Faceplate electrostatic discharge attenuating waveguide

Abstract

Faceplate, energy-attenuating, waveguide extensions are provided for use with an optical communications module having a circuit board. The circuit board has a plurality of transceivers adjacent to corresponding openings in a front portion of a faceplate, outside a protective zone of a Faraday cage created by the faceplate and adjacent modules, exposing the transceivers to electrostatic discharge (ESD), electromagnetic interference (EMI) or other destructive energy created by the faceplate openings. To attenuate the ESD, EMI, or other energy emanating through the faceplate openings, an integral, waveguiding, snout-like extension (or protrusion) is provided around the periphery of each of the faceplate openings. A removable waveguide extension to the snout-like extension may also be provided to further attenuate ESD, EMI or other energy. The longer the waveguide created by the combined removable extension and the integral snout-like extension, the greater the ESD, EMI, or other energy attenuation. The waveguide extension is removable so that the transceivers on the circuit board are accessible. If a connection is to be established between a male fiber connector and a female connector provided within the transceiver, the removable waveguide extension can be slid over the male connector before the connection is made. After the connection is established, the removable waveguide extension may then be slid down over the snout-like waveguide extension. The removable waveguide extension may also be provided with a conductive gasket to improve the electrical connectivity between the removable waveguide extension and the faceplate and thereby provide a more integral and sound Faraday cage for the circuit board transceivers.