Abstract: A method for preparing a ferrule assembly avoids polishing while providing adequate control over fiber end protrusion and co-planarity. A distal end of the fiber is prepared before securing the fiber in a ferrule, and before or after inserting the fiber into the ferrule. The prepared fiber is manipulated to provide a desired spatial relationship between the fiber end and the ferrule's end face, and then secured to maintain the desired spatial relationship. Preferably, the fiber end is prepared using a laser cleaving technique to provide a suitable end without abrasive polishing. An interferometer may be used to obtain measurements, during manipulation of the prepared fiber within the ferrule, that indicate whether the prepared fiber is satisfactorily positioned. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a ferrule assembly prepared in accordance with the method, and a connector or other optical package including such a ferrule assembly are provided.

Abstract: An optical connector plug is comprised of a pair of divided front and rear housings formed generally in a quadrilateral tubular shape for receiving a ferrule to hold an optical fiber. A housing, one of the housings is provided with engagement openings on at least opposite wall portions thereof, and the other housing is provided with engagement projections on its opposite wall portions to be engaged in the engagement openings. Furthermore, fitting projections are formed in the longitudinal direction on the wall portions in which the engagement openings are formed, and fitting recesses to be fitted with the fitting projections are formed in the wall portions on which the engagement projections are formed. The pair of housings are firmly joined to each other by engaging the engagement projections with the engagement openings and by fitting and engaging the fitting projections in the fitting recesses.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module and method for performing optical communications are provided. The SFP optical transceiver module has a housing to which a duplex receptacle is secured. The duplex receptacle has a C-shaped opening, the upper and lower portions of which are defined by upper and lower flexible retaining elements for receiving and retaining a duplex optical connector therein. An electrical assembly of the module is secured within the transceiver module housing. The electrical assembly comprises a PCB, the back end of which is configured as a plug end for removably plugging the PCB into a receptacle of an external communications management system.

Abstract: Provided are an optical module, and an optical printed circuit board and a method of manufacturing the same. The optical module includes an optical fiber, a first ferrule coupled to one end of the optical fiber, and a second ferrule coupled to the other end of the optical fiber. The optical printed circuit board includes a first board, an optical transmitter module and an optical receiver module, which are disposed on the first board, an optical fiber passing through the first board, the optical fiber extending integrally from a lower side of the optical transmitter module to a lower side of the optical receiver module, first and second ferrules coupled to one end and the other end of the optical fiber, respectively, the first and second ferrules being supported by the first board, and a second board through which the optical fiber passes, the second board being disposed below the first board.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a second operation lever extending rearward from a first operation lever. By pressing a rear end portion of the second operation lever up, or pressing the second operation lever forward, the first operation lever can be inclined forward. In this way, a front end portion of the first operation lever presses a rear end portion of a locking lever down, and disengages the locking lever and an optical adapter from each other. Thus, the optical connector can be detached from the optical adapter.

Abstract: This application describes an MPO type connector with an internal assembly having a pin clamp, ferrule, and fiber array. The pin clamp that has a pair of contact surfaces abutting the ferrule. The contact surfaces are located along the mid-point of the height of the ferrule on either side of and proximate to the fiber array.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a circuit substrate that has a first concave portion having a light transmission hole, a first metal interconnection that is formed from a bottom of the first concave portion to a face of the circuit substrate where the first concave portion is formed, an optical element that is arranged in the first concave portion so that an optical axis thereof passes through the light transmission hole and is flip-chip bonded to the first metal interconnection on the bottom of the first concave portion, and a circuit chip that is a driver circuit chip for driving the optical element or an amplifier circuit chip for amplifying a signal from the optical element and is flip-chip bonded to the first metal interconnection of the face where the first concave portion is formed.

