Abstract: A latch and release system for a connector disposable within a mating receptacle is provided, where the connector includes a body having a latch portion and a movable release portion, with the movable release portion having a biasing member. The latch and release system also includes an engaging member attached to the mating receptacle, with the engaging member having an engaging portion to engage the latch portion of the connector body when the connector is disposed in the mating receptacle. An abutment portion of the mating receptacle abuts the movable release portion of the connector body when the connector is disposed in the mating receptacle to cause the biasing member of the movable release portion to be biased.

Abstract: Generally, a fiber optic connector having at least one wafer, wherein the wafer holds at least one optical fiber, is provided. The wafer includes a retractable shroud, a body to receive the retractable shroud, and at least one biasing member. The biasing member is capable of being biased when the wafer contacts a corresponding mating wafer to cause the shroud to retract. In one specific detailed perspective and embodiment of the invention, the wafer as stated further includes the retractable shroud having a door that preferably opens outwardly and at least one ferrule that holds the optical fiber, where the ferrule is provided with an alignment pin. The biasing member includes a first biasing member, a second biasing member and a third biasing member. The first biasing member is capable of being biased to cause the alignment pin of the ferrule to open the door of the retractable shroud. The second biasing member is capable of being biased to cause the retractable shroud to be received by the body.

Abstract: A latching apparatus has a guide member, a circuit board attachment member which is configured to attach to a circuit board, and a control assembly. The control assembly is configured to (i) retain the circuit board attachment member within a retaining range of the guide member when the guide member is unlocked from a receptacle member, and (ii) un-restrict the circuit board attachment member such that the circuit board attachment member is movable outside of the retaining range of the guide member when the guide member is locked with the receptacle member.

Abstract: A ferrule assembly for terminating at least one fiber of a ribbon cable in a ferrule, where the ferrule assembly is disposable in a housing of an optical connector, is provided. The ferrule assembly includes the ferrule having a mating face, at least one groove for receiving the fiber and at least one through-hole. The ferrule assembly also includes an alignment member holder having at least one alignment member and providing a first channel for the ribbon cable, the alignment member being insertable in the through-hole of the ferrule and having a first length such that an end of the alignment member extends beyond the mating face of the ferrule when the ferrule assembly is assembled.

Abstract: A latch and release system for a connector disposable within a mating receptacle is provided, where the connector includes a body having a latch portion and a movable release portion, with the movable release portion having a biasing member. The latch and release system also includes an engaging member attached to the mating receptacle, with the engaging member having an engaging portion to engage the latch portion of the connector body when the connector is disposed in the mating receptacle. An abutment portion of the mating receptacle abuts the movable release portion of the connector body when the connector is disposed in the mating receptacle to cause the biasing member of the movable release portion to be biased.

Abstract: A module houses a set of fiber optic interfaces. The module includes a fiber optic interface holder, which is configured to hold the set of fiber optic interfaces, and a shroud coupled to the fiber optic interface holder. The shroud is configured to move relative to the fiber optic interface holder along an axis defined by the fiber optic interface holder such that, when the fiber optic interface holder holds the set of fiber optic interfaces, the shroud (i) protects the set of fiber optic interfaces when the shroud is in a first location along the axis defined by the fiber optic interface holder, and (ii) exposes the set of fiber optic interfaces when the shroud is in a second location along the axis defined by the fiber optic interface holder.

Abstract: A latching apparatus has a guide member, a circuit board attachment member which is configured to attach to a circuit board, and a control assembly. The control assembly is configured to (i) retain the circuit board attachment member within a retaining range of the guide member when the guide member is unlocked from a receptacle member, and (ii) un-restrict the circuit board attachment member such that the circuit board attachment member is movable outside of the retaining range of the guide member when the guide member is locked with the receptacle member.

