Patent ID: 8579518

Claim:
An optical receptacle for receiving a corresponding optical connector, the optical receptacle comprising: a receptacle housing comprising a connector port disposed at an end of the receptacle housing and a receptacle pathway disposed between the end of the receptacle housing and a mating wall, wherein the connector port receives the corresponding optical connector; an optical waveguide disposed at the mating wall defining a receptacle optical path within the receptacle housing; a positionable shutter assembly extending from the end of the receptacle housing having the connector port towards the mating wall, the positionable shutter assembly having a closed position and an open position with respect to the receptacle optical path, and comprising a cleaning member positioned on a support surface of the positionable shutter assembly, wherein: when the corresponding optical connector is not positioned in the receptacle pathway, the positionable shutter assembly is biased to the closed position such that the cleaning member contacts or is proximate to the optical waveguide and the positionable shutter assembly is disposed in the receptacle pathway; and when the corresponding optical connector is positioned in the receptacle pathway, the positionable shutter assembly is biased to the open position such that the cleaning member is not positioned within the receptacle optical path.