Optical data center connector systems, fiber optic plug assemblies, and fiber optic receptacle assemblies

An optical cable assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic plug assembly comprising:
• a plug body comprising an insertion surface and a plug body opening at the insertion surface, wherein the plug body defines a ferrule enclosure coupled in free space to the plug body opening;
• a ferrule element disposed within the ferrule enclosure of the plug body, the ferrule element comprising:
• a mechanical coupling face configured to contact a mated mechanical coupling face of a mated receptacle ferrule;
• an optical interface surface;
• and
• a plurality of lens elements at the optical interface surface, wherein the ferrule element is disposed within the ferrule enclosure such that the optical interface surface is recessed with respect to the insertion surface of the plug body;
• and
• a fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the ferrule element and optically coupled to the plurality of lens elements.

A fiber optic receptacle assembly comprising:

• a receptacle housing comprising an insertion surface and a receptacle opening at the insertion surface, wherein the receptacle housing defines a ferrule enclosure coupled in free space to the receptacle opening;
• a ferrule element disposed within the ferrule enclosure of the receptacle housing, the ferrule element comprising:
• a rear surface;
• a mechanical coupling face configured to contact a mated mechanical coupling face of a mated plug ferrule;
• an optical interface surface;
• and
• a plurality of lens elements at the optical interface surface, wherein the ferrule element is disposed within the ferrule enclosure such that the optical interface surface is recessed with respect to the receptacle opening of the receptacle housing;
• and
• a bias member positioned within the ferrule enclosure between the rear surface of the ferrule element and an interior wall of the receptacle housing, wherein the ferrule element translates away from the receptacle opening when the fiber optic receptacle assembly is coupled to a mated fiber optic plug assembly.

An optical data center connector system comprising:

• a fiber optic plug assembly comprising:
• a plug body defining a plug enclosure, the plug body comprising a plug body opening;
• a plug ferrule element positioned within the plug enclosure such that the plug ferrule element is recessed from an insertion surface of the plug body;
• a fiber optic receptacle assembly comprising:
• a receptacle housing defining a receptacle enclosure, the receptacle housing comprising a receptacle opening;
• a receptacle ferrule element positioned within the receptacle enclosure such that the receptacle ferrule element is recessed from a front surface of the plug body;
• wherein:
• each of the plug ferrule element and the receptacle ferrule element comprises an optical interface surface.

An optical data center connector system comprising:

• a fiber optic plug assembly comprising:
• a plug body comprising an insertion surface and a plug body opening at the insertion surface, wherein the plug body defines a plug ferrule enclosure coupled in free space to the plug body opening;
• and
• a plug ferrule element;
• a fiber optic receptacle assembly comprising:
• a receptacle housing comprising a front surface and a receptacle opening at the front surface, wherein the receptacle housing defines a receptacle enclosure coupled in free space to the receptacle opening;
• and
• a receptacle ferrule element disposed within the receptacle enclosure of the receptacle housing;
• wherein:
• each of the plug ferrule element and the receptacle ferrule element comprises:
• a mechanical coupling face configured to contact a mated mechanical coupling face of a mated receptacle ferrule;
• an optical interface surface;
• and
• a plurality of lens elements at the optical interface surface, wherein the optical interface surface is offset from the mechanical coupling face;
• the plug body is positioned within the receptacle enclosure defined by the receptacle housing when the fiber optic plug assembly is mated with the fiber optic receptacle assembly;
• the plug body and the receptacle housing are configured to align the plurality of lens elements of the plug ferrule element with the plurality of lens elements of the receptacle ferrule element;
• the mechanical coupling face of the plug ferrule element contacts the mechanical coupling face of the receptacle ferrule element when the fiber optic plug assembly is mated with the fiber optic receptacle assembly;
• and
• a gap is present between the optical interface surface of the plug ferrule element and the optical interface surface of the receptacle ferrule element when the fiber optic plug assembly is mated with the fiber optic receptacle assembly.