Abstract: Automatic power control (APC) is provided by a) a variable output voltage differential receiver/driver, which receiver is responsive to data signals for generating a voltage, the laser driver output voltage amplitude being controlled by a first potentiometer on an integrated circuit generating an AC current signal for summing with a DC current signal to provide a laser drive current signal to b) a laser transmitter having a laser diode, said laser diode for producing optical power over an optical transfer medium and a photodiode for producing a feedback signal in response to said optical power, the APC including c) a power stabilizing circuit including an error amplifier, a second potentiometer and a bias current drive transistor, the error amplifier having inputs for both the feedback signal and a voltage reference to generate an output control signal, the second potentiometer affecting said output control signal, and said bias current drive transistor being responsive to said output control signal for suppl

Abstract: An optoelectronic transceiver module comprising a housing having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end; a printed circuit board mounted within the housing; an electrical connector on the printed circuit board at the first end of the optoelectronic transceiver module, the electrical connector having an insulative mating surface within the first opening and including a first side with electrical contacts in an area oriented substantially parallel to the first side of the insulative mating surface, wherein the electrical contacts slidingly engage a circuit card connector of a host receptacle in order to quickly install and remove the optoelectronic transceiver module from within the circuit card connector; an optical assembly connected to the printed circuit board at the second end of the optoelectronic transceiver module, the optical assembly including a transmitting optical subassembly and a receiving optical subassembly, the second opening allowing the optical assembly to communi

Abstract: A pluggable transceiver module having a housing with a first side and a face perpendicular to the first side, and a tab extending above the surface of the first side sized to mate with a slot in a receptacle for the housing, a wedge slidably mounted on the first side proximate the tab, and a lever attached to the wedge extending beyond the face of the housing, wherein pressing the lever causes the wedge to slide between the tab and the slot on the receptacle and remove the tab from within the slot, thereby releasing the transceiver module from the receptacle, and the lever further including a recess enabling a person to at least partially insert a fingernail to easily grip and remove the pluggable transceiver module from the receptacle.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transceiver module having a housing with a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, a printed circuit board mounted within the housing, an electrical connector on the printed circuit board at the first end of the optoelectronic transceiver module, the electrical connector having an insulative mating surface within the first opening and including a first side with electrical contacts in an area oriented substantially parallel to the first side of the insulative mating surface, wherein the electrical contacts slidingly engage a circuit card connector of a host receptacle in order to quickly install and remove the optoelectronic transceiver module from within the circuit card connector, an optical assembly on the printed circuit board at the second end of the optoelectronic transceiver module, the optical assembly including a transmitting optical subassembly and a receiving optical subassembly, the second opening allowing the optical assembly to communicate outside of

Abstract: A robust optoelectronic transceiver module which is quick, easy, and inexpensive to manufacture. The transceiver module has a main housing which consists of a circuit board having an optical subassembly mounted thereon. The module housing may be pluggable via a retention member received within the receptacle. The module and receptacle assembly may include grounding member such as a ground clip mounted within a gap provided between the module and a connector port of the receptacle to limit electromagnetic emissions.

Abstract: A communications transceiver includes a jack housing which, in turn, includes portions defining a recess for receiving a mating plug therein. Signal connector elements are provided within the recess for establishing inbound and outbound signal paths with corresponding signal connector elements of the mating plug. A circuit board within the jack housing preferably comprises an electrically conductive layer defining a first internal electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. Accordingly, at least one first circuit device being susceptible to EMI is mounted on a first side of the circuit board, and at least one second circuit device generating EMI and is mounted on the circuit board on a second side thereof opposite the first side. The first internal EMI shield extends between the at least one first circuit device and the at least one second circuit device. The transceiver may include an electrically conductive layer on outer surface portions of the jack housing defining an external EMI shield.

