Patent Description:
This specification generally relates to optical transceivers.

Optical transceiver devices can be plugged into a port of an electronic device to connect the electronic device to data transportation structures such as copper or fiber cables. However, components within an optical transceiver device may be damaged when connecting the optical transceiver device to other devices.

<CIT> describes a receptacle with heat management for electronic and optical systems. <CIT> describes a mechanism to make a heat sink in contact with a pluggable transceiver and a cage assembly providing a pluggable optical transceiver. <CIT> describes an active electrical connection with self-releasing, self engaging heat sink. <CIT> describes a pluggable module housing assembly. <CIT> describes an optical module having a retractable structure.

This disclosure describesimplementations for securing an optical transceiver device and protecting components therein from being damaged when the optical transceiver device is being connected to other devices.

According to the invention a device includes a shell, a thermal interfacing structure, a slide, and a lift. The shell is configured to provide a cover for the device and includes a projection receptacle. The slide is configured to slide along a surface of the shell. The slide includes a projection that is configured (i) to be located in the projection receptacle in a first mode in which the thermal interfacing structure is contacting a heat-transferring device, and (ii) to be located outside the projection receptacle in a second mode in which the thermal interfacing structure is not contacting the heat-transferring device. The lift is disposed on the slide and is configured to be separated by a distance from the heat-transferring device in the first mode and to be elevated to contact the heat-transferring device in the second mode.

Optical transceiver devices can be used as an interface between electronic devices like network servers or switches and data transportation structures such as copper or fiber cables. To prevent the optical transceiver device from being damaged during or in the process of being connected to other devices, the optical transceiver device may include a locking assembly comprising a variety of features such as a compound slide with a projection, weight stops, and a lift.

In a first operation mode of the optical transceiver device when a thermal interface material (TIM) of the optical transceiver device is engaged with another device such as a heat sink, the slide's projection may be located within a receptical of the optical transceiver device's shell. Weighted stops may be tilted to lock the optical transceiver device in place and prevent its movement.

In a second operation mode, a user may desire to disengage the optical transceiver device from the other device and may move the projection out of the receptacle. Moving the projection out of the receptacle results in the slide and lift rising by abut <NUM> to <NUM> microns. As a result of this vertical displacement, lift engages with the other device and causes the thermal interface material to disengage from the other device. At the same time, the weighted stops are reoriented to be in a linear orientation and not titled. The linear orientation allows the user to disengage the optical transceiver device from the other device if desired.

Additional details and benefits of the locking assembly used in an optical transceiver device are described below with reference to the figures.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an optical transceiver device <NUM> with a locking assembly. The optical transceiver device <NUM> includes built in components such as a transmitter and a receiver (TROSA). The transmitter in the optical transceiver device <NUM> may generate an electrical signal at a certain code rate to drive a semiconductor laser (LD) or an optical emitting diode (LED) to emit a modulated optical signal of a corresponding rate through a medium such as a fiber optic cable. The receiver in the optical transceiver device <NUM> is operable to receive an optical signal input at a certain code rate, and to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal using, for example, a photodetecting diode for further processing.

In general, the optical transceiver device <NUM> may be configured to transport data between a data-transferring component such as, e.g., a copper or fiber optic cable, and an electronic device such as, e.g., a server or network switch. One end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> can be plugged into a port of the electronic device, and another end connected to the data-transferring component. Because the optical transceiver device <NUM> operates, in part, as an interface between a data-transferring component and an electronic device, an optical transceiver also may be referred to as a network interface device.

In general, an optical transceiver device <NUM> can be implemented in various shapes, sizes, and configurations. In some implementations, the optical transceiver device <NUM> may be a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) device, which is a compact, hot-pluggable network interface module used for both telecommunication and data communications applications. An SFP interface on networking hardware is a modular (plug-and-play) slot for a media-specific transceiver in order to connect a fiber-optic cable or sometimes a copper cable.

