U.S. patent application number 17/080111 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-25 for plug connector for transceiver module, receptacle assembly for transceiver module, and transceiver module assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Toshiyasu ITO, Yosuke TAKAI.
Application Number | 20210055488 17/080111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005197525 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210055488 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAKAI; Yosuke ; et
al. |
February 25, 2021 |
PLUG CONNECTOR FOR TRANSCEIVER MODULE, RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY FOR
TRANSCEIVER MODULE, AND TRANSCEIVER MODULE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
In a transceiver module, when one end portion of a module board
(18) is inserted and connected to a concave portion (16R) of a plug
connector (16), a projection portion (16PP) formed on the periphery
of the concave portion (16R) of the plug connector (16) is fitted
into a notch portion (18PH) as one end surface of the module board
(18) comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface that forms
the concave portion (16R).
Inventors: |
TAKAI; Yosuke; (Sakura-shi,
JP) ; ITO; Toshiyasu; (Togane-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005197525 |
Appl. No.: |
17/080111 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15580595 |
Feb 21, 2018 |
10859777 |
|
|
PCT/JP2016/067147 |
Jun 8, 2016 |
|
|
|
17080111 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/4245 20130101;
G02B 6/428 20130101; H01R 12/7005 20130101; G02B 6/4284 20130101;
G02B 6/42 20130101; H01R 13/6594 20130101; H01R 12/714 20130101;
H01R 13/6582 20130101; H01R 12/727 20130101; H01R 12/724
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/42 20060101
G02B006/42; H01R 12/72 20060101 H01R012/72; H01R 12/70 20060101
H01R012/70; H01R 12/71 20060101 H01R012/71 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2015 |
JP |
2015-116681 |
Nov 13, 2015 |
JP |
2015-223501 |
Claims
1. A receptacle assembly for transceiver module comprising: a
connector connected to a transceiver module; and a receptacle cage
including a module accommodating portion including a module slot
provided at one end and configured to allow passage of the
transceiver module, the module accommodating portion being
configured to attachably and detachably accommodate the transceiver
module, a connector accommodating portion communicating with the
module accommodating portion and being configured to accommodate
the connector, and a stopper piece provided at the module
accommodating portion and configured to guide the transceiver
module in a first attitude being inserted into the module
accommodating portion, and when the transceiver module in a second
attitude inverted from the first attitude is inserted into the
module accommodating portion, to restrict an insertion operation of
the transceiver module.
2. A receptacle assembly for transceiver module comprising: a
connector connected to a transceiver module; and a receptacle cage
including a module accommodating portion having a module slot
provided at one end and configured to allow passage of the
transceiver module, the module accommodating portion being
configured to attachably and detachably accommodate the transceiver
module, and a connector accommodating portion communicating with
the module accommodating portion and being configured to
accommodate the connector.
3. The receptacle assembly for transceiver module according to
claim 2, wherein the receptacle cage has a pair of projection
portions located at positions adjacent to a lock piece to be
selectively engaged with a fixing piece of a release lever of the
transceiver module, and configured to come into contact with a
neighborhood of the fixing piece of the release lever of the
inserted transceiver module.
4. The receptacle assembly for transceiver module according to
claim 2, wherein a connection end of the transceiver module has a
plurality of grooves to which a plurality of contact terminals are
provided, respectively, and at least adjacent two of the grooves
communicate with each other through a notch portion.
5. The receptacle assembly for transceiver module according to
claim 2, wherein a slit penetrating a connection end of the
transceiver module along a thickness direction of the connection
end is formed in each groove, and a concave portion is formed in a
contact terminal at a position corresponding to the slit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 15/580,595 filed Dec. 7, 2017, which was the U.S. National
Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2016/067147 filed Jun.
8, 2016, which claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2015-223501 filed Nov. 13, 2015 and Japanese Patent
Application No. 2015-116681 filed Jun. 9, 2015, the entire content
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a plug connector for
transceiver module, a receptacle assembly for transceiver module,
and a transceiver module assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In an optical communication system, a transceiver module has
been put into practical use in order to transmit an optical signal
transmitted through optical fibers, a copper cable, and an optical
connector or the like to a mother board. The optical communication
system has, at the operation-side end face of the housing,
transceiver module assemblies that are provided so as to protrude
ends of optical modules as transceiver modules of a plurality of
transceiver module assemblies, respectively. The transceiver module
assembly is configured to include an optical module and an optical
module receptacle assembly as disclosed in PATENT DOCUMENT 1, for
example. The optical module is configured to mainly include a
metal-made upper case and a lower plate forming a contour unit and
a module substrate positioned at a predetermined position in a
storage space formed between the upper case and the lower
plate.
[0004] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B of PATENT DOCUMENT 1, a plug
connector provided with an electrode portion is connected to one
end portion of the module board. The electrode portion of the plug
connector has a right face and a back face that have a plurality of
contact pads arranged to be parallel to one another on a common
plane with a predetermined interval, respectively. Two side
portions of the one end portion of the module board are
position-regulated with regard to the plug connector, respectively,
by being inserted and fixed to guide units formed at both side
faces of the plug connector. Nibs are formed, respectively, on the
two side surface portions of the plug connector, which are
continuous with the guide units. Each of the nibs is fixed to the
periphery of a groove in a substrate support wall of the upper
case.
[0005] There has been a demand in recent years for loading as many
transceiver modules as possible into a housing of an optical
communication system, while the maximum number of transceiver
modules are arranged on the entire operation-side end face of the
housing of the optical communication system.
CITATION LIST
Patent Document
[0006] PATENT DOCUMENT 1: U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,839
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] However, side-by-side arrangement of the transceiver modules
of the same design to form one lateral line on the operation-side
end face of the housing of the optical communication system has
limitations in the number of transceiver modules that can be
arranged thereon because a width dimension in the direction of
arrangement on the operation-side end face of the housing is set to
a prescribed length.
[0008] In such a case, a configuration also may be considered in
which the number of transceiver modules that can be arranged is
increased by reducing the width size along the above-described
arrangement direction in the transceiver module. However, the
downsizing of the transceiver module is not easy in the case of the
structure as described above in which both sides of one end of the
module substrate are position-regulated by being inserted and fixed
to guide units formed at both side faces of the plug connector,
respectively.
[0009] In view of the above-described problem, the present
invention aims to provide a plug connector for transceiver module,
a receptacle assembly for transceiver module, and a transceiver
module assembly. The plug connector for transceiver module, a
receptacle assembly for transceiver module, and a transceiver
module assembly can reduce the width size of a transceiver module
assembly in the arrangement direction of a plurality of transceiver
modules.
[0010] To achieve the above-described object, the plug connector
for transceiver module according to the present invention
comprises: a connection end having therein a concave portion
forming an opening to which one end of a module board is inserted;
a plurality of contact terminals that are provided on the outer
periphery face of the connection end and that are connected to an
electrode portion of the module board; and a positioning portion
that is formed in the concave portion of the connection end and
that is engaged with a portion to be engaged of one end of the
module board to thereby position the contact terminal to the
electrode portion of the module board. The positioning portion may
be a projection portion fitted to a notch portion formed at the one
end of the module board inserted into the concave portion.
Alternatively, the positioning portion may be an opening fitted to
a projection portion formed at the one end of the module board
inserted to the concave portion.
[0011] The connection end may include a pair of chamfered portions
provided at the tip end side than an end of the contact terminal.
Moreover, at least a pair of crush ribs may be provided, which are
formed opposite to each other on an upper wall surface portion and
a lower wall surface portion forming an upper portion and a lower
portion of the concave portion of the connection end, and
configured to nip the one end of the module board. A distance
between tips of the pair of crush ribs may be set to (A-B-0.15)
mm.+-.0.1 mm where A is a thickness of the module board and B is a
tolerance thereof, respectively. Moreover, at least a pair of crush
ribs may further be provided, which are formed opposite to each
other on each side wall surface portions forming both side portions
of the concave portion of the connection end, and configured to nip
the one end of the module board. A distance between tips of the
pair of crush ribs may be set to (C-D-0.15) mm.+-.0.1 mm where C is
a lateral width of the module board and D is a tolerance thereof,
respectively.
