Abstract: A fiber optic connector test probe for testing a device under test (DUT) having at least one DUT terminus, said test probe comprising (a) a cable having first and second ends, (b) a connector to which said first end is terminated, said connector adapted for connection to a light transmitter or receiver, and (c) a test terminus to which said second end is terminated, said test terminus being one of a pin terminus or a socket terminus, said test terminus comprising an optical element to expand/focus said light such that said test terminus is an expanded beam connector, wherein said first or second termini are configured to mate with said DUT terminus.

Abstract: A contact comprising: (a) a contact housing, said contact housing being narrower than a cavity of a connector such that said contact housing is laterally movable within said cavity; (b) an optical interface for receiving a ferrule of a mating connector contact; (c) optoelectrical circuitry optically connected to said optical interface, wherein said optical interface and said optoelectrical circuitry are held rigidly in relation to each other within said contact housing; and (d) an electrical interface electrically connected to said optoelectrical circuitry and configured for electrical connection to a circuit board, wherein said electrical interface comprising at least a flexible cable to provide compliance between said optoelectrical circuitry and said circuit board.

Abstract: An optical sensor system comprising: (a) a light source for at least one optical sensor, the light source comprising at least, (i) an interposer having first and second opposing sides and defining at least one alignment aperture extending from the first opposing side to the second opposing side; (ii) at least one fiber disposed in the at least one alignment aperture, the at least one fiber having a first optical axis; (iii) at least one light emitting component mounted to the second opposing side and having a second optical axis coincident with the first optical axis, the light emitting component configured to emit light, at least a portion of which is coupled with the at least one fiber as coupled light; and (b) the at least one optical sensor optically coupled to the at least one fiber.

Abstract: A connector having a front and rear origination and configured to mate with a mating connector, and including a housing having one or more cavities defined therein, and having a front face with one or more orifices defined therein, wherein each of the orifices corresponds to one of the cavities and has an inner first diameter. The connector further has an optical contact at least partially disposed in one of the cavities, and comprising at least a ferrule extending from the cavity and through the orifice corresponding to the cavity, the ferrule having a second diameter less than the first diameter such that a gap is defined between the ferrule and the housing at the orifice. Finally, the connector includes a compliant member disposed at least partially in the gap and configured to suppress vibration between the housing and the optical.

Abstract: A connector having a front and rear origination and configured to mate with a mating connector, and including a housing having one or more cavities defined therein, and having a front face with one or more orifices defined therein, wherein each of the orifices corresponds to one of the cavities and has an inner first diameter. The connector further has an optical contact at least partially disposed in one of the cavities, and comprising at least a ferrule extending from the cavity and through the orifice corresponding to the cavity, the ferrule having a second diameter less than the first diameter such that a gap is defined between the ferrule and the housing at the orifice. Finally, the connector includes a compliant member disposed at least partially in the gap and configured to suppress vibration between the housing and the optical.

Abstract: A connector comprising a first outer housing defining at least one cavity, the cavity being cylindrical, a first insert disposed in the cavity, the first insert comprising at least a first housing, the housing being cylindrical, a first ferrule in the first housing, the first ferrule configured with arcuate sides to be received in the cavity, the first ferule comprising an end face, at least one alignment hole for receiving an alignment pin defined in the end face, and at least one fiber-receiving channel for receiving an optical fiber, an optical fiber disposed in the fiber-receiving channel of the first ferrule.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of accumulation of a material along an axis in a fluid environment, the sensor comprising (a) an optically transparent body having a third refractive index and an exposed surface defining a length extending at least partially in the direction of the axis; (b) at least one light delivery source for delivering light to the body such that the light is distributed along the length of the exposed surface; and at least one light receiver for receiving reflected light from the length of the exposed surface, wherein the amount of the reflected light depends on the level of the material accumulated along the length of the exposed surface.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of accumulation of a material along an axis in a fluid environment, the sensor comprising (a) an optically transparent body having a third refractive index and an exposed surface defining a length extending at least partially in the direction of the axis; (b) at least one light delivery source for delivering light to the body such that the light is distributed along the length of the exposed surface; and at least one light receiver for receiving reflected light from the length of the exposed surface, wherein the amount of the reflected light depends on the level of the material accumulated along the length of the exposed surface

Abstract: An alignment assembly for disposition in an insert for an expanded beam connector, said alignment assembly comprising: (a) at least one cylindrical sleeve having an inner first diameter, and an outer diameter configured to be received in said insert of said connector; (b) a lens disposed in said sleeve, and having a round periphery with a second diameter larger than said first diameter; and (c) wherein said sleeve is configured to at least partially accept a ferrule having a round periphery with a third diameter essentially the same as the second diameter, said ferrule comprising a fiber for optically coupling with said lens.

Abstract: A connector having a front and rear origination and configured to mate with a mating connector, said connector comprising a ferrule defining at least one borehole for receiving a fiber, and having a second diameter less than the opening of the housing through which it extends such that a gap is defined between said ferrule and said orifice to allow said ferrule to move within said orifice angularly and laterally with respect to said axis. A sleeve containing a lens is disposed around a portion of said ferrule forward of the opening of the housing and extends beyond the front end of the ferrule.

Abstract: An expanded-beam connector comprising a sleeve for holding at least one fiber and one lens body, the sleeve having an interior surface having a certain geometry, a fiber having a fiber end face, and a lens body, the lens body being formed with a first face and a second face, the first and second faces being substantially planar, the first face having an interface point for optically coupling with the fiber end face, the second face having a convex surface, the interface point and the convex surface being optically coupled through the lens body, the lens body having an outer periphery at least a portion of which has the certain geometry such that the lens body is held in a precise radial position relative to the sleeve when disposed in the sleeve.

