Pluggable module having cooling channel with heat transfer fins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104760-B1
Application number	US-201715620195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Jun 12, 2017
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A pluggable module includes a pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end receivable in a module cavity of a receptacle assembly to mate with a communication connector. The pluggable body has channel walls defining a cooling channel at a top of the pluggable body allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end. The pluggable body has a plurality of heat transfer fins in the cooling channel between the channel walls and a landing cover spanning between the channel walls over the heat transfer fins. The channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover are an integral unitary structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pluggable module comprising:
a pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end, the mating end being receivable in a module cavity of a receptacle assembly to mate with a communication connector, the pluggable body having channel walls defining a cooling channel at a top of the pluggable body, the cooling channel allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end, the pluggable body having a plurality of heat transfer fins in the cooling channel between the channel walls, the pluggable body having a landing cover spanning between the channel walls over the heat transfer fins, wherein the channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover are an integral unitary structure; and
a communication circuit board held in the pluggable body and exposed at the mating end, wherein the pluggable body is configured to be plugged into the receptacle assembly such that the communication circuit board is communicatively coupled to the communication connector of the receptacle assembly.

2. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fins are internal heat transfer fins interior of the landing cover.

3. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the top of the pluggable body is recessed at the front end and at the mating end to expose the heat transfer fins and allow airflow through the cooling channel between the front end and the mating end.

4. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel is open at bases of the heat transfer fins.

5. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the channel walls are at least one of taller and thicker than the heat transfer fins.

6. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fins extend longitudinally between the front end and the mating end parallel to the channel walls.

7. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein each heat transfer fin includes a base and a tip, the landing cover at the tip, the base being thermally coupled to a heat spreader plate.

8. The pluggable module of claim 1 , further comprising a heat spreader plate spanning below the heat transfer fins, the heat spreader plate being configured to be thermally coupled to a communication component on the communication circuit board.

9. The pluggable module of claim 8 , wherein the heat spreader plate is a sheet metal plate received in the pluggable body.

10. The pluggable module of claim 8 , wherein the heat spreader plate is a thermally conductive elastomeric pad received in the pluggable body.

11. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable body includes side walls below the channel walls, the communication circuit board being positioned between the side walls, the pluggable module further comprising a heat spreader plate between the side walls below the heat transfer fins.

12. The pluggable module of claim 11 , wherein the heat spreader plate is part of the integral unitary structure of the channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover.

13. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable body includes side walls below the channel walls, the communication circuit board being positioned between the side walls, the side walls being part of the integral unitary structure of the channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover.

14. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the landing cover spans an entire longitudinal length of the heat transfer fins.

15. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the landing cover extends between a front end and a rear end, the heat transfer fins extending to the front end of the landing cover, the heat transfer fins extending rearward beyond the rear end of the landing cover such that portions of the heat transfer fins are uncovered by the landing cover.

16. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the landing cover includes a planar landing surface configured to engage the receptacle assembly.

17. The pluggable module of claim 16 , wherein the planar landing surface includes a gasket interface configured to engage gasket spring fingers of an EMI gasket of the receptacle assembly.

18. The pluggable module of claim 16 , wherein the planar landing surface includes a heat sink interface configured to engage a thermal interface of a heatsink of the receptacle assembly.

19. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the channel walls, the heat transfer fins and the landing cover are integral being devoid of thermal interfaces therebetween.

20. A pluggable module comprising:
a pluggable body comprising an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell having a lower wall and lower side walls and the upper shell having an upper wall and upper side walls, the lower wall, the upper wall, the lower side walls and the upper side walls forming a cavity, the pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end, the mating end being receivable in a module cavity of a receptacle assembly to mate with a communication connector,
the upper wall having a cooling channel allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end, the upper wall having a plurality of heat transfer fins in the cooling channel, the upper wall having a landing cover at a top of the upper shell spanning over the heat transfer fins;
the upper shell having a heat spreader plate at the upper wall between the upper side walls, the heat spreader plate closing the cooling channel below the heat transfer fins; and
a communication circuit board held in the pluggable body and exposed at the mating end, the communication circuit board having a communication component in thermal contact with the heat spreader plate, wherein the pluggable body is configured to be plugged into the receptacle assembly such that the communication circuit board is communicatively coupled to the communication connector of the receptacle assembly.

21. A pluggable module comprising:
a pluggable body comprising an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell having a lower wall and lower side walls and the upper shell having an upper wall and upper side walls, the lower wall, the upper wall, the lower side walls and the upper side walls forming a cavity, the pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end, the mating end being receivable in a module cavity of a receptacle assembly to mate with a communication connector,
the upper wall having a cooling channel allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end, the upper wall having a plurality of heat transfer fins in the cooling channel extending longitudinally between front ends and rear ends, the upper wall having a landing cover at a top of the upper wall spanning over the front ends of the heat transfer fins, the upper shell having a heat spreader plate at a bottom of the upper wall spanning below the rear ends of the heat transfer fins, wherein the landing cover and the heat spreader plate are longitudinally offset; and
a communication circuit board held in the pluggable body and exposed at the mating end, the communication circuit board having a communication component in thermal contact with the heat spreader plate, wherein the pluggable body is configured to be plugged into the receptacle assembly such that the communication circuit board is communicatively coupled to the communication connector of the receptacle assembly.

22. The pluggable module of claim 21 , wherein the upper wall is open above the rear ends of the heat transfer fins and the heat spread plate and wherein the upper wall is open below the front end

Assignees

• Te Connectivity Corp

Inventors

• Briant Eric David
• Phillips Michael John
• Tryson Michael Joseph

Classifications

• H01R13/6581

  Shield structure · CPC title

• H01R13/6691

  with built-in signalling means (H01R13/717 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K1/0203 Primary

  Cooling of mounted components (H05K1/0272 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/4284 Primary

  of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors (latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627) · CPC title

• H05K7/20127

  Natural convection · CPC title