Abstract:
An electronic module ( 100 ) includes a housing having a body portion and a mounting portion extending rearward from the body portion, a printed circuit board ( 3 ) accommodated in the housing, a cable ( 4 ) terminated to a rear portion of the printed circuit board and an ejector. The ejector includes a slider ( 61 ) slidably mounted to a channel defined in the mounting portion; an actuator ( 62 ) including a transversal beam across the mounting portion and two legs connected to opposite ends of the transversal beam and disposed outward of lateral sides of the mounting portion, said legs pivotally engaged with the mounting portion of the housing and linked to the slider; a pulling member ( 64 ) connected to the transversal beam of the actuator, with a tie ( 644 ) attached to the pulling member and wrapping the cable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/287,966 filed on Oct. 14, 2008 and entitled “ELECTRONIC MODULE WITH EJECTOR”, which has the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. The disclosure of the related application is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electronic module, and more particularly to a low profile and easily manipulated electronic module. 
   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. Additionally, a user should not attempt to pull on cables of the module in order to try and remove a failed module or else the user might cause damage thereto. 
   A typical release method for a pluggable module is to push in on the module itself and then pull out on the module to release it from a cage assembly or module receptacle. It has been determined than this method is not very reliable with users complaining of the difficulty in removing pluggable modules in such manner. Users often complain that traditional methods offer little leverage in getting a sufficient grip on the module when attempting to pull it out of a module receptacle. Another complaint is that traditional actuators used to remove modules are inaccessible or invisible. Other users complain than once released by the traditional method, it is difficult to withdraw the module out of its cage or module receptacle. 
   Therefore, designers developed different solutions to solve above problems accounted by the users, such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,851,867, 6,749,448, 6,884,097, 6,908,323, 7,052,306, 6,824,416 and 7,090,523. The theories of theses patents are substantially the same, that is each module is received in corresponding cage or module receptacle and comprises a pair of sliders with forward ends engaging with tabs of the cage, and a bail or lever capable of rotating to actuate the sliders linearly to separate forward ends of the sliders from the tabs. The action theory of theses patents successfully solve the problems mentioned above. 
   However, ejectors of the aforementioned patents are not low enough and may increase height of the electronic module. Furthermore, the more low profile of the electronic module, the more difficult for a user to operate the ejector. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic module having an improved ejector. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electronic module in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing having a body portion and a mounting portion extending rearward from the body portion; a printed circuit board accommodated in the housing; a cable terminated to a rear portion of the printed circuit board; and an ejector. The ejector includes a slider slidably mounted to a channel defined in the mounting portion; an actuator including a transversal beam across the mounting portion and two legs connected to opposite ends of the transversal beam and disposed outward of lateral sides of the mounting portion, said legs pivotally engaged with the mounting portion of the housing and linked to the slider; a pulling member connected to the transversal beam of the actuator, with a tie attached to the pulling member and wrapping the cable. 
   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; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled, perspective view of the electronic module; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of the electronic module; 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from other aspect; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , an electronic module  100  comprises an elongated housing  1 A, a printed circuit board (PCB)  3  enclosed in the housing  1 A, a cable  4  terminated to the PCB  3 , a metal gasket  5  mounted to a rear segment of the housing  1 A and an ejector assembled to the housing  1 A for separating the electronic module  100  from a complementary connector (not shown). The elongated housing  1 A has a flange  10 A which is formed on peripheral of the housing  1 A to divided the housing into a longer body portion and a shorter mounting portion. The flange  10 A also serves as mating stopper. 
