Patent Publication Number: US-8537558-B2

Title: Electronic module with improved latch mechanism

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 transmitting. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable), X-SFP and QSFP are all modules for fiber optic transmission or ordinary signal transmission. All of the modules are of small size or form factor which is important. 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 is desirable to replace it, particularly when other communication channels are supported by other modules. To replace a failed module, it needs to be pluggable into a module receptacle. While, plugging in a new module is usually easy, it is more difficult to remove the failed module because of other components surrounding it. 
     Hence, an improved electronic module is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
     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 comprises a base portion having a receiving space, a panel portion, a printed circuit board disposed in the base portion and a latch mechanism assembled to the base portion. The latch mechanism includes an actuator member, a fastening member connected with one end of the actuator member, a pull tape connected with another end of the actuator member, an elastic member and a slider member. The fastening member is assembled to the slider member, and the elastic member is shielding outside the slider member. 
     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 assembled, perspective view of an electronic module of a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  are another views similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspects; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the electronic module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an electronic module of a second embodiment in according with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, perspective view of the electronic module shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but taken from a different aspect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the electronic module  100  comprises a housing (not numbered) composed of 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. 1-4 , in the first embodiment of the present invention, 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 back face of the primary body portion  11 . The primary body portion  11  has a pair of lateral walls  111 ,  112  and a bottom wall  113  joining to lower sections of the lateral walls  111 ,  112  to form a receiving space  110  with an upper window (not numbered). Rear sections of the pair of the lateral walls  111 ,  112  define a pair of first depression portions  1110 . A front section of the bottom wall  113  is cut to form an outlet  1131 . A rear section of the bottom wall  113  defines a first channel  1132  located in a middle area thereof, with a tab  1133  formed in the front and middle of the first channel  1132 . A pair of sunken portions  1134  are defined in two lateral areas of the rear section of the bottom wall  113 , and arranged at outward of the first channel  1132 . A pair of indentations  1135  are arranged at inward of the corresponding sunken portions  1134 , and the indentations  1135  are deeper than the sunken portions  1134 . A pair of protrusions  1136  are respectively formed in a rear corners (not numbered) of the sunken portions  1134 , a pair of tiny posts  1137  respectively are formed in the middle area of the pair of indentations  1135 . The primary body portion  11  further has a beam portion  114  with substantially L-shaped cross-section interconnecting distal portions of the pair of the lateral walls  111 ,  112 . 
     The first mounting portion  12  has a pair of side walls  121  and a lower wall  122  to corporately form a first semi-circular cavity  1201 , and a deeper first position slot  1202  is located in front of the first semi-circular cavity  1201 . A second channel  1221  is defined in a middle area of the lower wall  122  and communicated with the first channel  1132  of the primary body portion  11 . A pair of guiding members  123  are respectively formed on lateral areas of the lower wall  122 . Each guiding member  123  has a lengthways guiding passage  1232  facing downwards, and a conjoining portion  124  is arranged between the pair of guiding members  123 . The conjoining portion  124  is connecting with the two guiding members  123  and located behind the first mounting portion  12 . The conjoining portion  124  has a smaller height than the guiding members  123 , and a pair of combining holes  1241  are defined on the conjoining portion  124 . A pair of pivot members  1211  are respectively formed on exterior surfaces of the pair of side walls  121 . A pair of first screw holes  1212  are respectively recessed downwards from upper surfaces of rear sections of side walls  121 . 
     The panel portion  2  is die-cast or a metallic plated body, and includes 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 lateral sides thereof. The board member  213  defines a second depression portion  2130  on an upper section thereof and a vertical wall  2131  on a front section thereof. The board member  213  has a protrusion portion  2132  on a front end thereof. A pair of supporting posts  2133  are located behind the vertical wall  2131 , and each supporting post  2133  defines a second screw hole  2134 . 
     The second mounting portion  22  also has a pair of side walls  221  and a upper wall  222  to corporately form a second semi-circular cavity  2201 , and a deeper second position slot  2202  located in front of the second semi-circular cavity  2201 . A pair of through holes  2211  are respectively defined in a rear section of the side walls  221 . 
     The printed circuit board  3  includes a substrate  30 , a plurality of first conductive pads  31  arranged on a front section of the substrate  30  and a plurality of second conductive pads  32  located on rear section thereof. A pair of positioning holes  33  are disposed neighboring to a front segment of the substrate  30 . 
