Bi-directional optical transceiver module having automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism

Abstract

An optical transceiver module includes a housing comprising a first end and a second end, an electrical interface associated with the first end adapted to be locked into a receiving cage, and an optical interface associated with the second end. The optical transceiver module also includes a locking mechanism that can lock the optical transceiver module to a receiving cage and an automatic-restoring mechanism. The automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism comprises a sliding plate, an unlocking lever, and a restoration spring. The automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism automatically restores the sliding plate to the normal position after the optical transceiver module is unlocked from the receiving cage.

1 . An optical transceiver module, comprising 
 a) a housing comprising a first end and a second end;    b) an electrical interface associated with the first end adapted to be locked into a receiving cage;    c) an optical interface associated with the second end;    d) a locking mechanism that can lock the optical transceiver module to a receiving cage; and    e) an automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism comprising a sliding plate, an unlocking lever, and a restoration spring, wherein the automatic restoring unlocking mechanism automatically restores the sliding plate to the normal position after the optical transceiver module is unlocked from the receiving cage.    
   
   
       2 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding plate includes a wedge shaped part on one end and said sliding plate is attached to a spring baffle.  
   
   
       3 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge angle of the wedge shaped part is between 0 and 90 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface complies with the Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) agreement.  
   
   
       5 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the optical interface complies with the Subscriber Connector (SC) agreement.  
   
   
       6 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical transceiver component that transmits and receives electrical signals and optical signals.  
   
   
       7 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 6 , wherein the optical transceiver component transmits and receives optical signals at one or two wavelengths on a single optical fiber.  
   
   
       8 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 6 , wherein the optical transceiver component operates in a bi-directional mode.  
   
   
       9 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface comprises 
 a) a sheet metal cover;    b) a printed circuit board under the sheet metal cover; and    c)  20  copper foil strips on the printed circuit board.    
   
   
       10 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , further comprising an external body that comprises: 
 a) a case body on the optical interface end of the optical transceiver module body; and    b) a case cover attached to the case body that covers the optical interface portion of the case body.    
   
   
       11 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , further comprising 
 a) an optical transceiver component under the case cover;    b) a case cavity at the second end of the optical transceiver module; and    c) a Subscriber Connector (SC) agreement compliant single entry plastic clip inside the case cavity.    
   
   
       12 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , wherein the automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism further comprises 
 a) a shaft attached to the case cover;    b) two rails attached to the case cover; and    c) a spring-locking pin attached to the case cover.    
   
   
       13 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , wherein the unlocking lever pushes the sliding plate to unlock the optical transceiver module when the unlocking lever rotates around the shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , wherein the sliding plate slides along the rails.  
   
   
       15 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 11 , wherein the restoration spring is fixed on one end of the spring-locking pin.  
   
   
       16 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a triangular shaped locking detent for the locking of the optical transceiver module.  
   
   
       17 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the optical transceiver module is about  63  mm.  
   
   
       18 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic-restoring unlocking mechanism automatically restores the sliding plate to the normal position after the optical transceiver module is unlocked and unplugged from the receiving cage.