US-12627098-B2 - Integrated retractable guidance assembly for deep recessed pluggable optical modules

US12627098B2US 12627098 B2US12627098 B2US 12627098B2US-12627098-B2

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.

Inventors

Jennifer Ashley Trac
Victor ALDEA
Trevor Meunier
Kamran Rahmani
Mitchell O'Leary
Yannick Brisebois
Cindy Lee

Assignees

CIENA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230922

Claims (20)

1 . An integrated retractable guidance assembly for guiding insertion of a pluggable optical module into a pluggable optical module cage through an opening defined in a faceplate of a module, the guidance assembly comprising: a bullnose structure coupled to the faceplate; and one or more retractable arms extending from the bullnose structure and biased into the opening; wherein 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.
2 . The guidance assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retractable arms comprise an upper retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module and a lower retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module.
3 . The guidance assembly of claim 2 , where the rear portion of the pluggable optical module is adapted to be disposed between the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm.
4 . The guidance assembly of claim 2 , wherein the upper retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as an upper shoulder of the nose portion of the pluggable optical module contacts the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as a lower shoulder of the nose portion of the pluggable optical module contacts the lower retractable arm.
5 . The guidance assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retractable arms comprise one or more pivoting arms, one or more retractable wedges, one or more deflectable struts, one or more deflectable wheels, one or more deflectable bearings, one or more retractable knobs, or one or more retractable protrusions.
6 . The guidance assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retractable arms are biased into the opening by one or more springs.
7 . The guidance assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retractable arms are adapted to be deflected into one or more recesses formed in the bullnose structure as the nose portion of the pluggable optical module passes into the pluggable optical module cage.
8 . The guidance assembly of claim 1 , where the pluggable optical module cage is one or more of recessed behind the faceplate and the opening defined in the faceplate is unsymmetrical such that a view of the pluggable optical module cage from a front of the faceplate is obstructed, making insertion of the pluggable optical module into the pluggable optical module cage through the opening defined in the faceplate difficult.
9 . A module comprising: a pluggable optical module cage; a faceplate defining an opening adapted to receive an inserted pluggable optical module into the pluggable optical module cage; and an integrated retractable guidance assembly for guiding insertion of the pluggable optical module into the pluggable optical module cage through the opening defined in the faceplate, the guidance assembly comprising: a bullnose structure coupled to the faceplate; and one or more retractable arms extending from the bullnose structure and biased into the opening; wherein 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.
10 . The module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more retractable arms comprise an upper retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module and a lower retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module.
11 . The module of claim 10 , where the rear portion of the pluggable optical module is adapted to be disposed between the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm.
12 . The module of claim 10 , wherein the upper retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as an upper shoulder of the nose portion of the pluggable optical module contacts the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as a lower shoulder of the nose portion of the pluggable optical module contacts the lower retractable arm.
13 . The module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more retractable arms comprise one or more pivoting arms, one or more retractable wedges, one or more deflectable struts, one or more deflectable wheels, one or more deflectable bearings, one or more retractable knobs, or one or more retractable protrusions.
14 . The module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more retractable arms are biased into the opening by one or more springs.
15 . The module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more retractable arms are adapted to be deflected into one or more recesses formed in the bullnose structure as the nose portion of the pluggable optical module passes into the pluggable optical module cage.
16 . The module of claim 9 , wherein the bullnose structure comprises a graphite-over-foam assembly disposed adjacent to the one or more retractable arms and adapted to contact a side surface of the pluggable optical module as the pluggable optical module is inserted into the pluggable optical module cage.
17 . The module of claim 16 , where compression of the graphite-over-foam assembly as the pluggable optical module is inserted into the pluggable optical module cage creates resistance against insertion of the pluggable optical module into the pluggable optical module cage, making the insertion of the pluggable optical module into the pluggable optical module cage through the opening defined in the faceplate difficult.
18 . A method for providing an integrated retractable guidance assembly for guiding insertion of a pluggable optical module into a pluggable optical module cage through an opening defined in a faceplate of a module, the method comprising: coupling a bullnose structure to the faceplate; and providing one or more retractable arms extending from the bullnose structure and biased into the opening; wherein 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.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more retractable arms comprise an upper retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module and a lower retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the rear portion of the pluggable optical module.
20 . The method of claim 19 , where the rear portion of the pluggable optical module is adapted to be disposed between the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to the telecommunications and networking fields. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an integrated retractable guidance assembly for deep recessed pluggable optical modules (POMs). BACKGROUND In telecommunications and networking modules with recessed POM cages, the POMs are typically aligned visually by looking into the faceplate opening of the module during insertion of the POM. However, for modules with faceplate openings that provide limited visibility and those that incorporate graphite-over-foam (GOF) or the like along the sides of the cages, aligning and inserting the POMs may be difficult. For example, the GOF and associated sheet metal coverings may obstruct the view of the cage opening and the compression of the GOF onto the POM body may make it more difficult to adjust the angle and position of the POM during insertion to correct for initial misalignment. The conventional method for aligning the POMs is to look into the faceplate opening during insertion and carefully insert the POM while aligning the mating end of the plug with the POM cage opening. This can take several attempts to correctly align the POM with the POM cage opening. This may risk damage to the POM if misaligned and a user attempts to force the POM into the POM cage. Thus, a higher level of dexterity re required that may not be reasonably expected from all users. External tools have been developed to aid in POM alignment during insertion, but require instruction prior to first use and may be misplaced when needed. Further, users may be averse to using loose accessories as they require storage. Thus, such proper use cannot be guaranteed. Further, as the geometries of different faceplate openings vary, different versions of an external tool are required. For a shelf with several different modules installed, it would be impractical to keep multiple different external tools on hand. The present background is provided as illustrative environmental context only and should not be construed to be limiting in any manner. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the principles and concepts of the present disclosure may be implemented in other environmental contexts equally. BRIEF SUMMARY The present disclosure provides an integrated retractable guidance assembly that accurately guides a POM into a POM cage with limited faceplate opening visibility and/or with GOF installed without the need for an external tool. This reduces the risk of damaging the POM by ensuring accurate mating between the POM and the POM cage on the first insertion attempt with the alignment angle being constrained. A degree of tactile insertion feedback is also provided to the user. By integrating the guidance assembly into the faceplate, the need to keep track of appropriate external tools is eliminated. Although the integrated retractable guidance assembly is used with recessed POM cages and/or with POM cages incorporating GOF, it may also be used with standard recessed POM cage ports as well. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an integrated retractable guidance assembly for guiding insertion of a POM into a POM 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 POM to pass into the POM cage without being deflected towards the bullnose structure, but to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as a nose portion of the POM passes into the POM cage. The one or more retractable arms include an upper retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the rear portion of the POM and a lower retractable arm adapted to be disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the rear portion of the POM. The rear portion of the POM is adapted to be disposed between the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm. The upper retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as an upper shoulder of the nose portion of the POM contacts the upper retractable arm and the lower retractable arm is adapted to be deflected towards the bullnose structure as a lower shoulder of the nose portion of the POM contacts the lower retractable arm. The one or more retractable arms include one or more pivoting arms, one or more retractable wedges, one or more deflectable struts, one or more deflectable wheels, one or more deflectable bearings, one or more retractable knobs, or one or more retractable protrusions. The one or more retractable arms are biased into the opening by one or more springs. Optionally, the one or more retractable arms are adapted to be deflected into one or more recesses formed in the bullnose structure as the nose portion of the POM passes into the POM cage