[0012] A transceiver module assembly according to the present
invention comprises: a module board; and a plug connector for
transceiver module including a connection end including therein a
concave portion forming an opening into which one end of the module
board is inserted, a plurality of contact terminals provided on the
outer periphery face of the connection end and that are connected
to an electrode portion of the module board; and a positioning
portion that is formed in the concave portion of the connection end
and that is engaged with a portion to be engaged of one end of the
module board to thereby position the contact terminal to the
electrode portion of the module board, wherein the electrode
portions of the module board are formed at a position away from an
end surface of the one end than a position of the portion to be
engaged is.
[0013] A receptacle assembly for transceiver module according to
the present invention comprises: a connector connected to a
transceiver module; and a receptacle cage including a module
accommodating portion including a module slot provided at one end
and configured to allow passage of the transceiver module, where
the module accommodating portion is configured to attachably and
detachably accommodate the transceiver module, a connector
accommodating portion communicating with the module accommodating
portion and being configured to accommodate the connector, and a
stopper piece provided at the module accommodating portion and
configured to guide the transceiver module in a first attitude
being inserted into the module accommodating portion, and when the
transceiver module in a second attitude inverted from the first
attitude is inserted into the module accommodating portion, to
restrict an insertion operation of the transceiver module.
[0014] A transceiver module assembly according to the present
invention comprises: a transceiver module including the
above-described plug connector for transceiver module; and a
receptacle assembly for transceiver module including a connector
connected to the transceiver module, and a receptacle cage
including a module accommodating portion including a module slot
provided at one end and configured to allow passage of the
transceiver module, where the module accommodating portion is
configured to attachably and detachably accommodate the transceiver
module, a connector accommodating portion communicating with the
module accommodating portion and being configured to accommodate
the connector, and a stopper piece provided at the module
accommodating portion and configured to guide the transceiver
module in a first attitude being inserted into the module
accommodating portion, and when the transceiver module in a second
attitude inverted from the first attitude is inserted into the
module accommodating portion, to restrict an insertion operation of
the transceiver module.
[0015] Moreover, a receptacle assembly for transceiver module
according to the present invention comprises: a connector connected
to a transceiver module; and a receptacle cage including a module
accommodating portion including a module slot provided at one end
and configured to allow passage of the transceiver module, where
the module accommodating portion is configured to attachably and
detachably accommodate the transceiver module, and a connector
accommodating portion communicating with the module accommodating
portion and being configured to accommodate the connector. The
receptacle cage may include a pair of projection portions located
at positions adjacent to a lock piece to be selectively engaged
with a fixing piece of a release lever of the transceiver module,
and configured to come into contact with a neighborhood of the
fixing piece of the release lever of the inserted transceiver
module.
[0016] The transceiver module assembly according to the present
invention may include: a transceiver module including the
above-described transceiver module assembly, and a housing
configured to accommodate the transceiver module assembly; and a
receptacle assembly for transceiver module including a connector
connected to the transceiver module, and a receptacle cage
including a module accommodating portion including a module slot
provided at one end and configured to allow passage of the
transceiver module, where the module accommodating portion is
configured to attachably and detachably accommodate the transceiver
module, a connector accommodating portion communicating with the
module accommodating portion and being configured to accommodate
the connector, and a stopper piece provided at the module
accommodating portion and configured to guide the transceiver
module in a first attitude being inserted into the module
accommodating portion, and when the transceiver module in a second
attitude inverted from the first attitude is inserted into the
module accommodating portion, to restrict an insertion operation of
the transceiver module. The housing of the transceiver module may
include a terminal run off provided at an end portion opposed to
the connector and is away from the contact terminals in the
connector when the housing is connected to the connector.
[0017] According to the plug connector for transceiver module, the
receptacle assembly for transceiver module, and the transceiver
module assembly of the present invention, the positioning portion
is formed in the concave portion of the connection end and is
engaged with the portion to be engaged of the one end of the module
substrate, thereby positioning the contact terminal to the
electrode portion of the module substrate. Because this is in no
need of a guide unit used in a conventional structure, the
transceiver module assembly can have a reduced width size along the
arrangement direction in a plurality of transceiver modules.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of
a plug connector for transceiver module according to the present
invention together with a module board;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of
the plug connector for transceiver module according to the present
invention together with the module board connected thereto;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example shown in
FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance
of an example of the plug connector for transceiver module
according to the present invention when seen from above;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing external appearance of
an example of the plug connector for transceiver module according
to the present invention when seen from below;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the example shown in FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a receptacle cage used
in an example of a receptacle assembly for transceiver module
according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing another example of the
receptacle cage used in an example of the receptacle assembly for
transceiver module according to the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing still another example
of the receptacle cage used in an example of the receptacle
assembly for transceiver module according to the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the
receptacle assembly for transceiver module according to the present
invention together with an optical module and a printed wiring
board;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a host connector used
in an example of the receptacle assembly for transceiver module
according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view made available for describing
a wrong insertion operation of the optical module;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a
transceiver module assembly according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the example shown in FIG. 11;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a front view of the example shown in FIG. 11;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the example shown in FIG.
11 when seen from below;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a partial enlarged perspective view of a portion
in FIG. 14;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of an
optical module used in the transceiver module assembly according to
the present invention when seen from above;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of the
optical module used in the transceiver module assembly according to
the present invention when seen from below;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a partial
enlarged view of a state in which a plug connector of the optical
module used in the transceiver module assembly according to the
present invention is connected to a host connector;
[0038] FIG. 19A is a perspective view showing an external
appearance of another example of the plug connector for transceiver
module according to the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 19B is a partial enlarged view showing an enlarged
portion in the example shown in FIG. 19A;
[0040] FIG. 19C is a partial enlarged view showing an enlarged
portion C in the example shown in FIG. 19A;
[0041] FIG. 20A is a perspective view showing a partial enlarged
main part of still another example of the plug connector for
transceiver module according to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 20B is a perspective view showing a state in which
contact terminals are detached from the example in FIG. 20A;
[0043] FIG. 21A is a perspective view showing part of the contact
terminals used in the example shown in FIG. 20A;
[0044] FIG. 21B is a perspective view showing part of another
example of the contact terminals used in the example shown in FIG.
20A;
[0045] FIG. 22A is a perspective view showing part of still another
example of the contact terminals used in the example shown in FIG.
20A; and
[0046] FIG. 22B is a perspective view showing part of yet another
example of the contact terminals used in the example shown in FIG.
20A.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0047] FIG. 11 shows an example of a transceiver module assembly
according to the present invention together with a printed wiring
board PB.
[0048] Although illustration is omitted, a plurality of transceiver
module assemblies to be described later are arranged laterally in a
line or in a matrix at given intervals, for example, on an
operation side end face of a housing that the transceiver module
assemblies is placed. End portions of optical modules, each of
which represents an example of a transceiver module of each
transceiver module assembly, project from the operation side end
face of the housing, respectively. A connector, to which one end of
e.g. an optical cable or of a copper cable is connected, is
connected to a port provided at the end portion of each optical
module. In the case of the optical cable, the other end of the
optical cable is connected to an optical connector of an another
housing that constitutes a communication system,
not-illustrated.
[0049] Transceiver module assembly comprises, as its main elements:
an optical module 14 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) as the example of the
transceiver module to be described later; a receptacle assembly for
optical module; and a heatsink 30 (See FIG. 11).
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the optical module 14 is
configured to comprise, as its main elements: an upper case 14A and
a lower case 14B made of a metal and constituting a contour unit;
and a module board 18 as well as a plug connector 16 (see FIG. 2)
positioned at prescribed positions in a storage space defined
between the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B.