Examples of SFP devices include, but are not limited to, a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) device and a QSFP-DD (QSFP-Double Density). QSFPs include additional lanes relative to other SFPs to support four times faster speeds (e.g., up to <NUM> Gbit/s) than corresponding SFPs. QSFP-DDs are similar to QSFP but include an additional row of contacts providing for an eight lane electrical interface. QSFP-DD devices can offer double (e.g., up to <NUM> Gbit/s) the speed of QSFPs. With such high data transfer speeds and dense circuitry supporting the data transfer within the optical transceiver, effective thermal management is desired to prevent overheating, as explained above. This disclosure describes optical transceivers having a locking assembly that prevents undesirable movement resulting in engagement or disengagement of the optical transceivers with other electronic devices such as, e.g., heat sinks.

<FIG> depicts an exploded view of an example optical transceiver device <NUM> configured for coupling to a heat-transferring device <NUM> such as a heat sink. In more detail, the optical transceiver device <NUM> includes a shell <NUM>, a slide <NUM>, a footer assembly <NUM>, a lift <NUM>, and a thermal interface material (TIM) <NUM>. The optical transceiver device <NUM> is configured to be connected with other electronic devices such as heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage assembly <NUM>.

Shell <NUM> or housing <NUM> provides the external structure or skeleton for the optical transceiver device <NUM> and operates as a cover to protect components, e.g., circuits, chips, wires, within the optical transceiver device <NUM> from external forces and elements. Shell <NUM> may extend from one end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> configured to be connected to data transportation structures, e.g., copper or fiber cables, to a second end configured to be plugged into the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage assembly <NUM>. In general, the shell may be made of any suitable material such as, e.g., zinc, aluminum, or a combination thereof, that can withstand environmental and thermal fluctuations and provide structural support to internal components of the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

Shell <NUM> may be coupled to a device handle <NUM>. The device handle <NUM> can be held by a user to hold or move the optical transceiver device <NUM>. Shell <NUM> may include fin slots 205A, 205B on two side edges of the optical transceiver device <NUM>. The fin slots 205A, 205B are configured to receive and engage with slide <NUM> when inserted onto the shell <NUM>. The shell <NUM> includes a projection receptacle (discussed in further detail with respect to <FIG> below). The projection receptacle is configured to receive a projection of the slide <NUM> when the TIM <NUM> is engaged with the heat-transferring device <NUM>. The projection receptacle can be implemented in several shapes and forms suitable to accommodate the shape and form of the projection of the slide <NUM>. For example, in some implementations, the projection receptacle may have a curved surface to accommodate a lobe-shaped projection of the slide <NUM>. In other cases, the projection of the slide <NUM> may have, at least in part, a linear surface to accommodate a linear surface of the projection of the slide <NUM>.

In some implementations, posts <NUM> may be disposed or formed on one or more sides of the shell <NUM>. The posts <NUM> are configured to engage with tabs 245A, 245B of the lift <NUM> to secure a direct coupling of the lift <NUM> to the shell <NUM>. Although only one post <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, multiple posts <NUM> may be implemented along two lateral sides of the shell <NUM> so that the lift <NUM> can be secured to the shell <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, slide <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a pair of slide rails 310A, 310B, a footer assembly <NUM>, and transitional portions 330A, 330B. Handle <NUM> may be implemented on one end of the slide <NUM>, and a footer assembly <NUM> may be implemented on the end of the slide <NUM> that is opposite to the end at which the handle <NUM> is attached. The handle <NUM> may be implemented on the end of the slide <NUM> that is accessible to a user such that the user may push or pull the slide <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be implemented along or in proximity to the end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> that is coupled to the data transportation structures such as e.g., copper or fiber cables.

The handle <NUM> may include a vertical component 320A connected to a horizontal component 320B. The horizontal component 320B can be affixed to slide rails 310A, 310B using various suitable fastening methods such as, e.g., soldering, welding, or applying an adhesive. The vertical component 320A may be connected to the horizontal component <NUM> B through a curved surface. A user may place the user's fingers, palm, or hand on the vertical component 320A to pull or push the slide <NUM>. As described in more detail below, the user may push or pull the slide <NUM> to engage or disengage the lift <NUM> and TIM <NUM> with the heat-transferring device <NUM>.

