Abstract: A fiber optic connector module includes a ferrule terminated to at least one optical fiber. The ferrule is mounted within a manually manipulatable housing having a front portion encapsulating the ferrule and a rear portion extending rearwardly of the front portion for manual grasping by an operator. The front portion has an open front end through which a mating end of the ferrule projects and an open rear end through which the optical fiber extends.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate. The substrate includes at least one pre-placement hole and at least one positioning hole. A connector housing has a pre-placement peg sized for insertion into the pre-placement hole in the substrate with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the substrate. The housing has a positioning peg sized for insertion into the positioning hole in the substrate by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the substrate.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate with relative floating movement therebetween. The system includes a connector housing adapted for mounting on the substrate and including at least one elongated channel in a side of the housing. The channel extends generally perpendicular to the substrate and has an elongated restricted mouth opening at a side thereof. An elongated fastening post is snap-fit into the channel past the restricted mouth thereof to a preload position. A cross-dimension of the channel is larger than a cross-dimension of the fastening post so that the post can float relative to the housing. A fastener engages with the substrate and is operatively associated with the fastening post for tightening the post against the substrate, leaving the connector housing with floating movement relative to the substrate in a direction generally parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A connector assembly is mounted through an aperture in a panel, the aperture defining an axis. A first connecting device is mountable in the aperture in the panel. A second connecting device is insertable axially into the first connecting device. One of the connecting devices includes two portions relatively movable axially, with one portion being mateable with the other connecting device. A first latch is provided between the two portions of the one connecting device to prevent relative axial movement therebetween. A second latch is provided between the other connecting device and the one portion of the one connecting device when the other connecting device is mated therewith. A release is provided on the other connecting device for releasing the first latch between the two portions of the one connecting device to allow the mated other connecting device to float relative to the panel.

Abstract: An EMI gasket is provided for installing about a generally rectangular mating plug portion of a connector defined by opposite minor sides and opposite major sides. The gasket is generally rectangular to define opposite minor sides and opposite major sides thereof corresponding to the minor and major sides, respectively, of the mating plug portion. The EMI gasket, in an unstressed condition, has a generally bow-tie configuration with the major sides thereof bowed inwardly. Therefore, the major sides of the gasket are biased against the major sides of the plug portion when the gasket is installed on the plug portion.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a pair of fiber optic connectors in a side-by-side relation with float therebetween, along with a method of fabricating the connectors. A first connector housing is provided for receiving a first optical fiber plug, and including a first latch molded integrally with the first connector housing. A second connector housing is provided for receiving a second optical fiber plug. A latch member is mounted on the second connector housing in loose engagement therewith and includes a second latch for interengagement with the first latch on the first connector housing. Therefore, the connector housings are held in a side-by-side relationship with float therebetween provided by the loosely engaged latch member.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly is arranged for adjusting the rotational position of a terminated optical fiber about its axis relative to the axis of the connector assembly. A connector body has a central bore extending rearwardly from a front end of the body. An inner plug terminates the optical fiber and is positioned in the bore of the body. The plug is captured axially in the body but is rotatable relative to the body about the axis of the fiber. Complementary interengaging keys and keyways are provided between the plug and the body to define a plurality of positions of rotational adjustment of the plug about the axis of the fiber relative to the body. Tool engaging portions on the plug are accessible through the front open end of the body so that an adjusting tool can be inserted thereinto after the connector assembly is assembled to rotationally adjust the plug relative to the body.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a pair of fiber optic connectors in a side-by-side relation with float therebetween, along with a method of fabricating the connectors. A first connector housing receives a first optical fiber plug, and includes a first latch molded integrally therewith. A second connector housing receives a second optical fiber plug and includes a second latch molded integrally therewith. The first and second latches are permanently and non-releasably molded in loose engagement to hold the connector housings in a side-by-side relationship with float therebetween.

Abstract: A system is provided for cleaning the end of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector mounted on a backplane of a chassis adapted for receiving a printed circuit board having a mating connector mateable with the fiber optic connector. A dummy circuit board is receivable by the chassis to replace the actual printed circuit board. A cleaner is mounted on the dummy circuit board for cleaning the end of the ferrule of the fiber optic connector when the dummy circuit board is received by the chassis.

Abstract: A cleaner is disclosed for cleaning the end of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector. The cleaner includes a housing having a mating portion for mating the cleaner with the fiber optic connector. A supply of a cleaning medium is mounted in the housing. An advancing mechanism is mounted on the housing for advancing the cleaning medium past the ferrule end of the fiber optic connector when the cleaner is mated with the connector.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a connector ferrule for a fiber optic cable which includes at least one optical fiber. A pair of ferrule clamping members are provided and define a fiber passage therebetween for receiving the optical fiber and which define at least one pin passage therebetween of a given diameter. A ferrule body is formed about the clamping members. A spreader pin of a larger diameter than the given diameter is inserted into the pin passage to spread the clamping members and open the fiber passage. The optical fiber is inserted into the opened fiber passage, and the spreader pin is removed to allow the clamping members to close onto the optical fiber.