     The cable  4  includes an outer insulative jacket (not shown), and a number of wires (not shown) enclosed in the insulative jacket and insulated from each other. A front section of the cable  4  is electrically connected with the second conductive pads  32  of the printed circuit board  3 , and an insulator  9  is molded to a front section of the cable  4  neighboring to the printed circuit board  3 . 
     The gasket  5  is made of sheet metal and configured to rectangular-shaped frame portion  51 , including a pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b , an upper side  5   c  joining upper edges of the pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b , and a pair of lower sub-walls  5   d  respectively extending inwardly from lower edges of the pair of vertical walls  5   a ,  5   b . A lower outlet  50  is formed between the pair of lower sub-walls  5   d  for assembling easily. A number of detents  52 ,  53  are separated into a layer of first (outward) detents  53  and a layer of second (inward) detents  52  are formed on the frame portion  51 . The layer of first detents  53  extend rearward and outward from front edge of the frame portion  51 , while the layer of second detents  52  are stamped of the frame portion  51  and outward deflect the frame portion  51 . The first detents  53  are shielding the second detents  52 , therefore to achieve better Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) suppressing effect. 
     A pair of fixing portions  54  are formed on free ends of the pair of lower sub-walls  5   d , and extending breadthwise into the lower outlet  50 . Each fixing portion  54  has a circular hole  541  in a central area thereof. Each sub-wall  5   d  has a semi-circular cutout  542  located in a distal end thereof to accommodate corresponding protrusions  1136  in the sunken portions  1134 . 
     The latch mechanism includes an elastic member  61 , a slider member  62 , an actuator member  63 , a fastening member  64 , a pull tape  65 . The elastic member  61  is made of sheet metal and has an invariable width along a transverse direction, and comprises a horizontal coupling portion  612  in the front thereof, a horizontal positioning portion  613  and a contacting portion  614  slantways connecting the coupling portion  612  and the positioning portion  613 . The positioning portion  613  is lower than the coupling portion  612  along the up-to-down direction, and the positioning portion  613  defines a pair of fixing holes  6131  in a rear section thereof. An opening  6120  is recessed rearwards from a front end of the coupling portion  612 . 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the slider member  62  is a hollow cylinder. The fastening member  64  is of rod-shaped, and includes a bolt member  641  and a nut  642 . The slider member  62  is assembled onto the bolt member  641  of the fastening member  64 . 
     The actuator member  63  is configured to doorframe-shaped, and includes a doorhead  631  and two door jambs  632 . A slit  633  is formed in the doorhead  631  along the transverse direction. Each door jamb  632  defines a first positioning hole  6321  in a middle section thereof, and a pair of mounting holes  6322  are defined through the lower ends of the door jambs  632 , the first positioning hole  6321  is communicated with the corresponding mounting hole  6322  on a same side. 
     The pull tape  65  is a soft belt with a certain width and comprises opposite ends, the opposite ends thereof are stuck to each other to form a handling portion  651  for being pulled by an operator to pull the actuator mechanism rearwardly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , in assembly, the insulative jacket of a front segment of the cable  4  is decorticated, and then the wires exposed outside are soldered to the second conductive pads  32  of the printed circuit board  3 , and an insulator  9  is over-molded on the front section of the cable  4 . 
     The cable  4  is pressed into the first position slot  1202  of the base portion  1 . The panel portion  2  is assembled to the base portion  1 , with a pair of lateral flange members  211 ,  212  thereof inserted into the receiving space  110 . The printed circuit board  3  is disposed on the supporting posts  2133  of the panel portion  2  and accommodated in the receiving space  110  of the base portion  1 . The positioning holes  33  are aligning with the relative second screw holes  2134  in the supporting posts  2133 , and a pair of second screw members  72  are inserted into the positioning holes  33  and the second screw holes  2134  to fasten the printed circuit board  3  and the panel portion  2  together. 
     The protrusion portion  2132  is supported by the beam portion  114  of the base portion  1 , the cable  4  is partially received in the second position slot  2202  of the panel portion  2 . The pair of through holes  2211  of the panel portion  2  are aligning with the pair of first screw holes  1212  of the base portion  1 , then a pair of first screw members  71  are inserted into the through holes  2211  and the first screw holes  1212  to fasten the panel portion  2  and the base portion  1  together. 