Slide rail 310A may be spaced apart and parallel to slide rail 310B. Slide rail 310A may be spaced part from slide rail 310B by a distance equivalent to a width of handle <NUM>, which may be directly or indirectly connected to the pair of slide rails 310A, 310B. Slide rails 310A, 310B may extend lengthwise from one end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> configured to be connected to data transportation structures such as e.g., copper or fiber cables to a second end configured to be plugged into the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage assembly <NUM>.

Slide rail 310A is disposed along one side edge of the shell <NUM>, and slide rail 310B is disposed along an edge of the shell <NUM> that is on the opposite side of shell <NUM> from the one side edge. Slide rail 310A may slot into fin slot 205A, and slide rail 310B may slot into fin slot 205B. The slide rails 310A, 310B may also include one or more transition regions 330A, 330B, respectively, that adjust the height of the slide rails 310A, 310B to conform or be parallel to the surface of the shell <NUM> or components thereof so that the slide rails 310A, 310B may be disposed smoothly above the shell <NUM>.

For example, the slide rail 310A shown in the figures includes an upper slide rail portion connected to the handle <NUM>. A lower slide rail portion of the slide rail 310A is connected to the upper slide rail portion of the slide rail 310A by the transition regions 330A and extends towards the end that connects with the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage <NUM>. Similarly, the slide rail 310B shown in the figures includes an upper slide rail portion connected to a lower slide rail portion by the transition region 330B. A lower slide rail portion of the slide rail 310B extends towards the end that connects with the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage <NUM>, and is attached to the footer assembly <NUM>. The footer assembly <NUM> is described in more detail with respect to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, one or both of the slide rails 310A, 310B may include a projection <NUM>. Projection <NUM> may be formed on one or both of the slide rails 310A, 310B. Projection <NUM> may be implemented as a lobe and may bulge from a surface of the slide rails 310A/310B. In general, the projection <NUM> may have various suitable shapes including a curved surface such as an elliptical surface or a linear surface such as a trapezoidal or rectangular-shaped surface. The projection <NUM> may be in direct contact with the shell <NUM> and may travel along the surface of the shell <NUM> when the user pushes or pulls the handle <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, a lift <NUM> is disposed on the slide <NUM>. In some implementations, the lift <NUM> may be disposed directly above the lower slide rail portions of slide <NUM>. Because the lift <NUM> is disposed above slide <NUM>, a vertical displacement of the slide <NUM> also results in a corresponding vertical displacement by the lift <NUM>. In some cases, the top surface of the lift <NUM> may be displayed or elevated by about <NUM> to <NUM> microns.

The lift <NUM> includes a horizontal component <NUM> and two arms 244A, 244B. The horizontal component <NUM> stretches across the body of slide <NUM> and the optical transceiver device <NUM>, and may be parallel to the horizontal component 320B of handle <NUM>. The arms 244A, 244B are parallel to each other and may be disposed on top of the two side rails 310A, 310B. The two arms 244A, 244B extend away from the transitional portions 330A, 330B towards the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage <NUM>. The horizontal component <NUM> connects an end of arm 244A to an end of arm 244B.

The arms 244A, 244B include tabs 245A, 245B, respectively. A tab 245A/245B may descend vertically from a side edge of the lift <NUM> and beyond the slide <NUM>. Each tab 245A/245B may include a hole or cavity. The hole or cavity of tabs 245A, 245B may be configured to surround the posts <NUM> of shell such that the lift <NUM> is secured to the shell <NUM> when the lift <NUM> is lifted. For example, if the posts <NUM> and the hole or cavity in tabs 245A, 245B are circular in shape, a radius and circumference of the hole or cavity in tabs 245A, 245B may be slightly larger than the radius and circumference of a post <NUM> to allow the tabs 245A, 245B to snugly engage with the posts <NUM> and affix the lift <NUM> to the slide <NUM>.