Abstract: An optoelectronic interconnect module comprising a housing having a first aperture on a first side of the housing for receiving an optical ferrule and a second aperture on a second side of the housing for receiving a semiconductor die. A mirror is mounted within the housing at an angle for reflecting optical transmissions between the first and second apertures. A first optical lens is mounted between the first aperture and the mirror, and a second optical lens is mounted between the second aperture and the mirror. The optoelectronic interconnect module transmits an electronically modulated optical signal between an optical fiber in the first aperture and an optoelectronic semiconductor die adjacent to the second aperture within a mutually orthogonal plane.

Abstract: A communications transceiver includes a jack housing which, in turn, includes portions defining a recess for receiving a mating plug therein. Signal connector elements are provided within the recess for establishing inbound and outbound signal paths with corresponding signal connector elements of the mating plug. A circuit board within the jack housing preferably comprises an electrically conductive layer defining a first internal electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. Accordingly, at least one first circuit device being susceptible to EMI is mounted on a first side of the circuit board, and at least one second circuit device generating EMI and is mounted on the circuit board on a second side thereof opposite the first side. The first internal EMI shield extends between the at least one first circuit device and the at least one second circuit device. The transceiver may include an electrically conductive layer on outer surface portions of the jack housing defining an external EMI shield.

Abstract: A pluggable transceiver module having a housing with a first side and a face perpendicular to the first side, and a tab extending beyond the surface of the first side, and the tab sized to mate with a slot in a receptacle of a host device for receiving the pluggable transceiver module housing, an elongated member slidably mounted to the first side of the housing and having an internal end and an external end, a wedge on the internal end of the elongated member, wherein sliding the elongated member inward causes the wedge to slide between the tab and the slot on the receptacle and remove the tab from within the slot, thereby releasing the pluggable transceiver module from the receptacle, and a lever rotatably mounted via an axle proximate the face of the pluggable transceiver module, said axle being connected to the external end of the elongated member such that rotating the lever away from the face of the pluggable transceiver cause the rotating axle to push the elongated member inward and drive the wedge bet

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule receptacle with a single-molded housing having a base, a cylinder on a first side of the base having a bore for receiving an optic ferrule, a socket on a second side of the base, opposing the first side, for receiving an optical element; and the bore having a first diameter at an outer opening distal to the base, and a second diameter at an inner opening adjacent to the base, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. A second embodiment comprises a single-molded housing having a base, a cylinder on a first side of the base having a bore for receiving an optic ferrule, a socket on a second side of the base, opposing the first side, for receiving an optical element; and a plurality of sloping ridges located on the inner wall of the cylinder, wherein widths of the sloping ridges increase closer to the base.

Abstract: An optical transceiver module includes a transmitter portion and receiver portion positioned within a housing with an EMI shield therebetween, and wherein the transmitter and receiver portions include respective substrates, or circuit boards, with opposing and spaced apart major surfaces. The port density, when using a plurality of such modules, is increased, while providing enhanced EMI shielding. Each circuit board may include a ground plane and have a plurality of generally L-shaped conductive leads extending outwardly from the respective circuit boards. The optical transmitter and optical receiver portions each preferably further comprise at least one active component mounted on the first major surfaces. Accordingly, these active components face one another.

Abstract: A switched communications device includes a multi-port jack housing having portions defining a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the front for receiving respective mating plugs. Signal connectors are preferably positioned within each of the recesses and define respective communications ports. A circuit board is positioned within the multi-port jack housing and preferably extends adjacent the back. The switched communications device preferably includes at least one switched communications processor mounted on the circuit board and connected to the plurality of communications ports for processing inbound and outbound communications signals so that the signals are switched among the communications ports. A switched communications processor preferably communicates with two or more of the communications ports. The signal connectors may be electrical and/or optical, and may be compatible with an RJ-45 jack. An internal EMI shield may be provided in the circuit board.

Abstract: A conductive via filler for printed wiring boards capable of reducing copper oxides and thereby eliminating a cleaning step in printed wiring board construction, the conductive via filler consisting essentially of silver flake, a resin, a hardener, and a titanate coupling compound. The filler or paste may further include one or more of a flexibilizer, a solvent, and/or an accelerator. It is a feature of the invention that extensive pre-cleaning of copper substrates is obviated.

