Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly having a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side has greater vertical clearance than the secondary side; at least one component mounted on the secondary side, the at least one component being placed on the secondary side due to an increased complexity and component density on the printed circuit board assembly preventing its placement on the primary side; and a floating heatsink assembly disposed on the secondary side to dissipate heat from the at least one component, the floating heatsink assembly being biased against the at least one component by at least one resilient member arranged within a limited vertical space on the secondary side.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly having a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side includes more physical space, in a vertical direction extending out from the printed circuit board assembly, than the secondary side; electrical and/or optical components disposed on the primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; and a secondary side heatsink located on and extending from the secondary side, wherein the secondary side heatsink is disposed to one of i) an electrical and/or optical component disposed on the secondary side, and ii) an optical component disposed on the primary side, for thermal management.

Abstract: An integrated retractable guidance assembly for guiding insertion of a pluggable optical module into a pluggable optical module cage through an opening in a faceplate of a module, the guidance assembly including: a bullnose structure coupled to the faceplate; and one or more retractable arms extending from the bullnose structure and biased into the opening; where the one or more retractable arms are adapted to allow a rear portion of the pluggable optical module to pass into the pluggable optical module cage without being deflected towards the bullnose structure, but to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as a nose portion of the pluggable optical module passes into the pluggable optical module cage. The retractable arms are adapted to provide a user with tactile alignment feedback when the pluggable optical module is inserted into the pluggable optical module cage through the opening in the faceplate under limited visibility circumstances.

Abstract: An optical fiber adaptor assembly including: an adaptor body having an internal side and an external side, where the internal side receives and retains an optical fiber ferrule assembly and the external side is adapted to receive and retain an optical fiber connector assembly, and where the adaptor body is adapted to be disposed through and retained in a cut-out defined by a panel of a module or circuit pack. The internal side of the adaptor body includes an adaptor shoulder that is adapted to be disposed adjacent to an internal side of the panel when the adaptor body is disposed through and retained in the cut-out. The internal side of the adaptor body further includes a ferrule retention clip that is adapted to be coupled to the adaptor shoulder and prevent the ferrule assembly from backing out of a ferrule port defined by the internal side of the adaptor body.

Abstract: An optical module, such as a Quad Small Form Factor (QSFP) or variant thereof, or another type of module, includes a housing; an optical subassembly positioned within the housing at an angle relative to the housing; circuitry connected to the optical subassembly; and heat fins located on and in contact with the housing, wherein the heat fibers are positioned near the optical subassembly. The angling of the optical subassembly supports improved thermal performance, i.e., larger heat fin area at locations due to the angle, and eliminates any bend radius issues on fibers exiting the optical subassembly.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly; components disposed on a primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; a primary side heatsink for a pluggable module, wherein the primary side heatsink is disposed to one or more pivot points on the pluggable module, for applying a uniform and controlled external force against the pluggable module. The module further includes a cage attached to the printed circuit board assembly for supporting the pluggable module, wherein the one or more pivot points are external to the cage.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly; components disposed on a primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; a primary side heatsink for a pluggable module, wherein the primary side heatsink is disposed to one or more pivot points on the pluggable module, for applying a uniform and controlled external force against the pluggable module. The module further includes a cage attached to the printed circuit board assembly for supporting the pluggable module, wherein the one or more pivot points are external to the cage.

Abstract: A combination standoff and LED includes a surface mount solder standoff which can be either threaded or unthreaded, and a surface mount LED disposed and fixed in the center of the base of the standoff. The combination standoff and LED is adapted to receive a lightpipe via the either threaded or unthreaded portion of the surface mount solder standoff. This combination standoff and LED results in a single piece of hardware which simplifies the physical PCBA layout design and removes any Computer Aided Design (CAD) placement errors that would normally be present if two separate hardware components were placed together manually.

Abstract: A coherent optical transmitter includes circuitry connected to a coherent modulator; and a plurality of tunable optical filters (TOFs) connected to one another and connected to an output of the coherent modulator, wherein the plurality of tunable optical filters are configurable to create an effective transfer function having a variable width. The TOFs are cascaded and can be included in discrete form on electro-optic printed circuit boards (PCBs), or integrated in various electro-optic material systems such as in silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), as well as hybrid and other approaches. The advantage of this approach includes improved OSNR in colorless transmitters.