[0051] A protection wall 14a in a thin sheet shape, which is
continuous with an upper surface of the upper case 14A and projects
in a longitudinal direction, is formed on one end portion of the
upper case 14A. The protection wall 14a is configured to protect
the plug connector 16 to be described later in case the optical
module 14 is dropped by mistake. A pair of grooves 14AG, each of
which has a prescribed length to be engaged with a corresponding
one of stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST of a receptacle for optical
module to be described later, are formed with a given interval on
one end of the upper surface of the upper case 14A. Moreover, the
other end side of the upper surface of the upper case 14A is
provided with a stepped portion 14AE, which comes into contact with
an open end portion of a receptacle cage 12 when the optical module
14 is inserted into the receptacle cage 12. Likewise, the other end
side of a lower surface of the lower case 14B is provided with a
stepped portion 14BE, which comes into contact with the open end
portion of the receptacle cage 12 when the optical module 14 is
inserted into the receptacle cage 12. As shown in FIG. 17, a first
inclined surface portion 14BF1 serving as a terminal run off is
formed at a corner portion that is provided at a position on the
lower case 14B located immediately below the protection wall 14a of
the upper case 14A. A lateral width of the first inclined surface
portion 14BF1 extending along a short side of the lower case 14B is
set smaller than a lateral width of the plug connector 16.
Moreover, very small projection portions 141 are formed at both
ends of the first inclined surface portion 14BF1, respectively.
Each projection portion 141 serving as a protection wall for the
plug connector has a second inclined surface portion 14BF2 which is
smaller than the first inclined surface portion 14BF1. Hereby, when
the optical module 14 is connected to a host connector 22 to be
described later as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 18, a
distance L1 from the first inclined surface portion 14BF1 to fixed
terminals of a plurality of signal contact terminals 28ai opposed
thereto is set greater than a distance L2 from the second inclined
surface portions 14BF2 to the fixed terminals of the plurality of
grounding contact terminals 28ai opposed thereto. Degradation in
characteristics of a signal to be transmitted at a relatively high
frequency band is avoided by setting the aforementioned distance L1
as described above.
[0052] A latch mechanism is provided at the other end portion of
the upper case 14A. The latch mechanism comprises a release lever
14RL. When the release lever 14RL is moved in a predetermined
direction by pulling an end portion thereof, a fixing piece of the
release lever 14RL is unlocked by being detached from a lock piece
12LF of the receptacle cage 12 to be described later. Moreover,
when the release lever 14RL is moved in the reverse direction to
the aforementioned direction, the fixing piece of the release lever
14RL fixes on the lock piece 12LF of the receptacle cage 12 to be
described later. Herewith, the optical module 14 is locked with the
receptacle cage 12.
[0053] Although illustration is omitted, a plurality of ports to
which the optical connectors are connected are formed on the other
end surfaces of the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B.
[0054] As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2, one end portion of
the module board 18 serving as a connection end of the module board
18 is inserted into and connected to the inner side of the plug
connector 16. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, a
substantially-central part in the one end portion of the module
board 18 is provided with a notch portion (a groove portion) 18PH
serving as a positioning portion of the module board 18 relative to
the plug connector 16. An open end of the notch portion 18PH is
opposed to a projection portion 16PP in the plug connector 16 to be
described later, and penetrates through the one end of the module
board 18. Clearances 18ER and 18EL are formed at the both sides
portions in the one end portion of the module board 18,
respectively. At a position away from the closed end of the notch
portion 18PH of the module board 18 by a predetermined distance DA,
electrode portions 18EE that comprise a plurality of contact pads
18Ei (i=1.about.n, n is a positive integer) and that are opposed to
the right face, which is shown, and the back face, which is
underneath and not shown. The contact pads 18Ei are arranged in a
line along a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion
direction to the plug connector 16 of the module board 18 with a
predetermined interval (e.g., 0.5 mm interval).
[0055] The plug connector 16 is integrally molded by using a resin
material, for example, and as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1,
is configured to comprise a connection end 16PE, a board support
portion 16PE-1 being continuous with the connection end 16PE and
supporting the one end portion of the module board 18, and a
plurality of contact terminals 16EAi and 16EBi (i=1 to n, n is a
positive integer) supported by the connection end 16PE and the
board support portion 16PE-1.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 17, the connection end 16PE protrudes from
the opening end portions 14-1 and 14-2 of the upper case 14A and
the lower case 14B, and is inserted into a slot of the host
connector 22 to be described later. As shown in the enlarged view
of FIG. 3, the connection end 16PE has therein a concave portion
16R to which the one end of the above-described module board 18 is
inserted. As shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion 16R communicates
with an open end portion 16PS of the board support portion 16PE-1.
Moreover, both side portions in the concave portion 16R are
outwardly opened. At a closed end portion forming part of the
concave portion 16R, the projection portion 16PP is formed at a
substantially central position that corresponds to the notch
portion 18PH of the module board 18. The projection portion 16PP
and the notch portion 18PH functioning as the positioning portions
are set in advance such that the respective contact terminals 16EAi
and 16EBi correspond to the prescribed contact pads 18Ei. Moreover,
as shown in FIG. 6, pairs of crush ribs 16CR are formed at two
locations away from the projection portion 16PP toward two side
portions in the concave portion 16R in order to pinch and position
the ends of the module board 18 so as to maintain the posture of
the module board 18 to be parallel to the upper face of the
connection end 16PE. Each pair of crush ribs 16CR opposed to each
other extend straight and continuously along the side portions for
a predetermined length from the open end portion 16PS to the closed
end portion of the concave portion 16R, for example. Each crush rib
16CR is formed in such a way as to bulge from a wall surface
portion forming an upper surface in the vicinity of the
corresponding side portion of the concave portion 16R or from a
wall surface portion forming a lower surface of the concave portion
16R. It should be noted that the respective crush ribs 16CR may be
formed dividedly. For instance, in FIG. 6, a distance .DELTA.L
between tips of the crush ribs 16CR is set to (A-B-0.15) mm.+-.0.1
mm assuming that A is a thickness of the module board 18 and B is a
tolerance thereof, respectively. More specifically, when the
thickness of the module board 18 is 1.0 mm.+-.0.1 mm, the distance
.DELTA.L is set to 0.73 mm.+-.0.1 mm, for example, so as to crush a
portion of the module board 18. Moreover, the thickness of the
module board 18 is set to 1.3 mm.+-.0.1 mm.
[0057] It should be noted that, a pair of crush ribs 16DR to
perform position regulation of the periphery of the open end of the
notch portion 18PH of the module board 18 may be formed opposite to
fitting portions of the projection portion 16PP as shown in FIGS. 3
and 6. In addition, the crush ribs 16DR may extend to the
above-described closed end portion, in such a way as to be
integrated together without being located away from the closed end
portion mentioned above that intersects the fitting portions.
[0058] Furthermore, although the pairs of the crush ribs 16CR are
formed away from each other at the two positions, the crush ribs is
not limited to this example. For instance, another pair of crush
ribs 16CR may be additionally formed at least at one or more
position between the pairs of crush ribs 16CR at the two
positions.
[0059] Both side surfaces of the connection end 16PE are placed on
planes that are common to both side surfaces of the module board
18, respectively. As shown in the enlarged view of FIGS. 4 and 5,
the connection end 16PE has, at the tip end of the outer periphery
thereof, a pair of chamfers 16CH that are formed along the
arrangement direction of the contact terminals 16EAi and 16EBi from
one side face to the other side face, the pair of chamfers 16CH
functioning as a guide for the plug connector 16 into the slot of
the above-described host connector 22. The chamfer 16CH is set to
about C 0.5, for example. A predetermined chamfer smaller than the
chamfer 16CH is provided at both side faces at the outer periphery
of the connection end 16PE. This allows the tip end of the
connection end 16PE to have a substantially acute arch-like cross
sectional shape. Thus, because there is no need to forma chamfered
portion for leading the plug connector 16 at the periphery of the
slot of the host connector 22, this allow the dimension of the plug
connector 16 in the host connector 22 along the
attachment/detachment direction to be reduced correspondingly.
