US6692159B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
De-latching mechanisms for fiber optic modules
Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
•
Filing: 2001-08-23
•
Granted: 2004-02-17
•
Expires: 2021-08-23
Abstract
Abstract Fiber optic modules including a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly or module receptacle. In one embodiment, the fiber optic modules further include a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals. In another embodiment the fiber optic modules further include an engaging triangle to engage an opening in a latch of the cage assembly which is responsive to the bail-latch. In yet another embodiment, the fiber optic modules include a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, instead of an engaging triangle. A belly-to-belly mounting configuration is introduced for the bail-latch release fiber optic modules.
Inventors
- 👤 Liew C. Chiu
- 👤 Ron C. Pang
- 👤 Yong P. Sim
- 👤 Kee S. Tan
- 👤 Tat T. Ming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3897; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4256; G02B6/426; G02B6/4261; G02B6/4292; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; G02B6/4246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ramp or lifter of the slide actuator pushes a latch of a cage assembly to disengage the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , further comprising: a boss.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the slide-actuator further includes grooves to slideably engage rails of the fiber optic module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the slide-actuator further includes rails to slideably engage grooves of the fiber optic module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic module is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber optic module and the cage assembly is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) cage assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 , wherein the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fiber optic module of claim 8 wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivot pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 wherein the bail-latch is formed of metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 wherein the bail-latch is formed of plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The fiber optic module of claim 1 wherein the bail-latch includes a lever arm, a pivoting fastener coupled to one end of the lever arm, and wherein the tab of the bail latch is coupled to the lever arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A fiber optic module comprising: one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals, a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly, a pivoting pin to rotationally couple the bail-latch to the fiber optic module, a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, and the bail-latch includes a tab to abut against the butt surface of the sliding actuator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
A fiber optic module comprising: one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals, a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly, a pivoting pin to rotationally couple the bail-latch to the fiber optic module, a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, and the bail-latch includes a tab to abut against the butt surface of the sliding actuator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fiber optic module of claim 13 wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage the fiber optic module by moving the bail-latch into a horizontal position causing the tab to press against the butt surface and slide the sliding actuator in the fiber optic module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fiber optic module of claim 13 wherein the bail-latch further includes, a pair of tabs at opposite sides each including an opening to couple to the pivoting pin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 , wherein the fiber optic module is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber optic module and the cage assembly is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) cage assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 , wherein the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fiber optic module of claim 19 , wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivot pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 further comprising: a slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the bail-latch and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber optic module of claim 21 , wherein the at least one ramp or lifter of the slide actuator pushes a latch of a cage assembly to disengage the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fiber optic module of claim 21 , further comprising: a boss.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 , further comprising: a pivoting pin to rotationally couple the bail-latch to the fiber optic module, a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, and the bail-latch further includes a tab to abut against the butt surface of the sliding actuator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fiber optic module of claim 24 , wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage the fiber optic module by moving the bail-latch into a horizontal position causing the tab to press against the butt surface and slide the sliding actuator in the fiber optic module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fiber optic module of claim 24 , wherein the bail-latch further includes, a pair of tabs at opposite sides each including an opening to couple to the pivoting pin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 , wherein the bail-latch further includes, a pair of pivot points at opposite sides each including a point to couple to the fiber optic module to be rotationally coupled thereto.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 , wherein the spring is a biasing spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a wind-up spring, or a coil spring to apply a bias force.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 further comprising: a boss.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fiber optic module of claim 16 further comprising: an engaging triangle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
62 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position; an engaging triangle to engage an opening in a latch of the cage assembly; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
A fiber optic module comprising: a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly; a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position; an engaging triangle to engage an opening in a latch of the cage assembly; and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fiber optic module of claim 31 , wherein, the spring is a biasing spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a wind-up spring, or a coil spring to apply a bias force.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fiber optic module of claim 31 wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fiber optic module of claim 33 , wherein the engaging triangle is responsive to the activation of the bail-latch.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber optic module of claim 31 wherein the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fiber optic module of claim 35 wherein the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivoting pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fiber optic module of claim 31 wherein the bail-latch includes, a pair of pivot points at opposite sides each including a point to couple to the fiber optic module to be rotationally coupled thereto.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
299 words
A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side; a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism; a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module; when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position; wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage, a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and a first slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the first bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage, a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and a second slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the second bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
299 words
A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side; a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism; a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module; when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position; wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage, a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and a first slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the first bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage, a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and a second slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the second bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
265 words
A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side; a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism; a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module; when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position; wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage, a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and a first spring to bias the first bail-latch into an engaged position; and wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage, a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and a second spring to bias the second bail-latch into an engaged position.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
265 words
A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side; a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism; a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module; when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position; wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage, a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and a first spring to bias the first bail-latch into an engaged position; and wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage, a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and a second spring to bias the second bail-latch into an engaged position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-16 | 2007-08-18 | 2008-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-16 | 2011-08-18 | 2012-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-16 | 2015-08-18 | 2016-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |