External pluggable high frequency data communication module

A housing member for enclosing a high frequency data communication module, the housing member being hermaphroditic such that a pair of said housing members being substantially identical can be assembled in opposite transverse relation to form a module housing, the housing member comprising:

• a horizontal surface having a first end and a second end and lateral sides;
• first and second longitudinal sidewalls extending generally perpendicular to the horizontal surface along each lateral side thereof;
• and
• interlocking mating structures formed along upper edges of the sidewalls, the mating structures being configured such that the mating structure formed on the first longitudinal sidewall will interlock with a mating structure identical to the mating structure formed on the second longitudinal sidewall when brought into opposite transverse alignment therewith so as to enclose the high frequency data communication module, and wherein
• the first end of the housing member includes connector mounting provisions configured to receive one half of a connector flange and providing an overlap of conductive materials around one half of the connector flange perimeter.

A Media Interface Adapter module for converting Fibre Channel data signals from a first copper transfer medium to a second alternate transfer medium, the module comprising:

• a printed circuit board having electronic components for converting signals between the first and second transfer media mounted thereon;
• a transmitter for transmitting the data signals over the second alternate transfer medium;
• a receiver for receiving data signals over the second alternate transfer medium;
• an electrical connector for connecting the module to the first copper transfer medium, the connector having a metal flange;
• and
• first and second conductive housing members configured to enclose the printed circuit board, transmitter, receiver, and electrical connector, the first and second housing members having longitudinal sidewalls with mating surfaces forming an overlapping joint between the two housing members;
• the first and second housing members further including connector mounting structures configured to partially overlap the electrical connector and the transmitter and receiver mounting structures are configured to partially overlap the transmitter and receiver.

A method of preventing spurious emissions from a high frequency data communications module, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a printed circuit board having a first end, and a second end, and having electronic components for converting signals between a first signal transfer medium and a second signal transfer medium mounted thereon;
• attaching a D-shell connector to the first end of the printed circuit board, the D-shell connector having a mounting flange;
• attaching a transmit optical subassembly having an annular groove formed therein to the second end of the printed circuit board;
• attaching a receive optical subassembly having an annular groove formed therein to the second end of the printed circuit board beside the transmit optical subassembly;
• providing a first housing member having hermaphroditic inter-mateable longitudinal sides, first open end including a mounting groove, and a second open end including a pair of optical package alignment ridges;
• providing a second housing member substantially identical to the first housing member;
• placing the printed circuit board into the first housing member;
• enclosing the printed circuit board with the second housing member, the hermaphroditic intermateable sides of the first and second housing members interlocking to form a longitudinal ship-lap joint between the first and second housing members, the mounting grooves of the first and second housing members overlapping the perimeter of the D-shell connector flange, and the optical package alignment ridges overlapping the annular grooves formed in the transmit and receive optical sub assemblies.