Abstract: A plug part (1) for an optical plug connection comprises one pin holder (3) in which a plug pin (2) for retaining an optical waveguide which extends over a longitudinal central axis (L) is held. The pin holder (3) can be pushed into a plug housing (4) via a cable-side opening (30) and locked therein in a mounting position, wherein the plug pin (2) is held axially resiliently in the plug housing (4) with the aid of a separate spring element (5). The spring element (5) can here be inserted in a mount in the plug housing (4) before the pin holder (3) is pushed in. The spring element (5) is secured by way of a clamping sleeve (6) which can be inserted into the mount via the plug-side opening (30) in the push-in direction (e). Arranged in the mount is a circlip (7) and the pin holder (3) has a groove (12) which can be brought into engagement with the circlip (7) in a latching manner in order to fix the mounting position.

Abstract: A connector to connect a fiber bundle probe to a light injection module including a tightening cam having an opening of a specified shape adapted to receive the fiber bundle probe, a cam driving coupled to the tightening cam, wherein the tightening cam is configured to translate in response to rotation of the cam driving until the tightening cam is blocked, at least one spring extending between the tightening cam and the cam driving, wherein the at least one spring is configured to resist when the cam driving is actuated by rotation and the tightening cam is blocked, and a locking mechanism to lock the cam driving into a selected position.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly includes a connector and a fiber optic cable. The connector includes a housing having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. A ferrule is disposed in the housing. A plurality of optical fibers is mounted in the ferrule. The fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket defining a fiber passage that extends longitudinally through the outer jacket and a window that extends through the outer jacket and the fiber passage. First and second strength members are oppositely disposed about the fiber passage in the outer jacket. A plurality of optical fibers is disposed in the fiber passage. The optical fibers are joined at splices to the optical fibers of the connector. A splice sleeve is disposed over the splices. The splice sleeve is disposed in the window of the outer jacket.

Abstract: A hybrid RJ-45 plug is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration and an optical coupling configuration. The electrical coupling configuration is an 8P8C electrical wiring configuration that complies with the RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. The optical coupling configuration includes an optics system that provides the plug with optical communications capabilities. The hybrid RJ-45 plug is backwards compatible with an existing RJ-45 jack that implements an RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. However, the hybrid RJ-45 plug is also configured to mate with an optical jack that has only optical communications capabilities and to mate with a hybrid RJ-45 jack that has both optical and electrical communications capabilities.

Abstract: A fibre optic connector is provided comprising: a connector plug, which may be inserted into an associated socket in a longitudinal direction; a resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the first connector plug, and having a depressible part, distal therefrom, depressible towards the first connector plug; and a guard cover, configured to prevent access to the depressible part of the resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the resilient leg in the longitudinal direction through an access aperture, the access aperture being aligned with the depressible part of the resilient leg on an axis parallel with the longitudinal direction, to allow depression of the resilient leg through the access aperture directly. A corresponding extraction tool and methods, loopback connector, blanking plug, blanking plate and patch panel are also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof. The connector includes a housing and a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through the ferrule. The ferrule is generally at least partially disposed within and supported by the housing. The connector further includes a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating the inserted field fiber to the stub fiber. The reversible actuator includes a buffer clamp for engaging with the buffer to simultaneously provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to the terminated field fiber.

Abstract: Fiber optic assemblies including at least one multimode optical fiber that have improved performance are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one connector is mounted upon and end of at least one multimode optical fiber and the assembly has an insertion loss of about 0.04 dB or less at a reference wavelength of 850 nanometers. Another embodiment is directed to a fiber optic assembly having a plurality of multimode optical fibers attached to a multifiber ferrule. The multifiber ferrule has a pair of guide pin bores having a nominal diameter, wherein the guide pin bores have a tolerance of ±0.0005 millimeters from a nominal diameter for improving performance.

Abstract: Provided is a duplex optical connector unit, in which locking levers extending obliquely upward toward a proximal end side and including interlocking portions engaging with an optical adapter are provided on top surfaces of housings of optical connectors, and an operation lever extending obliquely upward toward a leading end side and including a pressing part located above the locking levers is provided in a top surface of a main body portion of a boot.

