Fiber optic connector with self-closing shutter

摘要

An optical connector is disclosed which includes self-closing shutters to protect the optical contacts from environmental contamination when male and female portions of the connector are disconnected. The optical connector is comprised of male and female portions having means for permitting interconnection while the male and female portions are slightly axially misaligned. Male and female portions of the optical connector each contain one or more spring loaded optical contacts protected by a shutter mechanism and having a body with a spring loaded shutter cap and a shutter disk. The shutter disk contains two apertures which can be made to align with two apertures in the cap of the shutter when the shutter is rotated to an open position. The optical contacts contained in each portion of the optical connector are exposed for interconnection when the male and female portions of the optical connector are joined together. Means are also provided to ensure that the optical connection between contacts contained in the male and female portion of the connector is established even if there is slight misalignment between the male and female portions of the optical connector.