A TIM <NUM> may be disposed on the shell <NUM> between the two arms 244A, 244B of the lift <NUM>. The TIM <NUM> may transfer heat away from one or more regions of the optical transceiver device <NUM> to another region of the optical transceiver device <NUM>, or, more generally, to or from any device the TIM is thermally connected to. In some cases, one or more portions of the TIM <NUM> may contact one or more of the heat-transferring device <NUM>, shell <NUM>, cage <NUM>, and one or more integrated circuit regions of the optical transceiver device <NUM>. The TIM <NUM> only contacts the heat-transferring device <NUM> when the slide <NUM> is in a particular position such that projection <NUM> is located within the projection receptacle. When in contact with the heat-transferring device <NUM>, TIM <NUM> may transfer heat from one of the integrated circuit regions of the optical transceiver device <NUM> to the heat-transferring device <NUM> thereby facilitating heat management of the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

Cage <NUM> is configured to receive a pluggable end of the optical receiver <NUM>. Cage <NUM> may include a housing or shell <NUM>, a pluggable end <NUM>, and an opening <NUM>. Shell <NUM> provides the external structure or skeleton to provide structural support and protection to components within the shell <NUM>. The components within the shell <NUM> provide an interface between the optical transceiver device <NUM> and the heat-transferring device <NUM>. In some implementations, the design, including thermal and mechanical specifications, of the shell <NUM> may comply with the specifications of the MSA.

The pluggable end <NUM> of the cage <NUM> is configured to be engaged with the optical transceiver device <NUM>. In particular, the pluggable end <NUM> of the cage <NUM> may have a first opening to allow a pluggable end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> to be inserted into the cage <NUM>.

The pluggable end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> may include the end at which the footer assembly <NUM> is located and, more generally, includes one or more ends of the optical transceiver device <NUM> that are opposite to the end connected to the data transportation structures such as e.g., copper or fiber cables. The pluggable end <NUM> of the cage <NUM>, and more generally the cage <NUM>, may include one or more locking mechanisms such as, e.g., fasteners, that provide resistance to the decoupling of the cage <NUM> and the optical transceiver device <NUM> once the cage <NUM> and the optical transceiver device <NUM> are coupled together.

Cage <NUM> may also include a second opening <NUM> that exposes a cavity within the cage <NUM>. The cavity accommodates the optical transceiver device <NUM> when inserted into and engaged with the cage <NUM>. When the optical transceiver device <NUM> is inserted into the cage <NUM>, the second opening <NUM> may expose a top surface of the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

Heat-transferring device <NUM> may be engaged with the cage <NUM> and the optical transceiver device <NUM>. In general, the heat-transferring device <NUM> may refer to a passive electronic component configured to transfer heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to another medium, e.g., air, liquid. In some implementations, the heat-transferring device <NUM> may be a heat sink.

The heat-transferring device <NUM> may be mechanically and electrically connected to the cage <NUM> and/or the optical transceiver device <NUM> in various configurations. In some implementations, a spring-loaded heat-transferring device <NUM> is disposed on top of the cage <NUM> and the optical transceiver device <NUM>. The cage <NUM> provides structural support so that the heat-transferring device <NUM> can engage with the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

Furthermore, as noted above, the second opening <NUM> in cage <NUM> exposes portions of the optical transceiver device <NUM> when inserted into the cage <NUM>. When the heat-transferring device <NUM> is disposed on the cage <NUM>, the heat-transferring device <NUM> may be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the TIM <NUM> or lift <NUM> of the optical transceiver device <NUM>. Through coupling with the TIM <NUM>, heat may be transferred away from the optical transceiver device <NUM> and towards the heat-transferring device <NUM>. The heat-transferring device <NUM> is configured to transfer heat from the optical transceiver device <NUM> to the ambient environment, e.g., air, thereby allowing the temperatures of the optical transceiver <NUM> to be managed (e.g., cooled). This heat-transferring device <NUM> may include one or more fans to direct and control airflow in a particular direction, e.g., from the end of the optical transceiver device <NUM> connected to the data transport structures to an end of the heat-transferring device <NUM> facing away from the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

In some implementations, additional cooling capacity and elements may be included in the heat-transferring device <NUM> to provide additional heat relief to the optical transceiver device <NUM>. In some implementations, the cage <NUM> and heat-transferring device <NUM> are assembled into a rack box.