Abstract: An alignment system is disclosed in a connector ferrule for a fiber optic cable which includes at least one optical fiber. A ferrule body receives the cable and includes a fiber passage for receiving the optical fiber. A pin passage in the ferrule body is spaced from the fiber passage for receiving an alignment pin projecting from the ferrule body to align the body with an appropriate complementary connecting device. An alignment bushing is disposed in the pin passage for directly receiving the alignment pin. The outside dimensions of the bushing are smaller than the inside dimensions of the pin passage to define a space therebetween. A filler adhesive is applied in the space between the outside of the alignment bushing and the inside of the pin passage. Therefore, the bushing can be precisely aligned in the pin passage from exteriorly of the passage, and the filler adhesive can fix the bushing in that precise alignment interiorly of the passage.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a connector ferrule for a fiber optic ribbon cable which includes a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers in a line. A ferrule body is provided with a fiber passage which is elongated in cross-section to receive the line of optical fibers. A jacket is removed from an end portion of the fiber optic ribbon cable to expose the line of optical fibers. The ferrule body is placed in a fixture. The cable is placed in the ferrule body with the exposed line of optical fibers located in the fiber passage, and with distal ends of the exposed fibers projecting outwardly of the ferrule body. The exposed distal ends of the fibers are located on the fixture to precisely align the fibers relative to each other in the fiber passage. A filler adhesive is applied in the fiber passage about the exposed fibers to fix the fibers in the fiber passage while the fibers are held by the fixture in their precise alignment.

Abstract: A connector ferrule is disclosed for a fiber optic ribbon cable which includes a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers in a line. A ferrule body receives the cable and includes a fiber passage which is elongated in cross-section to receive the line of optical fibers that are exposed by removing the jacket at an end portion of the fiber optic ribbon cable. A filler adhesive is disposed in the elongated fiber passage for fixing the fibers in the fiber passage in proper spaced relationship. Therefore, the line of fibers can be precisely aligned and relatively spaced from exteriorly of the fiber passage, and the filler adhesive can fix the fibers in that precise alignment and relative spacing interiorly of the fiber passage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The apparatus includes a body having an open mating end and a mounting flange. The open mating end is adapted for receiving the fiber optic connector on the optic axis. The mounting flange includes a first mounting structure for facilitating mounting the apparatus to a support structure. A shield assembly is mounted on the body and includes a movable shield for closing and opening the open mating end of the body. A second mounting structure is operatively associated with the first mounting structure for facilitating mounting the shield assembly to the body.

Abstract: A fixture is disclosed for use in fabricating a connector ferrule for a fiber optic cable which includes a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers. The fixture includes a base, with a receptacle on the base for receiving and properly positioning a ferrule body. A cable locator is provided on the base at one side of the receptacle for positioning the cable inserted in the ferrule body, with exposed end portions of the optical fibers projecting from the ferrule body at an opposite side of the receptacle. A fiber aligner is provided on the base at the opposite side of the receptacle for aligning the exposed end portions of the optical fibers relative to each other and relative to the properly positioned ferrule body.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a body member having an axially extending cavity with a circumferential flange projecting radially into the cavity and defining a passage through the flange. The flange is slotted to define a plurality of radially inwardly extending flexible stop fingers. A ferrule is provided for mounting an optical fiber. A ferrule holder has a circumferential rib projecting radially outwardly therefrom to define a circumferential stop shoulder. The outside diameter of the rib is greater than the inside diameter of the passage. The ferrule holder can be axially assembled into the body member in a first, assembly direction by forcing the rib through the passage flexing the stop fingers. The ferrule holder is prevented from unforcibly moving in a second, opposite direction by engagement of the stop shoulder with the stop fingers.

Abstract: A diversion connector is disclosed for mating with an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means. The connector includes a body having an end face for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face traversing the optic axis. A fiber section is mounted in the body and includes a front fiber end and a rear fiber end. The front fiber end is adapted for mating with an end of the optical fiber of the associated fiber optic transmission means. The rear fiber end is at an angle to the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by the optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber and to protect an operator's eyes from the transmitted light energy.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for interconnecting a pair of opposing optical fiber connectors generally along an optical axis. A unitary adapter housing has an axial cavity extending in a direction between opposite ends thereof. One end of the housing has a first interconnection operatively associated with a first one of the air of opposing optical fiber connectors. A unitary insert is mounted in the axial cavity of the adapter housing and includes a second interconnection operatively associated with the second of the pair of opposing optical fiber connectors at the opposite end of the housing.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector defines an optical axis and includes a housing mounting a forwardly protruding ferrule. A bore extends axially through the housing and the ferrule for terminating a fiber optic cable, with an exposed optical fiber in the bore of the ferrule. A spring loaded gripping clamp is mounted on the housing for receiving and gripping the optical fiber when inserted into the ferrule. The spring loaded gripping clamp is movable between a normally closed position for gripping the fiber and an open position for receiving the fiber. An appropriate tool can be used in moving the gripping clamp to its open position.