Abstract: A receptacle for optically coupling with a plug from a set of plugs, each of the plugs in the set of plugs having a plug housing with a unique front face geometry and a ferrule disposed within the plug housing, the receptacle comprising: a tub having a plurality of walls that define an interior for receiving a plug, said tub interior having a tub interior geometry corresponding to one and only one unique front face geometry and defining by a ferrule guiding portion in the tub, wherein said ferrule guiding portion projects from one or more of the plurality of walls into the tub interior and includes a keying element in a predefined position within said receptacle interior, the keying element preventing mating engagement between the receptacle and the plugs of the set of plugs except for the plug having said corresponding unique front face geometry.

Abstract: A receptacle for optically coupling with a plug from a set of plugs, each of the plugs in the set of plugs having a plug housing with a unique front face geometry and a ferrule disposed within the plug housing, the receptacle comprising: a tub having a plurality of walls that define an interior for receiving a plug, said tub interior having a tub interior geometry corresponding to one and only one unique front face geometry and defining by a ferrule guiding portion in the tub, wherein said ferrule guiding portion projects from one or more of the plurality of walls into the tub interior and includes a keying element in a predefined position within said receptacle interior, the keying element preventing mating engagement between the receptacle and the plugs of the set of plugs except for the plug having said corresponding unique front face geometry.

Abstract: A connector system comprising a set of plug housings, each plug housing having a front face and defining a first keying element at least partially on the front face, the first keying element of each plug housing in the set of plug housings being different, a set of receptacles, each receptacle being an adapter configured to connect two plugs together, each receptacle defining a front opening and a second keying element projecting from at least one interior surface of the receptacle into the front interior space of the receptacle, the second keying element of the each receptacle of the set of receptacles being different and being adapted to cooperate with the first keying element of one and only one plug housing of the set of plug housings such that each receptacle of the set of receptacles mates with only one plug housing of the set of plug housings.

Abstract: A connector set of discriminating receptacles and plugs, the connector set comprising a plurality of different receptacles and a plurality of different plugs for optically or electrically coupling with the different receptacles, each different plug having a unique first geometry, each different receptacle having a unique second geometry; wherein each unique first geometry corresponds to one, and only one, unique second geometry such that the plugs and receptacles having corresponding unique first and second geometries in the connector set are mating pairs; wherein each mating pair is marked with a matching visual identification different from the plugs and receptacles having different first and second geometries in the connector set, the visual identification being at least one of color, alphanumerical, or symbol.

Abstract: A receptacle for optically coupling with a plug from a set of plugs, each of the plugs in the set of plugs having a plug housing with a unique front face geometry and a ferrule disposed within the plug housing, the receptacle comprising: a tub having a plurality of walls that define an interior for receiving a plug, said tub interior having a tub interior geometry corresponding to one and only one unique front face geometry and defining by a ferrule guiding portion in the tub, wherein said ferrule guiding portion projects from one or more of the plurality of walls into the tub interior and includes a keying element in a predefined position within said receptacle interior, the keying element preventing mating engagement between the receptacle and the plugs of the set of plugs except for the plug having said corresponding unique front face geometry.

Abstract: An optical splice for optically coupling two fibers, the splice comprising: (a) a housing having two ends and defining a reservoir; (b) a fiber clamp for clamping two fibers together disposed in the housing; (c) two cable clamps, one on each end of the housing, the cable clamps comprising a purchase point for anchoring strength members of the fibers, the purchase point being operatively connected to the housing; and (d) a sealant in the reservoir, the sealant adapted to engulf and adhere to a fiber extending from each cable clamp to the fiber clamp.

Abstract: A connector system comprising: a multi-plug connector, each plug having a housing and a ferrule, said housing having a front and back orientation and having a front face defining an opening, said ferrule being disposed within said opening, said housing defining a first keying element on said front face around said opening, at least two housings of said multi-plug connector having different said first keying elements.

Abstract: A method for preparing a ferrule assembly avoids polishing while providing adequate control over fiber end protrusion and co-planarity. A distal end of the fiber is prepared before securing the fiber in a ferrule, and before or after inserting the fiber into the ferrule. The prepared fiber is manipulated to provide a desired spatial relationship between the fiber end and the ferrule's end face, and then secured to maintain the desired spatial relationship. Preferably, the fiber end is prepared using a laser cleaving technique to provide a suitable end without abrasive polishing. An interferometer may be used to obtain measurements, during manipulation of the prepared fiber within the ferrule, that indicate whether the prepared fiber is satisfactorily positioned. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a ferrule assembly prepared in accordance with the method, and a connector or other optical package including such a ferrule assembly are provided.

Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, a clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the method comprising covering the ferrule with a cap, inserting a fiber into the clamping mechanism from the rear of the connector, and while the cap is on the ferrule, actuating the clamping mechanism to secure the fiber to the connector by urging the cap rearward relative to the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A method of qualifying a ferrule assembly as being adequate to make physical contact upon application of a certain mating force, said ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule having an mating face and two or more fibers in said ferrule extending from said mating face, said method comprising (a) determining a coplanarity line of the ends of said fibers of said ferrule assembly, (b) determining minus coplanarity, said minus coplanarity being the greatest parallel offset between said coplanarity line and a fiber end below the coplanarity line; and (c) determining whether said ferrule assembly will make physical contact as a function of at least said minus coplanarity and said certain mating force.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ferrule and optical fibers therein make easier contact with other multi-fiber ferrules and connectors with a small fiber tip radius and a modulus of elasticity. A method for qualifying multi-fiber ferrules (and connectors) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ferrule assembly comprising: (a) a ferrule body defining a plurality of bores and having an end face having an inner portion and outer portions on opposite sides of said first portion; (b) a plurality fibers disposed in said bores and protruding beyond said end face; and (c) a protruding element on each outer portion, said protruding element having a first or second configuration, in said first configuration, said protruding element comprises a portion of said outer portion that protrudes beyond said inner portion but not as far as said fibers protrude, and in said second configuration, said protruding element comprises at least one fiber in a bore in said outer portion that protrudes beyond any fiber in a bore in said inner portion.

Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, a clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the method comprising covering the ferrule with a cap, inserting a fiber into the clamping mechanism from the rear of the connector, and while the cap is on the ferrule, actuating the clamping mechanism to secure the fiber to the connector by urging the cap rearward relative to the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.

Abstract: A secure transceiver system for use with a connector system comprising a set of plugs, each plug having a housing having a front and back orientation and having a front face defining an opening, said ferrule being disposed within said opening, said housing defining a first keying element on said front face around said opening, said keying element for each plug of said set of plugs being different; said secure transceiver system comprising: a set of transceivers, each transceiver having a different receptacle, each receptacle having an opening to receive said plug and a ferrule-receiving portion to receive said ferrule, said ferrule-receiving portion defining a second keying element to cooperate with said first keying element, said second keying element for each receptacle being different and being adapted to cooperate with one and only one of said first keying elements, wherein plugs and receptacles having keying elements that cooperate are mating pairs.

Abstract: A bend limiter for use with electrical and fiber optic cables that can handle a relatively wide range of side loading without excessive bending is disclosed. The bend limiter is configured to bend at radii which are less than the critical curvature of the cable over a range of loads. The bend limiter includes a flexible member having two portions. One portion has a non-linear profile and is designed to absorb high loads to control bending. The other portion has a tapered linear profile and is designed to bend under light loads so that a conductor at the tip of the bend limiter does not kink.

Abstract: A method of qualifying a ferrule assembly as being adequate to make physical contact upon application of a certain mating force, said ferrule assembly comprising a ferrule having an mating face and two or more fibers in said ferrule extending from said mating face, said method comprising (a) determining a coplanarity line of the ends of said fibers of said ferrule assembly, (b) determining minus coplanarity, said minus coplanarity being the greatest parallel offset between said coplanarity line and a fiber end below the coplanarity line; and (c) determining whether said ferrule assembly will make physical contact as a function of at least said minus coplanarity and said certain mating force.

Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector, the method comprising: (a) securing a stripped fiber to a device; (b) while the fiber is secured to the device, cleaving the fiber to produce a cleaved fiber; (c) securing a connector having a stub to the device; (d) while the connector and the fiber are secured to the device, inserting the cleaved fiber into the connector such that the cleaved fiber mates with the stub; (e) and securing the fiber to the connector.

Abstract: A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.

Abstract: An optical connector which is suitable for connection to jacketed cable includes a housing and a ferrule assembly. The ferrule assembly includes a front portion having a first geometry, and the housing includes a receiving portion having a second geometry that mates with the first geometry to prevent rotation of the ferrule assembly relative to the housing. A spring biases the ferrule assembly forward to assist mating of the first and second geometries.