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 light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.

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 light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

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 connector (100) comprises one or more optical cables (110) disposed within a housing (120). Each optical In cable (110) includes an array of at least one optical waveguide (111) and at least one optical ferrule (112) attached to the array of optical waveguides (111). The housing (120) includes a first housing portion (121) and a second housing portion (122) engaged with the first housing portion (121). The second housing portion (122) comprises at least one carrier (130) and one frame (140). The carrier (130) and frame (140) of the second housing portion (122) are configured to support the one or more optical cables (110). The first housing portion (121) and the second housing portion (122) are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion (121) with the second housing portion (122) moves the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140). Movement of the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140) causes a bend in each optical waveguide (111) and rotation of each ferrule (112).

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 connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within 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: 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: The present invention relates to a hybrid connector. The connector comprises an insulating housing having parallel rows of first and second terminals disposed in the housing. Each first and second terminal includes a terminal portion configured to make contact with an electrically conductive trace of a circuit board; and a mating portion configured to contact a terminal of a mating connector, the mating portions of the first terminals parallel to and facing the mating portions of the second terminals. The housing defines a cavity formed therein between the mating portions of the first and second terminals, wherein the cavity defining a cavity opening at an external surface of the housing for receiving light therefrom. An optical relay portion is disposed in the cavity, wherein the optical relay portion comprises at least one of an optical transceiver, an optical lens and an optical waveguide.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to sets of optical waveguides such as optical fiber ribbons and embedded optical waveguides, and optical interconnects useful for connecting multiple optical waveguides such as in optical fiber ribbon cables and printed circuit boards (PCBs) having optoelectronic capabilities. In particular, the disclosure provides an efficient, compact, and reliable optical waveguide connector that incorporates microlenses and re-directing elements which combine the features of optical waveguide alignment, along with redirecting and shaping of the optical beam.