Keyed fibre optic connector
First Claim
1. A receptacle for providing selective interconnection with one of a set of connector plugs, each of the connector plugs in the set comprising a cavity having a unique cavity keying geometry formed in a forward end thereof and a fibre optic ferrule disposed within the cavity, the receptacle comprising:
- at least one receptacle socket comprising a raised ferrule receiving boss on a rear wall thereof, said boss having a shape corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of unique boss keying geometries, each unique cavity keying geometry corresponding to one of said unique boss keying geometries; and
wherein when said selected boss keying geometry corresponds to the unique cavity keying geometry, the connector plug can be inserted into said receptacle socket as said boss is received in the cavity and the ferrule inserted into said boss.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keying system for providing selective interconnection between a receptacle socket and a connector plug terminating an optic fibre, the connector plug adapted for insertion into the receptacle socket. The keying system comprises a raised boss configured to one of a plurality of predefined boss keying geometries and a cavity configured to one of a plurality of predefined cavity keying geometries. The boss is either in one of the receptacle socket or on a forward end of the connector plug and the cavity is formed in the other of the receptacle socket or the forward end of the connector plug. At least one of the predefined boss keying geometries matches at least one of the predefined cavity keying geometries. When the boss keying geometry matches the cavity keying geometry, the boss can be inserted into the cavity thereby interconnecting the connector plug with the receptacle socket. In this manner correct interconnections between connectors and other connectors or sockets can be insured thereby providing an enhanced level of security.
184 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A receptacle for providing selective interconnection with one of a set of connector plugs, each of the connector plugs in the set comprising a cavity having a unique cavity keying geometry formed in a forward end thereof and a fibre optic ferrule disposed within the cavity, the receptacle comprising:
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at least one receptacle socket comprising a raised ferrule receiving boss on a rear wall thereof, said boss having a shape corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of unique boss keying geometries, each unique cavity keying geometry corresponding to one of said unique boss keying geometries; and wherein when said selected boss keying geometry corresponds to the unique cavity keying geometry, the connector plug can be inserted into said receptacle socket as said boss is received in the cavity and the ferrule inserted into said boss. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A connector terminating an optic fibre for providing selective interconnection with one of a set of receptacle sockets, each of the receptacle sockets in the set comprising a raised ferrule receiving boss on a rear wall thereof having a unique boss keying geometry, the connector comprising:
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a connector plug adapted for insertion into the set of receptacle sockets and comprising a cavity, said cavity having a selected one of a plurality of unique cavity keying geometries formed in a forward end thereof and a fibre optic ferrule disposed within said cavity, each unique boss keying geometry corresponding to a respective one of said unique cavity keying geometries; and wherein when the unique boss keying geometry corresponds to said selected cavity keying geometry, said connector plug can be inserted into the receptacle socket as the boss is received in said cavity and said ferrule inserted into the boss. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification