Detachable fiber optic connector

Claim 1

A low profile detachable fiber optic connector detachably interconnecting an hermetically packaged optic source or sink with a first optic waveguide comprising: an hermetic enclosure enclosing an optic source or sink having a pass-through hole therein, and having first and second retention means extending from said hermetic enclosure exterior, said first and second retention means adjacent to said pass-through hole but on opposite sides thereof; a second optic waveguide having a first termination and a second termination, said second optic waveguide aligned to optically interact with said optic source or sink from said first termination of said second optic waveguide, said second optic waveguide passing through said hermetic enclosure at said pass-through hole; a first ferrule, said first ferrule surrounding said first optic waveguide adjacent a termination of said first optic waveguide; a second ferrule, said second ferrule surrounding said second optic waveguide adjacent said second termination and sealed thereto, said second ferrule further sealed to said pass-through hole so that said second optic waveguide and said second ferrule hermetically seal said pass-through hole; an interfacing mounting frame having a first opening therethrough co-axial with said first and said second ferrules and generally concentric therewith, said interfacing mounting frame further having second and third openings therethrough with said first and second retention means passing therethrough; an alignment sleeve co-axial, generally concentric with and mechanically coupled to said first and second ferrules for maintaining relative alignment therebetween, said alignment sleeve also co-axial and internally concentric with said interfacing mounting frame; a generally flat spring retainer transverse to said first ferrule and having a center section mechanically engaging said first ferrule, said spring retainer further having first and second resilient extensions extending from said center section of said spring retainer also generally transverse to said first ferrule, said first and second resilient extensions each including a hole therethrough through which said retention means passes, said retention means engaging said spring retainer to retain said spring retainer in a spring biased position against said interfacing mounting frame and said first ferrule, thereby retaining said interfacing mounting frame in fixed position relative to said hermetic enclosure and said spring retainer, while simultaneously biasing said second termination of said second optic waveguide against said termination of said first optic waveguide.