OSFP OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER WITH A DUAL MPO RECEPTACLE

Abstract

An OSFP optical transceiver having split multiple fiber optical port using reduced amount of MPO terminations is provided that includes two adjacent sockets integrated into the optical port of the OSFP optical transceiver. The two adjacent sockets are vertically oriented with respect to the mounting baseplate of the OSFP optical transceiver, and each of the two adjacent sockets is adapted to receive an MPO receptacle that terminates the proximal end of a bundle of fibers. The OSFP optical transceiver also includes an optical connection between each socket and a corresponding lens in the OSFP optical transceiver, for transmitting optical signals received from other transceivers into the OSFP optical transceiver and optical signals generated in the OSFP optical transceiver to other transceivers.

Claims

1. A method for splitting a multiple fiber optical port of an Octal Small Form factor Pluggable (OSFP) optical transceiver, using reduced amount of Multi-fiber Push On (MPO) terminations, the method comprising: a) providing an OSFP optical transceiver; b) integrating into the optical port of said OSFP optical transceiver, two adjacent sockets being adapted to receive two independent bundles of fibers from said optical port, said two adjacent sockets being vertically oriented with respect to the mounting baseplate of said OSFP optical transceiver; c) terminating the proximal end of each of said bundles with an MPO receptacle; and d) inserting each of the MPO receptacles into a corresponding vertically oriented socket.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: a) terminating the distal end of each of said bundles with another MPO receptacle; and b) connecting each another MPO receptacle to an optical port of a transceiver.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) transceiver or a de-populated Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Double density (QSFP-DD) or OSFP transceiver.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a longitudinal groove along the upper cover of said OSFP optical transceiver by declining the upper wall portion of said OSFP optical transceiver being above the two adjacent sockets at the centre of said upper wall portion, such that the declined wall portion follows the inner arcuate contour line of each MPO receptacle.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising forming a longitudinal groove along the upper cover of said OSFP optical transceiver by declining the upper wall portion of said OSFP optical transceiver being above the two adjacent sockets at each lateral edge, such that the declined wall portion follows the opposing arcuate contour line of each MPO receptacle.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the formed longitudinal grooves coincide with the spacing between adjacent longitudinal ribs formed in the upper cover.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein to obtain a desired polarity of intermating groups of fibers, the keys of the MPO receptacles are directed according to the following: outwardly, in opposing directions; inwardly, in opposing directions; leftward or rightward in the same direction.

8. An Octal Small Form factor Pluggable (OSFP) optical transceiver having split multiple fiber optical port, using reduced amount of Multi-fiber Push On (MPO) terminations, comprising: a) two adjacent sockets, integrated into the optical port of said OSFP optical transceiver, said two adjacent sockets being vertically oriented with respect to the mounting baseplate of said OSFP optical transceiver, and each of said two adjacent sockets is adapted to receive an MPO receptacle that terminates the proximal end of a bundle of fibers; and b) an optical connection between each socket and a corresponding lens in said OSFP optical transceiver, for: b.1) transmitting optical signals received from other transceivers into said OSFP optical transceiver; and b.2) transmitting optical signals generated in said OSFP optical transceiver to other transceivers.

9. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the distal end of each bundle of fibers is terminated with another MPO receptacle being connected to a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) transceiver or to a de-populated Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Double density (QSFP-DD) or OSFP transceiver.

10. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the upper wall portion being above the two adjacent sockets is declined at the centre, such that the declined wall portion follows the inner arcuate contour line of each MPO receptacle, to form a longitudinal groove along said upper cover portion.

11. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the upper wall portion being above the two adjacent sockets is declined at each lateral edge, such that the declined wall portion follows the opposing arcuate contour line of each MPO receptacle, to form a longitudinal groove along said upper cover portion.

12. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the formed longitudinal grooves 8 coincide with the spacing between adjacent longitudinal ribs formed in the upper cover.

13. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which each bundle comprises eight optical fibers.

14. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the sockets are made of metal, plastic, or any other suitable polymer.

15. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the sockets are separated from each other.

16. An OSFP optical transceiver according to claim 8, in which the sockets are unified to form one piece which is adapted to receive two MPO receptacles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative detailed description of embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 (prior art) illustrates a perspective view of a standard MPO male connector which receives a group of 12 fibers, arranged in an interfacing row, where each fiber has a corresponding position in the interfacing row;

[0029] FIG. 2 (prior art) illustrates a perspective view of a standard connection between an MPO male connector and an MPO female connector, using an MPO adapter;

[0030] FIG. 3 (prior art) illustrates a way to create an optical split is by using a single MPO receptacle in the OSFP transceiver and a split cable (MPO to 2MPO) to feed two (QSFP) transceivers (or of de-populated QSFP-DD or OSFP transceivers);

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the optical transceiver design, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the mechanical implementation of two MPO receptacles, which are integrated into a single OSFP transceiver;

[0033] FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view or the OSFP optical transceiver with both MPO receptacles inserted inside the sockets of FIG. 5;

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates the connection of two cables (each wrapping a bundle of fibers and terminated with an interfacing MPO receptacles) to OSFP optical transceiver via the sockets; and

