Direct contact heat transfer couplings for pluggable network interface devices

Abstract

A pluggable network interface device includes a printed circuit board ('PCB'), a housing, and a heatsink. The heatsink includes a first surface and a second surface, disposed opposite the first surface, that is maintained in direct contact with a surface of a heat-generating circuit of the PCB. The housing includes an outer shell defining an exterior of the housing, a receiving cavity disposed inside the outer shell, and an aperture extending through a first side of the outer shell from the exterior of the housing into the receiving cavity. A portion of the PCB and the second surface of the heatsink are disposed inside the receiving cavity while a portion of the heatsink extends from within the receiving cavity through the aperture arranging the first surface of the heatsink adjacent the exterior of the housing.