Abstract: A system for maintaining a pair of fiber optic connectors in a side-by-side relation with float therebetween, along with a method of fabricating the connectors. A first connector housing receives a first optical fiber plug, and includes a first latch molded integrally therewith. A second connector housing receives a second optical fiber plug and includes a second latch molded integrally therewith. The first and second latches are permanently and non-releasably molded in loose engagement to hold the connector housings in a side-by-side relationship with float therebetween.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting through an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel. The adapter has engagement arms for engaging the panel and restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel. A connector is insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction. Releases are provided on the connector for disengaging the engagement arms of the adapter from the panel in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on the relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly is arranged for adjusting the rotational position of a terminated optical fiber about its axis relative to the axis of the connector assembly. A connector body has a central bore extending rearwardly from a front end of the body. An inner plug terminates the optical fiber and is positioned in the bore of the body. The plug is captured axially in the body but is rotatable relative to the body about the axis of the fiber. Complementary interengaging keys and keyways are provided between the plug and the body to define a plurality of positions of rotational adjustment of the plug about the axis of the fiber relative to the body. Tool engaging portions on the plug are accessible through the front open end of the body so that an adjusting tool can be inserted thereinto after the connector assembly is assembled to rotationally adjust the plug relative to the body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a connector ferrule for a fiber optic cable which includes at least one optical fiber. A pair of ferrule clamping members are provided and define a fiber passage therebetween for receiving the optical fiber and which define at least one pin passage therebetween of a given diameter. A ferrule body is formed about the clamping members. A spreader pin of a larger diameter than the given diameter is inserted into the pin passage to spread the clamping members and open the fiber passage. The optical fiber is inserted into the opened fiber passage, and the spreader pin is removed to allow the clamping members to close onto the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system is provided for cleaning the end of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector mounted on a backplane of a chassis adapted for receiving a printed circuit board having a mating connector mateable with the fiber optic connector. A dummy circuit board is receivable by the chassis to replace the actual printed circuit board. A cleaner is mounted on the dummy circuit board for cleaning the end of the ferrule of the fiber optic connector when the dummy circuit board is received by the chassis.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is mountable on a printed circuit board in association with an adapter for receiving a complementary mating connector. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals having tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board. A metal shield is mounted to the housing about the tail portions of the terminals. The shield includes at least one ESD clip for insertion into an appropriate hole in the printed circuit board, at least one ground contact arm for engaging the complementary mating connector, at least one grounding tab for engaging the adapter and at least one grounding leg for connection to an appropriate ground circuit on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A wafer connector for connecting cables to a pin header has a connector body portion that incorporates a strain relief member applied to the cables as part of the connector body portion. The strain relief member includes a cable clamp having a series of grooves that are separated by intervening land portions. The grooves receive the cables and space them in a particular spacing. The leads of the cable are terminated to corresponding tail portions of contacts of the connector. These tail portions are maintained in the same plane to enhance the electrical performance of the connector. An insulative material is molded over the tail portions and the cable clamp to form a connector with a cable clamp formed integrally with the body of the connector.

Abstract: A communications infrastructure connector system comprises a pair of engageable hermaphroditic connector units. Each unit can house a plurality of connectors which mate with corresponding connectors of the other unit. Each unit has a handle comprising a pair of eccentrically mounted pivot arms. On movement of the handles of the two connector units towards one another, an arcuate portion each handle comes into contact with the same portion of the other handle. The eccentric mounting causes the two connector units to be forced apart.

Abstract: An add-on electrical assembly is provided for association with an electrical connector for receiving a complementary mating plug to a circuit board. The electrical connector may be a standard modular jack including a connector housing having a front face with a receptacle receiving the plug, a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom face adapted for mounting on the circuit board. A plurality of terminals each include one end extending into the receptacle for making electrical contact with a corresponding terminal on the plug and the other end adapted to contact the circuit board. A separate LED assembly is provided with housing for mounting over the top and rear walls of the connector housing. A light emitting device is mounted on the LED housing and is viewable through a front face thereof adjacent the receptacle. Conductors extend from the light emitting device through the LED housing for connection to the circuit board. At least one snap latch is provided between the LED housing and the connector housing.

Abstract: An installation tool for installing multiple connector housings of a wire harness into engagement with opposing connectors includes a handle portion and a connector gripping portion. The handle portion includes openings that accommodate a user's hand and the connector gripping portion includes pairs of first and second engagement arms separated by intervening spaces. Individual connector housings of the wire harness are gripped by pairs of the first and second engagement arms which hold the connectors housings in a preselected alignment and orientation with the connector housings gripped by the engagement arms and with the opposing connectors.

