Patent ID: 8801297
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for blind mating multi-optical fiber connector modules, the system comprising: a first structure; a plug mounted on the first structure, the plug including a plug housing having first passive coarse alignment features thereon; a plurality of first multi-optical fiber connector modules held in slots formed in the plug housing, each of the first multi-optical fiber connector module having first fine passive alignment features thereon, each of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules being configured to mechanically and optically couple to ends of a plurality of first optical fibers; a second structure; a receptacle mounted on the second structure, the receptacle having second passive coarse alignment features thereon; and a plurality of second multi-optical fiber connector modules held in slots formed in the receptacle, each of the second multi-optical fiber connector modules having second fine passive alignment features thereon, each of the second multi-optical fiber connector modules being configured to mechanically and optically couple to ends of a plurality of second optical fibers, and wherein the first and second structures are mechanically engaged with one another such that the first passive coarse alignment features of the plug are engaged with the second passive coarse alignment features of the receptacle, and wherein the engagement of the first and second passive coarse alignment features causes the first passive fine alignment features of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules to engage the second passive fine alignment features of respective second multi-optical fiber connector modules such that each of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules is engaged with, and optically aligned with, a respective second multi-optical fiber connector module.