Abstract: Connector assembly includes a communication connector configured to be at least one of electrically or optically coupled to a plug. The communication connector has a connector housing that includes a back side and a mating face that are on opposite ends of the connector housing. The connector assembly also includes a retention mechanism having a connector hinge and a retention clip. The connector hinge is a portion of the connector housing or is coupled to the connector housing. The retention clip has a panel, a hinge arm, and a plug arm. The panel extends between and couples to the hinge and plug arms. The hinge arm grips the connector hinge such that the retention clip is rotatable about the connector hinge between open and locked positions. The plug arm is shaped to press the plug toward the mating face when the retention clip is in the locked position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an optical coupling method and apparatus in which the connectors are hermaphroditic and each connector comprises a ferrule that provides (1) the coarse alignment of the fibers, (2) the fine alignment of the fibers, and (3) the releasable latching of two such ferrules to each other. Hence, two such ferrules can be used to connect optical fibers without the need for connector housings. The ferrule of this system includes an alignment protrusion and a complementary alignment hole on the front face of the ferrule for providing the fine alignment. Coarse alignment is provided by longitudinally-directed protrusions extending forwardly of the front face, and recesses in the ferrule that are complementary to the protrusion such that two such ferrules can be mated to each other with the protrusions of one such ferrule fitting snugly within the recesses of the other such ferrule.

Abstract: A photonic assembly includes a midplane connector having connector channels extending therethrough. Fiber optic connectors are positioned within the connector channels of the midplane connector. The fiber optic connectors retain ferrules of midplane optical fibers and aligning the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers within the midplane connector. A midplane substrate is provided having an opening extending therethrough. The midplane connector is positioned within the opening of the midplane substrate. The midplane connector floats within the opening of the midplane substrate to position the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly includes a connector that has a mating end and a cable end. A fiber optic cable is terminated to the cable end of the connector. A cable director is coupled to the fiber optic cable rearward of the connector. The cable director includes a flexible support sleeve and a clip extending from the support sleeve. The support sleeve includes a raceway that receives the fiber optic cable. The support sleeve has a first end segment and a second end segment. The support sleeve has a first attachment point proximate to the first end segment and a second attachment point proximate to the second end segment. The support sleeve is held in a bent shape when the clip is attached to both the first attachment point and the second attachment point. The support sleeve is configured to be straightened to a loading position in which the raceway is substantially linear when the clip is removed from at least one of the first or second attachment points.

Abstract: An optical cable assembly is provided for being connected to an opto-electric device assembly having a substrate, an opto-electric device (OED) mounted on the substrate, and a frame mounted on the substrate. The optical cable assembly includes an optical cable including an optical conductor having an end. A ferrule terminates the optical cable. The ferrule includes a body having a chamber. The optical conductor is held by the ferrule such that at least a portion of the end of the optical conductor extends within the chamber of the body of the ferrule. The body of the ferrule is configured to be engaged with and removably connected to the frame of the electro-optical device assembly to optically connect the optical conductor to the OED.

Abstract: A photonic assembly includes a midplane connector having connector channels extending therethrough. Fiber optic connectors are positioned within the connector channels of the midplane connector. The fiber optic connectors retain ferrules of midplane optical fibers and aligning the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers within the midplane connector. A midplane substrate is provided having an opening extending therethrough. The midplane connector is positioned within the opening of the midplane substrate. The midplane connector floats within the opening of the midplane substrate to position the ferrules of the midplane optical fibers.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a cable jacket. A cable stacker couples the cable to a neighboring cable assembly. The cable stacker has a mounting channel. The cable is received in the mounting channel. The cable stacker has a coupler configured to be coupled to the neighboring cable assembly to hold the cable in position with respect to the neighboring cable assembly.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly includes a connector that has a mating end and a cable end. A fiber optic cable is terminated to the cable end of the connector. A cable director is coupled to the fiber optic cable rearward of the connector. The cable director includes a flexible support sleeve and a clip extending from the support sleeve. The support sleeve includes a raceway that receives the fiber optic cable. The support sleeve has a first end segment and a second end segment. The support sleeve has a first attachment point proximate to the first end segment and a second attachment point proximate to the second end segment. The support sleeve is held in a bent shape when the clip is attached to both the first attachment point and the second attachment point. The support sleeve is configured to be straightened to a loading position in which the raceway is substantially linear when the clip is removed from at least one of the first or second attachment points.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a front housing and a rear housing that is movably coupled to the front housing. The rear housing is movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. In the retracted position, the rear housing is spaced apart from the front housing. A drive mechanism is coupled to the rear housing. The drive mechanism moves the rear housing from the retracted position to the advanced position. At least one fiber optic connector fixedly coupled to the rear housing. The fiber optic connector has a mating end received by the front housing. The mating end driven with respect to the front housing in a mating direction for mating with a corresponding connector when the rear housing is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an optical ferrule and a method of manufacturing the optical ferrule that can compensate for the fact that the end faces of the fibers contained in the ferrule initially may not be coplanar of each other within required or desired tolerances or otherwise not the exact correct length. Particularly, a cavity is provided within the ferrule to provide room for the fibers to freely bend within at least a range of curvatures within the ferrule so that any difference in the lengths of the fibers can be compensated for by a unique amount of bend in each individual fiber.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an optical coupling method and apparatus in which the connectors are hermaphroditic and each connector comprises a ferrule that provides (1) the coarse alignment of the fibers, (2) the fine alignment of the fibers, and (3) the releasable latching of two such ferrules to each other. Hence, two such ferrules can be used to connect optical fibers without the need for connector housings. The ferrule of this system includes an alignment protrusion and a complementary alignment hole on the front face of the ferrule for providing the fine alignment. Coarse alignment is provided by longitudinally-directed protrusions extending forwardly of the front face, and recesses in the ferrule that are complementary to the protrusion such that two such ferrules can be mated to each other with the protrusions of one such ferrule fitting snugly within the recesses of the other such ferrule.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a coupling interface component, a connector housing, and an optical fiber connector. The coupling interface component extends along a center axis from a back end to a coupling end and includes an interior chamber. The connector housing is disposed within the interior chamber of the coupling interface component. The optical fiber connector is joined to an optical fiber and is interconnected with the connector housing. The optical fiber connector is configured to optically couple the optical fiber with a mating connector. The coupling interface component engages the connector housing and the mating connector and prevents movement of the connector housing relative to the coupling interface component and the mating connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a coupling interface component, a connector housing, and an optical fiber connector. The coupling interface component extends along a center axis from a back end to a coupling end and includes an interior chamber. The connector housing is disposed within the interior chamber of the coupling interface component. The optical fiber connector is joined to an optical fiber and is interconnected with the connector housing. The optical fiber connector is configured to optically couple the optical fiber with a mating connector. The coupling interface component engages the connector housing and the mating connector and prevents movement of the connector housing relative to the coupling interface component and the mating connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing, a connector base, and an optical fiber connector. The connector housing extends along a center axis from a mating end to a cable receiving end with a passage extending therebetween. The mating end is received in a mating connector that is mounted to a panel. The connector base is secured to the mating end of the connector housing and includes a channel extending therethrough. The channel receives an optical fiber. The optical fiber connector is coupled to the optical fiber and mates with the mating connector to optically couple the optical fiber with the mating connector. The optical fiber connector is slidably joined to the connector base to permit the optical fiber connector to axially move along the center axis relative to the connector housing when the connector housing mates with the mating connector.

