Abstract: A multi-piece optical coupling device comprises a first piece that includes one or more first receiving elements configured to receive and secure one or more optical waveguides. The first piece further includes one or more light affecting elements configured to affect one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguides while propagating the light within the optical coupling device. A second piece is separate from the first piece and includes one or more second receiving elements configured to receive the waveguides, the first receiving elements and the second receiving elements configured to align the second piece and the first piece using the optical waveguides. The second piece also includes one or more mating alignment features configured to engage with a mating optical coupling device and to align the optical coupling device with the mating optical coupling device.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic connector configured to mate with a mating hermaphroditic connector includes a latching mechanism configured to mechanically unlatch the connector and a mating connector. The latching mechanism of the connector, when actuated to unlatch the connector and the mating connector, disengages both a retention feature of the connector and a retention feature of the mating connector.

Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.

Abstract: An optical connector (100) includes a housing (112) configured to contain one or more optical ferrules (121) disposed within the housing and accessible through an opening at a mating end of the housing. A cover (130) is disposed at the mating end, the cover configured to be rotated about a pivoting axis between a closed position an open position. An actuator (135, 136) is configured to cause the cover to rotate about the pivoting axis from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: An optical communication subassembly includes one or more optoelectronic devices, one or more optical elements, and a transceiver light coupling unit. Each optical element is configured to change a divergence of the outgoing light relative to a divergence of the incoming light and is spaced apart from and optically aligned with a corresponding optoelectronic device. The transceiver light coupling unit has a mating surface configured for mating with a connector light coupling unit attached to an optical waveguide. A mating direction of the optical light coupling unit forms an angle with the mating surface of the transceiver light coupling unit such that when the connector light coupling unit mates with the transceiver light coupling unit, the angle between the mating direction of the connector light coupling unit and the mating surface of the transceiver light coupling unit causes the optical waveguide to bend.

Abstract: A multi-piece optical coupling device comprises a first piece that includes one or more first receiving elements configured to receive and secure one or more optical waveguides. The first piece further includes one or more light affecting elements configured to affect one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguides while propagating the light within the optical coupling device. A second piece is separate from the first piece and includes one or more second receiving elements configured to receive the waveguides, the first receiving elements and the second receiving elements configured to align the second piece and the first piece using the optical waveguides. The second piece also includes one or more mating alignment features configured to engage with a mating optical coupling device and to align the optical coupling device with the mating optical coupling device.

Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed that includes a housing and first and second attachment areas located in the housing and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction of the connector. The second, but not the first, attachment area is designed to move relative to the housing. The connector further includes an optical waveguide that is permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas. The connector also includes a light coupling unit located in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than the mating direction of the connector. The mating of the connector to the mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.

Abstract: A modular optical connector includes a plurality of coupled optical ferrule support modules. Each optical ferrule support module comprises module connecting features configured to couple each ferrule support module with one or more neighboring ferrule support modules of the plurality of ferrule support modules. One or more optical ferrules are disposed and configured to rotate within the ferrule support module. Each optical ferrule includes a first attachment area configured to attach to one or more optical waveguides. One or more passageways are disposed within the ferrule support module. Each passageway is configured to receive the one or more optical waveguides. The passageway comprises a second attachment area configured to attach to the optical waveguides that are attached to the optical ferrule at the first attachment area. The passageway is dimensioned to constrain the optical waveguides to bend within the housing between the first attachment area and the second attachment area.

Abstract: An optical communication subassembly includes one or more optoelectronic devices, one or more optical elements, and a transceiver light coupling unit. Each optical element is configured to change a divergence of the outgoing light relative to a divergence of the incoming light and is spaced apart from and optically aligned with a corresponding optoelectronic device. The transceiver light coupling unit has a mating surface configured for mating with a connector light coupling unit attached to an optical waveguide. A mating direction of the optical light coupling unit forms an angle with the mating surface of the transceiver light coupling unit such that when the connector light coupling unit mates with the transceiver light coupling unit, the angle between the mating direction of the connector light coupling unit and the mating surface of the transceiver light coupling unit causes the optical waveguide to bend.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed that includes a housing and first and second attachment areas located in the housing and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction of the connector. The second, but not the first, attachment area is designed to move relative to the housing. The connector further includes an optical waveguide that is permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas. The connector also includes a light coupling unit located in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than the mating direction of the connector. The mating of the connector to the mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.

Abstract: A modular optical connector includes a plurality of coupled optical ferrule support modules. Each optical ferrule support module comprises module connecting features configured to couple each ferrule support module with one or more neighboring ferrule support modules of the plurality of ferrule support modules. One or more optical ferrules are disposed and configured to rotate within the ferrule support module. Each optical ferrule includes a first attachment area configured to attach to one or more optical waveguides. One or more passageways are disposed within the ferrule support module. Each passageway is configured to receive the one or more optical waveguides. The passageway comprises a second attachment area configured to attach to the optical waveguides that are attached to the optical ferrule at the first attachment area. The passageway is dimensioned to constrain the optical waveguides to bend within the housing between the first attachment area and the second attachment area.

Abstract: An optical ferrule adapted to receive and transmit light is described. The optical ferrule includes first and second alignment features for mating with corresponding alignment features of a mating optical ferrule. One of the first and second alignment features may be compressible or expandable.

Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.

Abstract: An optical ferrule adapted to receive and transmit light is described. The optical ferrule includes first and second alignment features for mating with corresponding alignment features of a mating optical ferrule. One of the first and second alignment features may be compressible, expandable or compliant. An optical ferrule having first and second alignment features is described, wherein the ferrule is adapted such that the mating/unmating to/from a corresponding ferrule can be effected along two orthogonal dimensions of the ferrule. Additionally an optical ferrule having first and second alignment features is described, wherein the first and second alignment features are located at substantially different first and second locations/contact regions along the ferrule mating direction; the contact regions may also be offset along the thickness direction of the ferrule.

Abstract: Optical connectors are provided for connecting sets of optical waveguides, such as optical fiber ribbons to each other, to printed circuit boards, or to backplanes. The provided connectors utilize expanded beam optics with non-contact optical mating resulting in relaxed mechanical precision requirements. The provided connectors can have low optical loss, are easily scalable to high channel count (optical fibers per connector) and can be compatible with low insertion force blind mating.

Abstract: A connector includes a latching mechanism configured to mechanically unlatch the connector and a mating connector. The latching mechanism of the connector, when actuated to unlatch the connector and the mating connector, disengages both a retention feature of the connector and a retention feature of the mating connector.

Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.

Abstract: A connector includes a latching mechanism configured to mechanically unlatch the connector and a mating connector. The latching mechanism of the connector, when actuated to unlatch the connector and the mating connector, disengages both a retention feature of the connector and a retention feature of the mating connector.

Abstract: A ferrule has a receiving area for receiving and securing an optical waveguide and an optical element for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and secured at the receiving area and changing at least one of a divergence and a propagation direction of the received light. A plurality of registration features are configured to permit a stacking of the ferrule in a stacking direction such that the ferrules in the stack are aligned relative to each other along a length of the ferrule and along a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.