Optical connectors and optical ferrules

Abstract

An optical connector includes a housing having a resilient member and an optical ferrule. The optical ferrule includes a plurality of attachment areas for receiving and securing a plurality of optical waveguides and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide. The optical connector is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and secured in any of the attachment areas and light from the optical waveguide propagates along an optical path, the resilient member is not in the optical path. When the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed to resiliently force the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule.

1 . An optical connector, comprising:
 a housing comprising a resilient member; and   an optical ferrule assembled to the housing and comprising:   a plurality of attachment areas for receiving and securing a plurality of optical waveguides; and   a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in an attachment area, such that when an optical waveguide is received and secured in any of the attachment areas and light from the optical waveguide propagates along an optical path, the resilient member is not in the optical path,   such that when the optical connector mates with an optical mating connector comprising an optical mating ferrule assembled thereto, and the optical ferrule mates with the mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed to resiliently force the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule;   wherein at least 30% of the resilient force is along the mating direction, and at least 30% of the resilient force is along a direction orthogonal to the mating direction, and wherein the resiliently deformed resilient member makes contact with, and applies the force to, a top major surface of the optical ferrule.   
     
     
         2 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member extends along a first direction, and wherein when the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed along the first direction, and wherein the resilient member is attached to a first coupling end attached to the housing and an opposite second coupling end for making contact with the optical ferrule. 
     
     
         3 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the light redirecting side is configured to change the direction of the light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in the attachment area by at least 45 degrees, and wherein each attachment area extends along a first direction, and the resiliently deformed resilient member is configured to apply the resilient force to the optical ferule along a second direction making an oblique angle with the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformed resilient member makes contact with, and applies the force to, a first arm of the optical ferrule integrally formed with, and extending from, a first side of the optical ferrule in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side and a mating direction of the optical ferrule. 
     
     
         5 . An optical connector, comprising:
 a housing comprising a resilient member; and   an optical ferrule assembled to the housing and comprising:   a plurality of attachment areas for receiving and securing a plurality of optical waveguides; and   a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in an attachment area, such that when an optical waveguide is received and secured in any of the attachment areas and light from the optical waveguide propagates along an optical path, the resilient member is not in the optical path,   such that when the optical connector mates with an optical mating connector comprising an optical mating ferrule assembled thereto, and the optical ferrule mates with the mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed to resiliently force the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule;   wherein the optical ferrule comprises a mating end and an opposite rear end, and wherein the resiliently deformed resilient member makes contact with, and applies the force to, a region of the optical ferrule disposed between the light redirecting side and the mating end of the optical ferrule.   
     
     
         6 . The optical connector of  claim 5 , wherein the resilient member extends along a first direction, and wherein when the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed along the first direction, and wherein the resilient member is attached to a first coupling end attached to the housing and an opposite second coupling end for making contact with the optical ferrule. 
     
     
         7 . The optical connector of  claim 5 , wherein the light redirecting side is configured to change the direction of the light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in the attachment area by at least 45 degrees, and wherein each attachment area extends along a first direction, and the resiliently deformed resilient member is configured to apply the resilient force to the optical ferule along a second direction making an oblique angle with the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The optical connector of  claim 5 , wherein the resiliently deformed resilient member makes contact with, and applies the force to, a first arm of the optical ferrule integrally formed with, and extending from, a first side of the optical ferrule in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side and a mating direction of the optical ferrule.