Patent ID: 7708474

Claim:
An optical connector assembly comprising: a duplex fiber optic connector comprising an integrally-formed connector housing comprising: a top portion and a bottom portion connected via a flexible hinge and defining a pair of channels for receiving a transmitter fiber optic cable and a receiver fiber optic cable at a first end of the integrally-formed connector housing; and a pair of ferrules disposed on a second end of the integrally-formed connector housing opposite the first end, one ferrule for receiving a first fiber core associated with the transmitter fiber optic cable and the other ferrule for receiving a second fiber core associated with the receiver fiber optic cable; and an optical transceiver module comprising: an integrally-formed transceiver housing having opposing top and bottom surfaces and a front surface perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces, the front surface having a duplex front port with a pair of alignment holes for receiving the pair of ferrules from the duplex fiber optic connector in a direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces, the duplex front port having an upper flexible retaining element positioned on the front surface adjacent the top surface and a lower flexible retaining element positioned on the front surface adjacent the bottom surface, the upper and lower flexible retaining elements adapted to vertically flex relative to the top and bottom surfaces and thereby retain the pair of ferrules; an opto-electronic assembly contained within the transceiver housing; and an electrical interface positioned on and extending away from the bottom surface of the transceiver housing.