Abstract: An LC format optical connector for terminating an optical fiber includes a housing configured to mate with an LC receptacle, the housing including a shell, a first resilient latch disposed on a surface of the shell, and a backbone. The LC format connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing and retained between the outer shell and the backbone, wherein the collar body includes a fiber stub disposed in a first portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a mechanical splice disposed in a second portion of the collar body, the mechanical splice configured to splice the second end of the fiber stub to a second optical fiber. The LC format connector further includes a trigger coupled to an outer surface of the housing backbone, the trigger including a second latch that engages the first latch when acted upon by a pressing force. An optical connector with a single piece latch structure is also provided.

Abstract: An optical connector of the present invention includes a ferrule to which an internal optical fiber is embedded and an end face grinding is performed; and a connection mechanism which extends to an opposite side of a connection end face of the ferrule, wherein the optical connector butt connects the internal optical fiber and an insert optical fiber which is inserted from outside within a positioning groove provided at the connection mechanism; and a back end side of an end face of the internal optical fiber which butts to the insert optical fiber is made a beveled end face by cutting process.

Abstract: Provided is an optical connector apparatus comprising a connector which is connected to an electro-optical composite cable including an optical fiber and a metal conductor, and a connection object to be connected. The connector is provided with a ferrule which has a conductive portion on at least a part of the surface thereof. The connection object to be connected is provided with an electrically conductive connection member to be connected to the ferrule. The ferrule and the cable are connected by a crimping structure. When the ferrule is inserted in the connection member, the connector and the connection object to be connected are electrically and optically connected to each other.

Abstract: An optical fiber feedthrough assembly includes a glass plug disposed in a recess of a feedthrough housing. The glass plug may define a large-diameter, cane-based, waveguide sealed within the recess in the housing and providing optical communication through the housing. Sealing occurs with respect to the housing at or around the glass plug of an optical waveguide element passing through the housing by braze sealing to the glass plug and/or embedding the glass plug in a polymer bonded with the plug to form a molded body that is sealed in the housing by, for example, compression mounting of the molded body or providing a sealing element around the molded body.

Abstract: Connector for the termination of optical transmission media including a connector housing and at least one connector inner part arranged therein, which includes a ferrule with a bore for receiving the optical transmission media, wherein the ferrule is arranged in the connector inner part so that it can be moved axially against the force of a spring, wherein the connector inner part is joined to the connector housing by a snap connection, wherein the connector housing has at least one opening into which a locking tab engages when in the installed position, wherein the locking tab is a triangular elevation, extending radially, in longitudinal section in axial direction, on a cylindrical part of the connector inner part.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a shroud, spring, ferrule mount, shrink tube, and ferrule. The connector terminates a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber and a strength member. The ferrule terminates the optical fiber and is mounted to the ferrule mount. The ferrule mount attaches to the strength member and includes an exterior retaining surface and a passage for the optical fiber. The shroud is mounted over the ferrule mount and includes an interior retaining surface. The exterior and the interior retaining surfaces engage to limit distal movement of the shroud relative to the ferrule mount and the attached cable. The spring engages the cable and the shroud and distally urges the shroud relative to the cable. The shrink tube forms a seal between the shroud and the cable and can proximally urge the shroud relative to the ferrule mount. This proximal urging is overcome by the spring.

Abstract: A field-installable multi-fiber ferrule has two portions and one portion has optical fibers already secured therein. The second portion receives optical fibers to mate with the secured optical fibers. A tool is provided to assist in inserting the optical fibers into the multi-fiber ferrule by aligning and holding the optical fibers while they are secured in the multi-fiber ferrule.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a plug having a ferrule, a housing sleeved on the plug, a frame slidably positioned on the housing, and a shutter rotatably mounted on the frame. The shutter includes a covering portion for covering the ferrule and a rotating portion formed on the covering portion. The housing forms a urging portion adjacent to the ferrule implementing the rotating portion and rotating the covering portion to cover the ferrule when the frame slides on the housing to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical fiber connector includes the steps of providing a ferrule with an internal through passage, and using a gas for treating a surface of the internal through passage to enhance a bonding capability of the surface. Adhesive is introduced into at least a portion of the internal through passage and at least one optical fiber is secured to the surface of the internal through passage by the adhesive. Another method includes the steps of providing the ferrule with an internal through passage including a shoulder, a window that extends through a side surface, and a cap having at least a portion inserted into the window. Adhesive is introduced into at least a portion of the internal through passage and is in engagement with the shoulder for providing an axial stop for securing at least one optical fiber with respect to the internal through passage.