[0060] As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 6, the board support
portion 16PE-1 of the plug connector 16 has the open end portion
16PS through which one end of an inserted module board 18 passes. A
pair of positioning portions 16A to come into contact with board
support walls (not shown) inside the upper case 14A and the lower
case 14B are formed away from each other on an upper surface of the
board support portion 16PE-1. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
an elongated spring portion 16B that comes into contact with the
board support walls (not shown) inside the upper case 14A and the
lower case 14B is formed on a lower surface of the board support
portion 16PE-1. Spring stiffness of the elongated spring portion
16B is set in a range from 10.0 to 25.0 (N/mm), for example.
[0061] The contact terminals 16EAi are placed on the upper surface
of the connection terminal potion 16PE, which is opposed to the
pair of positioning portions 16A of the board support portion
16PE-1 with given intervals corresponding to the above-described
contact pads 18Ei. The contact terminals 16EAi comprise power
source terminals, signal contact terminals, and grounding contact
terminals, for example. For instance, a pair of the signal contact
terminals adjacent to each other are placed between the grounding
contact terminals. The contact terminal 16EAi has a fixed terminal
portion to be solder-fixed to the corresponding contact pad 18Ei,
and a contact portion to come into contact with a contact portion
of a corresponding contact terminal of the host connector 22.
[0062] The contact terminals 16EBi are placed on the lower surface
of the connection terminal potion 16PE, which is opposed to the
spring portion 16B of the board support portion 16PE-1 to have
predetermined intervals corresponding to the above-described
contact pads 18Ei. The contact terminals 16EBi comprise power
source terminals, signal contact terminals, and grounding contact
terminals, for example. For instance, a pair of the signal contact
terminals adjacent to each other are placed between the grounding
contact terminals. The contact terminal 16EBi has a fixed terminal
portion to be solder-fixed to the corresponding contact pad 18Ei
and a contact portion to come into contact with a contact portion
of the corresponding contact terminal of the host connector 22.
[0063] In the above-described configuration, where the one end
portion of the module board 18 is inserted and connected to the
concave portion 16R of the plug connector 16 as shown in the
enlarged view of FIG. 3, and when one end face of the module board
18 is touched to the inner periphery face forming the concave
portion 16R, the projection portion 16PP formed at the periphery of
the concave portion 16R of the plug connector 16 is fitted to the
notch portion 18PH. At that time, both ends on the one end surface
of the module board 18 are engaged with arc portions 16RC of the
concave portion 16R. Hereby, the contact terminals 16EAi and 16EBi
are positioned to the respective contact pads 18Ei on the module
board 18. Accordingly, because the module board 18 is in no need of
a guide portion conventionally used in the structure of a plug
connecter, this can result in a reduced width size along the
arrangement direction of the contact terminals 16EAi and 16EBi in
the plug connector 16.
[0064] Moreover, in the above-described example, the notch portion
(the groove portion) 18PH is formed as the positioning portion
relative to the plug connector 16 of the module board 18, and the
projection portion 16PP is formed at the periphery of the concave
portion 16R of the plug connector 16. However, the present
invention is not limited only to this example. For instance, a
projection portion serving as a positioning portion relative to the
plug connector 16 of the module board 18 may be formed and an
opening to be fitted with the projection portion may be formed at
the periphery of the concave portion 16R of the plug connector
16.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 7A, the receptacle assembly for optical
module as an example of a receptacle assembly for transceiver
module according to the present invention comprises, as its main
elements: the receptacle cage 12 provided on the printed wiring
board PB and configured to attachably and detachably accommodate
the above-described optical module 14; and the host connector 22
(see FIG. 9) to be accommodated in a host connector accommodating
portion 12D of the receptacle cage 12.
[0066] The receptacle cage 12 is formed by press work on a thin
sheet of stainless steel or phosphor bronze, for example, or
preferably by use of stainless steel having good thermal
conductivity. The receptacle cage 12 includes a module
accommodating portion 12A and the host connector accommodating
portion 12D which are provided inside.
[0067] The module accommodating portion 12A is formed by being
surrounded by side walls 12RW and 12LW that are opposed to each
other with a given interval therebetween, and a bottom wall portion
12BP thereof. The side walls 12RW and 12LW extend along the X
coordinate axis in the orthogonal coordinates in FIG. 7A, that is,
along a direction of attachment and detachment of the optical
module 14. Each of the side walls 12RW and 12LW includes a lock
piece 12LF in the vicinity of a module slot 12S to be described
later. Each lock piece 12LF is selectively engaged with the fixing
piece of the release lever 14RL of the optical module 14 described
above in such a way as to establish the locked state of the
above-described optical module 14 with the module accommodating
portion 12A.
[0068] The module slot 12S that is open in the direction of the X
coordinate axis is provided to one end of the module accommodating
portion 12A, whereby the optical module 14 is attached and detached
through the module slot 12S. A front electromagnetic interference
(EMI) finger portion 12FF in a tubular shape serving as a shield
member is provided on the entire periphery of the module slot 12S
having a substantially rectangular cross section. An inner
peripheral part of the front EMI finger portion 12FF comes into
contact with an outer peripheral part of the optical module 14 to
be inserted, while an outer peripheral part of the front EMI finger
portion 12FF comes into contact with the periphery of each opening
provided in the operation side end face of the housing of the
communication system, for example. In this way, when the receptacle
cage 12 is press-fitted into the opening of the housing, a gap
between the opening of the housing and the outer peripheral part of
the receptacle cage 12 is shielded by the front EMI finger portion
12FF made of a metal. As a consequence, noise is confined to the
inside of the housing, and the noise is unlikely to leak out
through a gap between the outer peripheral part of the optical
module 14 and an inner peripheral part of the module accommodating
portion 12A.
[0069] The stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST each having a
substantially L-shaped cross section are integrally formed at given
positions on inner peripheral surfaces of the side walls 12RW and
12LW of the module accommodating portion 12A, respectively.
[0070] Moreover, another end of the module accommodating portion
12A, which is opposed to the module slot 12S, communicates with the
inside of the host connector accommodating portion 12D. A
substantially rectangular opening 12b that is open along the Z
coordinate axis is formed at a portion opposed to the bottom wall
portion 12BP. The stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST protrude inward
and downward from the periphery of the opening 12b. In this way, a
distance between the stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST opposed to each
other becomes smaller than the corresponding distance of the
opening 12b.
[0071] On the periphery of the opening 12b, a pair of hook portions
12ta to selectively hold a pair of fixing pieces (see FIG. 13) of a
heatsink holder 32 to be described later are integrally formed on
the receptacle cage 12. The pair of hook portions 12ta include lock
holes 12tb in a line along a direction of the Y coordinate axis
with a given interval corresponding to an interval of the pair of
fixing pieces mentioned above.
[0072] End portions on both of short sides of the bottom wall
portion 12BP, which connects lower ends of the side walls 12RW and
12LW to each other, are in contact with a surface of the printed
wiring board PB. Press-fitting nibs 12Pi (i=1 to n, n is a positive
integer) are formed at given intervals on both of long sides of the
bottomwall portion 12BP, respectively. Each press-fitting nib 12Pi
is press-fitted into a corresponding one of pores (not shown)
formed in the surface of the printed wiring board PB in conformity
with the arrays of the press-fitting nibs 12Pi. Thus, a lower end
surface of the receptacle cage 12 is closely fixed to the surface
of the printed wiring board PB.
[0073] The host connector accommodating portion 12D which is open
toward the surface of the printed wiring board PB is formed by
being surrounded by a host connector side closed end portion
opposed to the module slot 12S of the receptacle cage 12, an upper
surface constituting the periphery of the opening 12b on the host
connector side, and host connector side portions of the side walls
12RW and 12LW.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 8, on an outer peripheral part of the host
connector side closed end portion, a pair of hook members 12RF to
lock a pair of fixing portions of the heatsink holder 32 to be
described later are formed integrally with the receptacle cage 12.
An opening is formed on the periphery of each hook member 12RF.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 9, the host connector 22 includes a
connector insulator provided with a slot 22A that allows attachable
and detachable insertion of the plug connector 16 of the optical
module 14, and a plurality of contact terminals 26ai and 28ai (i=1
to n, n is a natural integer) (see FIGS. 15 and 18).
