Abstract: A cable management system is provided for a connector assembly. A housing has a plurality of passages for receiving the terminating ends of a plurality of cables. The passages open at a rear face of the housing. The cables have enlarged retention sections spaced from the terminating ends thereof. A backshell extends away from the rear face of the housing and includes an angled cavity within which the cables extend at an angle from the rear face of the housing. A plurality of retention recesses in the cavity capture the enlarged retention sections of the cables. The retention recesses are at varying locations in a direction longitudinally of the cables to accommodate the different locations of the passages from which the cables emanate.

Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus and method are provided for cross-connecting the individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed on a flat substrate to form at least one first fiber optic ribbon leading onto the substrate and at least one second fiber optic ribbon leading away from the substrate to a terminating end of the ribbon. The individual optical fibers of at least the second fiber optic ribbon being routed in a predetermined sequence from one side of the ribbon to an opposite side thereof. The individual optical fibers at the terminating end of the second fiber optic ribbon are cut-off at different lengths in a predetermined pattern correlated to the predetermined sequence of fibers in order to visually identify any fiber which is out of the predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a multi-part housing for mating with a complementary connecting device. The housing has a first housing part of a first, resilient plastic material and includes a resilient latch portion for latching engagement with the complementary connecting device. The housing has a second housing part of a second plastic material with less resiliency than the first plastic material and includes a cavity for receiving and retaining an operative component of the connector assembly.

Abstract: A fanout connector is provided for a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers. The connector includes a housing means having a passage for receiving the fiber optic cable transversely along an axis. A fanout member in the housing spreads the individual optical fibers of the cable transversely of the axis. At least one frangible mounting member is provided on the housing means for mounting the connector on an appropriate support structure. The mounting member is readily breakable from the housing when the connector is to be used as a stand-alone unit. The housing includes a base and a cover with complementary interengaging polarizing members between the base and the fanout member. The cover has a transparent window to afford visual inspection of at least a portion of the cable within the housing.

Abstract: An optical fiber interconnection system is provided, including a method of fabricating the system. A flat fiber optic circuit is provided with a flat substrate having a peripheral edge and a plurality of first optical fibers mounted on the flat substrate, with ends of the first fibers extending beyond the substrate. A fiber optic connector is terminated to a plurality of second optical fibers, with ends of the second fibers extending from the connector to a connecting point for connection to the ends of the first fibers from the flat fiber optic circuit. A protective shroud is installed over the connecting point between the ends of the first and second fibers. The protective shroud is fixed to the projecting tail portion of the substrate of the flat fiber optic circuit.

Abstract: A fanout system is provided for a fiber optic cable which includes a plurality of optical fibers. A fiber optic ribbon includes a plurality of individual optical fibers adhered to a flat substrate in a generally parallel side-by-side array. The fibers are spread apart in a fanned-out array at an edge of the substrate. Loose ends of the fibers extend beyond the edge of the substrate. A plurality of tube members individually surround the loose ends of the fibers beyond the edge of the substrate. A protective transition member collectively surrounds the loose ends of the fibers at least in an area extending from the edge of the substrate to proximal ends of the tube members.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a plug connector having a plug housing and a sheath movably mounted about the plug housing. A receptacle connector receives the plug connector in mated condition. A primary latch is provided between the plug housing and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition. A release is provided on the sheath for unlatching the primary latch means in response to movement of the sheath relative to the plug housing. A secondary latch is provided between the plug housing and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition in the event of inadvertent unlatching of the primary latch means. An interengaging press-fit rib-and-slot structure is provided between the plug connector and the receptacle connector when the connectors are mated.

Abstract: A cable management system is provided for a fiber optic connector assembly. The system includes a receptacle and a plurality of fiber optic connector modules received by the receptacle. The modules terminate a plurality of fiber optic cables with lengths of the cables extending away from the rear ends of the modules. A cable management member has an angled cavity within which the cables extend angularly from the rear ends of the modules. Latches are provided between the cable management member and each of the plurality of modules for holding the cable management member in position at the rear ends of the modules.

Abstract: A method of cross-connecting or reorganizing individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons include the steps of providing a substrate having an adhesive thereon with a mixing zone within the boundaries thereof. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed onto the substrate to form a plurality of fiber optic input ribbons, reorganizing the fibers in the mixing zone, and forming a plurality of fiber optic output ribbons. At least some of the output ribbons have fibers from more than one of the input ribbons. The input and output ribbons are coated on the substrate outside the mixing zone to hold the routed fibers in ribbon form, leaving at least portions of the fibers in the mixing zone uncoated. The coated ribbons are stripped from the substrate with the uncoated fibers from the mixing zone being loose. A holding device is placed about at least the uncoated loose fibers between the input and output ribbons.