Abstract: A strain-relief assembly for a field-installable fiber optic connector is disclosed, wherein the assembly includes a ferrule holder, an intermediate sleeve, and a crimp sleeve. The ferrule holder back section holds a buffered section of a fiber optic cable, while the ferrule holder front end holds a ferrule and a splice assembly. A stub fiber is held within the ferrule and the splice assembly so as to interface with a section of field optical fiber protruding from the buffered section. The intermediate sleeve engages and generally surrounds a portion of the ferrule holder back section and thus surrounds a portion of the buffered layer. An intermediate sleeve handler may be used to handle the intermediate sleeve and attached the intermediate sleeve to the ferrule holder back section. Stress-relief strands from the fiber optic cable are flared around the outer surface of the intermediate sleeve. A crimp sleeve is placed over the intermediate sleeve to hold the ends of the stress-relief strands in place.

Abstract: A communications connection system includes an adapter module defining at least first and second ports and at least one media reading interface mounted at one of the ports. The first adapter module is configured to receive a fiber optic connector at each port. Some type of connectors may be formed as duplex connector arrangements. Some types of adapters may include ports without media reading interfaces. Some types of media reading interfaces include contact members having three contact sections.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector holder is sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. A system for holding fiber optic connectors includes a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. A optical fiber connector may be held to a bulkhead when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.

Abstract: A pluggable optical transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises a plurality of OSAs, an optical member and a plurality of inner fibers to couple the optical member with OSAs. The inner fibers each provides an inner connector to couple with one of OSAs. The housing, which installs the OSAs, the optical member and the inner fiber, is made of metal and has a grooves into which the inner fibers is set so as to arrange them orderly.

Abstract: Fiber optic assemblies including a plurality of optical fibers in a connector having a ferrule are disclosed. The ferrule has a front end face and a plurality of bores with the plurality of optical fibers being disposed within one of the respective plurality of bores. The fiber optic assemblies have the plurality of optical fibers recessed from the front end face of the ferrule by a suitable distance to inhibit physical contact of the plurality of optical fibers when mated with a complementary connection. Consequently, the fiber optic assemblies are suited for hundreds or thousands of connections and disconnections (i.e., mating cycles) with reduced susceptibility from damage and/or optical attenuation caused by dirt, debris and the like as expected with the consumer electronic/device environments.

Abstract: An optical ferrule that holds an optical fiber, the optical ferrule having an ejector pin mark formed by an ejector pin during molding, the optical ferrule includes a ferrule body, ferrule body having an optical fiber insertion opening to be inserted with the optical fiber, optical fiber hole from which a tip end of the optical fiber is to be exposed, and a lower surface of the ferrule body that is to be a reference plane, lower surface of the ferrule body including a recessed section, ejector pin mark being located on a bottom surface of the recessed section, side surface of the recessed section being formed higher than a molding burr of the ejector pin mark.

Abstract: A pluggable optical transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises a plurality of OSAs, an optical member and a plurality of inner fibers to couple the optical member with OSAs. The inner fibers each provides an inner connector to couple with one of OSAs. The housing, which installs the OSAs, the optical member and the inner fiber, is made of metal and has a grooves into which the inner fibers is set so as to arrange them orderly.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a housing having a mating end and a cable end and receives a cable through the cable end. The housing has a mounting block proximate to the cable end. A ferrule is configured to be terminated to the cable. The ferrule has an inner bushing and an outer bushing, with the inner and outer bushings cooperating to capture a cable braid of the cable therebetween. The ferrule is retained within the mounting block such that the ferrule is housed interior of the housing.