[0076] The respective contact terminals 26ai and 28ai are
configured to electrically connect the plug connector 16 of the
optical module 14 to a group of electrodes (not shown) to be
connected to a conductive pattern on the printed wiring board PB.
As shown in FIGS. 15, 18, and 21A, each contact terminal 26ai
includes: a movable contact portion 26M with one end provided with
a contact point part 26P to come into contact with the
corresponding contact terminal 16EAi of the plug connector 16 of
the optical module 14; a fixation portion with one end provided
with a fixation terminal part to be solder-fixed to the group of
electrodes of the printed wiring board PB; and a joining portion
26F to join another end of the movable contact portion 26M to
another end of the fixation portion. Each contact terminal 28ai
includes: a movable contact portion with one end provided with a
contact point part to come into contact with the corresponding
contact terminal 16EBi of the plug connector 16 of the optical
module 14; a fixation portion with one end provided with a fixation
terminal part to be solder-fixed to the group of electrodes of the
printed wiring board PB; and a joining portion to join another end
of the movable contact portion to another end of the fixation
portion.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 9, the connector insulator includes the
slot 22A, which is molded by using a resin material and allows
attachment and detachment of the plug connector 16 of the optical
module 14.
[0078] The slot 22A is provided with a plurality of slits 22Si (i=1
to n, n is a positive integer), which are formed at given intervals
along the Y coordinate axis shown in FIG. 9. Spaces between the
adjacent slits 22Si are partitioned by partition walls 22Wi (i=1 to
n, n is a positive integer). As shown in FIG. 18, the movable
contact portion of the contact terminal 26ai and the movable
contact portion of the contact terminal 28ai are located opposite
to each other inside each slit 22Si. As shown in FIG. 9, chamfers
22CH1 and 22CH2 are provided, respectively, in the vicinity of two
side surfaces of the connector insulator on the periphery of the
slot 22A. Note that no chamfers for leading the plug connector 16
are provided in the vicinity of an upper portion of the connector
insulator on the periphery of the slot 22A. A plurality of
positioning pins to be fitted into positioning holes in the printed
wiring board PB are formed at a bottom part of the connector
insulator.
[0079] In the above-described configuration, when the plug
connector 16 of the optical module 14 in its proper attitude is
inserted into the module slot 12S of the receptacle cage 12 and is
connected to the contact terminals 26ai and 28ai inside the slot
22A of the host connector 22 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the stopper
pieces 12RST and 12LST of the receptacle cage 12 are inserted into
the grooves 14AG of the optical module 14, respectively, and then
closed ends of the grooves 14AG reach and come into contact with
the stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST as shown in FIG. 18. Thus, the
inserted optical module 14 is held at a predetermined position. In
this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the first inclined surface portion
14BF1 of the lower case 14B of the optical module 14 serving as the
terminal run off is located away by a predetermined distance from
the signal contact terminals 28ai. Thus, degradation in
characteristics of a signal to be transmitted at a relatively high
frequency band is prevented.
[0080] On the other hand, when the plug connector 16 of the optical
module 14 in a wrong attitude, such as a vertically inverted
attitude, is inserted into the module slot 12S (see FIG. 7A) of the
receptacle cage 12 as shown in FIG. 10, the projection portions 141
on the lower case 14B of the optical module 14 butt the stopper
pieces 12RST and 12LST of the receptacle cage 12, respectively.
Accordingly, the wrong insertion of the optical module 14 is
prevented in the middle of the insertion operation, and breakage of
the plug connector 16 is also prevented as a consequence.
[0081] Note that a wrong insertion prevention mechanism of the
optical module 14 is formed by including the stopper pieces 12RST
and 12LST of the receptacle cage 12 and the respective projection
portions 141. However, the present invention is not limited only to
this example but may apply other configurations.
[0082] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the heatsink 30 to be held by
the heatsink holder 32 is attachably and detachably fitted onto an
upper surface of the receptacle cage 12.
[0083] The pair of fixing pieces to be attachably and detachably
locked with the pair of hook portions 12ta provided on the upper
surface of the receptacle cage 12, and the pair of fixing pieces to
be attachably and detachably locked with the pair of hook members
12RF provided at the host connector side closed end portion of the
receptacle cage 12 are provided on two ends of the heatsink holder
32. Both pairs of the fixing pieces are connected to one another by
using a plurality of connecting pieces. In this way, when the
heatsink 30 is attached to the upper surface of the receptacle cage
12, the heatsink 30 is first placed on the upper surface of the
receptacle cage 12. Next, one of the pairs of fixing pieces of the
heatsink holder 32 are locked with the holes in the pair of hook
portions 12ta and then peripheral edges of the holes in the other
pair of fixing pieces are fixed with the pair of hook members 12RF.
On the other hand, when the heatsink 30 is detached from the
receptacle cage 12, the heatsink 30 is easily detached by forcibly
disengaging the other pair of fixing pieces of the heatsink holder
32 from the pair of hook members 12RF.
[0084] The heatsink 30 is made of a metal having good thermal
conductivity such as aluminum. Fins 30fi (i=1 to n, n is a positive
integer) that are arranged parallel to one another along the
direction of attachment and detachment of the optical module 14 are
provided to a base portion of the heatsink 30. A lower end portion
of the base portion of the heatsink 30 is formed substantially into
a T-shape so as to be inserted into the opening 12b and between the
stopper pieces 12RST and 12LST of the receptacle cage 12. Thus,
when the heatsink 30 is attached to the receptacle cage 12, the
attachment of the heatsink 30 in a wrong attitude is prevented
since the lower end portion of the heatsink 30 is formed
substantially into the T-shape and a substantially receiving space
in the opening 12b of the receptacle cage 12 is also formed
substantially into the T-shape.
[0085] When the optical module 14 is attached to the receptacle
cage 12 in the above-described configuration, a heat transfer
surface (not shown) formed at a lower end of the heatsink 30
directly comes into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the
upper case 14A of the optical module 14 through the opening 12b.
Thus, heat generated in the optical module 14 is efficiently
dissipated through the heatsink 30.
[0086] FIG. 7B shows another example of the receptacle cage used in
the above-described receptacle assembly for optical module.
[0087] A receptacle cage 42 is made of a thin sheet of stainless
steel or phosphor bronze by press work, for example, or preferably
by use of stainless steel having good thermal conductivity. The
receptacle cage 42 has a module accommodating portion 42A and a
host connector accommodating portion which are provided inside.
[0088] The module accommodating portion 42A is formed by being
surrounded by side walls 42RW and 42LW that are opposed to each
other with a given interval therebetween, and a bottom wall portion
42BP thereof. The side walls 42RW and 42LW extend along the X
coordinate axis in the orthogonal coordinates in FIG. 7B, that is,
along the direction of attachment and detachment of the optical
module 14. Each of the side walls 42RW and 42LW has a lock piece
42LF in the vicinity of a module slot 12S to be described later.
Each lock piece 42LF is selectively engaged with the fixing piece
of the release lever 14RL of the optical module 14 described above
in such a way as to establish the locked state of the
above-described optical module 14 with the module accommodating
portion 42A. A projection portion 42P having a substantially oval
shape is formed at a position adjacent to each lock piece 42LF, or
a position that is adjacent in a direction to recede from the
module slot 12S and corresponds to the lock piece 42LF, for
example. The projection portions 42P are configured to protrude
just by a given height in a range from about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, for
instance, from inner peripheral surfaces of the side walls 42RW and
42LW toward the center of the module accommodating portion 42A. The
position of each projection portion 42P is set such that the
projection portion 42P comes into contact with one position in the
vicinity of the fixing piece of the release lever 14RL of the
optical module 14 to be inserted. Hereby, even when there is a play
of the optical module 14 inside the receptacle cage 42 due to a gap
attributed to a manufacturing error between an inner peripheral
part of the receptacle cage 42 and the outer peripheral part of the
optical module 14, the formation of the projection portions 42P
reduces the play and allows the pair of fixing pieces of the
release lever 14RL to be reliably locked with the lock pieces 42LF.
