Optical fiber connector system

Abstract

A fiber optic connector system including a backplane housing assembly defining at least one longitudinal receiving cavity, the receiving cavity having a frontal opening along a first surface of the backplane member and a rear opening along a second surface of the backplane member; and one or both of a front door covering the frontal opening and a rear door covering the rear opening.

1 . A fiber optic connector system for connecting at least one optical fiber cable mounted near the edge of a planar substrate to a backplane member having a first surface and a second surface, the longitudinal orientation of the optical fibers defining a longitudinal axis, the optical connector system comprising: 
 a backplane housing assembly defining at least one longitudinal receiving cavity, the receiving cavity having a frontal opening along the first surface of the backplane member and a rear opening along the second surface of the backplane member; and    at least one of a front door covering the frontal opening and a rear door covering the rear opening.    
   
   
       2 . The fiber optic connecting system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one door comprises a spring element made of a flexible, conductive material biased towards a closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The fiber optic connecting system of  claim 2  wherein the at least one door is capable of folding to an open position upon insertion of an object into the opening covered by the door and capable of returning to a closed position upon removal of the object from the opening.  
   
   
       4 . The fiber optic connecting system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one door comprises a flat spring metal member hingedly coupled to an opening.  
   
   
       5 . The fiber optic connecting system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one door is made of a conductive metal material.  
   
   
       6 . The fiber optic connecting system of  claim 5  wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel alloys and beryllium/copper alloys.