Connector system with physical security feature

Abstract

A multifiber connector comprising a rectangular-shaped ferrule having a plurality of fibers, alignment structure positioned on a front face of the ferrule, the alignment structure being at least one of alignment pins and pin-receiving holes, a housing defining a ferrule opening, the ferrule opening sized and shaped to accommodate disposition of the ferrule therein, wherein when disposed within the ferrule opening the ferrule extends forward from a front face of the housing; the housing having an outer periphery, wherein the outer periphery is defined by at least a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls, each of the side walls defining a recess having a curved surface, each recess positioned at an intermediate point along the height of the first and second side walls, and a key on the outer periphery of the housing on at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall, the key being offset to one side of a centerline bisecting the connector into first and second side portions, wherein the key prevents the multifiber connector from mating with a standard adapter which would otherwise mate with the multifiber connector but for the location of the key.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A connector system comprising:
 a) an MT-RJ plug comprising:   a ferrule;   an alignment member positioned on a front face of the ferrule, the alignment member being at least one of alignment pins and pin-receiving holes;   a housing defining a ferrule opening, the ferrule opening sized and shaped to accommodate the ferrule therein, wherein when within the ferrule opening, the ferrule defines a forwardmost surface of the MT-RJ plug excluding any alignment pins on the ferrule; the housing having an outer periphery, wherein the outer periphery is defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls; and   a key positioned on at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall and being offset to one side of a centerline bisecting the MT-RJ plug into first and second side portions, wherein the key is defined at least in part by a front face of the housing,   wherein the MT-RJ plug is dimensioned such that X 2 +B/2<A/2−W,   wherein X 2  is a distance from the centerline bisecting the MT-RJ plug into the first and second side portions to a centerline of the key,   B is a width of the key on the MT-RJ plug,   A is a width of a portion of the MT-RJ plug that is to be received into a MT-RJ receptacle, and   W is a thickness of one of the side walls; and   b) an adaptor having the MT-RJ receptacle, the MT-RJ receptacle comprising:   a receptacle housing defining an opening sized to receive the MT-RJ plug;   a keying element positioned on the receptacle housing, the keying element sized and positioned to mate with the key when the MT-RJ plug is guided into the housing of the MT-RJ plug; and   wherein the MT-RJ plug is configured to mate with the adaptor having a keying element,   wherein the keying element corresponds to and mates with the key.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein each of the first and second side walls of the MT-RJ plug includes a recess, each recess positioned along an intermediate portion along a height of the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the MT-RJ plug and MT-RJ receptacle are dimensioned such that X 1 −C/2+(D−A)+Δ≤F/2,
 wherein X 1  is a distance from the center of the opening of the MT-RJ receptacle to a center of the keying element, 
 C is a width of the keying element, 
 D is a distance across the opening of the MT-RJ receptacle, 
 Δ. is CL F −CL A    
 wherein the CL A  is the centerline of a width of the MT-RJ plug and 
 CL F  is a centerline of the ferrule within the MT-RJ plug , and 
 F is a width of the ferrule within the MT-RJ plug . 
 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the key is a projection and the keying element is a slot. 
     
     
         38 . A method of connecting comprising:
 a) providing an MT-RJ plug comprising:
 a ferrule; 
 an alignment member positioned on a front face of the ferrule, the alignment member being at least one of alignment pins and pin-receiving holes; 
 a housing defining a ferrule opening, the ferrule opening sized and shaped to accommodate the ferrule therein, wherein when within the ferrule opening, the ferrule defines a forwardmost surface of the MT-RJ plug excluding any alignment pins on the ferrule; the housing having an outer periphery, wherein the outer periphery is defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls; and 
 a key positioned on at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall and being offset to one side of a centerline bisecting the MT-RJ plug into first and second side portions, wherein the key is defined at least in part by a front face of the housing, 
 wherein the MT-RJ plug is dimensioned such that X 2 +B/2<A/2−W, 
 wherein X 2  is a distance from the centerline bisecting the MT-RJ plug into the first and second side portions to a centerline of the key, 
 B is a width of the key on the MT-RJ plug, 
 A is a width of a portion of the MT-RJ plug that is to be received into a MT-RJ receptacle, and 
 W is a thickness of one of the side walls; and 
 b) mating an adaptor with the MT-RJ plug; the adaptor having the MT-RJ receptacle, the MT-RJ receptacle comprising: a receptacle housing defining an opening sized to receive the MT-RJ plug; a keying element positioned on the receptacle housing, the keying element sized and positioned to mate with the key when the MT-RJ plug is guided into the housing of the MT-RJ plug. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the step of mating includes mating a projection as the key with a slot being the keying element.