Abstract: A self-contained fiber optic cartridge (300) includes a body (310) with a bore (342) that receives a fiber optic cable (30) and which is then bonded by epoxy (340) to the cable, with the body then installed in a passage (343) of a frame (304). The body has a rear part that forms fingers (314) with flanges (324) that are inwardly compressed during rearward (R) insertion and then spring out to abut a rearwardly-facing shoulder (326) of the frame, to prevent the body from falling forwardly (F) out of the frame.

Abstract: A plurality of connectors (12, 14) of the type that has a primary latch with a handle (50) that can be depressed so the connector can be pulled out of a receiver passage (20, 22), and a secondary latch with a sleeve (60, 62) that can be slid forward to wedge a part under the handle so it cannot be depressed. The same slidable sleeve is used to normally connect a pair of connectors, while allowing a connector-to-be-serviced of the pair to be disconnected from the other one while said other one continues to lie in a receiver passage and carry signals. The sleeves are identical and each has a tongue and groove (74, 76) at its opposite sides, and also has engaged detents at its opposite sides. The groove is open at its front and rear ends.

Abstract: An optic fiber connector includes a self-contained optical fiber cartridge (12), that can be easily inserted into a passageway (16) of a connector housing (14), and easily removed and replaced, without exposing the coil spring (52) that urges the terminus forwardly. The cartridge includes a frame (20) that completely encircles the spring in all terminus positions and that also surrounds much of the terminus.

Abstract: A secondary latch (50) is provided for an electrical or optic fiber connector (12) that has a housing (22) with a housing body (24) and with a primary latch (26). The primary latch is of the type that has a front end (30) merging with the housing body and a rear end forming a handle (42) that can be depressed to release the latch and allow the connector to be withdrawn from a terminus coupling (16). The secondary latch prevents unintentional unlatching of the primary latch. The secondary latch includes a sleeve (60) that extends around the housing body and that can slide forward and rearward thereon, and a wedge part (52) that is wedged between a lower surface (56) of the handle and a top surface (54) of the housing body.

Abstract: A secondary latch (50) is provided for an electrical or optic fiber connector (12) that has a housing (22) with a housing body (24) and with a primary latch (26) with a front end (30) merging with the housing body and a rear end forming a handle (42) that can be depressed to release the latch and allow the connector to be withdrawn from a terminus coupling (16), the secondary latch preventing unintentional unlatching of the primary latch. The secondary latch includes a sleeve (60) that extends around the housing body and that can slide forward and rearward thereon, and a wedge part (52) that is wedged between a lower surface (56) of the handle and a top surface (54) of the housing body.

Abstract: An optic fiber connector includes a self-contained optical fiber cartridge (12), that can be easily inserted into a passageway (16) of a connector housing (14), and easily removed and replaced, without exposing the coil spring (52) that urges the terminus forwardly. The cartridge includes a frame (20) that completely encircles the spring in all terminus positions and that also surrounds much of the terminus.

Abstract: An optic fiber connector includes a housing (20) with a through passageway (70) and an optic fiber terminus assembly (22) lying in the passageway, the connector having a simple retainer assembly means prevents inadvertent rearward pullout of the terminus assembly from the passageway but which enables simple removal of the terminus assembly when desired. The housing has a rear portion with a groove (94) that extends circumferentially about the housing to weaken it at the groove, the groove lying forward of a retainer part 71 formed by a pair of housing projections (74, 76). A rear part (96) of the housing can be broken off from the main part (92) of the housing at the groove, to thereby remove the retainer part on the housing and allow the terminus assembly to be removed from the housing and inserted into a new housing. The rear part of the housing is broken when the cable is pulled partially rearward and at perhaps 45° to the housing axis (76).

Abstract: An optical fiber connector system includes a rear connector (16) comprising a main rear shell (50) with a plurality of ports (52) and a plurality of rear module bodies (54) each lying in one of the ports. A plurality of backshells (84) extend rearwardly from the rear of the module bodies, with the jackets of multiple fiber cables stripped at a location within each backshell to leave free individual optical fiber devices that extend into passages of the module. Each backshell has a pair of backshell passages (162) that each holds a backshell fastener (172) that fastens the backshell to a module body, each backshell fastener having a wrench-receiving passage (192). Jackscrews (150) fasten each module body to the shell, and each backshell has a wrench-receiving passage (192) extending along its length for passing a wrench to screw in and unscrew a jackscrew.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector system includes a rear connector (16) comprising a main rear shell (50) with a plurality of ports (52) and a plurality of rear module bodies (54) each lying in one of the ports. A plurality of backshells (84) extend rearwardly from the rear of the module bodies, with the jackets of multiple fiber cables stripped at a location within each backshell to leave free individual optical fiber devices that extend into passages of the module. Each backshell has a pair of backshell passages (162) that each holds a backshell fastener (172) that fastens the backshell to a module body, each backshell fastener having a wrench-receiving passage (192). Jackscrews (150) fasten each module body to the shell, and each backshell has a wrench-receiving passage (192) extending along its length for passing a wrench to screw in and unscrew a jackscrew.

Abstract: Front and rear optical fiber connectors (12, 14) can be mated and unmated from the front, while the rear connector and the rear portion (54) of the front connector can be removed for cleaning and replacement from the rear. A jackscrew (30) with a handle (32) at the front, extends through the connectors and has a threaded rear end (34) for engaging a nut (36) on the rear connector. The jackscrew also can be operated from the rear to remove the rear connector for maintenance. A spring (182) urges the jackscrew forwardly, to allow a person to sense when the jackscrew has not engaged the nut. A front connector frame (50) has a vertical divider (200) forming a pair of cavities (62, 63) that receive shaped body elements (54, 55). U-shaped brackets (164, 166) hold a back plate (52) to each connector. Alignment pins (144, 146) are coupled through springs (320) to the rear connector.