Referring to <FIG>, and <FIG>, recall that the slide rails 310A, 310B of the slide <NUM> may include a projection <NUM>. Projection <NUM> may be located in a projection receptacle of the shell or housing <NUM> in a first position of the slide <NUM> corresponding to when the heat-transferring device <NUM> is engaged with the TIM <NUM>. The projection <NUM> may be located outside of the projection receptacle of the shell or housing <NUM> in a second position of the slide <NUM> corresponding to when the heat-transferring device <NUM> is engaged with the lift <NUM> and disengaged with the TIM <NUM>. In some implementations, the first position may be laterally displaced from the second position by about <NUM>. In some implementations, the slide <NUM> is <NUM> closer to the heat-transferring device <NUM> when the heat-transferring device <NUM> is engaged with TIM <NUM> (first position) than when the heat-transferring device <NUM> is not engaged with the TIM <NUM> (second position). In some implementations, the second position may be located on one or two sides of the projection receptacle (first position).

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the projection <NUM> moves from within the projection receptacle to outside the projection receptacle, the projection <NUM> creates a gap or displacement between portions of a bottom surface of the slide <NUM> and a top surface of the shell or housing <NUM> due to a depth of the projection <NUM>. The created gap also results in the lift <NUM> being elevated by a height corresponding to the displacement between the slide <NUM> and the shell or housing <NUM>. With this displacement, a top surface of the lift <NUM> may be located higher than a top surface of the TIM <NUM> relative to shell or housing <NUM>.

In some implementations, multiple projections may be implemented on each of the slide rails 310A/310B. For example, the upper and lower slide rail portions of a slide rail 310A/310B may include the projections. Shell <NUM> may include multiple projection receptacles to receive the multiple projections implemented on the slide rails 310A/310B.

The use of projections and projection receptacles is important to preserve the TIM <NUM>. For instance, in optical transceiver systems without the locking assembly described in this disclosure, when an optical transceiver device is inserted into a heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage <NUM>, spring loading of the heat-transferring device <NUM> may cause a forced wiping action along the top side of the shell <NUM> which may damage the TIM <NUM> if present between the heat-transferring device <NUM> and the shell <NUM>. By using the locking mechanism described in this disclosure, an optical transceiver device <NUM> may be protected from such damage.

In particular, before engaging with the cage <NUM>, slide <NUM> of the optical transceiver device <NUM> can be moved into the second position such that the projection <NUM> is located outside of the projection receptacle of the shell or housing <NUM>. As explained above, in this position, the lift <NUM> is elevated above the top surface of the TIM <NUM> and the heat-transferring device <NUM> cannot engage with the TIM <NUM>.

The user can then push the slide <NUM> all the way into the cage <NUM> if the user would like to engage with the cage <NUM> and the heat-transferring device <NUM>. At this time, a gap still exists between the TIM <NUM> and the heat-transferring device <NUM> due to the elevated position of the lift <NUM>. To engage the TIM <NUM> with the heat-transferring device <NUM> so that the TIM <NUM> can facilitate with heat transfer of the optical transceiver device <NUM>, slide <NUM> can be pushed back into the first position.

