Fiber optic receptacle

A fiber optic receptacle comprising:

• a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through opposed first and second ends, the receptacle housing adapted to mate with a corresponding fiber optic plug;
• an adapter sleeve floatingly disposed within the internal cavity defined by the receptacle housing, the adapter sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passage opening through opposed first and second ends for receiving and aligning respective ferrules;
• and
• an alignment stop disposed in a fixed position within the receptacle housing, the alignment stop adapted to engage an alignment feature of the corresponding fiber optic plug to insure alignment of the fiber optic plug with the fiber optic receptacle, the alignment stop also adapted to contact a stop feature of the fiber optic plug to thereby limit insertion of the fiber optic plug within the fiber optic receptacle.

A fiber optic plug and receptacle assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic plug comprising:
• a plug body;
• and
• a fiber optic connector disposed within the plug body and comprising a connector housing and a ferrule at least partially disposed within the connector housing;
• and
• a fiber optic receptacle for mating with the fiber optic plug, the fiber optic receptacle comprising:
• a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through opposed first and second ends;
• and
• an adapter sleeve floatingly disposed within the internal cavity defined by the receptacle housing, the adapter sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passage for receiving a portion of the ferrule of the fiber optic plug
• wherein one of the fiber optic plug and the fiber optic receptacle comprises an alignment stop and the other of the fiber optic plug and the fiber optic receptacle comprises an alignment feature and a stop feature, wherein the alignment stop engages the alignment feature to insure alignment of the fiber optic plug and the fiber optic receptacle, and wherein the alignment stop is also adapted to contact the stop feature to thereby limit insertion of the fiber optic plug within the fiber optic receptacle.

A universal fiber optic receptacle comprising:

• a receptacle housing extending lengthwise between opposed first end and second end;
• an adapter retainer connected to the receptacle housing proximate the first end thereof, the adapter retainer and the receptacle housing cooperating to define an internal cavity sized to receive any one of an adapter sleeve selected from a group comprising an MTP adapter sleeve, an SC adapter sleeve, an MTRJ adapter sleeve, an LC adapter sleeve, a Unicam adapter sleeve, a DC adapter sleeve, and an SC-DC adapter sleeve;
• and
• an adapter sleeve disposed within the internal cavity defined by the adapter retainer and the receptacle housing, the adapter sleeve selected from the group comprising an MTP adapter sleeve, an SC adapter sleeve, an MTRJ adapter sleeve, an LC adapter sleeve, a Unicam adapter sleeve, a DC adapter sleeve, and an SC-DC adapter sleeve, the adapter sleeve defining a lengthwise extending passage opening through opposed first and second ends for receiving and floatingly aligning a front face of a plug ferrule with a front face of a receptacle ferrule.

An adapter sleeve for a fiber optic receptacle comprising;

• a sleeve member extending lengthwise between a first end and a second end, the sleeve member defining an internal passageway extending between the first and second ends and sized to permit a plug ferrule and a receptacle ferrule to be inserted into the sleeve member in an aligned relationship via the first end and second end, respectively;
• and
• a latch mechanism proximate the second end of the sleeve member for mechanically engaging the receptacle ferrule,
• wherein the first end of the sleeve member is free of any latch mechanism.