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 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: An optical connector assembly comprising (a) a plurality of identical connectors, each connector being connected to a jacketed optical cable, each connector comprising a generally rectangular housing having a top, a bottom and two sides, and having a plug end for insertion into a mating receptacle and a cable end for receiving an optical cable, the housing having a recess along each of the two sides; and (b) a clip holding the plurality of connectors together in a side-by-side relationship, the clip having a bottom portion, first and second end walls extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion, and one or more intermediate portions extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion between the first and second end walls, each of the one or more intermediate portions having a first face facing the first end wall and a second face facing the second end wall, wherein the first end wall and a first face of one of the one or more intermediate portions are received in the recess of one of the connectors and th

Abstract: A splice for connecting two segments of optical fiber cable, the splice comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a first end with a first opening, a second end with a second opening, and a central cavity, the housing being essentially seamless between the first and second ends; (b) a clamping mechanism disposed in the central cavity and comprising at least a platform defining a fiber-receiving channel open to both first and second openings, a first member adjacent to the fiber-receiving channel and having at least one cam surface, and a second member having a second cam surface, the first and second cam surfaces cooperating such that relative movement of the first and second members toward the first end causes the first member to move toward the fiber-receiving channel and an actuator to cause relative movement of the first and second members toward the first end; (c) a first buffer crimp disposed at the first opening; and (d) a second buffer crimp disposed at the second opening.

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: The invention is a protective enclosure that can be adapted for use with different types of connectors, including LC type fiber optic connectors. The protective enclosure includes a plug portion and an adapter portion. The plug portion includes a plug housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept a plug connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but includes a clip to which one or two LC plug connectors can be fixedly mounted that can optionally fixedly clip into the internal bore of the housing so that an LC connector can be fixedly mounted within the housing. The adapter portion includes an adapter housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept an adapter connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but including an optional sleeve that can fixedly snap into the internal bore of the adapter housing and within which an LC adapter connector can be fixedly mounted.

Abstract: The invention is a protective enclosure that can be adapted for use with different types of connectors, including LC type fiber optic connectors. The protective enclosure includes a plug portion and an adapter portion. The plug portion includes a plug housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept a plug connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but includes a clip to which one or two LC plug connectors can be fixedly mounted that can optionally fixedly clip into the internal bore of the housing so that an LC connector can be fixedly mounted within the housing. The adapter portion includes an adapter housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept an adapter connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but including an optional sleeve that can fixedly snap into the internal bore of the adapter housing and within which an LC adapter connector can be fixedly mounted.

Abstract: An optical network comprising: (a) a plurality of different optical fiber receptacles for facilitating an optical connection to different information networks requiring different access authorization, each different optical fiber receptacle optically coupled to one and only one different information network, each optical fiber receptacle having an inner surface with a first geometry, the first geometry comprising at least a slot, a certain number of optical fiber receptacles having different first geometries in which the slots are in different positions; and (b) a plurality of different optical fiber plugs for optically coupling with the different optical fiber receptacles, each optical fiber plug having a second geometry, the second geometry comprising at least a key in a certain position, the certain number of optical fiber plugs having different second geometries in which the keys are in different positions, each different first geometry corresponding to one and only one second geometry such that the optic

Abstract: A network comprising: (a) a plurality of different receptacles for facilitating an electrical connection to different information networks requiring different access authorization, each different receptacle coupled to one and only one different information network, each receptacle having an inner surface with a first geometry, the first geometry comprising at least a slot, a certain number of receptacles having different first geometries in which the slots are in different positions; and (b) a plurality of different plugs for coupling with the different receptacles, each plug having a second geometry, the second geometry comprising at least a key in a certain position, the certain number of plugs having different second geometries in which the keys are in different positions, each different first geometry corresponding to one and only one second geometry such that the plugs and receptacles of corresponding first and second geometries are mating pairs.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical fiber assembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing a ferrule sub-assembly comprising a ferrule having a front end and a fiber secured therein and a positioning member; (b) positioning the ferrule sub-assembly in a housing adapted to receive the positioning member in a plurality of predetermined radial positions; (c) preparing the front end such that the fiber is suitable for optical coupling with a mating device; (d) rotating the ferrule sub-assembly to at least a portion of the plurality of predetermined radial positions within the housing while measuring the power loss associated with each radial position to determine the optimal radial position; and (e) optionally polishing the end of the ferrule into the desired configuration after the optimum radial position is determined.

Abstract: A method of qualifying a ferrule assembly as being adequate to make physical contact upon mating, the method comprising approving the ferrule assembly if an undercut of the ferrule assembly does not exceed a maximum allowable undercut based on ferrule deformation at a particular compressive load and apex offset.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical fiber assembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing a ferrule sub-assembly comprising a ferrule having a front end and a fiber secured therein and a positioning member; (b) positioning the ferrule sub-assembly in a housing adapted to receive the positioning member in a plurality of predetermined radial positions; (c) preparing the front end such that the fiber is suitable for optical coupling with a mating device; (d) rotating the ferrule sub-assembly to at least a portion of the plurality of predetermined radial positions within the housing while measuring the power loss associated with each radial position to determine the optimal radial position; and (e) optionally polishing the end of the ferrule into the desired configuration after the optimum radial position is determined.

Abstract: A method of qualifying a ferrule assembly as being adequate to make physical contact upon mating, the method comprising approving the ferrule assembly if an undercut of the ferrule assembly does not exceed a maximum allowable undercut based on ferrule deformation at a particular compressive load and apex offset.