Abstract: Receptacle ferrules with at least one monolithic lens system and fiber optic connectors using same are disclosed. Ferrule assemblies formed by mating plug and receptacle ferrules are also disclosed, as are connector assemblies formed by mating plug and receptacle connectors. The fiber optic connectors and connector assemblies are suitable for use with commercial electronic devices and provide either an optical connection, or both electrical and optical connections. The monolithic optical system defines a receptacle optical pathway having a focus at the receptacle ferrule front end. When a plug ferrule having a plug optical pathway is mated with the receptacle ferrule, the plug and receptacle optical pathways are optically coupled at a solid-solid optical pathway interface where light passing therethrough is either divergent or convergent, and where unwanted liquid is substantially expelled.

Abstract: The application provides methods of forming a fiber coupling device comprising a substrate, the substrate having a substrate surface and at least one optoelectronic and/or photonic element, and further comprising at least one fiber coupling alignment structure that is optically transmissive. One method comprises a) applying a polymerizable material to the substrate surface, b) selectively polymerizing, using a method of 3D lithography, a region of the polymerizable material so as to convert the region of the polymerizable material into a polymer material, thereby forming at least one fiber coupling alignment structure, and c) cleaning the substrate and the polymer material from remaining non-polymerized polymerizable material, thereby exposing the at least one fiber coupling alignment structure of the fiber coupling device.

Abstract: The optical-electrical interconnection device comprises a glass support member with front-end and back-end portions that define a plane and an aperture. A cantilever member extends from the back-end portion into the aperture. The cantilever member supports an interconnection optical waveguide. The cantilever member comprises a bend region that causes a front-end section of the cantilever member to extend out of the plane. The front-end section is flexible, which allows for the interconnection optical waveguide to be aligned and optically coupled to a device waveguide of an optical-electrical device. A photonic assembly is formed using the optical-electrical interconnection device and at least one optical-electrical device. Methods of forming optical and electrical interconnections using the optical-electrical interconnection device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical plug connectors and optical receptacles for making optical connections. In one embodiment, the optical plug connector includes an optical portion having an optical interface and a cover for protecting the optical interface. The cover can translate toward the optical interface when connecting the optical plug connector and a portion of the cover allows transmission of optical signals therethrough. The cover has a sliding fit relative to a portion of the housing and may translate on at least one guide surface of the housing.

Abstract: Backplane optical connectors and optical connections are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a backplane optical connector includes a ferrule element that includes a body portion having optical interface, at least two bores positioned through the body portion, at least two posts extending from the body portion, and a fiber inlet portion extending from the body portion. The fiber inlet portion includes a fiber receiving opening. The backplane optical connector further includes a magnet disposed within each bore of the at least two bores, and a bias member coupled to the at least two posts.

Abstract: Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) and a recessed cover, as well as optical connectors and methods employing such GRIN lens holders, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the GRIN lens holder contains one or more internal groove alignment features configured to secure one or more GRIN lenses in the GRIN lens holder. The groove alignment features are also configured to accurately align the end faces of the GRIN lenses. The GRIN lens holder also contains a recessed cover having a front face that is negatively offset with respect to a mating surface of the GRIN lens holder. The GRIN lens holders disclosed herein can be provided as part of an optical fiber ferrule and/or a fiber optic component or connector for making optical connections.

Abstract: Optical connections for optical communication having in-line optical paths and magnetic coupling portions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connection includes a lens block having an optical interface portion that defines an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block, and a magnetic coupling portion disposed about at least a portion of the lens block. In another embodiment, a method of making an optical connection that includes providing a circuit board having one or more active components and placing a lens block on the circuit board. The lens block includes an optical interface portion defining an in-line optical path. The method further includes placing at least one magnetic coupling portion about the lens block. The at least one magnetic coupling portion is configured as a bulk magnetic material. Electronic devices and fiber optic cable assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: An expanded-beam ferrule for an optical interface device has a ferrule body with a fiber support feature that supports an optical fiber. The ferrule body defines a lens having a planar back surface and a convex and aspheric front surface. The lens has a select amount of on-axis spherical aberration that gives rise to an improved coupling efficiency and in particular provided tolerance to misalignments between confronting expanded-beam ferrules used in an expanded-beam optical interface device. The ferrule body can also include multiple lenses and can support multiple optical fibers in operable alignment thereto.

Abstract: A receptacle ferrule assembly for a fiber optic receptacle connector. The receptacle ferrule assembly comprises a first lens with first second optical surfaces and a receptacle ferrule body having first and second ends. At least one monolithic optical system is formed in a monolithic receptacle ferrule body and includes a lens formed at the second end of monolithic receptacle ferrule body and an optical surface formed at the first end of monolithic receptacle ferrule body. The optical surface is situated adjacent to, and mated to the second optical surface of the first lens The monolithic optical system is configured, in conjunction with the first lens, to define a receptacle optical pathway from the second end of the monolithic optical system to the first surface of the first lens. According to some embodiments the first lens is a gradient index lens.

Abstract: Opto-electrical connection systems including opto-electrical cables providing configurable connectivity between electrical devices having electrical interfaces are disclosed. Related assemblies and methods are also disclosed. By using configurable connection assemblies having at least one configurable connection device adapted to accept optical connectors of optical fibers of opto-electrical cables, many electrical devices having electrical interfaces may be configurably connected. For example, the configurable opto-electrical connection system may be configured to provide more bandwidth and/or connect electrical devices with less power consumption than would be associated with conventional copper cabling solutions. In this manner, the high bandwidth, lower power consumption, and long distance signal capability of optical fibers may be provided to connect electronic devices which were originally designed with electrical interfaces meant to be connected with copper cables.