Abstract: A hardened fiber optic connector includes a unitary housing that mounts a connector body. The hardened fiber optic connector terminates a fiber optic cable including a strength layer and can be connected to a hardened fiber optic adapter. The unitary housing can transfer loads between the fiber optic cable and the hardened fiber optic adapter.

Abstract: A genderless fiber optic connection system includes an MPO cable or cord having at least one genderless MPO connector disposed at one end. The genderless MPO connector includes a housing and a first genderless MPO ferrule attached therein. A mating, front face of the MPO ferrule includes an alignment pin extending therefrom and an alignment hole formed into the front face. Fiber ends are located in one or more rows between the alignment pin and the alignment hole. The connection system may also include a genderless MPO port having a complementary alignment pin, alignment hole, and fiber ends for mating with the genderless MPO connector.

Abstract: A modular connector assembly is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration that complies with the RJ-45 wiring standard and an optical coupling configuration that provides the assembly with optical communications capabilities. In addition, the modular connector assembly is configured to have backwards compatibility with existing 8P8C jacks and plugs that implement the RJ-45 wiring standard. Consequently, the modular connector assembly may be used to communicate optical data signals at higher data rates (e.g., 10 Gb/s and higher) or to communicate electrical data signals at lower data rates (e.g., 1 Gb/s).

Abstract: An optoelectrical connector is composed of a plug to which a wire and an optical fiber are assembled and a receptacle to which the plug is inserted and connected. A receptacle includes insulation sleeves and conductive contacts in openings of receptacle housings, and plugs include a ferrule assembled bodies which are composed of an insulation ferrule which holds an optical fiber and a conductive cylindrical member which holds the ferrule and to which a wire is assembled, in an opening of the plug housing. When the plugs are inserted into the receptacle, the contacts and the cylindrical member contact with each other and the ferrules are inserted into the sleeves. Parts which serve electrical connection are not exposed.

Abstract: Provided are an optical connector and an optical apparatus having the same. The optical connector comprises a substrate, at least one optical waveguide, an optical coupler, and a ferrule alignment unit. The at least one optical waveguide is formed on the substrate. The optical coupler is formed on the optical waveguide. The ferrule alignment unit allows a ferrule fixing optical fibers combined with the optical coupler to be aligned with the substrate.

Abstract: A field-installable multi-fiber ferrule has two portions and one portion has optical fibers already secured therein. The second portion receives optical fibers to mate with the secured optical fibers. A tool is provided to assist in inserting the optical fibers into the multi-fiber ferrule by aligning and holding the optical fibers while they are secured in the multi-fiber ferrule.

Abstract: A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to determine whether a fiber optic connector is received at one of the ports of the adapter module. Certain types of connectors store physical layer information. Certain types of media reading interfaces are configured to read the physical layer information from the connector if the connector stores such information.

Abstract: Phototherapy devices for phototherapy treatment of a patient include a light emitter for emitting light received from a light source. Means may be provided for increasing the amount of power to the light source in response to a decrease in light output to maintain a substantially constant light output. The light source may be inside a housing and bonded to a heat sink attached to the back side of the housing to dissipate excess heat generated by the light source. Also the light source may comprise at least one LED that generates blue light output bands and at least one other LED that generates other color light output bands that are selectively mixed with the blue light output bands.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor element for a measuring machine, comprising a coupling element on the sensor element side for mechanically and optically connecting to a coupling element on the measuring machine side. An optical fiber is arranged in the coupling element on the sensor element side, wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical interface for connecting to an optical machine contact element of the measuring machine, wherein said optical interface is formed by an optical sensor contact element having a self-centering ferrule that encloses the end of the optical fiber. The ferrule is supported in the coupling element on the sensor element side in a floating manner.