   The housing  1 A includes a base  1  and a cover  2 . The base  1  is die-cast or other metal plated body, including a primary body portion  11  and a first mounting portion  12  rearward extending from back segment 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 two lateral walls  111 ,  112  to from 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 locking tab  1135  formed in the front and middle therein. A pair of L-shaped depression portions  1134  are defined in two lateral areas of the rear section of the bottom wall  113 , disposed outward of the first channel  1132 . A pair of tiny posts  1136  are respectively arranged in the pair of L-shaped depression portions  1134  and adjacent to each other. The primary body portion  11  further has 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  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 communicates with the first channel  1132  of the primary body portion  11 . A stopping member  1133  is located in a front portion of the second channel  1221  and aligns with the locking tab  1135  along a front-to-back direction. A pair of guiding members  123  are respectively formed on lateral areas of the lower wall  122 . A thin bar member  1231  projects inwardly from an inner surface of a rear portion of each guiding member  123 . A lengthways guiding groove  1232  is located in a middle segment of each guiding member  123  and disposed in front of the bar member  1231 . A pair of pivot members  1211  are respectively formed on upper sections of the outer surfaces of the pair of side walls  121 . A pair of screw holes  1212  are respectively recessed downward from up surfaces of rear sections of the side walls  121 . 
   The cover  2  is a die-cast or metal plated body, including a secondary body portion  21  and a second mounting portion  22  rearward extending from back segment 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 at lateral sides of the board member  213 . A second depression portion  2130  is defined in a peripheral portion of a rear portion of the board member  213 . A vertical wall  2131  is arranged on an inner side of the front section of the board member  213 . A pair of supporting posts  2133  are located behind the vertical wall  2131 , and each supporting post  2133  further defines a second screw hole  2134  therein. A protrusion portion  2132  extends forwardly form inner surface of a front portion of the board member  213 . 
   The cover  2  further includes a second mounting portion  22  rearward extending from a back face of the secondary body portion  21 . The second mounting portion  22  also has a pair of side walls  221  and a top 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 . Two protrusions  2220  are respectively formed at lateral sides of a top surface of the top wall  222 . Each protrusion  2220  has an arched up side. 
   The ejector includes a slider  61 , an actuator  62 , and a pulling member  64 . 
   The slider  61  has a substantially rectangular shaped body portion  610  and two wedge-shaped tabs  612  extending forwardly from the body portion  610 . The two tabs  612  space from each other, with a passage  6120  formed therebetween. A cavity  611  is recessed downwardly from an upper surface of a middle segment of the body portion  610 , and two grooves  613  respectively recessed inward from lateral surfaces of a rear segment of the body portion  610 . A circular shaped first slot  614  is recessed upwardly from a bottom surface of a rear portion of the slider  61 , and a rectangular shape second slot  615  is recessed upwardly from a bottom surface of a front portion of the slider  61 . The first slot  614  is in communication to the second slot  615 . Furthermore, the second slot  615  is larger than the first slot  614 . A rear segment of a spring member  8  is accommodated in the first slot  614 , and a front segment of the spring member  8  projects into the second slot  615 . 
   The actuator  62  is configured to doorframe-shaped, including a doorhead or transversal beam  621  and two door jambs or leg portions  622  connected to ends of the doorhead  621 . A pair of first positioning holes  6221  are respectively defined in middle sections of the leg portions  622 , and a pair of mounting holes  6222  are respectively defined through the lower ends thereof. A slot  6221  is defined in the transversal beam  621 . 
   The pulling member  64  includes an engaging portion  641 , a pulling portion  643  and a connecting portion  642  connected with the engaging portion  641  and the pulling portion  643 . A tie  644  is attached to the connecting portion  642 . However, it should be known that the tie may be integrally formed with the connecting portion  642 . The engaging portion  641  is linked to the slot  6221  of the transversal beam  621 . 
   The metal gasket  5  includes a number of walls  51  interconnected together to form a frame, and a plurality of spring tabs  52  formed on outer sides of the walls  51 . Two clasping portions  53  are connected to ends of the frame and face to each other, and each clasping portion  53  defines a hole  54 . 
   The PCB  3  includes a substrate  30 , a plurality of first conductive pads  31  arranged on a front section of the substrate  30  to form a mating interface. A pair of positioning holes  33  are defined in the substrate  30 , proximate a front section thereof. 
