Connector system with physical security feature

A connector set of discriminating receptacles and plugs, said connector set comprising:

• a plurality of different receptacles having substantially the same size and a plurality of different plugs having substantially the same size for optically coupling with said different receptacles, said each different plug having a unique first geometry, said each different receptacle having a unique second geometry;
• wherein each unique first geometry corresponds to one, and only one, unique second geometry such that each different receptacle mates with only one of the plurality of different plugs, wherein said plugs and said receptacles having corresponding unique first and second geometries in said connector set are mating pairs;
• wherein each mating pair is marked with a matching visual identification different from said plugs and receptacles having different first and second geometries in said connector set;
• wherein said each plug has a plug housing with a front face and an outer periphery, said outer periphery including at least a plug latch, said each unique first geometry comprising a first keying element in a predefined position at least partially on said plug housing outer periphery;
• and
• wherein said each receptacle has a front face defining an opening and said each receptacle has an interior to receive a different plug, each interior defined at least in part by a back wall having an opening therethrough, said opening having a shape that corresponds to the shape of a ferrule disposed in each plug in said plurality of plugs, the interior including a latch groove for slidingly receiving the latch on the receptacle's respective mating plug, each unique second geometry including a second keying element in a position that blocks insertion of a non-keyed plug housing into said receptacle, and wherein the second keying element of each receptacle is adapted to with said first keying element of each receptacle's respective mating plug.

A family of discriminating receptacles comprising:

• a plurality of discriminating receptacles, each receptacle having a tub for receiving a mating plug, each tub having a plurality of interior walls that extend from a front opening to a back wall defining a second opening recessed from the front opening, each receptacle characterized by substantially the same form factor, each of the receptacles being an optical adapter configured to optically connect two plugs together,
• each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles defining a latch groove along an interior surface of the tub, the latch groove being sized and shaped to accommodate a latch member of the mating plug during sliding insertion of the mating plug into the tub,
• each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles including a keying geometry inside the tub, the keying geometry corresponding to a mating geometry of each receptacle's mating plug, the position of portions of the keying geometry relative to the latch groove in each receptacle being different than in the other discriminating receptacles of the family, wherein the keying geometry on each receptacle is defined at least in part by a keying element that extends at least in part along one of the plurality of interior walls and is positioned between the front opening and the back opening,
• the position of portions of the keying geometry relative to the latch groove of each receptacle defining a discriminating arrangement in that the arrangement physically interferes with and prevents mating with plugs that mate with other receptacles in the family and in that the arrangement interferes with and prevents mating with non-keyed plugs for the form factor of the family,
• wherein each receptacle of the plurality of discriminating receptacles is marked with a visual identification different from other receptacles of the plurality that have different keying geometries.

A receptacle for optically coupling with a plug from a set of plugs, each of the plugs in the set of plugs characterized by the same form factor, but each of the plugs in the set of plugs having a plug housing with a unique outer perimeter geometry and a ferrule disposed within the plug housing, the receptacle comprising:

• a tub having a plurality of walls that define an interior for receiving a plug, said tub interior having a tub interior geometry corresponding to one and only one unique outer perimeter geometry, wherein said tub includes a ferrule guiding portion within the tub interior that assists in positioning a ferrule upon insertion of a plug into the receptacle, wherein said ferrule guiding portion projects from one or more of the plurality of walls into the tub interior and is recessed from a front opening of the tub;
• wherein the tub includes a keying element positioned within said interior, the keying element preventing mating engagement between the receptacle and the plugs of the set of plugs except for the plug having said corresponding unique outer perimeter geometry;
• and
• wherein the receptacle is an adapter configured to optically connect two plugs together.