Patent ID: 7785019

Claim:
A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly, comprising: a fiber optic receptacle comprising at least one optical fiber disposed in a receptacle ferrule arranged along a central longitudinal axis of the receptacle, the receptacle defining a first alignment and keying feature, and a receptacle housing; a fiber optic plug mounted upon an end of a fiber optic cable and includes an outer housing and an alignment sleeve disposed within the outer housing, the fiber optic plug also including a plug ferrule and defining a complimentary second alignment and keying feature for operatively engaging the first alignment and keying feature of the receptacle, the complimentary second alignment and keying feature ensuring that the plug is mated to the receptacle in a predetermined orientation, wherein the first alignment and keying feature of the receptacle comprises at least one key and the complimentary second alignment and keying feature of the plug comprises at least one key slot sized to receive the at least one key and the at least one key comprises a first protruding feature formed on the receptacle housing and the at least one key slot comprises a first slot formed in the alignment sleeve and a second slot formed in the outer housing, and wherein the first protruding feature is simultaneously received within the first slot and the second slot; an alignment sleeve disposed within the fiber optic plug; and at least two electrical connectors respectively provided in the fiber optic receptacle and the fiber optic plug and are respectively disposed radially outward of the receptacle ferrule and the plug ferrule, wherein the at least two electrical connectors of the fiber optic receptacle are in electrical contact with the at least two electrical connectors of the fiber optic plug when the fiber optic plug is mated with the fiber optic receptacle.