Transceiver module wit flex circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9972930-B1
Application number	US-201715406920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2017
Priority date	Jan 16, 2017
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A transceiver assembly is provided that includes a transceiver housing having first end, having a connector and an opposite second end having a passage in communication with a printed circuit board mounted in the housing. A peripheral connector having a first end and opposite second end includes a receptacle opening at the second end. A flex circuit is disposed between the first end of the peripheral connector and the second end of the transceiver housing. The peripheral connector is capable of being displaced with respect to the transceiver housing via the flex circuit.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A transceiver assembly comprising:
a transceiver housing having a first end having a connector and an opposite second end having a passage in communication with a printed circuit board mounted in the housing,
a peripheral connector having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end having a receptacle opening,
a flex circuit disposed between the first end of the peripheral connector and the second end of the transceiver housing, the peripheral connector capable of being displaced with respect to the transceiver housing via the flex circuit;
the transceiver housing having a center line extending between the first and second end and the flex circuit allowing for displacement of the peripheral connector with respect to the center line;
the flex circuit allows for lateral movement but prevents side to side movement and the center line defines a Y-axis, the flex circuit including an X-axis that is perpendicular to the Y-axis, and a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis and forms a YZ plane and the flex circuit allows for movement of the peripheral connector in the YZ-plane and movement of the peripheral connector is prevented along the X-axis and Y-axis; and
a pivot arm extending from the transceiver housing and a pivot extension protruding from the peripheral connector, the pivot arm and pivot extension being pivotally attached and restricting movement of the flex circuit in the Y-axis.

2. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the peripheral connector is displaced laterally with respect to the center line upon deflection of the flex circuit and the flex circuit is attached to the transceiver housing in a plane disposed from the center line.

3. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the flex circuit includes circuit traces for carrying electrical signals between the transceiver housing and the peripheral connector.

4. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the flex circuit includes a spacer, foil wrap and a strain relief.

5. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 wherein the flex circuit is attached to the transceiver housing by one of a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connector, a butt joint and an integral embedded connection of the flex circuit to a rigid board of the transceiver housing.

6. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connector is disposed in the peripheral connector and receives an end of the flex circuit.

7. A transceiver assembly comprising:
a transceiver housing having a first end having a connector and an opposite second end having a passage in communication with a printed circuit board mounted in the housing,
a peripheral connector having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end having a receptacle opening,
a flex circuit disposed between the first end of the peripheral connector and the second end of the transceiver housing, the peripheral connector capable of being displaced with respect to the transceiver housing via the flex circuit; and
an anti-deflection member to limit the angle of deflection of the flex circuit the deflection control member disposed on the pivot arm in order to control the angle of deflection of the flex circuit and peripheral connector.

8. The transceiver assembly of claim 7 wherein the anti-deflection member includes a flap pivotally attached to the transceiver housing.

9. The transceiver assembly of claim 8 wherein the flap having a pivot point on the transceiver housing and a leg opposite the pivot point and the leg received in a gap of the pivot extension.

10. The transceiver assembly of claim 7 wherein the deflection control member includes a détente extending from the pivot arm and engaging an edge of the pivot extension and the cross-sectional shape of the détente controlling the angle deflection of the flex circuit and peripheral connector.

11. A method of controlling deflection of a peripheral connector with respect to a transceiver housing comprising the steps of:
providing a flex providing a flex circuit formed of foil wrap and a strain relief, the flex circuit disposed between the peripheral connector and the transceiver housing;
restricting deflection of the peripheral connector in a first direction via an anti-deflection member;
controlling the deflection of the peripheral device connector in a second direction opposite the first direction via a deflection control member; and
the anti-deflection member includes a flap having a leg for engaging a gap of the peripheral connector in order to prevent deflection of the flex circuit.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of adjusting the length of the leg in order to adjust the deflection angle of the flex circuit with respect to the transceiver housing.

13. A method of controlling deflection of a peripheral connector with respect to a transceiver housing comprising the steps of:
providing a flex circuit formed of foil wrap and a strain relief, the flex circuit disposed between the peripheral connector and the transceiver housing;
restricting deflection of the peripheral connector in a first direction via an anti-deflection member;
controlling the deflection of the peripheral device connector in a second direction opposite the first direction via a deflection control member;
wherein the deflection control member includes a notch disposed on the peripheral connector that engages a détente on the transceiver housing in order to control the deflection of the flex circuit.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of providing for lateral movement of the flex circuit while restricting side to side movement and the flex circuit having a center line that defines a Y-axis, the flex circuit including an X-axis that is perpendicular to the Y-axis, and a Z-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis and forming a YZ plane;
allowing for deflection of the flex circuit in the YZ plane; and
restricting deflection of the peripheral connector in the X-axis and Y-axis.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the flex circuit is connected to the transceiver housing and the peripheral connector by Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connectors.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the flex circuit has a planar construction that restricts movement of the flex circuit in the X-axis and Y-axis.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of restricting deflection of the flex circuit in the X-axis and Y-axis via a pivot arm attached to a pivot extension disposed adjacent the flex circuit.

Assignees

• Methode Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Skepnek Robert
• Llorens Joseph
• Pirillis Alexandros

Classifications

• H01R12/772 Primary

  Strain relieving means · CPC title

• H01R12/81 Primary

  connecting to another cable except for flat or ribbon cable · CPC title

• H01R12/82

  connected with low or zero insertion force · CPC title

• G02B6/4281

  the printed circuit boards being flexible (in general H05K1/147) · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title