System and method for limiting protrusion of a fiber-optic cable from a mounting structure

A system for use with a fiber-optic cable having a minimum bending radius and a backplane having a first and a second surface, said cable being attached to a fiber-optic connector, said cable being routed from said backplane and between said first surface and an adjacent structure, said system limiting a protrusion of said cable from said backplane in a direction substantially normal to said first surface, said system comprising:

• an adapter having an adapter abutment surface;
• and
• a support having a first and a second abutment surface, said first abutment surface being coupled to said abutment surface of said adapter, said second abutment surface being coupled to said second surface of said backplane, wherein:
• said fiber-optic connector when mounted in said support will be disposed at a distance from said first surface of said backplane, said distance being at least the length of said connector;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of said cable will have a curvature at least equal to said minimum bending radius, said curvature extending through an arc of at least 90 degrees, whereby said cable protrusion is about equal to said minimum bending radius and said adjacent structure can be positioned at a distance from said first surface about equal to said minimum bending radius.

A method for use with a fiber-optic cable coupled to a fiber-optic connector, said cable being routed from a backplane having a first and a second surface, said method for limiting a protrusion of said cable from said backplane in a direction substantially normal to said first surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• mounting said connector at a distance from said second surface;
• routing said cable from said connector through said backplane;
• and
• bending a portion of said cable that extends beyond said first surface so that said portion has a curvature at least equal to a minimum bending radius of said cable, said curvature extending through an arc of at least 90 degrees, whereby said cable protrusion is not greater than said minimum bending radius.

A fiber-optic connector system, comprising:

• a first cable having a first mating end and at least one optical fiber;
• a second cable having a second mating end and at least one optical fiber;
• a circuit substrate having an opening therein, said first cable extending through said opening;
• an adapter receiving and aligning said first and second mating ends;
• and
• a standoff secured to said circuit substrate and said adapter for locating said adapter away from said substrate by a distance substantially equal to or greater than a length of at least one of said first and second mating ends so that a substantial entirety of said first mating end and a substantial entirety of said second mating end are located on a same side of said circuit substrate.

A connector system, comprising:

• a circuit substrate;
• and
• a fiber optic cable assembly mounted to said circuit substrate, including:
• a fiber optic cable, having:
• a first portion with a longitudinal axis;
• a second portion with a longitudinal axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said first portion;
• and
• a curved portion joining said first and second portions;
• and
• a connector secured to an end of said first portion of said fiber optic cable, wherein said second portion is spaced a distance from said connector that is greater than a distance between said second portion and said circuit substrate.