| 摘要 |
Systems and methods are provided that enable a first bank, or array, of multi-optical fiber connector modules disposed in a plug that is mounted on a first structure to be simultaneously blind mated with a second bank of multi-optical fiber connector modules disposed on a receptacle that is mounted on a second structure. As the first and second structures are brought into engagement with one another, passive coarse alignment features on the plug and on the receptacle coarsely align the respective connector modules with one another. Then, as the respective connector modules begin to come into contact with one another, passive fine alignment features on the respective connector modules engage one another to finely align the respective connector modules such that their optical pathways are brought into precise optical alignment with one another. |
| 主权项 |
1. A system for blind mating multi-optical fiber connector modules, the system comprising:
a first structure; a plug mounted on the first structure, the plug including a plug housing having first passive coarse alignment features thereon; a plurality of first multi-optical fiber connector modules held in slots formed in the plug housing, each of the first multi-optical fiber connector module having first fine passive alignment features thereon, each of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules being configured to mechanically and optically couple to ends of a plurality of first optical fibers; a second structure; a receptacle mounted on the second structure, the receptacle having second passive coarse alignment features thereon; and a plurality of second multi-optical fiber connector modules held in slots formed in the receptacle, each of the second multi-optical fiber connector modules having second fine passive alignment features thereon, each of the second multi-optical fiber connector modules being configured to mechanically and optically couple to ends of a plurality of second optical fibers, and wherein the first and second structures are mechanically engaged with one another such that the first passive coarse alignment features of the plug are engaged with the second passive coarse alignment features of the receptacle, and wherein the engagement of the first and second passive coarse alignment features causes the first passive fine alignment features of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules to engage the second passive fine alignment features of respective second multi-optical fiber connector modules such that each of the first multi-optical fiber connector modules is engaged with, and optically aligned with, a respective second multi-optical fiber connector module. |
