Fiber optic connection system

1. A hybrid fiber optic connector comprising:

a connector body having a transverse cross-sectional shape, the connector body including two generally cylindrical sleeves at a front of the connector body, the two generally cylindrical sleeves each including a separate ferrule mounted therein;

electrical contacts that at least partially mount over the two generally cylindrical sleeves so as to be carried with the connector body; and

an adapter configured to mate with the connector body for optically coupling optical fibers supported by the connector body to responding optical fibers of other optical connectors, wherein the adapter defines a port for receiving the connector body;

wherein a robust active coupler is included with the adapter and not carried with the connector body, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port of the adapter and being configured to retain the connector body within the port.

2. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the robust active coupler is a slide clip, the slide clip including a release tab that is intersected by a reference plane, the release tab being adapted to be manually depressed downwardly to move the slide clip from a coupling position to a non-coupling position.

3. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts are electrically conductive bands.

4. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 2 , wherein the adapter includes a spring that mounts within an elongate pocket defined within the release tab, the spring being configured to bias the slide clip toward the coupling position.

5. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the spring flexes as the release tab is depressed downwardly to move the slide clip from the coupling position to the non-coupling position, when the release tab is released, the elasticity of the spring causes the slide clip to return to the coupling position from the non-coupling position.

6. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 2 , wherein the slide clip includes rails that slide within corresponding channels defined by the adapter, and wherein the slide clip defines an opening for receiving the hybrid fiber optic connector when the hybrid fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter.

7. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 6 , wherein the slide clip includes retention structures positioned on opposite sides of the reference plane, the retention structures being positioned at major sides of the opening and the retention structures being adapted to engage the connector body on opposite major sides of the connector body.

8. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 7 , wherein each of the retention structures includes a ramp that faces at least partially in an outward direction, and each of the retention structures also includes a retention surface that faces in an inward direction.

9. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 8 , wherein when the hybrid fiber optic connector is inserted axially along a connector insertion axis into the adapter, ramps at side notches of the hybrid fiber optic connector engage the ramps of the retention structures of the adapter.

10. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the adapter includes a spring reaction structure that cooperates with the spring to bias the slide clip toward the coupling position.

11. The hybrid fiber optic connector of claim 10 , wherein the slide clip includes a slot for allowing the spring reaction structure to pass through the slide clip as the slide clip is moved upwardly, wherein contact between the spring reaction structure and the spring prevents the slide clip from being removed downwardly from the adapter.

12. A fiber optic connection system comprising:

a connector body that supports at least one ferrule supporting at least one optical fiber;

a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body;

an environmental seal for providing a seal between the connector body and the fiber optic adapter; and

a robust active coupler included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter and being configured to retain the connector body within the port, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the connector body within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds;

wherein the robust active coupler is slidably movable between a coupling position and non-coupling position.

13. The fiber optic connection system of claim 12 , wherein the robust active coupler engages the connector body at retention locations positioned at opposite sides of the connector body, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the connector body within the port when in the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to allow removal of the connector body from the port when in the non-coupling position.

14. The fiber optic connection system of claim 13 , wherein the robust active coupler is a slide clip, wherein the slide clip is spring biased toward the coupling position by a spring.

15. The fiber optic connection system of claim 12 , wherein the connector body has a transverse cross-sectional shape, wherein the transverse cross-sectional shape of the connector body has a small form-factor with a maximum width less than 2 centimeters along the major axis and a maximum height less than 1.5 centimeters along a minor axis.

16. The fiber optic connection system of claim 14 , further comprising a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the bias of the spring from the coupling position to the non-coupling position while the connector body is being inserted in the port, wherein the spring returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the connector body has been fully inserted in the port.

17. A fiber optic connection system comprising:

a connector body that supports at least two ferrules positioned along a major axis, the at least two ferrules each supporting at least one optical fiber;

a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body; and

a slide clip included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the slide clip being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter between a coupling position and non-coupling position, the slide clip being configured to retain the connector body within the port when in the coupling position, and the slide clip being configured to allow removal of the connector body from the port when in the non-coupling position;

wherein when the slide clip is in the coupling position, the slide clip engages the connector body at retention locations positioned at opposite sides of the connector body, and wherein the slide clip is spring biased toward the coupling position by a spring.

18. The fiber optic connection system of claim 17 , wherein a transverse cross-sectional shape of the connector body has a small form-factor with a maximum width less than 2 centimeters along the major axis and a maximum height less than 1.5 centimeters along a minor axis.

19. The fiber optic connection system of claim 17 , further comprising a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the slide clip against the bias of the spring from the coupling position to the non-coupling position while the connector body is being inserted in the port, wherein the spring returns the spring clip to the coupling position once the connector body has been fully inserted in the port.

20. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a wall;

a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve for receiving a ferrule of a fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler slidable with respect to the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the adapter housing to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position; and

a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position when the fiber optic connector is being inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the fiber optic connector is moved when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the fiber optic connector.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the ramp arrangement includes at least one ramp positioned at the connector opening of the robust active coupler.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the adapter includes a spring providing the spring bias, wherein the spring returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

24. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a wall having an outer side and an opposite inner side;

a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall and the adapter housing defining a port for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve being positioned to co-axially align a ferrule of the hardened fiber optic connector with a corresponding ferrule of a corresponding connector when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler that is slidably movable relative to the adapter housing and is configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position; and

a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position when the hardened fiber optic connector is being inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the hardened fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the hardened fiber optic connector is moved when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the hardened fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the hardened fiber optic connector.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the ramp arrangement includes at least one ramp positioned at the connector opening of the robust active coupler.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the adapter includes a spring providing the spring bias, wherein the spring returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the hardened fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

28. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a wall;

a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve for receiving a ferrule of a fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler slidable with respect to the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the adapter housing to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position; and

wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the fiber optic connector is moved when the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the fiber optic connector.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the robust active coupler includes at least one ramp positioned at the connector opening for causing the robust active coupler to move from the coupling position to the non-coupling position to accommodate reception of the fiber optic connector in the adapter housing as the fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.

31. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a wall having an outer side and an opposite inner side;

a connection system including an adapter having an adapter housing mounted to the wall and the adapter housing defining a port for receiving a hardened fiber optic connector, the adapter including a ferrule alignment sleeve being positioned to coaxially align a ferrule of the hardened fiber optic connector with a corresponding ferrule of a corresponding connector when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, the connection system further including a robust active coupler that is slidably movable relative to the adapter housing and is configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the hardened fiber optic connector within the adapter housing so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds, the robust active coupler being slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, the robust active coupler being spring biased toward the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to be manually pressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position; and

wherein the adapter defines a connector insertion axis along which the hardened fiber optic connector is moved when the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the hardened fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the hardened fiber optic connector.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the robust active coupler includes at least one ramp positioned at the connector opening for causing the robust active coupler to move from the coupling position to the non-coupling position to accommodate reception of the hardened fiber optic connector in the adapter housing as the hardened fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter housing.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the hardened fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the adapter housing.