As noted above, in the first position, projection <NUM> lies within the projection receptacle. The slide <NUM> and lift <NUM> drop in elevation, which allows the TIM <NUM> to engage with the heat-transferring device <NUM>. Furthermore, because projection <NUM> lies within the projection receptacle, accidental or unintentional disengagement of the optical transceiver device <NUM> from the heat-transferring device <NUM> becomes more difficult as the projection <NUM> provides additional resistance against such movement. For instance, the surface of the projection <NUM> would incur a greater amount of friction against the surface of the shell or housing <NUM> when moved. This would require a greater amount of force to be applied onto the slide <NUM> to move the projection <NUM> out of the projection receptacle and disengage the optical transceiver device <NUM>.

Another feature to prevent the optical transceiver device <NUM> from being accidentally or unintentionally disconnected is the footer assembly <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. In <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the footer assembly <NUM> is depicted as being attached to one of the two ends of the slide <NUM> configured to engage with cage <NUM> and heat-transferring device <NUM>. In some implementations, the footer assembly <NUM> may be attached to both ends of the slide <NUM> that are configured to engage with cage <NUM> and heat-transferring device <NUM>.

The footer assembly <NUM> may include a lock footer <NUM>, mechanical screws <NUM>, a spring <NUM>, weighted stops 275A, 275B, and pin-pivots 278A, 278B. The lock footer <NUM> may be attached to slide <NUM> using mechanical screws <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, lock footer <NUM> may include two cavities through which a pair of mechanical screws <NUM> can be inserted and used to affix the lock footer <NUM> to slide <NUM>. In some implementations, pins, epoxy adhesive, or welding may be used to affix the lock footer <NUM> to the slide <NUM>.

<FIG> depict a zoomed in view of the weighted stops 275A and 275B. <FIG> depicts weighted stop 275A, which includes a stop body 530A, a weight body 510A, and an extension portion 515A. The stop body 530A includes a cavity to allow pin-pivot 278A to protrude through the stop body 530A. The pin-pivot 278A may support rotational movement of the stop body 530A and function as an anchor of the weighted stop 275A, as described in further detail below.

The stop body 530A may have an extension portion 515A that may protrude from one end of the stop body 530A configured to engage with weighted stop 275B. At the other end of the stop body 530A opposite to the end having an extension portion 515A, the stop body 530A may be attached to a spring <NUM> (not shown in <FIG> but shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). The spring <NUM> provides a compression force that can resist an upward movement of the extension portion 515A.

The extension portion 515A may have a flat surface such that the weighted body 510A may be disposed above the extension portion 515A. The weighted body 510A may be attached to the extension portion 515A using various suitable methods, e.g., welding, soldering, or applying suitable adhesives such as epoxy.

The weighted body 510A may be any suitable dense mass block that can rest within the perimeter of a top surface of the extension portion 515A. In some implementations, the weighted body 510A has a majority of the mass of the weighted stop 275A. The weighted body 510A may provide a downward pressure on the extension portion 515A. In the absence of any support structure beneath the extension portion 515A, gravitational forces may cause the extension portion 515A of the weighted stop 275A to rotate downwards due to the mass of the weighted body 510A. This rotational movement has a rotation access at the pin-pivot 278A, which allows the weighted stop 275A to move clockwise and counter-clockwise.

<FIG> depicts weighted stop 275B, which includes a stop body 530B, a weight body 510B, an extension portion 515B, and a lock engagement surface <NUM>. The stop body 530B includes a cavity to allow pin-pivot 278B to protrude through the stop body 530B. The pin-pivot 278B may support rotational movement of the stop body 530B and function as an anchor of the weighted stop 275B, as described in further detail below.

The stop body 530B may have an extension portion 515B that may protrude from one end of the stop body 530B. The extension portion 515B connects the lock engagement surface <NUM> to the stop body 530B. The extension portion 515B may have a flat surface such that the weighted body 510B may be disposed above the extension portion 515B. The weighted body 510B may be attached to the extension portion 515B using various suitable methods, e.g., welding, soldering, or applying suitable adhesives such as epoxy.