Abstract: Optical circuit board assemblies having one or more lens bodies are disclosed. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a composite circuit board comprising a glass-substrate and a non-glass substrate with the non-glass substrate having at least one cutout that exposes a portion of the glass substrate and at least one optical trace comprising one or more optical interfaces on the composite circuit board. The one or more optical interfaces of the composite circuit board are in optical communication with the one or more lens bodies. Other optical circuit board assemblies may include other features such as a bezel mount attached to the composite circuit board or an attachment structure secured to the composite circuit board.

Abstract: A fiber-optic based communication system for facilitating communication between a client device, such as a hand-held computing device, and a host device, such as a desktop computer, a lap-top computer, a tablet device or any other computing device. The communication system includes a cable comprising electronic devices positioned at terminal ends of an optical fiber that provides for communication between the client device and the host device, and the communication occurs via electromagnetic coupling in the near field at at least one end of the cable.

Abstract: An optical connector for optically connecting at least one light source to at least one light receiver is disclosed. The optical connector includes first and second connector members respectively having first and second positive-power lens elements with respective first and second planar lens surfaces. The lens elements are arranged in their respective connector members such that when the two connector members are operably mated, the first and second lenses form an optical system where the first and second planar lens surfaces are spaced apart in opposition with a narrow gap in between, and are non-perpendicular to the optical system axis. The lenses may be conventional uniform-refractive-index lenses having a convex surface or may be gradient-index lenses having two planar surfaces. The optical connector is tolerant to contamination that can find its way into the narrow gap.

Abstract: The application provides methods of forming a fiber coupling device comprising a substrate, the substrate having a substrate surface and at least one optoelectronic and/or photonic element, and further comprising at least one fiber coupling alignment structure that is optically transmissive. One method comprises a) applying a polymerizable material to the substrate surface, b) selectively polymerizing, using a method of 3D lithography, a region of the polymerizable material so as to convert the region of the polymerizable material into a polymer material, thereby forming at least one fiber coupling alignment structure, and c) cleaning the substrate and the polymer material from remaining non-polymerized polymerizable material, thereby exposing the at least one fiber coupling alignment structure of the fiber coupling device.

Abstract: An expanded-beam ferrule for an optical interface device has a ferrule body with a fiber support feature that supports an optical fiber. The ferrule body defines a lens having a planar back surface and a convex and aspheric front surface. The lens has a select amount of on-axis spherical aberration that gives rise to an improved coupling efficiency and in particular provided tolerance to misalignments between confronting expanded-beam ferrules used in an expanded-beam optical interface device. The ferrule body can also include multiple lenses and can support multiple optical fibers in operable alignment thereto.

Abstract: Laser-processed gradient-index (GRIN) lenses and optical interface devices and assemblies that utilize the laser-processed GRIN lenses are disclosed. A GRIN lens assembly includes a cylindrical central section having a GRIN index profile, planar front and back surfaces, an outer surface, and a diameter D1 where 200 micrometers?D1?420 micrometers. An annular cladding of outer diameter D2 surrounds the central section outer surface and has front and back annular surfaces and a constant or a varying refractive index. One or both of the front and back annular surfaces may be curved. An optical fiber is optically coupled to the central section at the planar back surface. An optical interface device is formed by operably supporting at least one GRIN lens assembly with a support member. An optical interface assembly is formed by interfacing two optical interface devices.

Abstract: Optical receptacles having compliance for facilitating alignment with fiber optic connectors during insertion, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed. In one example, an optical receptacle disposed in a receptacle optical assembly optically connects to a fiber optic component, for example, a ferrule, for facilitating transmission of an optical signal from the optical receptacle to the exemplary ferrule. A support interface between the optical receptacle and receptacle housing contains a compliance feature that permits the optical receptacle to move with respect to the receptacle housing during insertion of the fiber optic connector. An insertion force of the fiber optic connector causes the optical receptacle to be able to move into optical alignment with the connector during insertion of the fiber optic connector, thereby moving ferrule(s) of the fiber optic connector into optical alignment with the ferrule(s) of the optical receptacle.

Abstract: Active optical cable assemblies and methods for thermally testing active optical cable assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of thermally testing an active optical cable assembly includes providing electrical signals to an optical transmission module within a first connector that converts the electrical signals into optical signals for transmission over one or more optical fibers of the active optical cable assembly, and applying heat to the first connector as the electrical signals are provided to the optical transmission module. The method further includes detecting electrical signals at a second connector of the active optical cable assembly. The detected electrical signals are converted from the optical signals by an optical receiver module within the second connector. The method further includes determining if the optical transmission module satisfies a benchmark at a threshold temperature of the optical transmission module based on the electrical signals detected at the second connector.

Abstract: A fiber optic connection system is disclosed for optically connecting a fiber optic connector to an internal optical interface of a device through a display surface of the device. Connecting the connector to the device causes a display alignment feature of the connector to be retained against the display surface of the device. This causes a connector optical interface in the connector to optically connect to a device optical interface through the display surface of the device when the connector is connected with the device. One benefit of this arrangement is that a device, such as a smartphone or other small form-factor device for example, may include optical communication hardware that leverages the excellent clarity and flatness of the display surface, such as a display glass for example, to form and maintain a strong fiber optic connection between the connector and the device.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical plug connectors and optical receptacles for making optical connections. In one embodiment, the optical plug connector includes an optical portion having an optical interface and a cover for protecting the optical interface. The cover can translate toward the optical interface when connecting the optical plug connector and a portion of the cover allows transmission of optical signals therethrough. The cover has a sliding fit relative to a portion of the housing and may translate on at least one guide surface of the housing.