Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: Keying may be used to indicate various features of cables, cable connectors, and/or equipment. The keying mechanisms of the connectors systems disclosed herein identifies whether each plug is a pinned plug or a pinless plug. The keying mechanisms disclosed herein identify the number of optical fibers terminated at each plug. For example, one type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 40 Gb/sec standard and another type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 100 Gb/sec standard. The keying mechanisms may indicate a cabling/wiring pattern to be used (e.g., indicates a polarity of the cable). The cables and/or plugs may be color coded based on the keying mechanism. Accordingly, the keying may alert a user to the features of the cable that are not readily apparent upon a cursory inspection.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost- effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: Keying may be used to indicate various features of cables, cable connectors, and/or equipment. The keying mechanisms of the connectors systems disclosed herein identifies whether each plug is a pinned plug or a pinless plug. The keying mechanisms disclosed herein identify the number of optical fibers terminated at each plug. For example, one type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 40 Gb/sec standard and another type of keying mechanism may indicate a cable plug manufactured under a 100 Gb/sec standard. The keying mechanisms may indicate a cabling/wiring pattern to be used (e.g., indicates a polarity of the cable). The cables and/or plugs may be color coded based on the keying mechanism. Accordingly, the keying may alert a user to the features of the cable that are not readily apparent upon a cursory inspection.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bend limiting structure for preventing a flexible optical circuit from being bent too sharply. More particularly, the invention involves adding a bend limiting layer or layers to the flexible optical circuit and/or any housing or other structure within which it is enclosed or to which it is attached. The bend-limiting layer may comprise a plurality of blocks arranged in a line or plane and joined by a flexible film that is thinner than the blocks, with the blocks positioned close enough to each other so that, if that plane of blocks is bent a predetermined amount, the edges of the blocks will interfere with each other and prevent the plane from being bent any further. The blocks may be resilient also to provide a less abrupt bend-limiting stop.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a single-piece or two-piece multi-fiber adapter defining a recess at which a contact assembly is disposed. The adapter assemblies can be disposed within adapter block assemblies or cassettes, which can be mounted to moveable trays. Both ports of the adapters disposed within adapter block assemblies are accessible. Only one port of each adapter disposed within the cassettes are accessible. Circuit boards can be mounted within the block assemblies or cassettes to provide communication between the contact assemblies and a data network.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.