Alignment of a connector interface

A carriage, comprising:

• a first retention bracket including a first slot;
• a second retention bracket including a second slot;
• a translating socket slidingly supported between the first retention bracket and the second retention bracket, the translating socket comprising a first tab portion extending into the first slot and a second tab portion extending into the second slot to permit translation of the translating socket with respect to the first and second retention brackets, wherein the translation is confined within a floating plane;
• a carriage connector having a housing removably couplable to an aperture in the translating socket;
• and
• a biasing element positioned between the first retention bracket and the translating socket, wherein the biasing element is configured to resist translation of the translating socket, and wherein a direction of insertion of an instrument connector into the carriage connector is normal to the floating plane.

A floating optical fiber connector interface, comprising:

• a retention bracket including a slot;
• a translating socket slidingly associated with the retention bracket, the translating socket comprising:
• a tab portion extending into the slot to permit translation of the translating socket with respect to the retention bracket, wherein the translation is confined within a floating plane;
• and
• an aperture configured to receive a carriage optical fiber connector;
• and
• a biasing element positioned between the retention bracket and the translating socket, wherein the biasing element is configured to resist translation of the translating socket.