   The cable  4  includes a number of wires  41  terminated to a rear segment of the PCB  3 . An insulator  32  is molded over the rear segment of the PCB  3  and portions of the wires  41  to enhance engagement between the wires  41  and the PCB  3 . An asymmetrical hexagon ring  40  is crimped onto the cable  4  and accommodated in a position slot  1202 ,  2202  of the first and second mounting portions  12 ,  22 . Such asymmetrical hexagon ring  40  may well match with the position slot  1202 ,  2202 , as the position slot  1202  is larger than the position slot  2202 . 
   When assembling, the PCB  3  is put on the pair of supporting posts  2133  of the cover  2 , with the pair of positioning holes  33  thereof aligning with the pair of second screw holes  2134  of the pair of supporting posts  2133 , and then a pair of second screw members  72  are inserted into the pair of positioning holes  33  and the pair of second screw holes  2134  to fix the PCB  3  to the cover  2 . The cover  2  is assembled to the base  1 , with a pair of lateral flange members  211 ,  212  thereof inserted into the receiving space  110 , the protrusion portion  2132  supported by the beam portion  114  of the base  1 , Simultaneously, the PCB  3  is received in the receiving space  110 , the pair of through holes  2211  of the cover  2  aligning with a pair of screw holes  1212  of the base  1 , then a pair of first screw members  71  are inserted into the through holes  2211  and screw holes  1212  to fasten the cover  2  and the base  1  together. 
   The gasket  5  is assembled to an outer surface of the housing, with the walls  51  located in the a pair of first depression portions  1110  of the base  1  and the second depression portions  2130  of the cover  2 , the clasping portions  53  located in the pair of L-shaped depression portions  1134 , the pair of tiny posts  1136  within the depression portions  1134  inserted into a pair of through holes  54  of the pair of mounting members  54  and then soldered thereto. 
   The slider  61  is assembled to the second channel  1221  of the first mounting portion  12 , with the pair of thin bar members  1231  of the two guiding members  123  received in the two grooves  613  thereof, the cavity  611  aligning with guiding grooves  1232  of the two guiding members  123 , the stopping member  1133  accommodated in the second slot  615  to prevent the spring member  8  sliding away the slider  61 , the passage  6120  between the tabs  612  facing to the locking tab  1135  in the first channel  1132 . 
   Then, the pulling member  64  is linked to the transversal beam  621  of the actuator  62 . The actuator  62  is assembled to the first mounting portion  12  of the base  1 , with the pair of pivot members  1211  of the first mounting portion received in the pair of first positioning holes  6221  of the legs  622  of the actuator  62 , the pair of mounting holes  6222  located in the end section of the legs  622  aligning with the cavity  611  and the guiding grooves  1232  of the two guiding members  123 , then a bolt  63  is inserted through the pair of mounting holes  6222 , the cavity  611  and the guiding grooves  1232 , and a corresponding nut  630  is assembled to the bolt  63 . The transversal beam  621  is located above and proximate to the protrusions  2220  of the a second mounting portion  22 . The tie  644  is wrapped the cable  4  to hang the pulling member  6 . 
   While the electronic module  100  disengages away the complementary connector, just exert a pulling force on the pulling portion  643  to rock the actuator  62  rotating around the pivot members  1211 , such that the slider  61  is pushed moving forwardly along the second channel  1221  and the first channel  1132  to urge latch mechanism of the complementary connector deflecting from the locking tab  35 , such that the electronic module  100  is separated from the complementary connector. Then the spring member  8  pushes the slider  61  moving rearward to return its original position. The transversal beam  621  is always proximate to the protrusions  2220  at every position, which may prevent the two legs  622  disengaging away the pivot members  1211 , while the doorhead is pressed excessively. Furthermore, the pulling member  64  is always disposed adjacent to the cable  4 , even the electronic module  100  is disposed upside down. Thus, the electronic module  100  may occupy less space. Especially, when two or more electronic modules are arranged in stacked manner, the pulling member  64  is no longer an obstacle to prevent plugging the electronic module. 
   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.