Universal housing for pluggable network interface devices

A pluggable network interface module, comprising:

• a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising at least one circuit;
• and
• a housing comprising:
• a first shell extending a length from a first end of the pluggable network interface module to a second end of the pluggable network interface module, the first shell comprising a first cavity running along a portion of the length and a base surface defining an exterior of the first shell;
• and
• a second shell extending the length and comprising a second cavity running along a portion of the length and an upper surface defining an exterior of the second shell, wherein the first shell is joined to the second shell, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity together form a receiving cavity for the housing, and wherein the upper surface is offset from the base surface by a first assembly height dimension;
• wherein a portion of the PCB is disposed inside the receiving cavity between the base surface and the upper surface, wherein the upper surface comprises a set of modular plate receiving features, and wherein, in an assembled state, the upper surface of the pluggable network interface module is attached via the set of modular plate receiving features to one heat transfer plate of a set of heat transfer plates, wherein an overall height of the pluggable network interface module in the assembled state is greater than the first assembly height dimension, wherein the set of modular plate receiving features comprises at least one protrusion extending a distance from the upper surface in a direction away from the second cavity to a protrusion height point, and wherein a height dimension measured from the base surface to the protrusion height point is less than the overall height of the pluggable network interface module in the assembled state.

A pluggable network interface device kit, comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• a first shell extending a length from a first end of a pluggable network interface device to a second end of the pluggable network interface device, the first shell comprising a first cavity running along a portion of the length and a base surface defining an exterior of the first shell;
• and
• a second shell extending the length and comprising a second cavity running along a portion of the length and an upper surface defining an exterior of the second shell, wherein the upper surface comprises a set of modular plate receiving features, wherein the first shell is joined to the second shell, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity together form a receiving cavity for the housing, and wherein the upper surface is offset from the base surface by a first assembly height dimension;
• a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising at least one circuit, wherein a portion of the PCB is disposed inside the receiving cavity between the base surface and the upper surface;
• a first heat transfer plate attached to the upper surface of the second shell via the set of modular plate receiving features, wherein the first heat transfer plate comprises a first thickness extending a first distance from the upper surface of the second shell to an uppermost surface of the first heat transfer plate, wherein the first heat transfer plate comprises an outermost plate width corresponding to an overall outermost width of the housing, and wherein an outermost height measured from the base surface of the first shell to the uppermost surface of the first heat transfer plate is greater than the first assembly height dimension, and
• a second heat transfer plate comprising a set of modular engagement features, wherein the set of modular engagement features are configured to mate with the set of modular plate receiving features, wherein the second heat transfer plate comprises a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.

A method of customizing a network interface module, comprising:

• providing a first shell of a housing for a pluggable network interface device, the first shell extending a length from a first end of the pluggable network interface device to a second end of the pluggable network interface device, the first shell comprising a first cavity running along a portion of the length, and the first shell comprising a base surface defining an exterior of the first shell;
• providing a second shell extending the length and comprising a second cavity running along a portion of the length and an upper surface defining an exterior of the second shell, wherein the upper surface comprises a set of modular plate receiving features arranged along the portion of the length;
• attaching a printed circuit board (PCB) to the first cavity;
• attaching the second shell to the first shell enclosing a portion of the PCB in a receiving cavity formed by the first cavity and the second cavity, such that the upper surface is offset from the base surface by a first assembly height dimension;
• selecting a heat transfer plate from a plurality of heat transfer plates associated with a plurality of module types;
• and
• attaching the heat transfer plate selected to the upper surface via the set of modular plate receiving features such that the heat transfer plate extends at least along the portion of the length, and such that a first overall height of the pluggable network interface device comprising the heat transfer plate attached thereto is greater than the first assembly height dimension.