Pluggable module having cooling channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9935403-B1
Application number	US-201715430679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2017
Priority date	Feb 13, 2017
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A pluggable module includes a pluggable body having a top and channel walls extending above the top defining a cooling channel along the top. The cooling channel allows airflow between a front end and a mating end of the pluggable body. The pluggable module includes a communication circuit board held in the pluggable body. The pluggable module includes an EMI shield coupled to the pluggable body above the top. The EMI shield has a shield plate spanning the cooling channel. The shield plate is metal and provides electrical shielding across the cooling channel. The shield plate has openings allowing airflow therethrough to flow through the cooling channel.

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 a top and channel walls extending above the top defining a cooling channel along the top, the cooling channel allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end;
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; and
an EMI shield coupled to the pluggable body above the top, the EMI shield having a shield plate spanning the cooling channel, the shield plate being metal and providing electrical shielding across the cooling channel, the shield plate having openings allowing airflow therethrough to flow through the cooling channel.

2. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable body has a first side and a second side, the channel walls being provided at the first and second sides, the shield plate spanning between the channel walls.

3. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel spans an entire width of the pluggable body between the channel walls, the shield plate spanning the width of the pluggable body.

4. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the openings of the shield plate are separated by metal strips defining beams.

5. The pluggable module of claim 4 , wherein the openings are separated by metal strips defining cross beams extending between the beams.

6. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the openings have smaller cross-sections than the cooling channel.

7. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the openings are sized to block EMI while allowing airflow through the shield plate.

8. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the EMI shield further comprises a mounting plate extending between the channel walls, the mounting plate being spaced apart and parallel to the top of the pluggable body, the shield plate extending from the mounting plate to the top.

9. The pluggable module of claim 8 , wherein the EMI shield includes a stamped and formed body defining a mounting plate and the shield plate.

10. The pluggable module of claim 8 , wherein the mounting plate includes a gasket interface configured to be electrically connected to an EMI gasket of the receptacle assembly.

11. The pluggable module of claim 8 , wherein the pluggable body includes a support wall extending from the top, the support wall supporting the mounting plate between the channel walls.

12. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable body includes a plurality of fins extending from the top of the pluggable body, the shield plate spanning between the fins.

13. The pluggable module of claim 12 , wherein the fins are plates extending parallel to the channel walls defining airflow channels between the fins, the fins having ends, the shield plate capping the ends of the fins.

14. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the EMI shield is electrically connected to the pluggable body.

15. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the shield plate includes the openings in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

16. The pluggable module of claim 1 , wherein the openings account for at least 50% of the surface area of the shield plate.

17. 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 a top and channel walls extending above the top defining a cooling channel along the top, the cooling channel allowing airflow between the front end and the mating end;
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; and
an EMI shield coupled to the pluggable body above the top, the EMI shield having a mounting plate spanning between the channel walls, the EMI shield having a shield plate extending from the mounting plate into the cooling channel, the shield plate spanning the cooling channel, the shield plate having openings allowing airflow therethrough to flow through the cooling channel, the EMI shield being metal and providing electrical shielding across the cooling channel, the mounting plate having a gasket interface configured to be electrically connected to an EMI gasket of the receptacle assembly.

18. The pluggable module of claim 17 , wherein the mounting plate is spaced apart and parallel to the top of the pluggable body, the shield plate extending from the mounting plate to the top of the pluggable body.

19. The pluggable module of claim 17 , wherein the openings of the shield plate are separated by metal strips defining beams.

20. A communication system comprising:
a receptacle assembly having a cage member having a plurality of walls defining a module cavity extending between a front end and a back end, the cage member surrounding a communication connector at the back end, at least one of the walls defining a top of the cage member, the cage member configured to be mounted to a circuit board at a bottom of the cage member, the walls being conductive to provide EMI shielding for the module cavity; and
a pluggable module received in the module cavity and coupled to the communication connector, the pluggable module comprising:
a pluggable body extending between a front end and a mating end, the mating end being receivable in the module cavity through the front end, the pluggable body having a top and channel walls extending above the top defining a cooling channel along the top, the cooling channel allowing airflow interior of the cage member between the front end and the mating end of the pluggable body;
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; and
an EMI shield coupled to the pluggable body above the top, the EMI shield having a shield plate spanning the cooling channel, the shield plate being metal and providing electrical shielding across the cooling channel, the shield plate having openings allowing airflow therethrough to flow through the cooling channel.

Assignees

• Te Connectivity Corp

Inventors

• Briant Eric David
• Shankar Nikhil

Classifications

• H05K7/20409

  Outer radiating structures on heat dissipating housings, e.g. fins integrated with the housing · CPC title

• H01R13/659 Primary

  with plural ports for distinct connectors · CPC title

• H01R13/518

  for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames · CPC title

• H01R13/665

  with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20127

  Natural convection · CPC title