Abstract: Small-form-factor fiber optic interface assemblies (180) for electronic devices (100) are disclosed. The fiber optic interface assemblies include a receptacle (120) configured to matingly engage with a plug (20) of a fiber optic cable assembly (10). Example assemblies include a flexible mount (228) supported by a circuit board (150) and configured to absorb a mechanical force when the plug is mated to the receptacle. The receptacle aperture (223) has at least one transverse dimension (L, W) of between about 2 mm and 4 mm. The assemblies can support both optical and electrical communication and functionality.

Abstract: Small-form fiber optic interface devices (20) for electronic devices (200) are disclosed. The device has a ferrule (50) with a body (51) that operably supports at least one waveguide (152) and at least one electrical wire (160). The device has a first electrical contact (90) supported by the ferrule body and a second electrical contact (100) that substantially surrounds the outer surface (57) of the ferrule body front section (56). The ferrule body comprises a dielectric material at least partially interposed between the first and second electrical contacts.

Abstract: A fiber optic interface device (10) with a positionable cover (100) is disclosed. The device includes a ferrule (50) supported by a housing (21). The ferrule has a front section (65) with a surface (66) and is configured to support at least one optical path interface (OPI) at the front-section surface. The cover supports a cleaning member (170) and is positionable in open and closed positions. In the closed position, the cleaning member is proximate to the at least one optical path interface, and in the open position the at least one optical path interface is exposed.

Abstract: An optical subassembly package configuration for monitoring a fiber, the configuration includes a container, an optical subassembly, an optical fiber, and a ferrule. The container has a face, and the optical subassembly is disposed within the container. The optical fiber communicates with the subassembly. The ferrule is attached to the face of the container, the fiber being monitored terminates inside the ferrule.

Abstract: Structures and techniques are described relating to the alignment of multicore fibers within a multifiber connector. These structures and techniques include: multicore fibers having a number of different shapes, including, for example, circular, elliptical, D-shaped, double D-shaped, and polygonal; multifiber ferrules, having a plurality of fiber guide holes therein of various shapes; alignment fixtures for aligning multicore fibers within multifiber ferrules; and various multicore fiber alignment techniques.

Abstract: A fiber optic interface device with a bent optical path has a ferrule with a body having front and rear ends and an internal cavity adjacent the front end and defined by a rear wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall defines at least one lens. The device includes at least one optical waveguide that defines the bent optical path. The ferrule supports at least one optical waveguide so that the bent optical path resides within the cavity, with the fiber end being operably aligned with the at least one lens. A fiber optic interface assembly is formed by mating the device with a second fiber optic interface device.

Abstract: Fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) for electronic devices (300) are disclosed. A plug-type fiber optic interface (20) has an axially moveable multi-fiber ferrule (100) that supports optical fibers (52) or a combination of optical fibers and gradient-index lenses (600). A resilient member (150) serves to provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions relative to a recessed front end (22) of a housing (21). A fiber optic interface assembly (570) that includes mated plug and receptacle fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable connector includes a ferrule subassembly, in which a ferrule is mounted into a receptacle including a barrel section having a flange at its base. The ferrule subassembly is loaded into an enclosure having a plug housing at its lead end. The plug housing is configured to provide a connection between an endface of a multicore fiber mounted into the ferrule and a corresponding surface in a mating socket. A collar is rotatably mounted onto the barrel section of the ferrule subassembly such that it butts up against the flange. The collar has an opening that fits around the barrel section, and an outer perimeter that fits into a receiving cavity with the plug housing. The ferrule, receptacle, receptacle barrel section, mounted multicore fiber, enclosure, and plug housing have a common longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of forming a waveguide or an optical assembly includes molding a waveguide material, optionally in alignment with one or more optical components. The one or more optical components are aligned in a precision mold that is also used to form the waveguide. A cladding and encapsulation material can also be molded. The molded materials can be used to hold the components together in alignment in a single assembly. A connector structure can be molded as part of the assembly or can be prefabricated and incorporated into the molded assembly to facilitate connecting the assembly to other components without requiring active alignment or polishing of optical fiber ends.