Implementing contained thermal interface material for pluggable applications

1. A structure for implementing thermal coupling, comprising:

a thermal interface material in contact with a surface of a connector housing;

a metal member coupled to the connector housing, wherein the metal member is a compressible metal mesh or a perforated spring-actuated shield, and wherein the thermal interface material and the metal member provide effective thermal coupling between the connector housing and a pluggable component; and

wherein the metal member prevents removal of the thermal interface material during plugging and unplugging of the pluggable component, and enables effective contact and heat transfer between the connector housing and the pluggable component.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pluggable component is a cable.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal member is wear resistant and rebounds when the pluggable component is plugged into the connector housing.

4. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal member is formed of a selected thermally conductive metal including one of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a conductive ceramic material, and a conductive polymeric material.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the thermal interface material is formed of a selected thermal interface material including one of a putty, a grease, and a pad thermal interface material.

6. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the connector housing is a printed circuit board (PCB) connector housing and the pluggable component is a cable.

7. The structure as recited in claim 2 , wherein the cable is a fiber optic cable.

8. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal member is coated with a hydrophobic coating.

9. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible metal mesh is impregnated with the thermal interface material.

10. The structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressible metal mesh is disposed on a surface of the thermal interface material.

11. A method for implementing thermal coupling, comprising:

providing a pluggable cable component and a connector housing;

providing a thermal interface material in contact with a surface of the connector housing;

coupling a metal member to the connector housing, wherein the metal member is a compressible metal mesh or a perforated spring-actuated shield;

using the thermal interface material and the metal member for providing effective thermal coupling between the connector housing and the pluggable component during plugging and unplugging of the pluggable component; and

using the metal member to prevent removal of the thermal interface material during the plugging and unplugging.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the pluggable component is a cable.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the metal member is formed of a selected thermally conductive metal including one of copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a conductive ceramic material, and a conductive polymeric material.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the perforated spring-actuated shield shifts to make contact with the thermal interface material when the pluggable component is plugged into the connector housing.

15. A structure for implementing thermal coupling, comprising:

a connector housing and a mating cable, wherein the mating cable is plugged into the connector housing;

a thermal interface material in contact with the mating cable and a surface of the connector housing;

a metal member in contact with the thermal interface material and disposed between the mating cable and the connector housing, wherein the metal member is a compressible metal mesh or a perforated spring-actuated shield;

wherein the thermal interface material and the metal member provide effective thermal coupling between the connector housing and the mating cable; and

wherein the metal member prevents removal of the thermal interface material during plugging and unplugging of the mating cable.