Multi-part optical fibre connectors

Claim 1

A kit of parts for assembling a multi-part optical fibre connector, which kit of parts comprises at least two optical fibre connector-end parts each comprising a housing having two oppositely disposed ends, one of which ends is adapted to make plug and socket connection with an end of another optical fibre connector-part and the other of which ends is adapted to be secured to an end of at least one flexible optical guide comprising at least one optical fibre, and at least one optical conductor disposed within and extending between said two oppositely disposed ends of the housing of the end part; and at least two adapters for optically interconnecting two end parts, each adaptor comprising a body of moulded plastics material having two oppositely disposed ends, each of which ends is shaped to make a disconnectable plug and socket connection with an end part, and at least one discrete passive integrated optical chip which is so permanently encapsulated within the moulded plastics material of the body that oppositely disposed faces of the chip are exposed at said shaped ends of the body and which provides at least one discrete optical path between said exposed faces of the chip, the discrete passive integrated optical chip of each adaptor differing from the discrete passive integrated optical chip of the other adaptor or of each of the other adapters.