧‧‧ first end

441‧‧‧second end

442‧‧‧ openings

443‧‧‧ convex hull

45‧‧‧U-connector

451‧‧‧Second free side

Claims (10)

A small pluggable connector includes a base, an outer cover mounted on the base, and a latch and unlocking mechanism mounted on the outer cover, wherein a top surface of the outer cover is formed with a recess and a fixed passage located behind the recess, an elongated hole penetrating through the left and right surfaces of the outer cover is formed on both sides of the fixed passage; and the lock and unlocking mechanism comprises: a rotating member, a fixing rod, an elastic member, An actuating member, and a U-shaped connecting member; wherein the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the outer cover, the rotating member has a body receivable in the fixed passage, a body formed on the body and penetrating the body a shaft hole on the left and right surfaces, a latching arm located in front of the shaft hole and projecting forwardly from the front surface of the body and extending into the recess, disposed on the top surface of the latching arm and from the recess a protruding hook protrudingly, and an inner concave portion formed on the bottom surface of the main body behind the shaft hole; the fixing rod is inserted into the through hole of the outer cover and the shaft hole of the rotating member, and the rotating member is Pivoted on the outer cover; the elasticity The piece is used to provide an elastic force for the buckle and the unlocking. The elastic member is assembled in the recess of the outer cover and is located below the holding arm of the rotating member. When the holding arm is forced to rotate downward by an external force, The elastic member is compressed, and when the external force is released, the elastic member is restored to the original shape and the holding arm is lifted up; the actuating member is slidably assembled on the outer cover, the actuating member The first end portion and the second end portion are assembled, wherein the first end portion is assembled in the fixed passage and inserted between the main body of the rotating member and the bottom surface of the fixed passage; the second end portion is from the The first end portion extends rearward for the user to pull back to drive the first end portion to slide backward; and The U-shaped connector is configured to connect the actuating member and the rotating member, the U-shaped connecting member has two free sides, wherein a free edge is rotatably fixed to the first end of the actuating member, and The other free edge abuts against the inner recess of the rotating member. The small pluggable connector of claim 1, wherein a bump is disposed on a bottom surface of the fixed passage of the outer cover; and a rear end of the main body of the rotating member is formed with the fixed passage a notch engaged by the protrusion; an opening corresponding to the protrusion of the outer cover is formed on the first end of the actuating member, and the length of the opening is larger than the length of the protrusion. The small pluggable connector of claim 1, wherein the top cover of the outer cover has a first surface adjacent to the front end and a second surface adjacent to the rear end, the second surface being higher than the first surface a surface, a shoulder is formed between the first surface and the second surface; the recess is formed on the first surface at a position close to the shoulder; the fixed passage is formed on the second surface of the outer cover And extending through the shoulder and the rear surface of the outer cover; the bottom surface of the recess extends obliquely toward the upper rear to the bottom surface of the fixed passage; the elongated perforation is adjacent to the position of the shoulder, and the elongated perforation is cut into two by the fixed passage a segment; an elastic member receiving cavity is formed on a bottom surface of the recess. The small-sized pluggable connector of claim 3, wherein a boss is formed on a bottom surface of the latching arm of the rotating member; a side wall of the inner recess of the bottom surface of the rotating member is inclined, and the inner side is inclined The side wall behind the recess is vertical. The small-sized pluggable connector of claim 4, wherein the elastic member is a cylindrical spring, the top end of the cylindrical spring is sleeved on the boss of the fastening arm, and the bottom end of the cylindrical spring Then it is placed in the elastic member receiving cavity. The small-sized pluggable connector of claim 4, wherein a convex hull is formed on a top surface of the first end portion, and the convex hull is received in the inner concave portion of the rotating member; A fixing hole is formed in the bag. The small-sized pluggable connector of claim 6, wherein one of the free edges of the U-shaped connector is rotatably fixed in the fixing hole of the actuating member, and the other free edge Then it abuts against the rear wall of the inner recess of the rotating member. The small form factor pluggable connector of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped connector is a U-shaped ring. The small-sized pluggable connector of claim 3, wherein the top surface of the main body of the rotating member is flat, and the bottom surface thereof is stepped; when the rotating member is mounted on the outer cover, The top surface of the body is flush with the second surface of the outer cover. The small form factor pluggable connector of claim 3, wherein the small form factor pluggable connector further comprises a grounding shell surrounding and fixed to the base and the periphery of the outer cover, and adjacent to the At the position of the shoulder; the rear end of the grounding shell is formed with a plurality of elastic pieces that are bent outward and extend toward the shoulder.