Abstract: Small-form-factor fiber optic interface devices with an internal lens are disclosed. The fiber optic interface devices have a ferrule with a bore that supports an optical waveguide. The lens is on or adjacent the ferrule front end and is aligned with the bore. A first planar surface is provided on or adjacent the lens. The first planar surface interfaces with a second planar surface of a second fiber optic interface device to form a fiber optic interface assembly having a liquid-displacing interface when the first and second fiber optic interface devices are engaged.

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: 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.

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: 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: 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: Disclosed are optical ports and devices having a cover with at least one molded-in lens and a mounting body having a recess for mounting the cover to the mounting body along with a mounting surface for securing an optical port. The molded-in optical lenses of the cover may be aligned with one or more active components for receiving or transmitting the optical signal. The active components may be mounted on a circuit board that may include an electrical tether. In one embodiment, the optical port includes a pocket having an alignment feature such as a piston that is translatable during mating.

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: Plug and receptacle ferrules, and fiber optic plug and receptacle connectors that use the plug and receptacle ferrules are disclosed. Connector assemblies formed by mating the plug and receptacle connectors are also disclosed. 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 plug ferrule includes an open section over which light converges are diverges. The receptacle ferrule includes a receptacle optical pathway having a substantially right angle bend formed by a mirror. The plug ferrule has a plug optical pathway that interfaces with the receptacle optical pathway at a solid-solid interface that serves to substantially expel any liquid from the interface.

Abstract: Small-form-factor fiber optic interface devices with an internal lens are disclosed. The fiber optic interface devices have a ferrule with a bore that supports an optical waveguide. The lens is on or adjacent the ferrule front end and is aligned with the bore. A first planar surface is provided on or adjacent the lens. The first planar surface interfaces with a second planar surface of a second fiber optic interface device to form a fiber optic interface assembly having a liquid-displacing interface when the first and second fiber optic interface devices are engaged.

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: 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: In one embodiment, a device comprises at least one ferrule having a bore, the bore extending from a rear of the ferrule toward a front of the ferrule, wherein the bore is sized to receive an optical fiber with a buffer at a rear end face of the ferrule, wherein the front end of the ferrule includes an optical component.

Abstract: Small-form-factor fiber optic interface devices with an internal lens are disclosed. The fiber optic interface devices have a ferrule with a bore that supports an optical waveguide. The lens is on or adjacent the ferrule front end and is aligned with the bore. A first planar surface is provided on or adjacent the lens. The first planar surface interfaces with a second planar surface of a second fiber optic interface device to form a fiber optic interface assembly having a liquid-displacing interface when the first and second fiber optic interface devices are engaged.

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: A gradient-index (GRIN) optical connector is disclosed that includes a GRIN lens having a central optical axis and front and back opposite endfaces. A plurality of optical fibers are optically coupled to the back endface of the GRIN lens and defines a first optical fiber bundle having an asymmetric arrangement relative to the central optical axis of the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens has a refractive index profile generally defined by an alpha profile having an alpha parameter ? in a range 1.92???1.98. An optical fiber connector assembly formed by interfacing two of the GRIN optical connectors is also disclosed.

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 ports and devices having a cover with at least one molded-in lens and a mounting body having a recess for mounting the cover to the mounting body along with a mounting surface for securing an optical port. The molded-in optical lenses of the cover may be aligned with one or more active components for receiving or transmitting the optical signal. The active components may be mounted on a circuit board that may include an electrical tether. In one embodiment, the optical port includes a pocket having an alignment feature such as a piston that is translatable during mating.

Abstract: A gradient-index (GRIN) optical connector is disclosed that includes a GRIN lens having a central optical axis and front and back opposite endfaces. A plurality of optical fibers are optically coupled to the back endface of the GRIN lens and defines a first optical fiber bundle having an asymmetric arrangement relative to the central optical axis of the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens has a refractive index profile generally defined by an alpha profile having an alpha parameter ? in a range 1.92???1.98. An optical fiber connector assembly formed by interfacing two of the GRIN optical connectors is also disclosed.

Abstract: Plug and receptacle ferrules, and fiber optic plug and receptacle connectors that use the plug and receptacle ferrules are disclosed. Connector assemblies formed by mating the plug and receptacle connectors are also disclosed. 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 plug ferrule includes an open section over which light converges are diverges. The receptacle ferrule includes a receptacle optical pathway having a substantially right angle bend formed by a mirror. The plug ferrule has a plug optical pathway that interfaces with the receptacle optical pathway at a solid-solid interface that serves to substantially expel any liquid from the interface.