Abstract:
An electronic module ( 100 ) for mating with a complementary connector, comprises: a housing, a printed circuit board ( 3 ) disposed in the housing, a slider member ( 6 ) movably received in the channel, and a cover member ( 9 ) mounted to the housing over the slider member. The slider member has a body portion ( 611 ) and a pair of curved arm portions ( 612 ) extending forwardly from the body portion. The cover member has a pair of curved contacting portions ( 92 ) overlaying the pair of curved arm portions of the slider member, the pair of curved contacting portions being moveable outward in response to a sliding movement of the pair of curved arm portions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electronic module, and more particularly to an electronic module having an improved latch mechanism for high speed signal transmission. The application relates to a copending application with Ser. No. 13/405,599 filed on Feb. 27, 2012 with the same applicant and the same assignee and the same title with the instant application. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable), X-SFP and QSFP are all modules for fiber optic transmission or copper-based signal transmission. It is important for the modules to be of small size or form factor. The smaller the form factor of the module, the less space taken on a printed circuit board to which it couples. A smaller form factor allows a greater number of modules to be coupled onto a printed circuit board to support additional communication channels. However, the smaller form factor makes it more difficult for a user to handle. When such a module embedded in a system fails, it need be replaced. To replace a failed module, it needs to be pluggable into a module receptacle surrounding a host board connector. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,250 discloses a module received in a corresponding cage or receptacle and comprising a housing, a circuit card, and a de-latching assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The latching assembly has a rear handle portion and two arms that extend forwardly from the handle portion through the housing, the arms are terminating in free ends, and each of the free ends includes a cam portion that is aligned to selectively contact a corresponding engagement tab disposed on an opposing shielded housing to move the engagement tab out of engagement with the plug connector housing so that the plug connector may be disengaged and easily removed from the shielded housing. U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,171 discloses a module comprising a housing, an actuator moveable relative to the housing in a horizontal direction, and a latch member discrete from and operable by the actuator. The latch member comprises an engaging portion assembled to said housing, an actuation section positioned forwardly from the engaging portion and actuated by a cooperating portion of the actuator, and a front latch portion. 
     An electronic module having an improved latch mechanism is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic module having an improved latch mechanism to be separated from a complementary connector expediently. 
     In order to achieve the object set forth, an electronic module for mating with a complementary connector, comprises: a housing, a printed circuit board disposed in the housing, a slider member movably received in the channel, and a cover member mounted to the housing over the slider member. The slider member has a body portion and a pair of curved arm portions extending forwardly from the body portion. The cover member has a pair of curved contacting portions overlaying the pair of curved arm portions of the slider member, the pair of curved contacting portions being moveable outward in response to a sliding movement of the pair of curved arm portions. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electronic module in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2-3  are other views similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from different aspects; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of the electronic module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical connector assembly formed by the electronic module shown in  FIG. 4  and an cage of a complementary connector; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical connector assembly formed by the electronic module and an cage of a complementary connector; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 7  when a pull tape of the electronic module is moved rearwardly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taking a copper based module as an example. It is noted that the present invention generally finds its application in other types of modules like opto-electronic modules, transceivers, etc., either connectorized for receiving optical connectors or permanently integrated with fiber cables, which substantially includes an outer housing or frame. Therefore, the term “electronic module” is intended to include opto-electronic modules or transceivers. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the electronic module  100  comprises a housing (not numbered) defining a front mating port and a rear locking port and formed by a conductive base portion  1  and a conductive panel portion  2 , a printed circuit board  3 , a cable  4 , a metallic gasket  5  and a latch mechanism (not numbered). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the base portion  1  is die-cast or other metallic plated body, and includes a primary body portion  11  and a first mounting portion  12  rearward extending from a back face of the primary body portion  11 . 