Abstract: A fiber optic termination system includes a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber surrounded by an outer sheath. A crimp ring is crimped to the cable. A fiber optic connector is terminated to the fiber optic cable and includes a ferrule for terminating the optical fiber. A two-part housing assembly for the connector mounts the fiber optic cable and ferrule and also captures the crimp ring therewithin. A boot surrounds the rear end of the housing to hold the housing closed about the crimp ring on the cable.

Abstract: A female electrical terminal has a contact end a terminating end. The contact end is generally rectangular in cross-section and includes a pair of opposing side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of a bottom wall, along with a top wall. A deformable tab is provided in each side wall. A spring contact element is located in the contact end for biasingly engaging a male terminal inserted into the contact end. The spring contact element includes recess portions adapted to receive the deformable tabs of the side walls.

Abstract: A card reader is provided for a chip card having card contacts. The card reader includes a housing having a card receiving mouth and a plurality of receptacle contacts having resilient contact portions for engaging the card contacts after the card is inserted through the mouth to a fully inserted position. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an inoperative position and an actuating position. In the inoperative position, the actuator allows the card to be inserted past the contact portions toward its fully inserted position with substantially zero force on the contact portions. In the actuating position, the actuator biases the card contacts into engagement with the contact portions of the receptacle contacts. The actuator includes a biasing portion for biasing the card and the card contacts against the contact portions of the receptacle contacts.

Abstract: A latching shroud for use on a backplane connector is provided which has an integrated a retention feature. The backplane connector includes a receptacle portion that receives a plurality of mating connectors therein and the latching shroud includes a pair of sidewalls that slip over and engage the connector around the receptacle portion thereof. A plurality of series of latching arms are formed in one of the sidewalls of the latching shroud, while polarizing elements are formed with the other sidewall of the latching shroud. The polarizing elements assist in orienting the mating connectors and the latching arms extend up and partly over the connector receptacle. The latching arms include hook end portions that grip the top surfaces of the mating connectors to retain them in place in the connector receptacle.

Abstract: Two rows of insulation displacement contacts are received in a connector housing. The contacts each comprise an insulation displacement end, a medial portion and a tail end. The medial portions are arranged across the housing body in grooves and the tail portions of the two rows extend from the housing in a common plane. Two non-proximate contacts of each row are connected at their medial portions by a capacitative coupling member which may comprise a chip capacitor or a pair of conducting plates connected by a bridge portion.

Abstract: A receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis, the connector including a mating end that terminates an end of an optical fiber. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the mating end of the fiber optic connector inserted thereinto on the optic axis. A shutter is mounted on the housing for movement to close and open the open end. The shutter extends across the optic axis when the shutter is closed. The shutter is movable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted mating end of the connector. The shutter includes an outer surface having a recessed area for registry with the terminated end of the optical fiber to protect the fiber end.

Abstract: A metal adapter frame assembly mounts a first electrical connector in an aperture in a panel for mating with a second electrical connector. A metal body defines a first receptacle for receiving the first connector and a second receptacle for receiving the second connector, with the connectors mateable through the body. A metal shield is mounted over a substantial portion of the metal body. A metal gasket is mounted on the body for engaging the panel at the aperture and substantially surrounds the first receptacle. A metal shutter member is movably mounted on the body to close the first receptacle and is movable to an open position upon engagement by the first connector.

Abstract: An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed. The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. A metal shell member is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. A latch is mounted on the housing for latchingly engaging a fiber optic connector. The shell member includes a spring portion for spring-loading the latch.

Abstract: An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed, The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. The shutter members have inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis. The fiber optic connector has a mating end which is transversely offset for engaging one of the shutter members before the other shutter member upon insertion of the connector into the open end of the receptacle.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a housing and an adapter mountable on the housing. A fiber optic connector is insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction. First complementary latches are provided between the adapter and the housing to restrict relative movement therebetween in the insertion direction but allow relative movement therebetween in a lateral direction. Second complementary latches are provided between the adapter and the fiber optic connector to couple the connector to the adapter for movement therewith. A release is provided on the fiber optic connector operatively associated with the first latches to disengage the first latches when the second latches are engaged and, thereby, remove the restriction on the relative movement of the adapter in the insertion direction.