The weighted body 510B may be any suitable dense mass block that can rest within the perimeter of a top surface of the extension portion 515B. In some implementations, the weighted body 510B has a majority of the mass of the weighted stop 275B. In some implementations, The weighted body 510B may have the same mass as weighted body 510A. In some inplementations, the weighted body 510B may have a different mass from the weighted body 510A. The weighted body 510B may provide a downward pressure on the extension portion 515B. In the absence of any support structure supporting the lock engagement surface <NUM>, gravitational forces may cause the weighted stop 275B to rotate downwards because of the mass of the weighted body 510B. This rotational movement has a rotation axis at the pin-pivot 278B, which allows the weighted stop 275B to move clockwise and counter-clockwise.

As shown in <FIG>, the weighted stop 275A and weighted stop 275B are configured to face each other such that the weighted body 510B faces and is in proximity to the weighted body 510A. The lock engagement surface <NUM> extends below the extension portion 515A of the weighted stop 275A. For instance, in some cases, a top surface of the lock engagement surface <NUM> may directly contact a bottom surface of the extension portion 515A. The engagement between weighted stop 275A and weighted stop 275B and the orientation of the lock engagement surface <NUM> depends on the position of slide <NUM> and whether the optical transceiver device <NUM> is engaged with the heat-transferring device <NUM> as explained in more detail with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> depict examples of the footer assembly <NUM> configurations when slide <NUM> of the optical transceiver device <NUM> is in first and second positions. As explained above with respect to <FIG>, when the slide <NUM> is in a first position the projection <NUM> is located within the projection receptacle of shell <NUM>. In the first position, the TIM <NUM> may be engaged with the heat-transferring device <NUM>. In certain circumstances, such as when the TIM <NUM> is engaged with the heat-transferring device <NUM>, it is desirable to prevent the optical transceiver device <NUM> from being accidentally or unintentionally disconnected.

<FIG> illustrate the configuration of the footer assembly <NUM> when the TIM <NUM> engaged. In this configuration, a lock footer <NUM> is in a first position at which the lock footer <NUM> does not contact a bottom surface of the lock engagement surface <NUM> or may not have sufficient contact with the lock engagement surface <NUM> such that the lock engagement surface <NUM> cannot push the extension portion 515A upward. Without sufficient structural support underneath the lock engagement surface <NUM>, the weight of weighted bodies 510A and 510B causes weighted stops 275A and 275B to be tilted downward, as shown in <FIG>. With both weighted stops 275A and 275B tilted due to gravity, movement of the optical transceiver device <NUM> is prevented and the optical transceiver device <NUM> may remain engaged with the heat-transferring device <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a side view of the footer assembly <NUM> and shows the base <NUM> and spring <NUM> coupled to weighted stop 275A. Spring <NUM> provides structural support to the weighted stop 275A and resistance against force applied by the lock engagement surface <NUM> onto the weighted stop 275A. <FIG> also shows a lock footer <NUM> placed beneath the weighted stop 275B. The lock footer <NUM> may be coupled to the slide <NUM> such that a movement of the slide <NUM> causes the lock footer <NUM> to laterally move between two positions. For instance, when slide <NUM> is in the first position, projection <NUM> may be located within the projection receptacle and lock footer <NUM> may be in a first position at which it does not have any contact or lacks sufficient contact to cause lock engagement surface <NUM> to be horizontally level.

When slide <NUM> is in the second position, projection <NUM> may not be located within the projection receptacle and lock footer <NUM> may be in a second position at which an upper surface of the lock footer <NUM> directly contacts a bottom surface of the lock engagement surface <NUM> causing it to be horizontally level. This configuration is depicted in <FIG>. Arrow <NUM> shows an example lateral movement of the lock footer <NUM> from the first position in <FIG> to the second position in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in this configuration, the lock engagement surface <NUM> may push up against the extension portion 515A. Consequently, top surfaces of the weighted stops 275A and 275B are level or approximately level with each other and parallel to an upper surface of the lock engagement surface <NUM>. In the second position, the lock footer <NUM> may prevent the weighted stops 275A and 275B from tilting, thereby allowing the optical transceiver device <NUM> to be disengaged from the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cage <NUM>.

