Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a cage for shielding electromagnetic interference, and specifically to a transceiver cage assembly with a grounding device. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Transceiver modules provide bi-directional transmission of data between an electrical interface and an optical data link. The module receives electrical signals and converts them into optical signals that are then transmitted over the optical data link. The module also receives optical signals, converts them into electrical signals, and transmits the electrical signals to the electrical interface. 
   Normally, the transceiver module connected to a metal cage assembly is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of a host computer, an input/output system, a peripheral device, or a switch. The metal cage assembly functions to dissipate electrostatic buildup, and serves as an electromagnetic shield. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a conventional transceiver cage assembly  30  for shielding transceiver modules (not shown) therein, includes several exterior walls  31 , 32 , 33  and a front end  300 . A plurality of grounding fingers  320  extends from the front end  300 , and protrudes outwardly from the exterior walls  31 , 32 , 33 . In assembly, the transceiver cage assembly  30  is attached to a circuit board (not shown), and the front end  300  of the transceiver cage assembly  30  is inserted into a pair of openings of a bezel  40  of a device (not shown), and thus, the grounding fingers  320  adjacent to the front end  300  of the transceiver cage assembly  30  abut against edges of the bezel  40  and bound the openings. 
   The transceiver cage assembly  30  dissipates electromagnetic interference through the grounding fingers  320 . Because density of the grounding fingers  320  of the transceiver cage assembly  30  is low, especially around the two exterior walls  33 , and contacting area between the grounding fingers  320  and the bezel  40  is too small, dissipation of electromagnetic interference is inefficient. 
   Further, because of the grounding fingers  320  protruding outwardly, interferingly fitting the cage assembly  30  with the bezel  40  is difficult to accomplish. 
   Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect of the embodiment, a transceiver cage assembly includes a housing and a grounding device. The housing includes at least one receiving space for receiving at least one transceiver module. The grounding device mounted on the housing includes a flat main member, and at least one resilient member protruding from the main member. 
   In another aspect of the embodiment, a grounding device is mounted on a shielding housing which accommodates at least one transceiver module. The grounding device includes a flat main member, at least one resilient member, and at least one latching member. The resilient member and the latching member extend from two opposite sides of the main member respectively. 
   Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which; 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a transceiver cage assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an inverted view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a conventional transceiver cage assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a transceiver cage assembly of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  10  and a grounding device  20 . 
   The housing  10 , which is for accommodating transceiver modules, includes a cover  12 , a pair of body cages  14  aligned vertically, and a spacer  16 . The spacer  16  is disposed between the body cages  14 . The spacer  16  and the body cages  14  are assembled together and are electrically connected to each other. The cover  12  includes a cavity for receiving the body cages  14  and the spacer  16 . The body cages  14  each define a plurality of receiving spaces for receiving the transceiver modules. A front end  18  spans a top of each body cage  14  and is used for inserting into the grounding device  20 . A plurality of stopper portions  1400  for resisting and securing the grounding device  20 , extend out from an exterior bottom wall  140  of one of the body cages  14 . 
   The cover  12  of the housing  10  includes a top wall  122 , a pair of sidewalls  120 , and a rear wall (not labeled). The sidewalls  120  and the top wall  122  respectively include a flange  1200 . The flanges  1200  are respectively formed integrally with the sidewalls  120  and the top wall  122 , and respectively extend perpendicularly from ends of the sidewalls  120  and the top wall  122 . The flanges  1200  include a first surface  1202  adjacent to the front end  18 , a second surface  1204  opposite to the first surface  1202 , and a plurality of rectangular holes  1206  are defined in the flanges  1200 . 
   The grounding device  20  for shielding electromagnetic interference is mounted to the front end  18  of the housing  10 . The grounding device  20  includes a flat main member  200 , a plurality of resilient members  220 , and a plurality of V-shaped latching members  240 . The main member  200  has a shape of a rectangular frame, and includes a first end portion  201 , a pair of second end portions  202 , a third end portion  203 , and a connecting portion  204 . 
