Fiber optic connector housing, fiber optic receptacle, accessories employing fiber optic connector housings and corresponding optical assemblies

Claim 2

A fiber optic receptacle, comprising: a receptacle housing, including first means for receiving at least a first bore of a first optical subassembly, located at a first end of said receptacle housing, and second means for receiving at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule, located at a second end of said receptacle housing; at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said first ferrule with said first bore, Characterized In That said receptacle housing and said first pair of clips are of integral construction.

Claim 3

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 1, wherein said first end includes first and second walls, integral with said receptacle housing and said first pair of clips, positioned, respectively, below and above said first pair of clips, said first wall including a first opening below said first pair of clips and said second wall including a second opening above said first pair of clips.

Claim 4

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second openings and said first pair of clips extends longitudinally from said first end toward said second end, the longitudinal extent of said first and second openings being greater than the longitudinal extent of said first pair of clips.

Claim 5

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 3, wherein said second wall includes a first keyway, adapted to receive a first key of said first individual fiber optic connector housing, adjacent said second opening and longitudinally spaced from said first pair of clips.

Claim 6

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 2, wherein said first means includes means for receiving at least a second bore of a second optical subassembly and said second means includes means or receiving at least a second individual fiber optic connector housing containing a second plug frame which includes a second optical fiber-containing ferrule, and said fiber optic receptacle further comprises at least a second pair of clips extending from said first end, which second pair is adapted to engage said second individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said second ferrule with said second bore, and wherein said second pair of clips is integral with said receptacle housing, said first pair of clips and said first and second walls.

Claim 7

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 5, wherein said first and second walls are positioned, respectively, below and above said second pair of clips, said first wall including a third opening below said second pair of clips and said second wall including a fourth opening above said second pair of clips.

Claim 8

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 6, wherein each of said third and fourth openings and said second pair of clips extends longitudinally from said first end toward said second end, the longitudinal extent of said third and fourth openings being greater than the longitudinal extent of said second pair of clips.

Claim 9

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 7, wherein said second wall includes a second keyway, adapted to receive a second key of said second individual fiber optic connector housing, adjacent said fourth opening and longitudinally spaced from said second pair of clips.

Claim 10

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 6, wherein said third and fourth openings are substantially rectangular in outline.

Claim 11

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 6, wherein said receptacle housing, said first and second pairs of clips and said first and second surfaces are comprised of plastic material.

Claim 12

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 2, wherein said first and second openings are substantially rectangular in outline.

Claim 13

A fiber optic receptacle, comprising: a receptacle housing including first and second ends, said first end being adapted to receive at least a first bore of a first optical subassembly, said second end including first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel walls which, in part, define a channel adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said first ferrule with said first bore; a first shutter which is pivotably connected to said first wall adjacent said second end; and first spring means, contacting said first shutter and said first wall, for biasing said first shutter to a first position, transvers to said first wall, where said first shutter serves to block light emanating from said first bore, said first shutter also being pivotable to a second position, where it blocks relatively little light emanating from said first bore, Characterized In That said first shutter includes first and second interconnected portions, said first portion being adapted for engagement by said first individual fiber optic connector housing and/or said first plug frame upon insertion of said first individual fiber optic connector housing into said channel, such engagement serving to pivot said first shutter to said second position, and said second portion being positioned behind said first portion and substantially aligned with said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel, said second portion being sufficiently distant from said first portion so as to avoid contacting said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel.

Claim 14

A fiber optic receptacle, comprising: a receptacle housing including first and second ends, said first end being adapted to receive at least a first bore of a first optical subassembly, said second end including first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel walls which, in part, define a channel adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said first ferrule with said first bore; a first shutter which is pivotably connected to said first wall adjacent said second end; and first spring means, contacting said first shutter and said first wall, for biasing said first shutter to a first position, transvers to said first wall, where said first shutter serves to block light emanating from said first bore, said first shutter also being pivotable to a second position, where it blocks relatively little light emanating from said first bore, Characterized In That said first shutter includes first and second interconnected portions, said first portion being adapted for engagement by said first individual fiber optic connector housing and/or said first plug frame upon insertion of said first individual fiber optic connector housing into said channel, such engagement serving to pivot said first shutter to said second position, and said second portion being positioned behind said first portion and substantially aligned with said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel, said second portion being sufficiently distant from said first portion so as to avoid contacting said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel.

Claim 15

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 12, further comprising: a second shutter, spaced from, but substantially longitudinally aligned with, said first shutter, said second shutter being pivotably connected to said second wall; and second spring means, contacting said second shutter and said second wall, for biasing said second shutter to a third position, transverse to said second wall, where said second shutter serves to block light emanating from said first bore, said second shutter also being pivotable to a fourth position where it blocks relatively little light emanating from said first bore.

