Abstract: Dense shuttered fiber optic connectors and assemblies suitable for establishing optical connections for optical backplanes in equipment racks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector assembly is provided. The fiber optic connector assembly comprises a fiber optic connector. The fiber optic connector assembly also comprises a slideable shutter disposed in the fiber optic connector. The slideable shutter has an opening(s) configured to be aligned with a plurality of lenses disposed in the fiber optic connector in an open position, and configured to block access to the plurality of lenses disposed in the fiber optic connector in a closed position. The fiber optic connector assembly also comprises an actuation member coupled to the slideable shutter configured to move the slideable shutter from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: Optical fiber ferrules with complementary mating geometry that are suitable for making optical connections are disclosed along with fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies using the same. In one embodiment, the fiber optic ferrule includes a body having a plurality of optical pathways and a mating geometry that has at least one guide pin that is monolithically formed in the body of the fiber optic ferrule and at least one spring retention feature disposed on a rear portion of the ferrule. The ferrule reduces the number of parts required for a fiber optic connector and allows quick and easy assembly. The disclosure is also directed to fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies using the ferrule.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical connectors having lenses along with methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector includes a fiber body having a front portion with a plurality of fiber guides, and a connector body having a plurality of connector body fiber guides that lead to a plurality of lenses at a front portion of the connector body. The fiber body attaches to the connector body and may align a plurality of optical fibers to the lenses at the front portion of the connector body. One embodiment has the fiber body configured as a crimp body with a barrel at a rear portion for attaching a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Field-installable mechanical splice connectors for making optical and/or electrical connections in the field are disclosed. One embodiment is a hybrid mechanical splice connector having an electrical portion and an optical portion that includes at least one electrical contact, a shell, and at least one body for receiving at least one field optical fiber and securing the electrical contact. The connector includes a mechanical retention component for securing at least one optical field fiber to the at least one body. Another embodiment is directed to a mechanical splice connector having at least one body for receiving at least one field optical fiber, a mechanical retention component for securing at least one optical field fiber to the at least one body, and at least one lens attached to the at least one body.

Abstract: Cable assemblies, optical connector assemblies, and optical connector subassemblies employing a translating element and a unitary alignment pin are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector assembly includes a connector housing defining a unitary alignment pin including a first pin portion and a second pin portion, and a cover including a first bore and a second bore that allows the transmission of optical signals therethrough. The first pin portion is disposed within the first bore of cover and the second pin portion is disposed within the second bore cover so that that the cover can translate along the first pin portion and the second pin portion.

Abstract: Translating lens holder assemblies employing bore relief zones, as well as optical connectors employing such lens holder assemblies, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lens holder assembly includes a lens holder body having a mating face, a first forward slide portion and a first rear slide portion disposed on a first side of the lens holder body, and a second forward slide portion and a second rear slide portion disposed on a second side of the lens holder body. The first forward slide portion is separated from the first rear slide portion by a first bore relief zone, and the second forward slide portion is separated from the second rear slide portion by a second bore relief zone. In one embodiment, the lens holder assembly further includes at least one groove alignment feature disposed in the lens holder body that is configured to support at least one GRIN lens.

Abstract: Optical connectors, optical coupling systems, and methods of optical coupling are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a plug housing, at least one optical fiber, an internal coupling surface, and a translating element. The translating element has a first coupling surface, a second coupling surface, and at least one optical component within the translating element. The translating element is biased such that when the optical connector is in a disengaged state, the translating element is positioned toward an optical connector opening and the second coupling surface of the translating element is displaced from the internal coupling surface. When the optical connector is in an engaged state, the translating element is positioned such that the second coupling surface of the translating element is positioned at the internal coupling surface and the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical component.

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: Lens assemblies including a substrate and a plurality of mechanically isolated lenses coupled to the substrate are disclosed. The substrate may have a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Optical connectors including the lens assemblies described herein, as well as methods of fabricating a lens assembly, are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a lens assembly includes a substrate having a first surface, and a lens layer including a plurality of lenses. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate is different from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the plurality of lenses. The lens layer is coupled to the first surface of the substrate, and each lens of the plurality of lenses is mechanically isolated from adjacent lenses of the plurality of lenses by gap regions within the lens layer.