Abstract: A shared communications device includes a multi-port jack housing having portions defining a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the front for receiving respective mating plugs. Signal connectors are preferably positioned within each of the recesses and define respective communications ports. A circuit board is positioned within the multi-port jack housing and preferably extends adjacent the back. The shared communications device preferably includes at least one shared communications processor mounted on the circuit board and connected to the plurality of communications ports for processing inbound and outbound communications signals so that the signals are shared among the communications ports. A shared communications processor preferably communicates with two or more of the communications ports. In embodiments including a plurality of shared communications processors, a communications repeater bus is provided on the circuit board interconnecting the shared communications processors.

Abstract: A communications device includes a multi-port jack housing having portions defining a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the front for receiving respective mating plugs. Signal connectors are preferably positioned within each of the recesses and define respective communications ports. A circuit board is positioned within the multi-port jack housing and preferably extends adjacent the back. The communications device preferably includes at least one communications processor mounted on the circuit board and connected to the plurality of communications ports for processing inbound and outbound communications signals. A communications processor preferably communicates with two or more of the communications ports. In embodiments including a plurality of communications processors, a communications bus is provided on the circuit board interconnecting the communications processors. The signal connectors may be electrical and/or optical, and may be compatibility with an RJ-45 jack.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transceiver is provided having an adaptable logic level signal detect output. The preferred embodiments are configured to generate various logic level signal detected signals directly for use by the transceiver host device. A first embodiment generates the SD output based on the actual optical power received over the optical transfer medium. When the received optical power exceeds a predetermined threshold, the monitor voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and the signal detected output is set. The output stage of the circuit can be configured such that in the true state, meaning a signal has been detected, a TTL level signal, a CMOS signal, or a high voltage or high current signal is set to true. The high voltage and high current configurations may be set to any value required under the specific requirements of the application. In a second embodiment an AC signal detecting circuit generates the SD output.

Abstract: A steering column interconnector having a first plate with a center hole for the steering column and a first plurality of conductive rings, a second plate having a center hole for the steering column and a second plurality of conductive rings, a third plate having a center hole for the steering column and a plurality of apertures for rotatably positioning conductive rollers, and a plurality of conductive rollers, each conductive roller being rotatably positioned within an aperture of the third plate.

Abstract: A clockspring for powering a heated steering wheel having a resettable fuse connected in series between the heating element and a power source for the heating element. When a predetermined current limit is exceeded the resettable fuse trips and breaks the circuit providing power to the heating element. After the resettable fuse cools, the resettable fuse automatically reestablished the connection between the heating element and the power source for the heating element. The resettable fuse can be easily and economically implemented into a conventional clockspring, thus enabling a conventional clockspring to provide electrical connections for high current devices, such as a steering wheel heating element. Moreover, the present invention provides a reliable and cost effective safety device for preventing damage to the clockspring and the vehicle, and serious injury to a driver or a passenger.

Abstract: A bus bar assembly having a high-speed switching device, a bus bar, and a heat sink. The switching device is integrated into a cavity on the top surface of the bus bar, and the heat sink is mechanically coupled to the bottom surface of the bus bar. The bus bar may include capacitors that are positioned upside down on the top surface of the bus bar to more effectively communicate heat from the capacitor to the bus bar and then the heat sink. The heat sink may be formed from a pair of parallel plates that oppose each another to form a cooling channel, wherein a coolant, such as gas or water, may be passed through. An interior surface of one of the plates may incorporate a cooling structure such as grooves or fins.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interface module, such as a Giga-Bit Interface Converter module, provided to mate within a host device chassis where, at the rear of the mounting slot, a first connector engages a host socket of the host device. According to the invention, the first connector include sequential mating contact traces on a contact beam of a substrate such that when the module is inserted into the corresponding host socket, certain contacts are connected in a pre-defined sequence such that a first set of contacts electrically engages prior to a second set of contacts which electrically engages prior to a third set of contacts. In further accord with the present invention, the first set of contacts includes grounding contacts, the second set includes contacts for powering the substrate and the third set includes signal contacts.