Abstract: Optical connector assemblies for device-to-device optical connections are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector assembly includes a housing having a mating surface, an optical coupling body, a first contact pin, and a second contact pin. The optical coupling body includes an optical coupling face such that the optical coupling face is exposed at the mating surface of the housing. The optical connector assembly further includes a plurality of GRIN lenses disposed within the optical coupling body, wherein each GRIN lens has a coupling surface positioned at the optical coupling face of the optical coupling body. The first and second contact pins extend from the mating surface of the housing such that they are positioned on opposite sides of the optical coupling body. Optical connector assemblies incorporating a total-internal-reflection surface are also disclosed.

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: A light launch device for transmitting light into a traceable fiber optic cable assembly with tracing optical fibers is disclosed herein. The traceable fiber optic cable assembly and light launch device provide easy tracing of the traceable fiber optic cable assembly using fiber optic tracing signals. Further, the launch connector is easily attached to and removed from the fiber optic connector with repeatable and reliable alignment of optic fibers, even when the fiber optic connector is mechanically and/or optically engaged with a network component. The fiber optic connectors are configured to efficiently illuminate an exterior of the connector for effective visibility for a user to quickly locate the fiber optic connector.

Abstract: A traceable fiber optic cable assembly with a fiber guide and tracing optical fibers for carrying light received from a light launch device is disclosed herein. The traceable fiber optic cable assembly and light launch device provide easy tracing of the traceable fiber optic cable assembly using fiber optic tracing signals. Further, the launch connector is easily attached to and removed from the fiber optic connector with repeatable and reliable alignment of optic fibers, even when the fiber optic connector is mechanically and/or optically engaged with a network component. The fiber optic connectors are configured to efficiently illuminate an exterior of the connector for effective visibility for a user to quickly locate the fiber optic connector.

Abstract: A traceable fiber optic cable assembly with an illumination structure and tracing optical fibers for carrying light received from a light launch device is disclosed herein. The traceable fiber optic cable assembly and light launch device provide easy tracing of the traceable fiber optic cable assembly using fiber optic tracing signals. Further, the launch connector is easily attached to and removed from the fiber optic connector with repeatable and reliable alignment of optic fibers, even when the fiber optic connector is mechanically and/or optically engaged with a network component. The fiber optic connectors are configured to efficiently illuminate an exterior of the connector for effective visibility for a user to quickly locate the fiber optic connector.

Abstract: A traceable cable assembly includes a traceable cable, a first connector at a first end of the traceable cable, and a second connector at a second end of the traceable cable assembly. The traceable cable has at least one data transmission element, a jacket at least partially surrounding the data transmission element, and an optical fiber extending along at least a portion of the length of the traceable cable. The optical fiber includes a first end having a first bend and a second end having a second bend. The first and second bends may be equal to or less than ninety degrees so that the optical fiber facilitates identification of the second connector when a launch light is injected in the first end of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber facilitates identification of the first connector when the launch light is injected in the second end of the optical fiber.

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. The 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 arrangement to optically couple multiple waveguides to a few-mode fiber comprises an optical assembly to respectively deflect light beams impacting the optical assembly and an optical coupler being configured to convert a respective fundamental mode of a plurality of the light beams coupled out of a respective different one of a plurality of the multiple waveguides and impacting the optical coupler to a respective higher order mode of each of the plurality of the light beams. The optical assembly comprises a first optical device to deflect each of the light beams impacting the first optical device from the optical coupler to a core section of the few-mode fiber to transfer light within the few-mode fiber.

Abstract: A plug connector for a hybrid cable comprises a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The plug connector comprises at least one optical device being configured such that a light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at a first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device. The plug connector comprises an electrical contact pin to be coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The electrical contact pin has a structure being configured to be engaged in a complimentary receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle.

Abstract: A traceable cable assembly includes a traceable cable having at least one data transmission element, a jacket at least partially surrounding the data transmission element, and first and second tracing optical fibers extending along at least a portion of a length of the traceable cable. The traceable cable assembly also includes a connector provided at each end of the traceable cable. The first and second tracing optical fibers each have a light launch end and a light emission end. The light launch ends of the first and second tracing optical fibers each include a bend. The bend allows for launching of light into the light launch ends without disengaging the first or second connectors from corresponding connector receptacles.

Abstract: A multi-core optical fiber (100) comprises a plurality of optical cores (1, . . . , 8) to respectively transmit light and a plurality of cleaves (110a, 100b, 110c, 110d, 110e, 110f, 110g, 110h) extending from a surface (102) of the multi-core optical fiber (100) into the multi-core optical fiber. A first cleave (110a) comprises a surface (111a) to couple light out of the optical fiber, wherein a first optical core (1) ends at the surface (111a) of the first cleave (110a). An at least one second cleave (110b, . . . , 110h) comprises a surface (111b, . . . , 111h) to couple light out of the optical fiber, wherein at least one second optical core (2, . . . , 8) ends at the surface (111b, . . . , 111h) of the at least one second cleave (110b, . . . , 110h). The first and the at least one second cleave (110a, . . . , 110h) are staggered along the longitudinal axis (101) of the multi-core optical fiber (100).

Abstract: Optical connector assemblies for device-to-device optical connections are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector assembly includes a housing having a mating surface, an optical coupling body, a first contact pin, and a second contact pin. The optical coupling body includes an optical coupling face such that the optical coupling face is exposed at the mating surface of the housing. The optical connector assembly further includes a plurality of GRIN lenses disposed within the optical coupling body, wherein each GRIN lens has a coupling surface positioned at the optical coupling face of the optical coupling body. The first and second contact pins extend from the mating surface of the housing such that they are positioned on opposite sides of the optical coupling body. Optical connector assemblies incorporating a total-internal-reflection surface are also disclosed.

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. The 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 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: A fiber coupling device comprising a mounting substrate, at least one optoelectronic and/or photonic chip and at least one first fiber coupling element for coupling an optical fiber to the fiber coupling device is disclosed. The optoelectronic and/or photonic chip has a main surface and comprises an optoelectronic and/or photonic active element couplable to a fiber end-piece of a respective optical fiber. The fiber coupling device further comprises at least one second fiber coupling element which is designed to contact and/or engage with a fiber end-piece of an optical fiber and which is mounted to the main surface of the at least one optoelectronic and/or photonic chip in a position aligned relative to the active element.

Abstract: A plug connector for a hybrid cable comprises a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The plug connector comprises at least one optical device being configured such that a light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at a first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device. The plug connector comprises an electrical contact pin to be coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The electrical contact pin has a structure being configured to be engaged in a complimentary receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the 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: An arrangement to optically couple multiple waveguides to a few-mode fiber comprises an optical assembly to respectively deflect light beams impacting the optical assembly and an optical coupler being configured to convert a respective fundamental mode of a plurality of the light beams coupled out of a respective different one of a plurality of the multiple waveguides and impacting the optical coupler to a respective higher order mode of each of the plurality of the light beams. The optical assembly comprises a first optical device to deflect each of the light beams impacting the first optical device from the optical coupler to a core section of the few-mode fiber to transfer light within the few-mode fiber.

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.