Abstract:
A method and system is disclosed for locking and releasing a module utilized in a transceiver system that includes a plurality of modules in close proximity with one another. The module is generally configured to include a handle with an associated cam formed in a first section of the module. The handle is moveable in a direction to allow the cam to move an associated ejector button integrated with the module in order to release the module from the transceiver system, thereby permitting the module to be efficiently removed from the transceiver system. The module may thus be removed from the transceiver system utilizing the handle. The module may be locked into the transceiver system when the handle is placed in an upward position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/006,103, filed Dec. 6, 2001, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. The Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to modules for use in fiber optic and transceiver systems. The present invention also relates to pluggable modules that may be utilized in such transceiver systems. The present invention also relates to transceiver modules and methods and systems for releasing such modules from transceiver systems in which modules are mounted closely to one another. 
   2. The Relevant Technology 
   Optoelectronic transceiver modules provide for the bi-directional transmission of data between electrical interfaces and optical data links. Such a module generally can receive electrically encoded data signals for conversion into optical signals, which can then be transmitted over the optical data link. Likewise, such a module can receive optically encoded data signal, which can then be converted into electrical signals and transmitted onto an electrical interface. 
   Other types of transceiver modules can also be utilized to transmit data. Infrared transceivers, for example, can be utilized for a number of data communication applications. For example, infrared transceiver modules can be utilized to couple laptop computers and personal information managers (PIMs) to IR ports or printers. Also, an increasing number of portable and PIM systems include IR transceiver modules to provide inter-computer and inter-PIM data transfers. 
   An IR transceiver module typically includes an IR PIN (p-intrinsic-n) diode for a sensor, and an IR light emitting diode (LED) as an emitter. Associated with the sensor is receiver circuitry, and associated with the emitter is transmission circuitry. When the receiver circuitry and transmitter circuitry are integrated together on an integrated circuit (IC), the circuitry can be referred to as a “transceiver” IC or, simply, a “transceiver.” 
   While the sensor, emitter and transceiver of an IR transceiver system can be provided as separate components, it is often desirable to have these components combined into a single package or “module” to save space. Such IR transceiver modules are well known and are commercially available from a number of sources. By combining the various components of the IR transceiver system into a single module, the size or “form factor” of the system can be reduced considerably. Additionally, such modules tend to be more durable and often consume less power then equivalent structures formed with the discrete components. 
   A transceiver module may be mounted onto one or more circuit card assemblies of a host computer, input/output system, peripheral device, or switch. Therefore, as with all electronic equipment there is a need for a transceiver module having an outer package design which occupies as little circuit card surface area as possible. One of the problems with such designs, however, is the fact that many modules are often required to be utilized in such devices and transceiver systems. In scenarios in which a variety of modules are placed in close proximity to one another, this presents additional difficulties. 
   Based on the foregoing, the present inventors have concluded that a need exists for a pluggable module that can be efficiently plugged into and removed from transceiver systems that require the use of a number of closely packed modules. The present invention thus meets and addresses this need. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following summary of the invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention, and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
   It is therefore one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved transceiver module. 
   It is therefore another aspect of the present invention to provide an improved pluggable module for use in transceiver and other systems. 
   It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method and system for releasing a module from a transceiver system that includes a plurality of modules in proximity to one another. 
   It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a pluggable module having an ejector button formed from molded plastic or other rigid material. 
   It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a pluggable module having a release handle, which can be formed from wire. 
   The above and other aspects are achieved as is now described. A method and system is disclosed for releasing a module utilized in a transceiver system that includes a plurality of modules in close proximity with one another. The module is generally configured to include a handle with an associated cam formed in a first section of the module. The handle can be pulled in a downward (or upward) direction to allow the cam to move an associated ejector button integrated with the module in order to release the module from the transceiver system, thereby permitting the module to be efficiently removed from the transceiver system. 