In the implementations described above, slide <NUM> may be laterally moved across slide rails 310A and 310B to engage or disengage the optical transceiver device <NUM> with a heat-transferring device <NUM>. In addition, the optical transceiver device <NUM> may include a locking assembly that can prevent the optical transceiver device <NUM> from accidentally or unintentionally disengaging with the heat-transferring device <NUM>. In the above-described implementations, handle <NUM> could be used to move slide <NUM>. In some implementations, handle <NUM> may be replaced with a cam lever.

<FIG> depict examples of an optical transceiver device having a cam lever <NUM>. The cam lever <NUM> may be attached to the slide <NUM> and may include block <NUM>. Slide <NUM> is similar to slide <NUM> and may include two or more guide slots <NUM> (one of which is shown in <FIG>). The guide slots <NUM> may prevent angle loading of the slide <NUM> and are configured to receive pins <NUM> attached to the slide <NUM>. Because the pins <NUM> are restricted to movement within the guide slots <NUM>, the guide slots <NUM> may restrict the slide <NUM> to backward and forward lateral movements within the guide slots <NUM>.

The cam lever <NUM> may be rotated at different positions. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cam lever <NUM> may be in a first position in which the cam lever <NUM> extends parallel to the surface of shell <NUM>. In this position, a protrusion barrier <NUM> of the shell <NUM> can block lateral movement of the cam lever <NUM> and slide <NUM>. In particular, block <NUM>, which is attached to one side of the cam lever <NUM>, cannot move laterally due to the presence of protrusion barrier <NUM>, which blocks the slide <NUM> from sliding. In this position, the TIM <NUM> may be in direct contact with the heat-transferring device <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> shows an example of when the cam lever <NUM> has been rotated substantially 90º into a second position such that the cam lever <NUM> is now oriented perpendicular to its first position and to the surface of shell <NUM>. Moving the cam lever <NUM> to its second position may cause the slide <NUM> to move laterally as indicated in <FIG> by movement of the pin <NUM>. The slide <NUM>'s lateral movement may, in turn, cause the lift <NUM> to be elevated in the manner described above. And as explained above, when the lift <NUM> is elevated, a top surface of the lift <NUM> is higher than a top surface of TIM <NUM> relative to the surface of the shell <NUM>/<NUM>. Lift <NUM> may then contact the heat-transferring device <NUM> and cause the TIM <NUM> to be disengaged from the heat-transferring device <NUM>. In the second position, the optical transceiver device may be extracted (or inserted) into a connecting module such as the heat-transferring device <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the cam lever <NUM> can be rotated back into the first position at which it is level with the surface of shell <NUM>. In this position, the TIM <NUM> may engage with the heat-transferring device <NUM> again. In the implementations shown in <FIG>, a different mechanism is used to move the slide in the optical transceiver device <NUM> to engage or disengage with the heat-transferring device <NUM>.

Terms used herein and in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including, but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes, but is not limited to," etc.).

Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to implementations containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." or "one or more of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. The term "and/or" is also intended to be construed in this manner.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) comprising:
a shell (<NUM>) configured to provide a cover for the device and comprising a projection receptacle;
a thermal interfacing structure (<NUM>);
a slide (<NUM>) configured to slide along a surface of the shell (<NUM>) and comprising a projection (<NUM>) that is configured (i) to be located in the projection receptacle in a first mode in which the thermal interfacing structure (<NUM>) is contacting a heat-transferring device (<NUM>), and (ii) to be located outside the projection receptacle in a second mode in which the thermal interfacing structure (<NUM>) is not contacting the heat-transferring device (<NUM>); and
a lift (<NUM>) disposed on the slide (<NUM>) and configured to be separated by a distance from the heat-transferring device (<NUM>) in the first mode and to be elevated to contact the heat-transferring device (<NUM>) in the second mode.