Abstract: A system cleans a set of optical connectors. The system includes a fluid source, a vacuum source, a support member which defines a cleaning device edge, and a set of cleaning devices. Each cleaning device includes (i) a fluid intake member which connects to the fluid source, (ii) a fluid output member which connects to the vacuum source, and (iii) a cleaning head which connects to the fluid intake member and the fluid output member. Each cleaning device is disposed along the cleaning device edge of the support member. The set of cleaning devices is configured to (a) align over a set of optical interfaces of the set of optical connectors, (b) direct fluid (e.g., gas, gaseous snow, etc.) from the fluid source toward the set of optical interfaces, and (c) draw the directed fluid away from the set of optical interfaces and toward the vacuum source.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a fiber optic connection system of the present invention, there is provided a first fiber optic connector attachable to a first printed circuit board and a second fiber optic connector attachable to a second printed circuit board and mateable to the first fiber optic connector. The first fiber optic connector has separable first wafer modules, each of which hold at least one optical fiber, and separable first latching modules removably attached to the separable first wafer modules. The second fiber optic connector includes separable second wafer modules, each of which hold at least one optical fiber, and separable second latching modules removably attached to the separable second wafer modules. The separable second latching modules are engageable to the separable first latching modules to mate the first and second fiber optic connectors.

Abstract: Generally, a fiber optic connector having at least one wafer, wherein the wafer holds at least one optical fiber, is provided. The wafer includes a retractable shroud, a body to receive the retractable shroud, and at least one biasing member. The biasing member is capable of being biased when the wafer contacts a corresponding mating wafer to cause the shroud to retract. In one specific detailed perspective and embodiment of the invention, the wafer as stated further includes the retractable shroud having a door that preferably opens outwardly and at least one ferrule that holds the optical fiber, where the ferrule is provided with an alignment pin. The biasing member includes a first biasing member, a second biasing member and a third biasing member. The first biasing member is capable of being biased to cause the alignment pin of the ferrule to open the door of the retractable shroud. The second biasing member is capable of being biased to cause the retractable shroud to be received by the body.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable pulling device includes a base having a cavity for receiving a connector terminated to a fiber optic cable. A cover is assembled to the base for closing the cavity and capturing the connector therewithin, with the cable extending outwardly from the base. Complementary interengaging clamp portions are provided on the base and the cover for clamping onto at least one of the cable and connector when the cable is assembled to the base.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting through an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture in the panel. The adapter has engagement arms for engaging the panel and restricting relative movement between the adapter and the panel. A connector is insertable into the adapter in an insertion direction. Releases are provided on the connector for disengaging the engagement arms of the adapter from the panel in response to inserting the connector into the adapter and, thereby, remove the restriction on the relative movement between the adapter and the panel.

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 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 fiber optic termination system includes a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber surrounded by an outer sheath. A crimp ring is crimped to the cable. A fiber optic connector is terminated to the fiber optic cable and includes a ferrule for terminating the optical fiber. A two-part housing assembly for the connector mounts the fiber optic cable and ferrule and also captures the crimp ring therewithin. A boot surrounds the rear end of the housing to hold the housing closed about the crimp ring on the cable.

Abstract: A receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis, the connector including a mating end that terminates an end of an optical fiber. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the mating end of the fiber optic connector inserted thereinto on the optic axis. A shutter is mounted on the housing for movement to close and open the open end. The shutter extends across the optic axis when the shutter is closed. The shutter is movable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted mating end of the connector. The shutter includes an outer surface having a recessed area for registry with the terminated end of the optical fiber to protect the fiber end.

Abstract: An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed. The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. A metal shell member is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. A latch is mounted on the housing for latchingly engaging a fiber optic connector. The shell member includes a spring portion for spring-loading the latch.

Abstract: An receptacle is provided for receiving a fiber optic connector along an optic axis. The receptacle includes a housing having an open end for receiving the fiber optic connector. A pair of shutter members are pivotally mounted on the housing at opposite sides of the open end of the housing for pivotal movement toward and away from each other to close and open the open end. The shutter members extend across the optic axis when the shutter members are closed, The shutter members are pivotable away from the optic axis upon engagement by the inserted fiber optic connector. The shutter members have inner ends which are overlapped when the shutter members are closed to ensure against light leakage along the optic axis. The fiber optic connector has a mating end which is transversely offset for engaging one of the shutter members before the other shutter member upon insertion of the connector into the open end of the receptacle.

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.