Abstract: Front and rear optical fiber connectors (12, 14) can be mated and unmated from the front, while the rear connector and the rear portion (54) of the front connector can be removed for cleaning and replacement from the rear. A jackscrew (30) with a handle (32) at the front, extends through the connectors and has a threaded rear end (34) for engaging a nut (36) on the rear connector. The jackscrew also can be operated from the rear to remove the rear connector for maintenance. A spring (182) urges the jackscrew forwardly, to allow a person to sense when the jackscrew has not engaged the nut. A front connector frame (50) has a vertical divider (200) forming a pair of cavities (62, 63) that receive shaped body elements (54, 55). U-shaped brackets (164, 166) hold a back plate (52) to each connector. Alignment pins (144, 146) are coupled through springs (320) to the rear connector.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for moving each of a plurality of second connectors (32) into engagement with each of a plurality of first connectors (31), where selective movement of the second connectors can be accomplished at a front panel (54) that is distant from the connectors. An elongated turning member (52) has a front end handle (50) that can be turned about an axis (122), with the rear of the turning member coupled to a selected one of a plurality of gear devices (61-64) that each moves a different second connector when that gear device is turned. A selector (70) that extends parallel to the turning member, has a selector front end handle (72) that can be turned to a selected position, to turn cam portions (132-135) at the rear end of the selector. Each cam portion can push a corresponding coupler (120) that can slide within a slot (134) in the turning member, so the coupler engages a cutout (124) in the gear device to thereby rotatably connect the turning member to the gear device.

Abstract: An electronic device (10) such as an IC card, has a tray (14) with a component (20) such as a fingerprint sensor, where the tray can move out beyond the rear end of the device and back into the device with a double click mechanism (34), in a simple and rugged configuration. The tray is slideably guided by a tray guide (50) that is mounted on the housing of the device, with a spring (36) urging the tray rearwardly from a stowed position (14) to a deployed position (14A). The double click mechanism that holds the tray in its stowed position, includes a cam element (70) and a cam follower element (72), with one element integrally molded with the tray and the other element integrally molded with the tray guide. The tray has a forwardly-extending arm (112) that holds the front end of the tension spring, while the rear end of the tension spring is mounted on the tray guide.

Abstract: An IC card of the type having a CardBus shield is disclosed in which the dielectric CardBus bridge behind the shield is provided with an upward projection that is positioned behind a front angular part of the top cover of the sheet metal enclosure for the card to support the cover. Preferably, the projection has a front angular surface that conforms to the configuration of the front angular part of the cover. The projection restricts flexural stresses applied to the card and improves environmental sealing of the card.

Abstract: An adaptor (10) can be inserted into a PC passage (12) of a computer device (14) and which can receive and connect to a smart card (30). The adaptor has top and bottom frame halves (60, 62) that form at least opposite side portions of a smart card-receiving slot (20) between them, with each frame half including a molded plastic body (90, 94) and a sheet metal cover part (90, 96) with tabs (100, 102) molded into the corresponding body. The two plastic bodies are ultrasonically welded together at opposite sides of their front ends (136, 138) which lie forward of the slot, and at opposite side parts (140, 142) of their rear projection ends. At least one of the plastic bodies forms side stops (232) at opposite sides of the front of the slot, to resist sideward movement of the front of the fully installed smart card, with each side stop lying immediately outside the rounded corner (220) at one side of the smart card.

Abstract: An IC card (10) is provided with a fingerprint sensor (32) that is usually protected from dirt and physical damage but that can be readily deployed while the card lies within a slot (12) of an electronic device (14). The fingerprint sensor is mounted on a tray (30) that can be slid rearwardly (R) out of the rear end of the IC card to a deployed position wherein the fingerprint sensor is exposed, the tray then being slidable forwardly (F) to a stowed position wherein the fingerprint sensor lies within the card housing. A mother board (52) lies within the IC card and one or more connectors (90, 92) are mounted on the mother board. A daughter board (60) fixed to the tray, has pads (72) that engage contacts (96) of the connector on the mother board, when the tray is in its deployed position. The IC card can receive a chip card (140) to authorize access when the fingerprint correspondence is high.

Abstract: A grounding clip (130, 132) is provided which mounts on a rear end cap (60) of a PC card, and which connects a rear connector shell (44) of the PC card to a top 5 sheet metal cover portion (90). The clip has a pair of top spring fingers (140, 142) that lie in recesses (150) in the top surface of the top flange (62) of the rear end cap, and has a bottom finger (144) lying against the lower surface of the top flange and against a tine (104) formed in the shell of the rear connector. The clip lies close to an extreme side (124,126) of the PC card, to remain engaged with the top cover portion despite bending of the cover rear portion that results in its middle (126) being raised above its opposite sides.

Abstract: A PC card of limited height (5 or 10 mm) is constructed with an extendable connector at its rear end for connection to a tall plug such as an RJ (telephone-type) plug that is designed to fit into a receptacle of large height. The connector apparatus is formed by a plastic molded rear end cap (22) at the rear of the PC card, with the cap having a slot (102) and with an adaptor platform (52) being slidable in the slot between an extended position wherein a rear portion of the platform projects a plurality of millimeters rearward of the end cap, and a stored position wherein the platform rear end is about flush with the cap rear surface. A hold-down (54) is pivotally mounted on the platform, the hold-down being pivoted down into a platform recess in the stored position and being pivoted up above the top of the PC card (10) to form a receptacle for receiving the plug in the deployed position. The slot in the cap has cap slot walls extending 360.degree.