Abstract: A fiber gripper component includes a fiber receiving recess which extends from a first surface of the fiber gripper component toward a second surface of the fiber gripper component. The fiber receiving recess extends from a front face to a rear face. The fiber receiving recess has a fiber receiving surface which is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of resilient fiber receiving grooves extend from the fiber receiving surface toward the second surface. The resilient fiber receiving grooves have a width which is less than an outer-diameter dimension of mating optical fibers to provide a press fit of the optical fibers into the resilient fiber receiving grooves. The fiber gripper component is molded with tolerances in the submicron range to maintain part functionality to allow automatable fiber assembly.

Abstract: A ferrule for optical connectors. The ferrule includes a mating face for mating with a mating ferrule. Fiber receiving openings extend through the mating face. A protrusion surface extends from the mating face. The protrusion surface surrounds the fiber receiving openings, wherein all of the fiber receiving openings extend through the protrusion surface of the mating face. A top surface of the ferrule has an opening, the opening is positioned proximate to the mating face. A fiber positioning member is positioned in the ferrule, the fiber positioning member has channels which cooperate with individual fibers to properly position and retain the fibers in the ferrule. The channels have tapered surfaces which guide the fibers into the channels smoothly without the fiber abutting on the wall of the channels.