Abstract: A method is provided for cross-connecting individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons and includes the steps of providing first and second substrates having adhesive thereon. Individual optical fibers are routed on the substrates to form at least portions of fiber optic input ribbons and fiber optic output ribbons, with the fibers extending beyond the substrates to define input and output tails. One substrate is positioned on top of another substrate, and a ribbonizing apparatus is used to gather the input and output tails in ribbon form whereupon they can be coated to hold the tails in their ribbon form.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing adapted for mounting on the substrate and including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing. The channel extends generally perpendicular to the substrate and has an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof. An elongated fastening post is snap-fit into the channel past the restricted mouth thereof to a preload position. A cross-dimension of the channel is larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing. A fastener engages with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: An interface system is provided for adhering a pair of electrical connector components together. A first connector component has a first interface surface with a first set of elongated, mutually spaced adhesive flow fins. A second connector component has a second interface surface with a second set of elongated adhesive flow fins for disposition between the first set of adhesive flow fins. The flow fins of at least one of the first or second sets thereof are tapered from enlarged ends of the fins to reduced ends thereof for forcing liquid adhesive material between the interface surfaces longitudinally of the fins from the enlarged ends thereof toward the reduced ends thereof automatically when the interface surfaces are brought together.

Abstract: A ribbon holder is provided for a plurality of fiber optic ribbons. The holder includes a body having an interior rectangular through passage in which the plurality of fiber optic ribbons can be placed in a side-by-side parallel arrangement. A cover is provided on the body to allow access to the through passage whereby the ribbons can be placed into the passage thereof. An exterior datum surface is provided at one side of the body to identify one side of the interior rectangular through passage, whereby the ribbons can be placed in the passage in specific orientations relative to said datum surface.

Abstract: A connector panel mount system includes a panel having an opening defined at least in part by a first edge and a second edge remote from the first edge. A connector housing includes a recess for rigidly embracing the first edge of the opening in the panel, and a flexible latch for engaging the second edge of the opening in the panel.

Abstract: An angular coaxial connector module (12) is provided for installation on a printed circuit board. The module includes at least a pair of angled coaxial conductors (28,30) each including first and second legs (32,34) joined at an elbow (36). The distal end (32a) of each first leg (32) defines a contact end of the respective conductor. The distal end (34a) of each second leg (34) defines a terminal end for attachment to the printed circuit board. A dielectric sheath (26) is disposed about each angled coaxial conductor leaving the distal ends thereof exposed. A tubular conductive shield (14,38) is provided about each dielectric sheath. A grounding means (18,60) couples the shields to the printed circuit board. A unitary dielectric housing (16) is disposed about at least portions (38) of the shields (14,38) to hold the connector in a module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a small-sized card connector for use in connecting a printed circuit board and a card having an integrated circuit contained therein. The card connector includes an insulating housing having two opposite guide sections extending from a connector section. Each guide section has a resilient contact fixed thereto with a contact section exposed in the guide slot. The resilient contact is soldered to the grounding circuit of the printed circuit board. The card includes a shield extending therearound. When the shielded longitudinal edges of the card are inserted in the guide slots of the card connector and the card is moved forward, the contact sections of the resilient contacts yieldingly deflect, thus keeping the shield of the card at ground potential to assure that the integrated circuit and the printed circuit are protected against electrostatic hazards.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for mating a fiber optic connector along an optic axis with a complementary connecting device. The assembly includes a pair of adapter halves secured together at an interface by means of a securing post projecting from one adapter half generally parallel to the optic axis and into a securing hole in the other adapter half. The securing post has a retaining hole extending transversely of the optic axis. The other adapter half has a passage extending from an outside wall into registry with the retaining hole in the securing post of the one adapter half when the post is inserted into the securing hole in the other adapter half. A securement pin is insertable through the passage in the other adapter half into the retaining hole in the securing post of the one adapter half to, thereby, secure the adapter halves in assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cross-connecting the individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed onto a substrate to form at least one first optical ribbon. The individual fibers are reorganized on the substrate to form a plurality of second fiber optic ribbons. A plurality of individual dummy optical fibers are routed onto the substrate to increase the number of individual optical fibers of the second fiber optic ribbons without including the dummy optical fibers in the at least one first fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a plug connector having a plug housing and a sheath mounted about the plug housing. A receptacle connector receives the plug connector in mated condition. A complementary interengaging first latch is provided between the plug housing of the plug connector and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition. A complementary interengaging second latch is provided between the sheath of the plug connector and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition.

Abstract: A universal panel mount system is provided for mounting any one of a plurality of differently configured fiber optic adapters in a singularly configured common opening in a panel. A universal receptacle housing is mounted in the opening in the panel. A set of differently configured fiber optic adapters each is mountable in the universal receptacle housing. Each adapter includes coupling means for mating with one of a plurality of differently configured fiber optic connectors.