Claim 16

The fiber optic receptacle of claim 13, wherein said second shutter includes third and fourth interconnected portions, said third portion being adapted for engagement by said first individual fiber optic connector housing and/or said first plug frame upon insertion of said first individual fiber optic connector housing into said channel, such engagement serving to pivot said second shutter to said fourth position, and said fourth portion being positioned behind said third portion and substantially aligned with said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel, said fourth portion being sufficiently distant from said third portion so as to avoid contacting said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel.

Claim 17

An optical assembly, comprising: a first housing which contains a substrate bearing semiconductor integrated circuit devices; a second housing, connected to said first housing and containing at least a first optical subassembly which is electrically connected to one or more of said semiconductor integrated circuit devices, said first optical subassembly including a first bore which protrudes from said second housing and is adapted to receive an optical fiber-containing ferrule; a receptacle housing, connected to said second housing, including first and second ends, which first end receives said first bore and which second end is adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; and at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said first ferrule with said first bore, Characterized In That said receptacle housing and said first pair of clips are of integral construction.

Claim 18

An optical assembly, comprising: a first housing which contains a substrate bearing semiconductor integrated circuit devices; a second housing, connected to said first housing and containing at least a first optical subassembly which is electrically connected to one or more of said semiconductor integrated circuit devices, said first optical subassembly including a first bore which protrudes from said second housing and is adapted to receive an optical fiber-containing ferrule; a receptacle housing, connected to said second housing, including first and second ends, which first end receives said first bore and which second end is adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; and at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby align said first ferrule with said first bore, Characterized In That said receptacle housing and said first pair of clips are of integral construction.

Claim 19

The optical assembly of claim 15, further comprising at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing extending into said second end of said receptacle housing into engagement with said first pair of clips, said first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule which is received by said first bore.

Claim 20

An optical assembly, comprising: a first housing which contains a substrate bearing semiconductor integrated circuit devices; a second housing, connected to said first housing and containing at least a first optical subassembly which is electrically connected to one or more of said semiconductor integrated circuit devices, said first optical subassembly including a first bore which protrudes from said second housing and is adapted to receive an optical fiber-containing ferrule; a receptacle housing, connected to said second housing, including first and second ends, said first end serving to receive said first bore and said second end including first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel walls which, in part, define a channel adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby substantially align said first ferrule with said first bore; a first shutter which is pivotably connected to said first wall adjacent said second end; and first spring means, contacting said first shutter and said first wall, for biasing said first shutter to a first position, transverse to said first wall, where said first shutter serves to block light emanating from said first bore, said first shutter also being pivotable to a second position, where it blocks relatively little light emanating from said first bore, Characterized In That said first shutter includes first and second interconnected portions, said first portion being adapted for engagement by said first individual fiber optic connector housing and/or said first plug frame upon insertion of said first individual fiber optic connector housing into said channel, such engagement serving to pivot said first shutter to said second position, and said second portion being positioned behind said first portion and substantially aligned with said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel, said second portion being sufficiently distant from said first portion so as to avoid contacting said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel.

Claim 21

An optical assembly, comprising: a first housing which contains a substrate bearing semiconductor integrated circuit devices; a second housing, connected to said first housing and containing at least a first optical subassembly which is electrically connected to one or more of said semiconductor integrated circuit devices, said first optical subassembly including a first bore which protrudes from said second housing and is adapted to receive an optical fiber-containing ferrule; a receptacle housing, connected to said second housing, including first and second ends, said first end serving to receive said first bore and said second end including first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel walls which, in part, define a channel adapted to receive at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule; at least a first pair of clips extending from said first end, which first pair is adapted to engage said first individual fiber optic connector housing and thereby substantially align said first ferrule with said first bore; a first shutter which is pivotably connected to said first wall adjacent said second end; and first spring means, contacting said first shutter and said first wall, for biasing said first shutter to a first position, transverse to said first wall, where said first shutter serves to block light emanating from said first bore, said first shutter also being pivotable to a second position, where it blocks relatively little light emanating from said first bore, Characterized In That said first shutter includes first and second interconnected portions, said first portion being adapted for engagement by said first individual fiber optic connector housing and/or said first plug frame upon insertion of said first individual fiber optic connector housing into said channel, such engagement serving to pivot said first shutter to said second position, and said second portion being positioned behind said first portion and substantially aligned with said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel, said second portion being sufficiently distant from said first portion so as to avoid contacting said first ferrule when said first individual fiber optic connector housing is inserted into said channel.

Claim 22

The optical assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least a first individual fiber optic connector housing extending into said channel into engagement with said first pair of clips, said first individual fiber optic connector housing containing a first plug frame which includes a first optical fiber-containing ferrule which is received by said first bore.