Abstract: An optical assembly includes an optical ferrule configured to receive an input light ray through an input location on a major input surface of the optical ferrule along a first direction for coupling to an optical waveguide secured to the optical ferrule, the optical ferrule including a reference location, such that a change in a temperature of the optical assembly causes the input light ray and the input location, but not the reference location, to move respective distances d1 and d2 along a same direction along a same axis, wherein a magnitude of dl-d2 is ?, and a maximum of magnitudes of d1 and d2 is greater than 10 times ?.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a hermaphroditic cassette comprising a hood that includes a narrower section and a wider section. The narrower and wider sections are separated by slots such that the narrower section fits at least partially within a wider section of an identical mating hood of a mating optical assembly and the wider section receives a narrower section of the mating hood. The hood has first and second stop features configured to engage with second and first stop features of the mating hood. The first stop feature comprises a mating end of the narrower section of the hood and the second stop feature comprises a stop surface disposed within the wider section of the hood. Engagement of the stop features of the hood with stop features of the mating hood is configured to stop relative translational movement of the hood and the mating hood along the mating axis during mating.

Abstract: An optical ferrule includes an optical coupling member with a light redirecting element that redirects input light from a waveguide toward an output window. The optical coupling member has a mating surface configured to slidably mate with a mating optical coupling member along a longitudinal axis of the optical ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes at least one stacking member along a longitudinal edge of the optical coupling member. The stacking member has a distal end extending beyond one of the mating surface and a top surface opposed to the mating surface. The stacking member also has a contact surface opposed to the distal end. The contact surface is configured to rotatably interface with a corresponding distal end of a of an adjacently stacked optical ferrule.

Abstract: A coupling unit includes a light coupling element comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides. One or more grooves are provided at the attachment area. Each groove is configured to receive an optical waveguide and defined by a bottom surface, a first region, a second region, and an opening. The first region is defined between the bottom surface and the second region. The first region in cross section has substantially parallel sidewalls separated by a spacing. The second region is disposed between the first region and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than the spacing.

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: An optical ferrule has a different thermal expansion coefficient than a substrate to which a optical device is mounted, the ferrule optically coupling the device to one or more optical fibers. The optical ferrule includes and/or a cradle in which the ferrule is mounted include lateral and longitudinal engagement feature that ensure alignment with the optical device at an operating temperature, the ferrule expanding relative to the substrate when transitioning to the operating temperature.

Abstract: A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.

Abstract: An optical ferrule includes an optical coupling member with a light redirecting element that redirects input light from a waveguide toward an output window. The optical coupling member has a mating surface configured to slidably mate with a mating optical coupling member along a longitudinal axis of the optical ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes at least one stacking member along a longitudinal edge of the optical coupling member. The stacking member has a distal end extending beyond one of the mating surface and a top surface opposed to the mating surface. The stacking member also has a contact surface opposed to the distal end. The contact surface is configured to rotatably interface with a corresponding distal end of a of an adjacently stacked optical ferrule.

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 coupling unit includes a light coupling element comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides. One or more grooves are provided at the attachment area. Each groove is configured to receive an optical waveguide and defined by a bottom surface, a first region, a second region, and an opening. The first region is defined between the bottom surface and the second region. The first region in cross section has substantially parallel sidewalls separated by a spacing. The second region is disposed between the first region and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than the spacing.

Abstract: An optical ferrule has a different thermal expansion coefficient than a substrate to which a optical device is mounted, the ferrule optically coupling the device to one or more optical fibers. The optical ferrule includes and/or a cradle in which the ferrule is mounted include lateral and longitudinal engagement feature that ensure alignment with the optical device at an operating temperature, the ferrule expanding relative to the substrate when transitioning to the operating temperature.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes an optical ferrule configured to receive light from an optical waveguide and including at least four ferrule alignment features; and a cradle securing the optical ferrule therein and configured to align the optical ferrule to an optical component, the cradle including at least four cradle alignment features configured to make contact or near contact with the at least four ferrule alignment features in a one to one correspondence in at least four corresponding contact regions, such that as a temperature of at least one of the cradle and the optical ferrule changes sufficiently, the corresponding alignment features of the optical ferrule and the cradle slide relative to each other causing the corresponding alignment features of the optical ferrule and the cradle to move to define corresponding traversed regions, such that when extended, the traversed regions of the at least four ferrule alignment features and the at least four cradle alignment features pass within 20 microns of a sa

