Abstract: An alignment assembly (20) is provided for holding alignment sleeves that each aligns the ends of a pair of optic fiber ferrules (22, 26) projecting from two mating connectors (12, 14), which assures that the mating connectors will always be mated in their proper relative orientations to avoid unacceptable insertion losses and the connection of the wrong pairs of fibers. The alignment assembly includes a housing (34) formed by two identical housing halves, and includes two identical locating pins (40, 42) mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the housing axis, each pin having having a pin end (91–94) projecting from each face of the housing. One pin has a large diameter end (94) projecting from a front housing face (100) into a large diameter locating hole (52) in a connector and the other pin has a small diameter end (93) projecting from the same front housing face into a small locating hole (51), to assure proper orientation of the two mating connectors.

Abstract: An optic fiber connector system which uses low cost plex components while providing sealing and physical protection approaching that of military type optical connectors. An assembly (70) of a plurality of shells includes a middle shell (72) with an internal flange (120) having a rectangular opening (122) that closely receives and is fixed to a plex housing (12). Front and rear backshells (80, 82) extend in opposite directions from the middle shell and surround optic fiber cables (32, 34) that trail from plex optic fiber connectors (20, 22), and with rubber grommets (110) sealed to the optic fiber cables.

Abstract: A sheet metal cover part (30) whose front end (70) lies against a surface (50) of a front connector, behind a projecting ridge (54), is prevented from deflecting upwardly and creating a “smile” by deforming a front end of the sheet metal to form a beam of greater height than the thickness of the sheet metal. In one construction, the front edge of the sheet metal is bent over by about over 45° so the sheet metal of 0.2 mm thickness is provided with a front edge where the distance (E) between the top and bottom is 0.3 mm. In another construction, a strip-shaped area (130) lying slightly rearward of the extreme edge (90C) of the sheet metal is deformed to form a stiffening beam.

Abstract: A PCMCIA standard PC card is provided, that can receive an IC stick type of card and connect contact pads on the IC stick to contacts at the front connector of the PC card. The PC card has a guide (90) with a rear cap portion (92) that occupies the space (84) between the rear ends of the top and bottom sheet metal covers (72, 74). The rear cap portion has slot side walls (102, 104) that closely guide the IC stick in movement forwardly into the slot of the PC card, until pads (60) on the IC stick engage contacts (56) on an IC stick connector (54) that is mounted on a circuit board (40) within the PC card. The circuit board has a rear end with tabs (144, 146) supported by the rear cap portion of the guide.