Abstract: A connector assembly configured to connect a plug body into a receiving module of an electrical device is provided. The connector assembly has a cable end and a plug end and a cable channel extending therethrough. The connector assembly includes an inner body having and an outer housing that is coupled to and surrounds at least a portion of the inner body. The outer housing is configured to attach to the electrical device. The connector assembly further includes a plug having the plug body and at least one cable conductor extending through the cable channel and connecting to the plug body. The plug body is held near or within the inner body and is movable from a first position near or within the inner body to a second position engaged with the receiving module.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that has a plug end and a cable end and is configured to insert a plug that is coupled to a cable into a receiving module of an electrical device. The connector assembly includes an inner body that has a cable channel extending in an axial direction between the plug end and the cable end. The connector assembly also includes a slider element that is configured to hold a plug proximate to the plug end. The slider element is held by and movable along the inner body in an axial direction. The connector assembly further includes an outer housing that surrounds the inner body and the slider element. The outer housing is movable in the axial direction with respect to the inner body and the slider element, and the outer housing is also configured to attach to the electrical device.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that has a plug end and a cable end and is configured to insert a plug that is coupled to a cable into a receiving module of an electrical device. The connector assembly includes an inner body that has a cable channel extending in an axial direction between the plug end and the cable end. The connector assembly also includes a slider element that is configured to hold a plug proximate to the plug end. The slider element is held by and movable along the inner body in an axial direction. The connector assembly further includes an outer housing that surrounds the inner body and the slider element. The outer housing is movable in the axial direction with respect to the inner body and the slider element, and the outer housing is also configured to attach to the electrical device.

Abstract: A connector assembly configured to connect a plug body into a receiving module of an electrical device is provided. The connector assembly has a cable end and a plug end and a cable channel extending therethrough. The connector assembly includes an inner body having and an outer housing that is coupled to and surrounds at least a portion of the inner body. The outer housing is configured to attach to the electrical device. The connector assembly further includes a plug having the plug body and at least one cable conductor extending through the cable channel and connecting to the plug body. The plug body is held near or within the inner body and is movable from a first position near or within the inner body to a second position engaged with the receiving module.

Abstract: A connector (10) between an optical connector (35) and a receptor (11). The connector (10) has a housing (14) with an upper portion (20) and a lower portion (21). A printed circuit board (45) is received in the upper portion (21) and extends outwardly from the front of the upper portion (20). The printed circuit board (45) is vertically and laterally moveable within the upper portion (20). An optical connector (25) is received in, and retained between, side clips (30, 31) on the lower portion (21) of the housing (14). The optical connector (35) is matable with the optical portion (12) of the receptor (11) and the printed circuit board (45) is self-aligning and matable with the electrical portion (13) of the receptor (11).

Abstract: A multi-fiber fiber-optic connector is provided containing a cartridge having a front radial flange containing peripheral, circumferentially-spaced notches in each of which a fiber-optic terminal is axially positioned, and having a rear radial flange containing peripheral, circumferentially-spaced notches in each of which a fiber-optic clamp body is axially positioned. The fiber-optic terminals are spring-biased forwardly toward the open end of the connector, and a preload plate holds them in a preloaded state. Each of the terminals is provided at its outer end with a surrounding, axially-extending resilient split sleeve, the outer end of which is empty to receive a fiber-optic terminal of a mating conductor similar to the above-described connector, but without the split sleeves.