Abstract: A first optical device is adapted to couple to a second optical device along a coupling direction and includes two spaced apart pairs of leading and trailing pads, such that when the first optical device lands and slides on a landing surface of the second optical device to optically couple to the second optical device, and for each pair of leading and trailing pads, the leading pad prevents any debris on the landing surface from collecting on the trailing pad. Upon full coupling of the first optical device with the second optical device, the leading pads do not make contact with the landing surface. The first optical device may be, for example, an optical ferrule or a cradle having a recess adapted to receive an optical ferrule.

Abstract: A light coupling unit for use in an optical connector includes a waveguide alignment member that receives and aligns at least one optical waveguide. The light coupling unit includes a light redirecting member that has an input surface configured to receive input light from the end face of the optical wave guide. A curved reflective surface of the light redirecting member receives light from the input surface propagating along an input axis and redirects the light such that the redirected light propagates along a different redirected axis. An output surface of the light redirecting member receives the redirected light and transmits the redirected light as output light propagating along an output axis and exiting the light redirecting member. A curved intersection of the curved reflective surface and a first plane formed by the input and redirected axes has a radius of curvature. The curved reflective surface has an axis of revolution disposed in the first plane.

Abstract: A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.

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: A light coupling element including a plurality of waveguide attachment features and a light redirecting member is described. Each attachment feature has an entrance end opposite a terminal end. The entrance ends are arranged at a pitch Pe. The light redirecting member is disposed closer to the terminal ends, and farther from the entrance ends, and includes an input surface, a reflecting side and an exit surface. When a waveguide is attached at each attachment feature, a central light ray emitted by each waveguide enters the light redirecting member through the input surface, is redirected by the reflecting side and exits the light redirecting member at the exit surface, the central light ray intersecting the exit surface at an exit point, each attachment feature corresponding to a different exit point at the exit surface. The exits points are arranged at a pitch Px not equal to Pe.

Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon is disclosed and includes a plurality of optical fibers extending along a first axis and arranged along an orthogonal second axis at a pitch P. Each optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a cladding surrounded by a buffer, the buffer has a nominal diameter D0 substantially equal to P. The buffer is stripped between a buffer-end location on the fiber and a free end of the fiber to form a stripped section. The buffer is distorted at the buffer-end location, such that at the buffer-end location, a width W of the buffer in the second axis is less than D0.

Abstract: An inspection device for an optical ferrule includes one or more reflectors. Each reflector has a mating surface and a mirror disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the mating surface. Each reflector is configured to mate with the optical ferrule when the optical ferrule is disposed within a housing of an optical connector. When the mating surface of the reflector is in mated contact with the mating surface of the optical ferrule, the mirror is positioned to provide a reflected view of at least a portion of a mating surface of the optical ferrule.

Abstract: A light coupling unit for use in an optical connector includes a waveguide alignment member that receives and aligns at least one optical waveguide. The light coupling unit includes a light redirecting member that has an input surface configured to receive input light from the end face of the optical waveguide. A curved reflective surface of the light redirecting member receives light from the input surface propagating along an input axis and redirects the light such that the redirected light propagates along a different redirected axis. An output surface of the light redirecting member receives the redirected light and transmits the redirected light as output light propagating along an output axis and exiting the light redirecting member. A curved intersection of the curved reflective surface and a first plane formed by the input and redirected axes has a radius of curvature. The curved reflective surface has an axis of revolution disposed in the first plane.