Patent ID: 7553091

Claim:
A multi-fiber connector module comprising: a connector module housing having a connector module locking mechanism to enable the connector module housing to be interlocked with a receptacle locking mechanism of a panel receptacle in a floating configuration that allows the connector module housing to move slightly within the panel receptacle, the connector module locking mechanism including at least a air of connector module locking features that are configured to interlock with a respective pair of receptacle locking features of the receptacle locking mechanism and wherein the floating configuration is due at least in part to an air gap that exists above the connector module housing and an air gap that exists below the connector module housing when the pair of connector module locking features is interlocked with the respective pair of receptacle locking features, the air gaps allowing the connector module housing to move slightly into the air gaps when corresponding forces are applied to the connector module housing in directions that are generally toward the air gaps; and a cover secured to the connector module housing, the cover holding ends of respective optical fibers in optical alignment with respective lenses, the ends of the optical fibers being cloven and left in as-cloven conditions such that respective end faces of the respective ends have a roughness and angle that result when the respective fibers are cloven, and wherein the cloven ends of the fibers are covered with a refractive index-matching material.