     The gasket  5  is assembled to an outer surface of the housing, with the pair of vertical sides  5   a ,  5   b  thereof located in the pair of first depression portions  1110  of the base portion  1 , the upper side  5   c  thereof located in the second depression portion  2130  of the panel portion  2 , the pair of lower sub-walls  5   d  are located in the pair of sunken portions  1134 , the fixing portions  54  are accommodated in the corresponding indentations  1135 . The pair of tiny posts  1137  are inserted into the pair of through holes  541  of the pair of fixing portions  54  and then soldered therein. The protrusion members  1136  are received in the corresponding cutouts  542  of the lower sub-walls  5   d.    
     The actuator member  63  is assembled to the first mounting portion  12  of the base portion  1 , and the pair of pivot members  1211  of the first mounting portion  12  are received in the pair of first positioning holes  6321  of the door jambs  632  of the actuator member  63 . The slider member  62  is assembled to the fastening member  64 , and then the combined unit of the slider member  62  and the fastening member  64  is placed in the second channel  1221  of the first mounting portion  12 . The pair of mounting holes  6322  located in the end section of the door jambs  632  are aligning with the bolt member  641  of the fastening member  64 , and the bolt member  641  is inserted through the pair of mounting holes  6322  and slidable received in the guiding passage  1232 , then the nut  642  is finally assembled to end of the bolt member  641 . The pull tape  65  is connected with the actuator member  63 , and inserted into the slit  633  of the actuator member  63 , with the free ends stuck to each other to form the handling portion  651 . The fastening member  64  is connected to one end of the actuator member  63 , and the pull tape  65  is connected with another opposite end of the actuator member  63 . 
     Then the elastic member  61  is situated in the second channel  1221  of the first mounting portion  12 , with the positioning portion  613  being adjacent to the conjoining portion  124 , and the combining holes  1241  aligning with the corresponding fixing holes  6131 , a pair of third screw members  73  are inserted into the combining holes  1241  and the fixing holes  6131  to settle the elastic member  61  on the base portion  1 . The slider member  62  is shielded by the elastic member  61  and adjacent to the contacting portion  614 , and the opening  6120  in the coupling portion  612  of the elastic member  61  is facing towards the tab  1133  in the first channel  1132 . 
     When the electronic module  100  mating with the complementary connector (not shown), the layer of first detents  53  contact with a cage (not shown) of the complementary connector to reduce EMI nearby an interface between a front segment of the complementary connector and rear portions of the primary body portion  11  of the base portion  1  and the secondary body portion  21  of the panel portion  2 , and the layer of second detents  52  may further prevent EMI leakage through slits between adjacent detents of the layer of first detents  53 . 
     While the electronic module  100  disengaging away from the complementary connector, just exert a pulling force on the handling portion  651  of the pull tape  65  to promote the columned slider member  62  moving forwardly and pushing the contacting portion  614  of the elastic member  61 , then the elastic member  61  moving downwards to reversely push the cage of the complementary connector moving outwards to depart from the electronic module  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , an electronic module  200  of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The electronic module  200  is similar to the electronic module  100 , excepted with different latch mechanisms, and detailed description of the same elements and their relations of the electronic module  200  are omitted hereby. The latch mechanism of the electronic module  200  comprises an elastic member  61 ′, a slider member  62 ′, an actuator member  63 ′, a fastening member  64 ′ and a pull tape  65 ′. And the latch mechanism of the electronic module  200  is similar to the latch mechanism of the electronic module  100  except the slider member  62 ′ different from the slider member  62 . In the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the slider member  62 ′ comprises a substantially rectangular shaped body portion  621 ′ and a wedge-shaped portion  622 ′ extending forwards from a front surface of the body portion  621 ′. The body portion  621 ′ has a transverse groove  623 ′ neighboring to the wedge-shaped portion  622 ′, and the fastening member  64 ′ is received in the groove  623 ′, the elastic member  61 ′ is shielding on the slider member  62 ′. 
     While the electronic module  200  disengaging away from the complementary connector, just exert a pulling force on the handling portion  651 ′ of the pull tape  65 ′ to promote the slider member  62 ′ moving forwardly and pushing the contacting portion  614 ′ of the elastic member  61 ′, then the elastic member  61 ′ moving downwards to reversely push the cage of the complementary connector moving outwards to depart from the electronic module  200 . 
     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.