There is provided an optical connector-incorporating plug properly assembled such that an optical fiber taken out from an end portion of an optical cable can have a fixed length. The optical connector-incorporating plug of the invention includes: a cable insertion component having an insertion hole in which an optical cable is inserted with an optical fiber being taken out from a cable end portion of the optical cable; a tubular member in which the cable end portion and the optical fiber are placed and in which the cable insertion component is fitted; a hole formed at a peripheral wall of the tubular member to check at least one of the cable end portion and the optical fiber in the tubular member; and a surrounding member mounted to the tubular member to surround the portion of the tubular member where the cable insertion component is fitted, thereby covering the hole.

A coupling unit includes a light coupling element comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides. One or more grooves are provided at the attachment area. Each groove is configured to receive an optical waveguide and defined by a bottom surface, a first region, a second region, and an opening. The first region is defined between the bottom surface and the second region. The first region in cross section has substantially parallel sidewalls separated by a spacing. The second region is disposed between the first region and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than the spacing.

Fiber optic connectors having a sealing membrane such as a foil or the like disposed on the front end of the connector housing for inhibiting dirt, debris or dust from reaching a ferrule end face are disclosed. The fiber optic connectors may have one or more ferrules with a mating end face that is located rearward of a front end of a connector housing of the fiber optic connector. The sealing membrane is disposed on the front end about a perimeter of the connector housing for inhibiting contaminants from reaching the one or more mating end faces of the respective ferrules until the fiber optic connector is desired to be mated. The sealing membrane is quick and easy to remove and/or pierce, thereby allowing optical mating of the fiber optic connector while providing single-use contaminant protection beforehand.

An assembly having a protective part including a cap or a plug, a fiber optic component adapted to mate with the protective part and a lanyard. The lanyard has a first end attached to the protective part and a second end attached to the fiber optic component. One of the first and second ends of the lanyard includes a loop defined by a loop member. The loop has a plurality of undulations. The undulations are moveable between a first state and a second state. The undulations are at least partially straightened in a circumferential orientation as the undulations move from the first state to the second state. An inner cross-dimension of the loop is larger when the undulations are in the second state as compared to the first state, and wherein a resiliency of the loop biases the undulations toward the first state.

A fiber optic alignment device includes a first and a second alignment block and a first and a second gel block. A fiber passage extends from a first end to a second end of the fiber optic alignment device. The fiber passage is adapted to receive a first optical fiber through the first end and a second optical fiber through the second end. An intermediate portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first and the second ends. The intermediate portion is adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks. A first portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The first portion extends between the first alignment block and the first gel block. A second portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the second end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The second portion extends between the second alignment block and the second gel block. End portions of the first and the second optical fibers may be cleaned when slid between the alignment blocks and the gel blocks. The fiber passage may include an undulating portion.

A ferrule-based fiber optic connectors having a connector assembly with a ferrule insertion stop for limiting the insertion of a ferrule into a ferrule sleeve are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector comprising a connector assembly, ferrule insertion stop, a connector sleeve assembly and a female coupling housing. The connector assembly comprises a ferrule and a resilient member for biasing the ferrule forward and the connector sleeve assembly comprises a housing and a ferrule sleeve, where the ferrule of the connector assembly is at least partially disposed in the ferrule sleeve when assembled. The ferrule insertion stop limits the depth that the ferrule may be inserted into the ferrule sleeve.

A multi-fiber ferrule has a main body with a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion includes a top cut-out therein to form a first forward facing surface to engage a housing of a fiber optic connector. The top cut-out extends rearwardly from the front end. The bottom portion also has a bottom cut-out portion forming a second forward facing surface to engage the housing of the fiber optic connector, the bottom cut-out also extending rearwardly from the front end. The multi-fiber ferrule also includes an end face at a front end of the main body, and a rear face at a rear end of the main body. There is a rear central opening that extends into the main body from the rear end face and configured to receive at least three optical fibers.

A fiber optic adapter includes a first side wall (110), a second side wall (112) opposite the first side wall, a top wall (114), and a bottom wall (116) opposite the top wall. A cavity (10) is defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall, and an optical fiber alignment device (20) is situated in the cavity. The top wall (114) has an opening (117) therein, and a cover (118) is configured to selectively close the opening.

Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises a housing and a multifiber ferrule. The housing comprises a longitudinal passageway between a rear end and a front end, and a rear portion of the housing comprises a keying portion and at least one locking feature integrally formed in the rear portion of the housing.

Fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies comprising a retention body with a portion that fits within a connector housing when assembled and is secured to the connector housing using one or more securing buttons are disclosed. The connector housing comprises at least one connector housing aperture and the retention body comprises at least one retention body securing portion for cooperating with the one or more securing buttons when aligned for assembly. The fiber optic connectors disclosed advantageously allow for the termination of a wide variety of fiber optic cables of various shapes and/or construction for different requirements or preferences. Methods for securing the fiber optic connector to a cable for forming a cable assembly are also disclosed.