Methods and apparatuses for protecting flexible (flex) circuits of optical transceiver modules from being damaged during manufacturing and assembly of the modules
AssigneeAvago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsPaul Yu, Robert Yi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are provided for preventing flex circuits of optical transceiver modules from being damaged during the process of manufacturing and assembling the optical transceiver modules. Preventing the flex circuits from being damaged during the manufacture and assembly processes increases yield and decreases costs. In addition, the methods and apparatuses that are used to prevent the flex circuits from being damaged also allow the processes of forming the mechanical bends and inserting the modules into their respective housings to be automated. Automating these processes further increases yield and decreases costs.
Claims21
An apparatus for protecting a flexible (flex) circuit of an optical transceiver module, the apparatus comprising:
- a structural support having at least a first end and a second end, the structural support being mechanically coupled on the first end thereof to a printed circuit board (PCB) of an electrical subassembly (ESA) of the optical transceiver module, the structural support being mechanically coupled on the second end thereof to a heat sink of the optical transceiver module, the flex circuit being mechanically coupled on a first end thereof to the PCB and on a second end thereof to the heat sink, and wherein the structural support provides strain relief for the flex circuit.
A method for protecting a flexible (flex) circuit of an optical transceiver module from damage, the method comprising:
- providing an optical transceiver module comprising an electrical subassembly (ESA), a heat sink, a flex circuit, and an optical subassembly (OSA), the ESA having a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first end and a second end, the flex circuit having a first end secured to the second end of the PCB and having a second end secured to the heat sink, the OSA being mechanically coupled to the heat sink;
- providing a structural support having at least a first end and a second end, the first end of the structural support being mechanically coupled to the second end of the PCB, the second end of the structural support being mechanically coupled to the heat sink, and wherein the structural support provides strain relief for the flex circuit;
- and
- performing a mechanical bend process to bend a portion of the optical transceiver module such that the OSA is rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to the PCB.
A method for protecting a flexible (flex) circuit of an optical transceiver module from damage, the method comprising:
- providing an optical transceiver module comprising an electrical subassembly (ESA), a heat sink, a flex circuit, and an optical subassembly (OSA), the ESA having a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first end and a second end, the flex circuit having a first end secured to the second end of the PCB and having a second end secured to the heat sink, the OSA being mechanically coupled to the heat sink;
- performing a mechanical bend process to bend a portion of the optical transceiver module by an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to the PCB to place the optical transceiver module in a bent state;
- and
- providing a structural support having at least a first end and a second end, the first end of the structural support being mechanically coupled to the second end of the PCB, the second end of the structural support being mechanically coupled to the heat sink, and wherein the structural support maintains the optical transceiver module in the bent state and provides strain relief for the flex circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.