     The primary body portion  11  has a pair of lateral walls  111 ,  112  and a top wall  113  connecting with the lateral walls  111 ,  112  to form a receiving space  110  with an opening (not numbered) facing downward. Rear sections of the pair of the lateral walls  111 ,  112  define a pair of first depression portions  1110 . An outlet  1131  is formed on a front section of the top wall  113 . A rear section of the top wall  113  defines a first channel  1132  located in a middle area thereof. And, a locking piece  1133  is formed in the front and middle of the first channel  1132 . A pair of sunken portions  1134  are formed on two lateral areas of the rear section of the top wall  113 , and respectively arranged at two outer sides of the first channel  1132 . A pair of indentations  1135  are respectively located at inner side of the corresponding sunken portions  1134  and formed in front of the first channel  1132 . And each of the indentation  1135  is deeper than each of the sunken portion  1134 . A pair of protrusions  1136  are respectively formed in a rear end of the two sunken portions  1134 . A pair of tiny posts  1137  are respectively formed in the pair of indentations  1135 . A pair of recesses  1138  are formed on two sides of the first channel  1132  and located on the rear section of the top wall  113 . The two recesses  1138  are also respectively located at two inner sides of the two sunken portions  1134  and located behind the two indentations  1135 . And, the recess  1138  is deeper than the indentation  1135 . 
     The primary body portion  11  further has a beam portion  114  with substantially L-shaped cross-section interconnecting two front ends of the pair of the lateral walls  111 ,  112 . The lateral walls  111 ,  112  of the primary body portion  11  respectively has two first standoffs  1112  and a second standoff  1113  located in front of the two first standoffs  1112  on an inner surface thereof. The two first standoffs  1112  and the second standoff  1113  are located adjacent to the outlet  1131  of the primary body portion  11 . And a pair of wider ribs  1115  are respectively formed on two inner surfaces of the lateral walls  111 ,  112  and disposed in front of each second standoff  1113 . Each second standoff  1113  has a situating post  1114  formed thereon. The situating post  1114  formed on the lateral wall  111  and the situating post  1114  formed on the lateral wall  112  are staggered with each other along a longitudinal direction. 
     The first mounting portion  12  has a pair of side walls  121  and a top wall  122 . The first mounting portion  12  defines a first semi-circular cavity  1201  and a first position slot  1202  located in front of the first semi-circular cavity  1201 . The first position slot  1202  is deeper than the first semi-circular  1201 . A second channel  1221  is formed on a middle area of the top wall  122  and communicated with the first channel  1132  of the primary body portion  11 . A projection  1222  is formed in the second channel  1221  and located behind the locking piece  1133 . A pair of fixing passages  1223  are formed on two lateral sides of the second channel  1221 . And the first mounting portion  12  defines a pair of screw holes  1212  throughout the first mounting portion  12  along a vertical direction and respectively formed at two rear corners thereof. A pair of positioning posts  1224  are respectively formed on exterior surfaces of the pair of side walls  121 . 
     The panel portion  2  is die-cast or a metallic plated body. The panel portion  2  comprises a secondary body portion  21  and a second mounting portion  22  extending rearwards from a back face of the secondary body portion  21 . The secondary body portion  21  has a planar board member  213  and a pair of flange members  211 ,  212  formed on two lateral sides thereof. The board member  213  defines a second depression portion  2130  formed on an outer surface thereof and a vertical wall  2131  perpendicular to the pair of flange members  211 ,  212  and interconnected with two front ends of the pair of flange members  211 ,  212 . The two flange members  211 ,  212  respectively defines two supporting posts  2133  extending upward from thereon. Four supporting posts  2133  are located behind the vertical wall  2131 . A front supporting post  2133  of the two supporting posts  2133  on the flange member  211  has a first aperture  2134  opening facing rearwardly. And a front supporting post  2133  of the two supporting posts  2133  on the flange member  212  has a second aperture  2135  opening facing forwardly. That is to say, the first aperture  2134  and the second aperture  2135  have opposite facing directions with each other. The board member  213  has a protrusion portion  2132  on a front end thereof. 
     The second mounting portion  22  also has a pair of side walls  221  and a bottom wall  22 . The second mounting portion  22  defines a second semi-circular cavity  2201  and a second position slot  2202  located in front of the second semi-circular cavity  2201 . And the second mounting portion  12  defines a pair of through holes  2211  throughout the second mounting portion  12  along a vertical direction and respectively formed on two rear corners thereof. 
