Multiple channel optical tranceiver modules with compatibility features

Abstract

Optical transceiver modules with multiple channel connection with connectors on a motherboard of a line card for network devices, such as a switch, router, crossconnect and the like, are presented. The modules have staggered electronic boards which can engage the connectors which are laterally displaced on the motherboard. The connectors are also arranged so that one of them can engage an optical transceiver module in an SFP connection so that the motherboard connectors are compatible with multiple channel and single channel (SFP) connections.

1 . An optical transceiver module for removable mounting to a motherboard, said optical transceiver module comprising: 
 a housing open at an end;    a first electronic board fixed within said housing and having an edge extending toward said open end of said housing;    a second electronic board fixed within said housing parallel to said first electronic board and having an edge extending toward said open end of said housing beyond said edge of first electronic board;    whereby upon mounting to said motherboard, said first and second electronic boards of said optical transceiver module engage first and second horizontally staggered connectors fixed to said motherboard so as to make electrical connection with said first and second connectors respectively.    
   
   
       2 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1  wherein said first electronic board carries signals of only one communication channel.  
   
   
       3 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 2  wherein said first electronic board and said first connector are disposed so as to form an SFP connection therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 3 , wherein said second electronic board carries signals of three communication channels.  
   
   
       5 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1  wherein said first electronic board and said first connector are disposed so as to form an SFP connection therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 5 , wherein said second electronic board carries signals of three communication channels.  
   
   
       7 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1  wherein said first electronic board carries signals on a plurality of pins at said first electronic board edge, and said second electronic board carries signals on a plurality of pins at said second electronic board edge, said pluralities of pins of said first and second electronic boards making electrical connections with said first and second connectors respectively when said first and second electronic boards engage said first and second horizontally staggered connectors.  
   
   
       8 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 1  further comprising a row of a plurality of optical emitters; and a row of a plurality of optical detectors, said row of optical emitters is parallel to said row of optical detectors, both said row of optical emitters and said row of optical detectors both electrically coupled to said first and second electronic boards.  
   
   
       9 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 8  wherein each optical emitter and detector corresponds to an optical fiber retained in a ferrule of a cable and the orientation of the row of optical emitters and the row of optical detectors is such that light reflected an angled surface of the ferrule at an aperture of an optical fiber corresponding to an optical emitter is directed away from an aperture of an optical fiber corresponding to an optical detector.  
   
   
       10 . The optical transceiver module of  claim 8 , wherein said row of optical emitters comprises four laser diodes and said row of optical detectors comprises four laser detectors.  
   
   
       11 . A motherboard connector assembly for removably receiving and electrically connecting an optical transceiver module, comprising 
 a first connector mounted to a motherboard; and    a second connector mounted to said motherboard, said second connector horizontally displaced with respect to said first connector so that an optical transceiver module having a housing open at an end, a first electronic board fixed within said housing and having an edge extending toward said open of said housing, and a second electronic board fixed within said housing and having an edge extending toward said open end of said housing beyond said edge of said first electronic board, engages said first and second connectors with said first and second electronic board respectively;    whereby an electrical connection is formed between said motherboard connector assembly and said optical transceiver module.    
   
   
       12 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 11  wherein said first connector carries signals for only one communication channel to and from said first electronic board of said optical transceiver module.  
   
   
       13 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 12  wherein said first connector is disposed so to be able to engage an optical transceiver module to form an SFP connection therewith.  
   
   
       14 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 13  wherein said second connector carries signals for three communication channels.  
   
   
       15 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 11  wherein said first connector is disposed so to be able to engage an optical transceiver module to form an SFP connection therewith.  
   
   
       16 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 15  wherein said second connector carries signals for three communication channels.  
   
   
       17 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 11  wherein said first connector has a first slot for engaging said first electronic board of said optical transceiver module and said second connector has a second slot for engaging said second electronic board of said optical transceiver module.  
   
   
       18 . The motherboard connector assembly of  claim 11  wherein said motherboard is operative for a line card of a network device, said network device selected from the group comprising a switch, router, and crossconnect.  
   
   
       19 . An optical transceiver module for removable mounting to a motherboard, said optical transceiver module comprising: 
 a housing;    first means fixed within said housing for making an electrical connection to said motherboard, said first means forming an SFP connection to said motherboard; and    second means fixed within said housing for making an electrical connection with said motherboard.    
   
   
       20 . A motherboard connector assembly for removably receiving and electrically connecting an optical transceiver module, comprising 
 a first connector means mounted to a motherboard; and    a second connector means mounted to said motherboard, said second connector means displaced with respect to said first connector so that an optical transceiver module having a housing open at an end, a first electronic board fixed within said housing and having edge extending toward said open of said housing, and a second electronic board fixed within said housing and having an edge extending toward said open end of said housing beyond said edge of said first electronic board, engages said first and second connector means with said first and second electronic boards respectively to form an electrical connection between said motherboard connector assembly and said optical transceiver module, and so that an optical transceiver module having a housing open at an end and only one electronic board fixed within said housing and having an edge extending toward said open end of said housing engages said first connector means to form an SFP connection between said motherboard connector assembly and said optical transceiver module.