Patent ID: 6776533
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber connector system comprising a first connector that includes a first housing, and a first fiber block with first passages and a plurality of first optic fiber termini each lying in one of said first passages, said system also including a second connector that includes a second housing, a second fiber block with second passages, and a plurality of second optical fiber termini each lying in one of said second passages, at least one of said connectors having at least one termini spring that can be deflected and that allows the corresponding termini to resiliently deflect along the corresponding passages when tips of the termini abut, said connectors being mateable by moving said second connector forwardly toward said first connector, wherein:said first connector has a pair of first latches and said second fiber block has a pair of second latches, said connectors having guides that guide said connectors as they move together to align said latches, one of said pairs of latches being deflectable so said second latches can move rearward of said first latches by deflection of the deflectable latches as said connectors mate; said second housing being slideable forwardly relative to said second fiber block when said first and second blocks substantially abut, and said second housing having latch blockers that prevent said deflectable latches from deflecting out of engagement with the other pair of latches when the second housing has moved forward relative to the second fiber block after the second latches pass the first latches during mating.