     The printed circuit board  3  includes a substrate  30 , a plurality of first conductive pads  31  formed on two opposite surfaces of a front section of the substrate  30  and a plurality of second conductive pads (not shown) located on a rear section thereof. A pair of semi-circular positioning holes  32  are formed at two sides of a front segment of the substrate  30 . The shape of the positioning hole  32  also can be defined by other configurations, such as square. 
     The cable  4  includes an outer insulative jacket  40  and a number of wires  41  enclosed by the insulative jacket  40 . And a number of wires  41  are insulated with each other. A cable holder member  42  is attached to the cable  4  and surrounds a front portion of the cable  4 . The cable holder member  42  is adjacent to the exposed wires  41 . A front section of the wires  41  are electrically connected with the second conductive pads of the printed circuit board  3 . And, an insulator  43  is formed around a connection between a front section of the wires  41  and a rear end of the printed circuit board  3 . 
     The gasket  5  is made of metal sheet and has a rectangular frame portion  51 . The frame portion  51  defines a pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b , a lower side  5   c  connecting with the pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b , and a pair of upper walls  5   d  respectively extending inwardly from two top ends of the pair of vertical walls  5   a ,  5   b . An outlet  50  is formed between the pair of upper walls  5   d  for the gasket  5  easily assembling to the housing. A number of fingers  52 ,  53  formed on the frame portion  51  are divided into a layer of first fingers  53  and a layer of second fingers  52 . A number of first fingers  53  are located on an outer side of the frame portion  51 . A number of second fingers  52  are located on an inner side of the frame portion  51 . A number of second fingers  52  are shielded by a number of first fingers  53  to achieve better Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) suppressing effect. A number of first fingers  53  extend rearward and outward from front edge of the frame portion  51 . And a number of second fingers  52  are stamped from the frame portion  51  and extend rearward and outward. Each upper wall  5 d defines a circular hole  54  cooperated with the tiny post  1137 . Each upper wall  5 d further defines a semi-circular hole  55  cooperated with the protrusion  1136 . 
     The latch mechanism includes a slider member  61  and a pull tape  62  connected with each other. The slider member  61  is formed of metallic material and has a body portion  611  received in the second channel  1221 , and two arm portions  612  extending forwardly from a front face of the body portion  611 . The two arm portions  612  are spaced apart with each other along a transversal direction. The arm portions  612  are accommodated in the corresponding recesses  1138 . Each arm portion  612  comprises a first slanted portion  6120  extending forwards from the front face of the body portion  611 , and a second slanted portion or projecting section  6121  extending forwards from the first slanted portion  6120 . A pair of cutouts  613  are formed on both sides of the body portion  611 , a pair of elastic portions  614  are defined on both sides of the body portion  611  and outside the corresponding cutouts  613 . A groove  615  is disposed in the middle of the body portion  611  along a transverse direction, the groove  615  is behind the elastic portions  614 , and the projection  1222  of the base portion  1  is received into the groove  615  when the slider member  61  is assembled to the base portion  1 . 
     The pull tape  62  is a soft belt with a certain width. The pull tape  62  defines a connecting end attached to a rear end of the slider member  61  and a handling portion  621  for an operator pulling the latch mechanism. 
     A metallic or cover member  9  is made of metal sheet and defines a pair of openings  91  on two sides thereof, the pair of openings  91  are formed in rear segment of the metallic member  9 . A pair of contacting portions  92  extends from a front end of the metallic member  9 , and the contacting portions  92  are abutting against to the corresponding arm portions  612 . Each contacting portion  92  has similar shape as the arm portion  612 , and comprises a third slanted portion  920  located on the first slanted portion  6120 , and a fourth slanted portion  921  extending forwards from the third slanted portion  920 . The fourth slanted portion  921  is located on the corresponding second slanted portion  6121 . A pair of connecting portions  93  are defined on lateral sides of a front section of the metallic member  9  for cooperating with a pair of semi-circular holes of the base portion  1  and engaged with the two positioning posts  1224 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , a complementary connector (not shown) mated with the electronic module  100  has a cage  200 . The cage  200  is structured in a rectangular shape and has a receiving room formed therein for receiving a body portion of the electronic module  100 . The cage  200  defines a first tab  201  having a through hole  202  formed on a rear end thereof and a pair of second tabs  203  located at two sides of the first tab  201  for cooperating with two first fingers  53  of the gasket  5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , and in conjunction with  FIGS. 5-8 , in assembly, the insulative jacket  40  of a front segment of the cable  4  is decorticated. And, then the wires  41  are exposed outside and soldered to the second conductive pads of the printed circuit board  3 . And the insulator  43  is formed around a connecting portion between the wires  41  and the printed circuit board  3 . 