Abstract: An alignment assembly for disposition in an insert for an expanded beam connector, said alignment assembly comprising: (a) at least one cylindrical sleeve having an inner first diameter, and an outer diameter configured to be received in said insert of said connector; (b) a lens disposed in said sleeve, and having a round periphery with a second diameter larger than said first diameter; and (c) wherein said sleeve is configured to at least partially accept a ferrule having a round periphery with a third diameter essentially the same as the second diameter, said ferrule comprising a fiber for optically coupling with said lens.

Abstract: An alignment assembly for disposition in an insert for an expanded beam connector, said alignment assembly comprising: (a) at least one cylindrical sleeve having an inner first diameter, and an outer diameter configured to be received in said insert of said connector; (b) a lens disposed in said sleeve, and having a round periphery with a second diameter larger than said first diameter; and (c) a ferrule stub disposed at least partially in said sleeve, and having a round periphery with a third diameter essentially the same as the second diameter, said ferrule stub comprising a fiber stub optically coupled to said lens.

Abstract: A connector comprising an outer housing having a first keying element, an inner housing at least partially disposed in the outer housing and having second and third keying elements, the second keying element cooperating with the first keying element to align angularly the inner housing with the outer housing, a ferrule assembly at least partially disposed in the inner housing and having a ferrule and fourth and fifth keying elements, the fourth keying element cooperating with the third keying element to align angularly the ferrule assembly with the inner housing, an alignment member receiving at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, the alignment member having a sixth keying element to cooperate with the fifth keying element to align angularly the ferrule assembly with the alignment member, and wherein the clearance between the fifth and sixth keying elements is less than that between the first and second keying elements, and between the third and fourth keying elements.

Abstract: An optical connector comprising a plug housing having a pin cavity; a pin having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in the pin cavity, the pin comprising at least a pin sleeve having a pin sleeve length, the pin sleeve at least partially containing a pin ferrule and a pin lens; a receptacle housing having a socket cavity; a socket having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in the socket cavity, the socket comprising at least a socket sleeve having a socket sleeve length, the socket sleeve at least partially containing a socket ferrule and a socket lens; and an alignment sleeve between the pin and socket, wherein, when in a mated state, a pin front portion of the pin sleeve and a socket front portion of the socket sleeve are disposed in the alignment sleeve, wherein the pin front portion and the socket front portion are at least ? the length of the pin sleeve and socket sleeve, respectively.

Abstract: A connector for coupling with an adapter, comprising: at least one connector body each having a first end capable of being inserted into the adapter; at least one locking mechanism; and a boot movably engaged with the connector body. Each of the at least one locking mechanism comprising: a slanting arm extending slantingly and upwardly from the respective connector body; at least one locking protrusion configured to extend from sides of the slanting arm to lock the connector body into locking grooves of the adapter; and a driving arm having a first end connected to the slanting arm. Wherein a second end of the driving arm is connected to the boot and is movable together with the boot to drive the slanting arm connected with the first end of the driving arm to approach a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A connector includes a shell having a mating end configured to be mated with a mating connector and that holds at least one contact. A coupling mechanism is rotatable about the shell. The coupling mechanism includes an inner coupling nut and an outer coupling nut separate from the inner coupling nut. The inner coupling nut has threads configured to be threadably coupled to a mating connector. The inner coupling nut has a track defined by track walls formed into an outer surface of the inner coupling nut. The outer coupling nut has a cavity receiving the inner coupling nut. The outer coupling nut has a post extending into the cavity and being received in the track. The post engages the track walls and is released from the track wall into the track when the connector is fully mated to the mating connector.

Abstract: A connector comprising an outer housing having a first keying element, an inner housing at least partially disposed in the outer housing and having second and third keying elements, the second keying element cooperating with the first keying element to align angularly the inner housing with the outer housing, a ferrule assembly at least partially disposed in the inner housing and having a ferrule and fourth and fifth keying elements, the fourth keying element cooperating with the third keying element to align angularly the ferrule assembly with the inner housing, an alignment member receiving at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, the alignment member having a sixth keying element to cooperate with the fifth keying element to align angularly the ferrule assembly with the alignment member, and wherein the clearance between the fifth and sixth keying elements is less than that between the first and second keying elements, and between the third and fourth keying elements.

Abstract: A connector includes a shell and a coupling mechanism rotatable about the shell. The coupling mechanism includes inner and outer coupling nuts. The inner coupling nut has threads configured to be threadably coupled to a mating connector. The outer coupling nut is configured to be locked to the inner coupling nut to transfer rotation of the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut. The outer coupling nut is configured to be unlocked from the inner coupling nut to allow free rotation of the outer coupling nut relative to the inner coupling nut. The outer coupling nut is automatically unlocked when the connector is fully mated to the mating connector. The coupling mechanism may include a plunger movable between a locked position and an unlocked position with the plunger locking the outer coupling nut to the inner coupling nut in the locked position.

Abstract: A connector for coupling with an adapter, comprising: at least one connector body each having a first end capable of being inserted into the adapter; at least one locking mechanism; and a boot movably engaged with the connector body. Each of the at least one locking mechanism comprising: a slanting arm extending slantingly and upwardly from the respective connector body; at least one locking protrusion configured to extend from sides of the slanting arm to lock the connector body into locking grooves of the adapter; and a driving arm having a first end connected to the slanting arm. Wherein a second end of the driving arm is connected to the boot and is movable together with the boot to drive the slanting arm connected with the first end of the driving arm to approach a horizontal direction.