[0035] FIG. 8 illustrates the connection of the MPO receptacles to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) of the OSFP optical transceiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present invention proposes an optical transceiver design adapted to split an optical channel into two channels, with reduced amount of necessary MPO terminations. This is done by integrating two MPO receptacles into a single OSFP transceiver, thereby reducing the amount of necessary MPO terminations, reducing the optical loss and back reflections, and providing more length flexibility to customer. The proposed optical transceiver design allows using standard, cost efficient and mechanically robust MPO connectors, rather than using customized (non-standard) and mechanically weaker connectors, specifically designed for such applications.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the optical transceiver design, according to an embodiment of the invention. As seen, the single MPO receptacle (30c in FIG. 3) is replaced by two MPO receptacles 30a and 30b, which are integrated into a single OSFP transceiver 31. MPO receptacles 30a and 30b feed the two QSFP transceivers, 33a and 33b, respectively, via two independent bundles 40a and 40b, each of four optical fibers.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the mechanical implementation of such integration. Typically, the body of OSFP optical transceiver 31 has a mounting baseplate 51 and an upper cover 52 with a plurality of formed cooling ribs 53, for dissipating the heat generated by the transceiver's hardware.

[0039] In this example, the body of OSFP optical transceiver 31 is terminated with dual sockets 51a and 51b which are adapted to receive the two MPO receptacles 30a and 30b, respectively, each in a vertical orientation with respect to (rather than a typical horizontal orientation, shown in FIG. 1 above, in which the row of fibers is arranged horizontally with respect to mounting baseplate 51 or cover 52). This unique vertical orientation allows reducing the total width W occupied by both MPO receptacles 30a and 30b and fitting the standard dimensions of the OSFP optical transceiver 31. Sockets 51a and 51b may be made of plastic or any other suitable polymer and may be separated from each other or may be unified to form one piece which is adapted to receive two MPO receptacles.

[0040] FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view or the OSFP optical transceiver 31 with both MPO receptacles 30a and 30b inserted inside sockets 51a and 51b of FIG. 5. In this example, MPO receptacles 30a and 30b are adjacent to each other, where a partition wall 61 separates between them. The upper wall 60 of the OSFP optical transceiver housing is declined at the centre to follow the (inner) arcuate contour line 62a of each MPO receptacles, so as to form a longitudinal groove 63 along the upper cover 52. In addition, the upper wall 60 of the OSFP optical transceiver housing is also declined at each lateral edge to follow the opposing arcuate contour line 62b of each MPO receptacles, so as to form additional longitudinal grooves 64 along the upper cover 52. The formed longitudinal grooves 63 and 64 coincide with the spacing between adjacent (longitudinal) ribs 53 and therefore, improve heat evacuation from the OSFP optical transceiver 31.

[0041] In this example, the keys 13 of the MPO receptacles are directed outwardly, in opposing directions, so as to obtain a desired polarity of intermating groups 11 of fibers. However, it is clear that sockets 51a and 51b may be so designed to allow the MPO receptacles 30a and 30b to be inserted such that the keys 13 of each MPO receptacles are directed inwardly, in opposing directions, or leftward or rightward in the same direction, so as to obtain other desired polarities of intermating groups 11 of fibers. Guiding pins 12a and 12b (or guiding holes in case of female MPO connectors) are also (vertically) arranged accordingly.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates the connection of two cables 70a and 70b (each wrapping a bundle of fibers and terminated with an interfacing MPO receptacles 30a or 30b, respectively) to OSFP optical transceiver 31 via sockets 51a and 51b, respectively. Quick connection and disconnection of each cable 70a or 70b is enabled by two sliding lock sleeves 71a and 71b, which when being pushed toward the corresponding socket, lock the inserted MPO receptacles 30a and 30b, respectively to sockets 51a and 51b, and when being pushed in the opposite direction, unlock MPO receptacles 30a and 30b from sockets 51a and 51b, thereby unlocking cables 70a and 70b from the OSFP optical transceiver 31. Locking may be implemented using any appropriate mechanism (not shown), such as opposing elastic projections or the like.

[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates the connection of the MPO receptacles 30a or 30b to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 81 of the OSFP optical transceiver 31. PCB 81 comprises optical lenses 81a and 81b and associated processing components adapted to receive and process optical signals incoming from fibers and to transmit optical signals over these fibers. In this example, each lens is adapted to process receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) channels, so a bundle 82a of Rx fibers is connected to socket 51a and a bundle 83b of Tx fibers is connected to socket 51b. Similarly, a bundle 82b of Rx fibers is connected to socket 51a and a bundle 83a of Tx fibers is connected to socket 51b.

[0044] The MPO receptacles 30a or 30b are inserted into sockets 51a and 51b, respectively. In this example, each socket ends with two bundles of fibers: Socket 51a ends with a bundle 82a with Rx fibers that receive optical signals from lens 81b and a bundle 82b with Tx fibers that transmit optical signals to lens 81a. Similarly, socket 51b ends with a bundle 83a with Rx fibers that receive optical signals from lens 81a and a bundle 83b with Tx fibers that transmit optical signals to lens 81b. Of course, other connections of Tx and Rx bundles are possible, depending on the application.

[0045] The above examples and description are provided only for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, the invention may be carried out in a great variety of ways (such as integrating into the optical port of the OSFP optical transceiver, a single socket adapted to receive an independent bundle of fibers from the optical port. The socket is vertically oriented with respect to the mounting baseplate of said OSFP optical transceiver), employing more than one technique from those described above, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.