Abstract: A micro-optical connector holder with an integrated mating system for an optical assembly, typically on a modem PCBA. The integrated mating system is used to hold the micro-optical connectors together during assembly and to apply constant pressure keeping the connectors fully mated. The invention also uses a spring-pin mechanism to keep the holder lid and connectors in place without the use of screws or glue to make assembly easier. The integrated mating system allows the micro-optical connectors to be easily installed and uninstalled for manufacturing and testing purposes. The connector plugs and connector receptacles are aligned and secured by the integrated connector holder.

Abstract: A combination standoff and LED includes a surface mount solder standoff which can be either threaded or unthreaded, and a surface mount LED disposed and fixed in the center of the base of the standoff. The combination standoff and LED is adapted to receive a lightpipe via the either threaded or unthreaded portion of the surface mount solder standoff. This combination standoff and LED results in a single piece of hardware which simplifies the physical PCBA layout design and removes any Computer Aided Design (CAD) placement errors that would normally be present if two separate hardware components were placed together manually.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly having a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side includes more physical space, in a vertical direction extending out from the printed circuit board assembly, than the secondary side; electrical and/or optical components disposed on the primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; and a secondary side heatsink located on and extending from the secondary side, wherein the secondary side heatsink is disposed to one of i) an electrical and/or optical component disposed on the secondary side, and ii) an optical component disposed on the primary side, for thermal management.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector of a networking module faceplate assembly includes a shuttle body, a connection assembly, and a retention clip. The shuttle body including a fiber slot extending across the shuttle body and adapted for an optical fiber to extend therethrough. The connection assembly is adapted to connect the optical fiber of the networking module to an external optical fiber connector. The connection assembly includes a ferrule flange fiber termination, a split sleeve, and a ferrule. The ferrule flange fiber termination positioned within the shuttle body and adapted to splice to an end of the optical fiber. A length of the optical fiber connector can be less than half a length of the external optical fiber connector.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector of a networking module faceplate assembly includes a shuttle body, a connection assembly, and a retention clip. The shuttle body including a fiber slot extending across the shuttle body and adapted for an optical fiber to extend therethrough. The connection assembly is adapted to connect the optical fiber of the networking module to an external optical fiber connector. The connection assembly includes a ferrule flange fiber termination, a split sleeve, and a ferrule. The ferrule flange fiber termination positioned within the shuttle body and adapted to splice to an end of the optical fiber. A length of the optical fiber connector can be less than half a length of the external optical fiber connector.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly having a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side includes more physical space, in a vertical direction extending out from the printed circuit board assembly, than the secondary side; electrical and/or optical components disposed on the primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; and a secondary side heatsink located on and extending from the secondary side, wherein the secondary side heatsink is disposed to one of i) an electrical and/or optical component disposed on the secondary side, and ii) an optical component disposed on the primary side, for thermal management.

Abstract: A module for use in a hardware platform for networking, computing, and/or storage includes a printed circuit board assembly having a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side includes more physical space, in a vertical direction extending out from the printed circuit board assembly, than the secondary side; electrical and/or optical components disposed on the primary side of the printed circuit board assembly; and a secondary side heatsink located on and extending from the secondary side, wherein the secondary side heatsink is disposed to one of i) an electrical and/or optical component disposed on the secondary side, and ii) an optical component disposed on the primary side, for thermal management.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.

Abstract: A heatsink for pluggable optical devices that incorporates features to limit the travel and deformation of the mating/mated spring clip that holds the heatsink to the cage of a pluggable optical device. The heatsink bearing surface takes the shape and contour of the leaf spring portion of the spring clip, thereby contacting and supporting it well before it plastically yields and permanently deforms. The shape of this feature, which may be coupled to or integrally formed with the heatsink bearing surface, can match exactly the shape of the spring clip or approximate the shape using a curved, variable, or other easier to manufacture profile, as long as the associated protrusions extend up into the corners of the leaf spring portion of the spring clip. This feature effectively acts as a hard stop and prevents the spring clip from being compromised due to improper handling or installation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pluggable optical modules that are prevented from reaching potentially dangerous temperatures when a fiber optic connector is not present and engaged with the associated module housing. Further, the present disclosure provides fiber optic connectors and/or pluggable optical modules that incorporate a port heat shield external to the associated face plate when the pluggable optical modules and fiber optic connectors are engaged, thereby preventing a user from contacting potentially hot and dangerous metallic surfaces of the module housings, as well as providing access for cooling air flow. The solutions presented herein are equally applicable to fixed optical ports and connectors as well.