Abstract: Fiber optic connector assemblies and method for assembling the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector assembly includes an optical fiber having an inner glass region, a polymer layer surrounding the inner glass region, and a windowed portion, wherein the inner glass region is exposed at the windowed portion. The fiber optic connector assembly further includes a connector body having a demarcation region at a first end, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the connector body such that at least a portion of the windowed portion is positioned in the demarcation region, and the optical fiber is adhered to the connector body at the windowed portion. In another embodiment, the demarcation region includes an opening in the outer jacket that exposes the at least a portion of the windowed portion of the plurality of optical fibers and the optical fibers are adhered to a portion of the cable.

Abstract: A cable attach structure for attaching a fiber-optic cable to a rear end and a connector to a front end is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cable attach structure is a portion of a fiber optic cable assembly having a fiber optic cable with at least one optical fiber and a connector attached to the optical fiber. The fiber optic cable is attached to the cable attach structure at a rear end and circuit board is attached to the cable attach structure at the front end. The cable attach structure also routes the at least one optical fiber away from the centerline of the connector for off-axis fiber routing. In other embodiments, the optical fiber can enter the connector from a first direction and attach to the connector in a second direction if desired.

Abstract: Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) and total internal reflection (TIR) surface, and related components, connectors, and methods 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 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. A fiber optic connector containing the GRIN lens holders disclosed herein may be optically connected to one or more optical fibers in another fiber optic connector or to an optical device, such as a laser-emitting diode (LED), laser diode, or opto-electronic device for light transfer.

Abstract: Disclosed are optical connectors having lenses along with methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector includes a fiber body having a front portion with a plurality of fiber guides, and a connector body having a plurality of connector body fiber guides that lead to a plurality of lenses at a front portion of the connector body. The fiber body attaches to the connector body and may align a plurality of optical fibers to the lenses at the front portion of the connector body. One embodiment has the fiber body configured as a crimp body with a barrel at a rear portion for attaching a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Field-installable mechanical splice connectors for making optical and/or electrical connections in the field are disclosed. One embodiment is a hybrid mechanical splice connector having an electrical portion and an optical portion that includes at least one electrical contact, a shell, and at least one body for receiving at least one field optical fiber and securing the electrical contact. The connector includes a mechanical retention component for securing at least one optical field fiber to the at least one body. Another embodiment is directed to a mechanical splice connector having at least one body for receiving at least one field optical fiber, a mechanical retention component for securing at least one optical field fiber to the at least one body, and at least one lens attached to the at least one body.

Abstract: Field-installable mechanical splice connectors for making optical and/or electrical connections in the field are disclosed. One embodiment is a mechanical splice connector having an optical portion that includes at least one lens. The connector also includes a mechanical retention component for securing at least one optical field fiber to the at least one body.

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: Disclosed are optical connectors having lenses along with methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector includes a fiber body having a front portion with a plurality of fiber guides, and a connector body having a plurality of connector body fiber guides that lead to a plurality of lenses at a front portion of the connector body. The fiber body attaches to the connector body and may align a plurality of optical fibers to the lenses at the front portion of the connector body. One embodiment has the fiber body configured as a crimp body with a barrel at a rear portion for attaching a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) in recessed cover and single piece components, connectors, and methods 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 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. A fiber optic connector containing the GRIN lens holders disclosed herein may be optically connected to one or more optical fibers in another fiber optic connector or to an optical device, such as a laser-emitting diode (LED), laser diode, or opto-electronic device for light transfer.

Abstract: Optical backplane extension modules and related assemblies suitable for establishing optical connections to information processing modules disposed in equipment racks are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical backplane extension module is provided. The optical backplane extension module comprises an extension module housing comprising an interior space defined by a base, a left side disposed on a left end of the base, a right side disposed on a right end of the base opposite the left end, and a rear side disposed on a rear end of the base. A plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors are disposed through the rear side of the extension module housing and accessible through an exterior side of the rear side. The plurality of backplane fiber optic connectors configured to be directly optically connected to a plurality of blade fiber optic connectors disposed in a plurality of information processing modules disposed in a rack module housing.

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.