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

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.

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.

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.