Note that the shape of the projection portions 42P is not limited
only to the substantially oval shape, and each projection portion
42P may be formed into a different shape such as a circular shape,
for example.
[0089] The module slot 12S that is open in the direction of the X
coordinate axis is provided to one end of the module accommodating
portion 42A, whereby the optical module 14 is attached and detached
through the module slot 12S. A front EMI finger portion 42FF in a
tubular shape serving as a shield member is provided on the entire
periphery of the module slot 12S having a substantially rectangular
cross section. An inner peripheral part of the front EMI finger
portion 42FF comes into contact with the outer peripheral part of
the optical module 14 to be inserted, while an outer peripheral
part of the front EMI finger portion 42FF comes into contact with
the periphery of each opening provided in the operation side end
face of the housing of the communication system, for example. In
this way, when the receptacle cage 42 is press-fitted into the
opening of the housing, a gap between the opening of the housing
and the outer peripheral part of the receptacle cage 42 is shielded
by the front EMI finger portion 42FF made of a metal. As a
consequence, noise is confined to the inside of the housing, and
the noise is unlikely to leak out through a gap between the outer
peripheral part of the optical module 14 and an inner peripheral
part of the module accommodating portion 42A.
[0090] Stopper pieces 42RST and 42LST each having a substantially
L-shaped cross section are integrally formed at given positions on
inner peripheral surfaces of the side walls 42RW and 42LW of the
module accommodating portion 42A, respectively.
[0091] Moreover, another end of the module accommodating portion
42A, which is opposed to the module slot 12S, communicates with the
inside of the host connector accommodating portion. A substantially
rectangular opening 42b that is open along the Z coordinate axis is
formed at a portion opposed to the bottom wall portion 42BP. The
stopper pieces 42RST and 42LST protrude inward and downward from
the periphery of the opening 42b. In this way, a distance between
the stopper pieces 42RST and 42LST opposed to each other becomes
smaller than the corresponding distance of the opening 42b.
[0092] On the periphery of the opening 42b, a pair of hook portions
42ta to selectively hold the pair of fixing pieces (see FIG. 13) of
the heatsink holder 32 are integrally formed on the receptacle cage
42. The pair of hook portions 42ta include lock holes 42tb in a
line along the direction of the Y coordinate axis with a given
interval corresponding to the interval of the pair of fixing pieces
mentioned above.
[0093] End portions on both of short sides of the bottom wall
portion 42BP, which connects lower ends of the side walls 42RW and
42LW to each other, are in contact with the surface of the printed
wiring board PB. Press-fitting nibs 42Pi (i=1 to n, n is a positive
integer) are formed at given intervals on both of long sides of the
bottomwall portion 42BP, respectively. Each press-fitting nib 42Pi
is press-fitted into the corresponding one of the pores (not shown)
formed in the surface of the printed wiring board PB in conformity
with the arrays of the press-fitting nibs 42Pi. Thus, a lower end
surface of the receptacle cage 42 is closely fixed to the surface
of the printed wiring board PB.
[0094] The host connector accommodating portion which is open
toward the surface of the printed wiring board PB is formed by
being surrounded by a host connector side closed end portion
opposed to the module slot 12S of the receptacle cage 42, an upper
surface constituting the periphery of the opening 42b on the host
connector side, and host connector side portions of the side walls
42RW and 42LW.
[0095] On an outer peripheral part of the host connector side
closed end portion, a pair of hook members 42RF to fix the pair of
fixing portions of the heatsink holder 32 described above are
formed integrally with the receptacle cage 42. An opening is formed
on the periphery of each hook member 42RF.
[0096] FIG. 7C shows still another example of the receptacle cage
used in the above-described receptacle assembly for optical
module.
[0097] A receptacle cage 52 is made of a thin sheet of stainless
steel or phosphor bronze by press work, for example, or preferably
by use of stainless steel having good thermal conductivity. The
receptacle cage 52 has a module accommodating portion 52A and a
host connector accommodating portion which are provided inside.
[0098] The module accommodating portion 52A is formed by being
surrounded by side walls 52RW and 52LW that are opposed to each
other with a given interval therebetween, and a bottom wall portion
52BP thereof. The side walls 52RW and 52LW extend along the X
coordinate axis in the orthogonal coordinates in FIG. 7C, that is,
along the direction of attachment and detachment of the optical
module 14. Each of the side walls 52RW and 52LW has a lock piece
52LF in the vicinity of a module slot 12S to be described later.
Each lock piece 52LF is selectively engaged with the fixing piece
of the release lever 14RL of the optical module 14 described above
in such a way as to establish the locked state of the
above-described optical module 14 with the module accommodating
portion 52A. A projection portion 52P having a substantially
circular shape is formed at a position adjacent to each lock piece
52LF, or a position that is adjacent in a direction to approach the
module slot 12S and corresponds to the lock piece 52LF, for
example. The projection portions 52P are configured to protrude
just by a given height in a range from about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, for
instance, from inner peripheral surfaces of the side walls 52RW and
52LW toward the center of the module accommodating portion 52A. The
position of each projection portion 52P is set such that the
projection portion 52P comes into contact with one position in the
vicinity of the fixing piece of the release lever 14RL of the
optical module 14 to be inserted. Hereby, even when there is a play
of the optical module 14 inside the receptacle cage 52 due to a gap
attributed to a manufacturing error between an inner peripheral
part of the receptacle cage 52 and the outer peripheral part of the
optical module 14, the formation of the projection portions 52P
reduces the play and allows the pair of fixing pieces of the
release lever 14RL to be reliably locked with the lock pieces 52LF.
Note that the shape of the projection portions 52P is not limited
only to the substantially circular shape, and each projection
portion 52P may be formed into a different shape such as an oval
shape.
[0099] The module slot 12S that is open in the direction of the X
coordinate axis is provided to one end of the module accommodating
portion 52A, whereby the optical module 14 is attached and detached
through the module slot 12S. A front EMI finger portion 52FF in a
tubular shape serving as a shield member is provided on the entire
periphery of the module slot 12s having a substantially rectangular
cross section. An inner peripheral part of the front EMI finger
portion 52FF comes into contact with the outer peripheral part of
the optical module 14 to be inserted, while an outer peripheral
part of the front EMI finger portion 52FF comes into contact with
the periphery of each opening provided in the operation side end
face of the housing of the communication system, for example. In
this way, when the receptacle cage 52 is press-fitted into the
opening of the housing, a gap between the opening of the housing
and the outer peripheral part of the receptacle cage 52 is shielded
by the front EMI finger portion 52FF made of a metal. As a
consequence, noise is confined to the inside of the housing, and
the noise is unlikely to leak out through a gap between the outer
peripheral part of the optical module 14 and an inner peripheral
part of the module accommodating portion 52A.
[0100] Stopper pieces 52RST and 52LST each having a substantially
L-shaped cross section are integrally formed at given positions on
inner peripheral surfaces of the side walls 52RW and 52LW of the
module accommodating portion 52A, respectively.
[0101] Moreover, another end of the module accommodating portion
52A, which is opposed to the module slot 12S, communicates with the
inside of the host connector accommodating portion. A substantially
rectangular opening 52b that is open along the Z coordinate axis is
formed at a portion opposed to the bottom wall portion 52BP. The
stopper pieces 52RST and 52LST protrude inward and downward from
the periphery of the opening 52b. In this way, a distance between
the stopper pieces 52RST and 52LST opposed to each other becomes
smaller than the corresponding distance of the opening 52b.
[0102] On the periphery of the opening 52b, a pair of hook portions
52ta to selectively hold the pair of fixing pieces (see FIG. 13) of
the heatsink holder 32 are integrally formed on the receptacle cage
52. The pair of hook portions 52ta include lock holes 52tb in a
line along the direction of the Y coordinate axis with a given
interval corresponding to the interval of the pair of fixing pieces
mentioned above.