   These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective pictorial view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in an upward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective pictorial view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in a downward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a top view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in an upward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in an upward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in an upward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in an upward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  depicts a top view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in a downward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in a downward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  depicts a bottom view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in a downward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of a pluggable module having a handle thereof in a downward position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a pluggable module  10  having a lever portion, which in an illustrated embodiment is formed as a handle  28  and is positioned in an upward position  12 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pluggable module  10  can thus be generally configured to include a handle  28  with an associated cam  21  formed in a first section  13  of pluggable module  10 . First section  13  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 and 2  between dashed lines  17  and  19 . Handle  28  can be pulled in a downward direction to allow a substantially lateral or sliding movement of an associated ejector button  22  (i.e., illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 10 ) integrated with pluggable module  10  in order to release pluggable module  10  from the transceiver system cage  11 . While other shapes and configurations could be used, as is shown in the illustrated embodiment, the ejector button  22  is configured with an end having a substantially tapered shape so as to have a wedge-like shape. As is discussed in further detail, this wedge shape provides a surface that allows the ejector button  22 , when slidably/laterally moved to the positions shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  8  and  10 , to disengage the pluggable module  10  from the transceiver system cage  11 . Moreover, once disengaged, the module  10  can be removed from the cage  11  via the handle  28 ; a pulling force applied to the handle  28  slidably removes the module from the cage. 
   Pluggable module  10  can thus be removed from the transceiver system cage  11  utilizing handle  28 . Pluggable module  10  is locked into the transceiver system when handle  28  is placed in an upward position  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Handle  28  may be configured from a wire handle, which can be formed from steel wire or other rigid or semi-rigid material. The ejector button  22  (i.e., see  FIGS. 6 and 10 ) may be configured from molded plastic or other rigid or semi-rigid material.  FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in a downward position  14 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Note that in  FIGS. 1 to 10 , analogous or like parts are indicated by identical reference numerals. Thus,  FIGS. 1 to 10  are jointly illustrated herein to provide varying views of pluggable module  10 .  FIG. 3  depicts a top view  16  of pluggable module  10  having handle  2 . 8  thereof in an upward position  12 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  illustrates a side view  18  of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in an upward position  12 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view  20  of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in an upward position  12 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view  30  of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in an upward position  12 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Sectional view  30  of  FIG. 6  additionally illustrates an ejector button  22 , a locking tab  24  and recess  25  positioned on a cage  11  that receives the pluggable module  10  and its corresponding locking member or tab  26  disposed thereon. 
     FIG. 7  depicts a top view  36  of pluggable module  10  having a handle thereof in a downward position  14 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  illustrates a side view  38  of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in a downward position  14 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  depicts a bottom view  40  of pluggable module  10  having handle  28  thereof in a downward position  14 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view  40  of pluggable  10  module having handle  28  thereof in a downward position  14 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method and system for removing a module, such as pluggable module  10 , as indicated herein, thus utilizes a small wire handle  28  with a cam  21  formed in one section and a modified ejector button  22 . When handle  28  is placed in an upward position  12  as indicated, for example, in  FIG. 6  the module is locked into place, by virtue of the locking member or tab  26  being disposed within the recess  25  of the locking tab  24  portion of the cage. When the handle is pulled down, the cam  21  moves the ejector button  22 , which releases the module, as is shown in  FIG. 10 , by displacing the locking tab  24  portion of the cage, thereby disengaging the locking member or tab  26  portion of the module  10  from the recess  25 . Handle  28  can then be utilized to pull the module away from the transceiver system cage  11  or other associated system into which it was previously plugged. 
   Pluggable module  10  can be configured as a transceiver module for use in a transceiver system or associated systems thereof Such a transceiver module may be configured as an optoelectronic transceiver module, such as, for example, an infrared (IR) transceiver. Pluggable module  10  can include an emitter (not illustrated), which can be configured from a small laser. 
   Such a small laser may be, for example, a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting laser). A VCSEL is a type of laser device that emits light in a single direction through an upper structure of the laser structure. VCSEL devices thus generally combine the performance advantage of LEDs and lasers at costs comparable to LED solutions. Traditional semiconductor lasers, such as the ones utilized in CO players, emit light from edge of the chip, so it is necessary to cleave a wafer into chips and package the chip before knowing of the laser is good. VCSELs emit light vertically from the wafer surface, like LEDs, which means their fabrication and testing is fully compatible with standard integrated circuit procedures and equipment. VCSELs, however, are much faster and more efficient and produce a smaller divergence beam than LEDs. Pluggable module  10  can thus be configured as a transceiver module based on a VCSEL laser, which produces a beam, that projects light in a collimated fashion. 
   The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize the invention. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example only. Other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and it is the intent of the appended claims that such variations and modifications be covered. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention. 
   Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from scope of the following claims. It is contemplated that the use of the present invention can involve components having different characteristics. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.