   The first end portion  201  is opposite to the third end portion  203 , the second end portions  202  are opposite to each other, and the second end portions  202  interconnect the first end portion  201  and the third end portion  203 . The connecting portion  204  is disposed between the first end portion  201  and the third end portion  203 , and parallel with the first end portion  201  and the third end portion  203 . Two ends of the connecting portion  204  are respectively perpendicularly connected to middles of the second end portions  202 . The first end portion  201 , the second end portions  202 , the third end portion  203 , and the connecting portion  204  are substantially coplanar, and cooperatively bound two openings  206  suitable to receive the front end  18  of the housing  10  and sides and bottoms of the body cages  14 . 
   The main member  200  further includes a first side  208  and a second side  209  opposite to the first side  208 . When the grounding device  20  is attached to the housing  10 , the first side  208  abuts against the flanges  1200  of the housing  10 . 
   A plurality of rectangular grooves  2000  are defined in the first end portion  201  and the second end portions  202  of the main member  200 . The latching members  240  and the grooves  2000  are both formed by stamping the main member  200  through from the second side  209  to the first side  208 . The latching members  240  are configured for inserting into the holes  1206  of the housing  10 . Each latching member  240  includes a connecting end  2402  connected to the main member  200 , and a free end  2404  located in another end of the latching member  240 . In the embodiment, the latching members  240  extend outwardly from the first side  208  of the main member  200 . 
   The resilient members  220  of the grounding device  20  extend outwardly from the second side  209  of the main member  200 , and are disposed on the first end portion  201 , the second end portions  202 , the third end portion  203 , and the connecting portion  204 . 
   In the embodiment, the resilient members  220  disposed on the first end portion  201  protrude from an edge of the first end portion  201  adjacent to the opening  206 , and are bent back relative to the opening  206 . The resilient members  220  disposed on the second end portions  202  respectively protrude from an edge of the second end portion  202  away from the opening  206 , and are bent towards the opening  206 . The resilient members  220  disposed on the third end portion  203  protrude from an edge of the third end portion  203  adjacent to the opening  206 , and are bent back relative to the opening  206 . Two interlaced rows of the resilient members  220  are disposed in the connecting portion  204 , and respectively protrude from two opposite edges of the connecting portion  204 , and are bent towards each other. In another embodiment, the resilient members  220  protrude from a discretional edge of the main member  200 , and are bent towards another edge of the main member  200 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the grounding device  20  and the housing  10  are assembled together by inserting the latching members  240  of the grounding device  20  into the holes  1206  of the housing  10 . In assembly, the latching members  240  resiliently deform, and the grounding device  20  is mounted on the housing  10  after the latching members  240  return to their original states. The grounding device  20  is unlikely to fall off from the housing  10 , since the free end  2404  of each latching member  240  hooks the second surface  1204  of the flanges  1200  of the housing  10 , and the stopper portions  1400  resist and secure the third end portion  203  of the grounding device  20 . In this position, the flanges  1200  of the housing  10  are electrically connected to the first end portion  201  and the second end portions  202  of the grounding device  20 , and the spacer  16  of the housing  10  is electrically connected to the connecting portion  204  of the grounding device  20 . 
   The transceiver cage assembly is mounted to a bezel (the same as the bezel  40  of  FIG. 4 ) of a device (not shown), which has a pair of openings formed therein through which electronic modules can be passed into the receiving spaces. The bezel  40  is typically conductive and it may also provide additional EMI suppression, but can also provide a substrate to which labeling can be applied. The bezel  40  is sized and shaped such that the opening encases or encircles the front end  18  of the transceiver cage assembly. Dimensions of the openings of the bezel  40  do not normally allow for a tight mechanical bond and a tight electrical connection between the bezel  40  and exterior walls of the front end  18  of the transceiver cage assembly. 
   While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h