Pluggable data communication module with compliant push-pull tab

A data communication module, comprising:

• module electronics configured to process data communication signals;
• a module housing, the module housing having an elongated rectangular shape elongated in a direction of a first axis between a first end and a second end, the first end of the module housing having a module port for receiving a signal cable and a first bore through the first end, the second end of the module housing having electrical contacts, the module electronics providing a processing path for the data communication signals between the module port and the electrical contacts;
• and
• an elongated tab having an end pivotally mounted to the first end of the module housing by a pin extending through the end of the elongated tab and through the first bore in the first end of the module housing, the tab having a tab détente element engageable with a housing détente element of the module housing, the tab détente element being engageable with the housing détente element to hold the elongated tab in an orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the module housing and disengageable in response to an off-axis force to permit the elongated tab to pivot away from the orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the module housing, wherein the pin is configured to displace from the first bore in response to the elongated tab pivoting away from the orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the module housing.

A method for using a data communication module, the data communication module comprising module electronics configured to process data communication signals, a module housing having a first bore, and an elongated tab having an end pivotally mounted to the first end of the module housing by a pin extending through the end of the elongated tab and through the bore in the module housing, the module housing having an elongated rectangular shape elongated in a direction of a first axis between a first end and a second end, the first end of the module housing having a module port for receiving a signal cable, the second end of the module housing having electrical contacts, the module electronics providing a processing path for the data communication signals between the module port and the electrical contacts, the elongated tab the tab having a tab détente element engageable with a housing détente element of the module housing, the tab détente element being engageable with the housing détente element to hold the elongated tab in an orientation parallel to the first axis of the module housing and disengageable in response to an off-axis force to permit the elongated tab to pivot away from the orientation parallel to the first axis of the module housing, the method comprising:

• applying a force to the elongated tab in a direction corresponding to the first axis until the data communication module is displaced in response to the force and without pivoting the elongated tab;
• and
• applying a force to the elongated tab in a direction transverse to the first axis until the tab détente element disengages from the housing détente element, the elongated tab pivots out of an orientation parallel to the first axis, and the pin is displaced from the first bore.