초록 ▼

The present invention provides a multi-channel transceiver module comprising a unitary housing having a first channel body and a second channel body. Each channel body includes a male plug end and a receptacle plug end. A bridge member is provided for joining the first and second bodies. The bridge

The present invention provides a multi-channel transceiver module comprising a unitary housing having a first channel body and a second channel body. Each channel body includes a male plug end and a receptacle plug end. A bridge member is provided for joining the first and second bodies. The bridge members disposed at the receptacle end. A gap is provided between the plug ends of each channel body. The gap extends from each plug end to the bridge member to partially divide each channel so that each plug end is insertable within a separate receptacle cage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multi-channel transceiver module comprising: a unitary housing having at least a first channel body and second channel body each channel body having a male plug end, a top-side, a bottom side and a receptacle end, the male plug end having an electrical connector exposed on the bottom side of ea

1. A multi-channel transceiver module comprising: a unitary housing having at least a first channel body and second channel body each channel body having a male plug end, a top-side, a bottom side and a receptacle end, the male plug end having an electrical connector exposed on the bottom side of each channel body;a bridge member for joining the first and second channel bodies, the bridge member disposed at the receptacle end and the bridge member providing an expanded interior cavity capable of holding electronic components and at least one printed circuit board, the interior cavity formed by a first side wall of the bridge member and an opposite second side wall of the bridge member and the first side wall disposed between the first and second channel bodies, the first side wall substantially coextensive with an end face of each channel body;a gap provided between the plug ends of each channel body, the gap extending from each plug end to the bridge member to partially divide each channel body so that each plug end is insertable within a separate receptacle cage of a host device;a latch mechanism and a latch lever disposed on the housing, the latch lever for interacting with the latch mechanism on order to facilitate removal of the module from within a receptacle cage; andthe latch lever located on the housing in a generally centered position with respect to the channel bodies and a single movement of the latch lever activates the latch mechanism. 2. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein the bridge member is co-extensive with the end face of the receptacle end, the end face surrounding an aperture that forms a multi-contact electrical connector receptacle adapted for receiving a cable plug, so that a first end face is provided at the first channel body and a second end face is provided at the second channel body, each end face being integrally joined by the bridge member, the first and second end face defining a plane and the first side wall of the bridge being generally co-extensive with the first and second end faces. 3. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein the receptacle ends and the bridge are formed (or cast) from the same material. 4. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 3, wherein the receptacle ends and the bridge are stamped from the same metal. 5. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 3, wherein the receptacle ends and the bridge are formed of a polymer material from the same mold. 6. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein the receptacle end is closed and the transceiver is adapted to perform as a test module. 7. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is a loopback module so that a transmitted signal received by the transceiver is returned to a host device. 8. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, further comprising latch mechanisms disposed on each channel body for securing the module housing within a cage of a receptacle of a host device to which the module housing is inserted and at least one latch lever straddling the latch mechanisms and the latch lever simultaneously operating the at least two latch mechanisms. 9. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 8, wherein the housing further having a third channel body. 10. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 9, wherein the latch mechanism is disposed at the receptacle end of the channel body located in a center position of the housing. 11. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 9, wherein the housing further having a fourth channel body. 12. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a pair of latch mechanisms and the pair of latch mechanisms located at the receptacle end of each of the channel bodies located in a center position of the housing. 13. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second channel bodies are oriented side by side so that the bridge extends between a first side wall of the first channel body and a second side wall of the second channel body. 14. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 8 wherein the number of latch mechanisms (L) with respect to the number of channel bodies (B) is: L≦B when B is 2;L=1 when B is 3; orL=2 when B is 4. 15. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 14 wherein channel bodies are numbered from left to right B1 to B4 and the centered location of the latch lever is: B1 or B 2 when B is 2;B2 when B is 3; orB2 and B3 when B is 4. 16. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second channel bodies are oriented belly to belly so that the bridge extends between a first bottom surface of the first channel body and a second bottom surface of the second channel body, each bottom surface including an aperture exposing contact blades at the male plug end. 17. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein at least one monolithic printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed within the housing and extends between the first channel body and second channel body and the PCB including components mounted thereon whose functionality is shared between the first channel and second channel body. 18. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 17 further comprising an extended housing at the receptacle end for mounting the shared components, the extended housing in communication with each of the first and second channel bodies, and the extended housing forming a cavity for receipt of a PCB having at least a 21 mm×21 mm mounting area. 19. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 18, wherein a 10 gigabit PHY chip having a footprint of at least approximately 21 mm×21 mm is mounted on the PCB so that the first channel and second channel may process data at a rate of up to 10 gigabits/second. 20. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 19, wherein the PCB is mounted within the extended housing and interconnected with circuitry provided at the male plug ends of each of the first and second channel bodies. 21. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is compliant with one of an SFP, SFP+, SFP to RJ45, CXP, CXP to RJ45, QSFP and QSFP to RJ45 form factor. 22. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein a support arm extends from a bottom surface to support the receptacle end, the support arm being braced against a faceplate through which the male plug end is inserted. 23. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 22, wherein the support arm is retractably mounted at the receptacle end. 24. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1, wherein a monolithic heat sink member is provided that extends between the first channel body and the second channel body. 25. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 24, wherein the heat sink includes fins integrally formed with the housing. 26. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 1 further comprising a bail lever extending between the first channel body and a second channel body, the bail lever for releasing a latch mechanism. 27. The module of claim 1, the module further comprising a third channel body disposed adjacent the second channel body and a latch lever disposed on the second channel body and providing equal pull force on each of the first, second and third channel bodies in order to allow for uniform withdrawal of the module from a receptacle. 28. The module of claim 27, further comprising a fourth channel body disposed adjacent the third channel body and a second latch mechanism disposed adjacent the third channel body and the first and fourth channel bodies having no latch mechanism for securing the module within a cage receptacle, and the latch lever straddling the second and third channel bodies. 29. The module of claim 1 wherein at least two PCBs are mounted within the housing. 30. The module of claim 1 wherein the expanded interior cavity has a PCB mounted therein and the PCB extending into the first and second channel body areas. 31. The module of claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is integrally formed with the PCB and the PCB having a terminal portion extending outward in a direction opposite the receptacle end and the terminal portion including contact fingers providing at least ten signal lines. 32. The multi-channel transceiver of claim 2 wherein the multi-contact electrical connector receptacle is an RJ-45 connector receptacle.