[0103] End portions on both of short sides of the bottom wall
portion 52BP, which connects lower ends of the side walls 52RW and
52LW to each other, are in contact with the surface of the printed
wiring board PB. Press-fitting nibs 52Pi (i=1 to n, n is a positive
integer) are formed at given intervals on both of long sides of the
bottom wall portion 52BP, respectively. Each press-fitting nib 52Pi
is press-fitted into the corresponding one of the pores (not shown)
formed in the surface of the printed wiring board PB in conformity
with the arrays of the press-fitting nibs 52Pi. Thus, a lower end
surface of the receptacle cage 52 is closely fixed to the surface
of the printed wiring board PB.
[0104] The host connector accommodating portion which is open
toward the surface of the printed wiring board PB is formed by
being surrounded by a host connector side closed end portion
opposed to the module slot 12S of the receptacle cage 52, an upper
surface constituting the periphery of the opening 52b on the host
connector side, and host connector side portions of the side walls
52RW and 52LW.
[0105] On an outer peripheral part of the host connector side
closed end portion, a pair of hook members 52RF to lock the pair of
fixing portions of the heatsink holder 32 described above are
formed integrally with the receptacle cage 52. An opening is formed
on the periphery of each hook member 52RF.
[0106] It should be noted that in the above-described examples
shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, respectively, the projection portions 42P
and 52P are formed face to face. However, the present invention is
not limited only to these examples. For instance, of the pair of
projection portions, one projection portion may be located near the
lock piece in the direction to approach the module slot 12S while
the other projection portion may be located near the lock piece in
the direction to recede from the module slot 12S.
[0107] FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C show other examples of the plug
connector for transceiver module according to the present
invention, respectively.
[0108] In the above-described example shown in FIG. 6, each crush
rib 16CR is formed in such a way as to bulge from any of the wall
surface portion forming the upper surface in the vicinity of the
side portion of the concave portion 16R and the wall surface
portion forming the lower surface in the vicinity of the side
portion of the concave portion 16R. On the other hand, in the
example shown in FIG. 19A, on the wall surface portion forming the
upper surface in the vicinity of the side portion of the concave
portion and on the wall surface portion forming the lower surface
of the concave portion, crush ribs 46DR are additionally formed
inside the respective side surfaces forming the respective side
portions of the concave portion.
[0109] In FIG. 19A, a plug connector 46 is integrally molded by
using a resin material, for example, and comprises a connection end
46PE, a board support portion 46PE-1 being continuous with the
connection end 46PE and supporting the one end portion of the
module board 18 described above, and a plurality of contact
terminals 46EAi and 46EBi (i=1 to n, n is a positive integer)
supported by the connection end 46PE and the board support portion
46PE-1.
[0110] The connection end 46PE protrudes from the open end portions
of the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B of the optical module
14 described above, and is inserted into the slot of the host
connector 22. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 19B, the
connection end 46PE has a concave portion 46R which is provided in
the inside and configured to allow insertion of the one end of the
module board 18 described above. The concave portion 46R
communicates with an open end portion 46PS of the board support
portion 46PE-1. Moreover, on both side portions of the concave
portion 46R, a pair of side wall portions 46SW are formed
integrally with the board support portion 46PE-1 and in such a way
as to be opposed to each other. At a closed end portion
constituting part of the concave portion 46R, a projection portion
(not shown) is formed at a substantially central part that
corresponds to the notch portion 18PH of the module board 18. The
projection portion and the notch portion 18PH functioning as the
positioning portions are set in advance such that the respective
contact terminals 46EAi and 46EBi correspond to the prescribed
contact pads 18Ei. Moreover, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG.
19C, pairs of crush ribs 46CR are formed at two locations away from
the projection portion toward a side portion in the concave portion
46R in order to pinch and position the ends of the module board 18
so as maintain the posture of the module board 18 to be parallel to
the upper face of the connection end 46PE. One of the pairs of
crush ribs 46CR are illustrated in FIG. 19C while the other pair of
the crush ribs 46CR are not illustrated therein.
[0111] Each pair of crush ribs 46CR are formed in such a way as to
bulge from a wall surface portion forming an upper surface of a
guide groove 46G formed inside of the side wall portion 46SW and
from a wall surface portion forming a lower surface of the guide
groove, respectively. The pair of crush ribs 46CR opposed to each
other extend straight and continuously along the side portions for
a predetermined length from an open end portion of the guide groove
46G to a closed end portion of the guide groove 46G, for example.
It should be noted that the respective crush ribs 46CR may be
formed dividedly. In FIG. 19C, when the thickness of the module
board 18 is 1.0 mm.+-.0.1 mm, for instance, a distance .DELTA.L
between tips of the crush ribs 46CR is set to 0.73 mm.+-.0.1 mm,
for example, so as to crush a portion of the module board 18.
[0112] Note that although the pairs of the crush ribs 46CR are
formed away from each other at the two positions, the crush ribs
are not limited to this example. For instance, another pair of
crush ribs 46CR may be additionally formed at least at one or more
position between the pairs of crush ribs 46CR at the two
positions.
[0113] Moreover, a crush rib 46DR is formed in such a way as to
bulge from an intermediate portion of a wall surface portion, which
is placed between the corresponding pair of crush ribs 46CR to form
a side surface of the guide groove 46G. Another crush rib 46DR is
formed likewise in the other guide groove 46G. For example, a
distance .DELTA.T between tips of the pair of crush ribs 46DR is
set to (C-D-0.15) mm.+-.0.1 mm assuming that C is a lateral width
of the module board 18 and D is a tolerance thereof, respectively.
More specifically, when the lateral width of the module board 18 is
18.0 mm.+-.0.1 mm, for instance, the distance .DELTA.T is set to
17.75 mm.+-.0.1 mm, for example, so as to crush a portion of the
module board 18. Moreover, when the lateral width of the module
board 18 is 32.65 mm.+-.0.1 mm, for instance, the distance .DELTA.T
is set to 32.40 mm.+-.0.1 mm. Herewith, positioning of the module
board 18 inserted into the guide grooves 46G along the direction of
arrangement of the contact pads is established so as to maintain
the posture of the module board 18 to be parallel to the upper face
of the connection end 46PE.
[0114] The connection end 46PE has, at the tip end of the outer
periphery thereof, a pair of chamfers 46CH that are formed along
the arrangement direction of the contact terminals 16EAi and 16EBi
from one side face to the other side face, the pair of chamfers
46CH functioning as a guide for the plug connector 46 into the slot
of the above-described host connector 22. The chamfer 46CH is set
to about C 0.5, for example. A predetermined chamfer smaller than
the chamfer 46CH is provided at both side faces at the outer
periphery of the connection end 46PE. This allows the tip end of
the connection end 46PE to have a substantially acute arch-like
cross sectional shape. Thus, because there is no need to form a
chamfered portion for leading the plug connector 46 at the
periphery of the slot of the host connector 22, this allow the
dimension of the plug connector 16 in the host connector 22 along
the attachment/detachment direction to be reduced
correspondingly.
[0115] The board support portion 46PE-1 of the plug connector 46
includes the open end portion 46PS that allows the passage of the
one end of the module board 18 to be inserted. A pair of
positioning portions 46A to come into contact with the board
support walls (not shown) inside the upper case 14A and the lower
case 14B are formed away from each other on an upper surface of the
board support portion 46PE-1. Moreover, an elongated spring portion
46B that comes into contact with the board support walls (not
shown) inside the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B is formed
on a lower surface of the board support portion 46PE-1. Spring
stiffness of the elongated spring portion 46B is set in a range
from 10.0 to 25.0 (N/mm), for example.
[0116] The contact terminals 46EAi are arranged on the upper
surface of the connection terminal potion 46PE, which is opposed to
the pair of positioning portions 46A of the board support portion
46PE-1, and at given intervals corresponding to the above-described
contact pads 18Ei. The contact terminals 46EAi include power source
terminals, signal contact terminals, and grounding contact
terminals, for example. For instance, a pair of the signal contact
terminals adjacent to each other are located between the grounding
contact terminals. Each contact terminal 46EAi includes a fixed
terminal portion to be solder-fixed to the corresponding contact
pad 18Ei, and a contact portion to come into contact with a contact
portion of a corresponding contact terminal of the host connector
22.
[0117] The contact terminals 46EBi are arranged on the lower
surface of the connection terminal potion 46PE, which is opposed to
the spring portion 46B of the board support portion 46PE-1, and at
the given intervals corresponding to the above-described contact
pads 18Ei. The contact terminals 46EBi include power source
terminals, signal contact terminals, and grounding contact
terminals, for example. For instance, a pair of the signal contact
terminals adjacent to each other are located between the grounding
contact terminals. Each contact terminal 46EBi includes a fixed
terminal portion to be solder-fixed to the corresponding contact
pad 18Ei, and a contact portion to come into contact with a contact
portion of the corresponding contact terminal of the host connector
22.
[0118] In the above-described configuration, when the one end
portion of the module board 18 is guided by the guide grooves 46G
and inserted and connected to the concave portion 46R of the plug
connector 46, the projection portion formed on the periphery of the
concave portion 16R of the plug connector 46 is fitted into the
notch portion 18PH as the one end surface of the module board 18
comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface that forms the
concave portion 46R. Thus, the contact terminals 46EAi and 46EBi
are positioned relative to the respective contact pads 18Ei on the
module board 18.
[0119] FIGS. 20A and 20B show a partial enlarged main part of still
another example of the plug connector and the plurality of contact
terminals to be connected to the above-described module board 18,
respectively.
[0120] A plug connector 36 is integrally molded by using a resin
material, for example, and comprises a connection end 36PE, a board
support portion 36PE-1 being continuous with the connection end
36PE and supporting the one end portion of the module board 18, and
a plurality of contact terminals 36EAi and 36EBi (i=1 to n, n is a
positive integer) supported by the connection end 36PE and the
board support portion 36PE-1.
[0121] The connection end 36PE protrudes from the open end portions
of the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B, and is inserted into
the slot of the host connector 22. The connection end 36PE has a
concave portion (not shown) which is provided in the inside and
configured to allow insertion of the one end of the module board
18. Both side portions of the concave portion are open to the
outside. At a closed end portion forming part of the concave
portion, a projection portion (not shown) is formed at a
substantially central position that corresponds to the notch
portion 18PH of the module board 18. The projection portion and the
notch portion 18PH functioning as the positioning portions are set
in advance such that the respective contact terminals 36EAi and
36EBi correspond to the prescribed contact pads 18Ei.
[0122] Both side surfaces of the connection end 36PE are located on
planes that are common to the both side surfaces of the module
board 18, respectively. The connection end 36PE has, at the tip end
of the outer periphery thereof, a pair of chamfers 36CH that are
formed along the arrangement direction of the contact terminals
36EAi and 36EBi from one side face to the other side face, the pair
of chamfers 36CH functioning as a guide for the plug connector 36
into the slot of the above-described host connector 22. This allows
the tip end of the connection end 36PE to have a substantially
acute arch-like cross sectional shape. Thus, because there is no
need to form a chamfered portion for leading the plug connector 36
at the periphery of the slot of the host connector 22, this allow
the dimension of the plug connector 36 in the host connector 22
along the attachment/detachment direction to be reduced
correspondingly.
[0123] The board support portion 36PE-1 of the plug connector 36
includes an open end portion (not shown) that allows the passage of
the one end of the module board 18 to be inserted. A pair of
positioning portions to come into contact with the board support
walls (not shown) inside the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B
are formed away from each other on an upper surface of the board
support portion 36PE-1. Moreover, an elongated spring portion (not
shown) that comes into contact with the board support walls (not
shown) inside the upper case 14A and the lower case 14B is formed
on a lower surface of the board support portion 36PE-1.
[0124] As shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 22B, an upper
surface of the connection end 36PE is provided with relatively
shallow grooves 36Gai and 36Gbi (i=1 to n, n is a positive
integer), into which contact portions of grounding contact
terminals 36Cgi and signal contact terminals 36Csi (i=1 to n, n is
a positive integer), constituting the contact terminals 36EAi to be
described later, are to be inserted, respectively. An end portion
of groove 36Gai extends closer to the corresponding chamfer 36CH
than an end portion of groove 36Gbi does. Slits 36Hi (i=1 to n, n
is a positive integer) penetrate the grooves 36Gai and the grooves
36Gbi in a thickness direction of the connection end 36PE. The
slits 36Hi are formed in a line along a direction of arrangement of
the grooves 36Gai and the grooves 36Gbi. The grooves 36Gai and the
grooves 36Gbi adjacent thereto communicate with one another through
notch portions 36Ki (i=1 to n, n is a positive integer). Each notch
portion 36Ki is formed on a straight line that is common to the
slits 36Hi. Moreover, a lower surface of the connection end 36PE is
also provided with relatively shallow grooves likewise, into which
contact portions of grounding contact terminals and signal contact
terminals constituting the contact terminals 36EBi to be described
later are to be inserted, respectively. It should be noted that the
contact terminals 36EAi and the contact terminals 36EBi have the
same structure and thus the contact terminals 36EAi will be
described below while omitting the description of the contact
terminals 36EBi.
[0125] The contact terminals 36EAi are placed on the upper surface
of the connection end 36PE, which is opposed to the pair of
positioning portions of the board support portion 36PE-1, and at
given intervals corresponding to the above-described contact pads
18Ei. As shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 21A, the
contact terminals 36EAi comprise the signal contact terminals 36Csi
and the grounding contact terminals 36Cgi, for example. For
instance, a pair of the signal contact terminals 36Csi adjacent to
each other are placed between the grounding contact terminals
36Cgi.
[0126] Each of the signal contact terminals 36Csi and the grounding
contact terminals 36Cgi has a fixed terminal portion (not shown) to
be solder-fixed to the corresponding contact pad 18Ei, and a
contact portion to come into contact with a contact portion of a
corresponding contact terminal of the host connector 22.
[0127] Each signal contact terminal 36Csi is provided with a
thinned portion 36gb, which is located at a position close to a tip
portion of its contact portion and opposed to the corresponding
slit 36Hi of the groove 36Gbi. Moreover, each grounding contact
terminal 36Cgi is provided with a thinned portion 36ga, which is
located at a position close to a tip portion of its contact portion
and opposed to the corresponding slit 36Hi of the groove 36Gai.
Each of the thinned portions 36ga and the thinned portions 36gb
extends for a given length in a longitudinal direction of the
contact terminal and spreads in a width direction thereof.
[0128] Note that the contact terminals 36EAi are not limited only
to the above-described example. For instance, as shown in the
partial enlarged view of FIG. 21B, a grounding contact terminal
36'Cgi constituting a portion of a contact terminal 36'EAi may not
be provided with a thinned portion. In FIG. 21B, constituents that
are the same as the constituents in FIG. 21A will be denoted by the
same reference signs and overlapping explanations thereof will be
omitted.
[0129] Furthermore, as shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG.
22A, tip portions of contact portions of grounding contact
terminals 66Cgi (i=1 to n, n is a positive integer), which
constitute the contact terminals 36EAi to be provided on an upper
surface of the connection end 36PE, may be provided with relatively
shallow dents 66d at positions opposed to the slits 36Hi of the
grooves 36Gbi described above. Moreover, tip portions of signal
contact terminals 66Csi may be provided with relatively shallow
dents 66d at positions opposed to the slits 36Hi of the grooves
36Gai. Each dent 66d having a substantially rectangular shape
extends for a given length in the longitudinal direction of the
contact terminal with a given width less than a width of the
contact terminal.
[0130] It should be noted that the contact terminals 36EAi are not
limited only to the above-described example. For instance, as shown
in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 22B, a grounding contact
terminal 66'Cgi constituting part of the contact terminal 36'EAi
may not be provided with a relatively shallow dent. In FIG. 22B,
constituents that are the same as the constituents in FIG. 22A will
be denoted by the same reference signs and overlapping explanations
thereof will be omitted.
* * * * *