     The printed circuit board  3  is assembled into the base portion  1  and received in the receiving space  110  of the base portion  1 . Simultaneously, the printed circuit board  3  is located on the first standoffs  1112  and the second standoffs  1113  of the base portion  1 . And the situating posts  1114  are inserted into the positioning holes  32  of the printed circuit board  3  to position the printed circuit board  3  to the base portion  1 . 
     The cable holder member  42  of the cable  4  is partially received into the first position slot  1202  of the base portion  1 . The panel portion  2  is assembled to the base portion  1  with the pair of lateral flange members  211 ,  212  extending into the receiving space  110 . The supporting posts  2133  attach to a bottom surface of the printed circuit board  3 . The two situating posts  1114  are received into the first and second apertures  2134 ,  2135 . As the first and second apertures  2134 ,  2135  have different opening facing directions. So the panel portion  2  is positioned with the base portion  1  along a front to rear direction. The protrusion portion  2132  of the panel portion  2  is received into the beam portion  114  of the base portion  1 . The cable holder member  42  is totally received into the first and second position slots  1202 ,  2202 . 
     The slider member  61  is assembled into the second channel  1221  of the first mounting portion  12 . The projection  1222  of the base portion  1  is slideable received in the groove  615  along a mating direction, the elastic portions  614  are received in the two fixing passages  1223 , and the arm portions  612  are received in the pair of recesses  1138 . 
     The gasket  5  surrounds the rear out surface of the housing (not figured). The pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b  are received into the pair of first depression portions  1110 . The lower side  5   c  is received into the second depression portions  2130  of the panel portion  2 . The pair of upper walls  5   d  are respectively received into the pair of sunken portions  1134 . The tiny post  1137  formed in the indentation  1135  is passed through the circular hole  54 . 
     The metallic member  9  is assembled to a top surface of the first mounting portion  12  and covered to the body portion  611  of the slider member  61 . The contacting portions  92  are abutting against to the corresponding arm portions  612 , the connecting portions  93  are disposed in the semi-circular holes of the base portion  1 . The opening  91 , the screw hole  1212 , the through hole  2211  are in alignment with each other along a vertical direction. A pair of fasteners or screws  8  are respectively passed through the opening  91 , the screw hole  1212 , the through hole  2211  to engage with the metallic member  9 , the base portion  1  and the panel portion  2  together. 
     When the electronic module  100  is received into the cage  200  of the complementary connector, the locking piece  1133  is passed through the through hole  202  of the first tab  201 . The contacting portions  92  are located above the first tab  201  and on both sides of the through hole  202 , the second tabs  203  are adjacent to the first fingers  53 . Thus, the electronic module  100  is interlocked with the cage  200 . 
     And, the arm portions  612  will move upwardly when the slider member  61  is exerted by a pulling force along a front to rear direction. And, the first tab  201  will be raised up by the contacting portions  92  which is moved upwardly. At this time, the locking piece  1133  is disengaged with first tab  201 . As a result, the electronic module  100  can be discreted from the cage  200 . The elastic portions  614  will provide an elastic restoring force to promote the slider member  61  reset as the pull tape  62  is released. Understandably, the features of the instant invention are to provide a slider member equipped with a projecting section around the locking piece so as to, via assistant of the slanted portion, have the rearward movement of the slider member result in outward deflection of the locking tab of the cage, either directly or indirectly, for release of the module from the cage. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrated only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.