An optical fiber fan-out assembly includes multiple optical fibers arranged in a one-dimensional array in a transition segment in which spacing between fibers is varied from a first pitch (e.g., a buffered fiber diameter of 900 m) to a second pitch (e.g., a coated fiber diameter of 250 m). A polymeric material encapsulates the optical fibers in the transition segment, and the assembly further includes multiple optical fiber legs each terminated with a fiber optic connector. Optical fibers extending beyond a boundary of the polymeric material are subject to being mass fusion spliced to another group of multiple optical fibers, and the fusion splices encapsulated with polymeric material, to form a fiber optic cable assembly. Methods for fabricating multi-fiber assemblies providing fan-out functionality are further provided, and the need for furcation tubes is avoided.

The high-density FAU comprises a support substrate having a grooved front-end section that supports glass end sections of the small diameter low-attenuation optical fibers. A cover is disposed on the front-end section and secured thereto to hold the glass end sections in place. The substrate and the cover can be made of the same glass or glasses having about the same CTE. The glass end sections have a diameter d4 so that the pitch P2 of the fibers at the front end of the FAU can be equal to or greater than d4, wherein d4=2r.sub.4, with r.sub.4 being the radius of the glass end section as defined by the optical fiber cladding. The glass end section has a radius r.sub.4 less than 45 microns, allowing for a high-density FAU and a high-density optical interconnection device.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an interlacing boot and methods of using the same to automatically interleave optical fibers in a two-row array, such from a two rows ferrule. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the optical fibers are inserted into a first end of an interlacing boot in a first direction. The interlacing boot can include a guiding structure having one or more channels. Each channel can be adapted to receive a single optical fiber. Each channel can include a first end and a second end, and the second end can be offset with respect to the first end in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The interlacing boot can be pushed towards the ferrule to feed the optical fibers through the guiding structure. The first row of fibers can be physically offset from and interlaced with the second row of fibers by the guiding structure.

The present disclosure relates to connector ports with shutters configured to inhibit dust intrusion by including peripheral regions that oppose undercut portions of the connector port when the shutter is closed. The present disclosure also relates to fiber optic connectors having latching configurations with double latches for retaining the fiber optic connectors in connector ports. The present disclosure also relates to a fiber optic connector including a plurality of stacked fiber carrier modules. The present disclosure also relates to a fiber optic connector including a connector body and a rear connector piece that is secured to the connector body by a snap-fit connection. The rear connector piece can be configured for attachment to a fiber optic cable. The rear connector piece can be secured to the connector body by a snap-fit connection. The rear connector piece can have a snap-fit interface compatible with a number of different styles or types of connector bodies to promote manufacturing efficiency.

A method for ribbonizing a plurality of loose optical fibers includes aligning the plurality of loose optical fibers in a co-planer array. The method further includes securing the aligned plurality of loose optical fibers in a predetermined pitch spacing, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers is free from others of the plurality of optical fibers. The method further includes loading the loose optical fibers into a fiber holder.

Disclosed is a method and system for passively aligning optical fibers (4), a first waveguide array (62), and a second waveguide array (42) using chip-to-chip vertical evanescent optical waveguides (44) and (64), that can be used with fully automated die bonding equipment. The assembled system (2, 30, 60) can achieve high optical coupling and high process throughput for needs of high volume manufacturing of photonics, silicon photonics, and other applications that would benefit from aligning optical fibers to lasers efficiently.

An optical assembly includes stacked first and second planar lightwave circuit (PLC) members each having a plurality of waveguides in respective first and second planes, to provide optical connections between a two-dimensional array and a one-dimensional array of external optical waveguides (e.g., optical fiber cores). Inner faces of first and second PLC members are arranged facing one another and with the first and second planes (corresponding to the pluralities of first and second waveguides, respectively) being non-parallel. An optical assembly may provide optical connections between arrays of cores having a different pitch to serve as a fanout interface. Methods for fabricating an optical assembly are further provided.

An optical fiber fan-out assembly includes multiple optical fibers arranged in a one-dimensional array in a transition segment in which spacing between fibers is varied from a first pitch (e.g., a buffered fiber diameter of 900 m) to a second pitch (e.g., a coated fiber diameter of 250 m). A polymeric material encapsulates the optical fibers in the transition segment, and the assembly further includes multiple optical fiber legs each terminated with a fiber optic connector. Optical fibers extending beyond a boundary of the polymeric material are subject to being mass fusion spliced to another group of multiple optical fibers, and the fusion splices encapsulated with polymeric material, to form a fiber optic cable assembly. Methods for fabricating multi-fiber assemblies providing fan-out functionality are further provided, and the need for furcation tubes is avoided.

Optical coupling systems are provided. An optical coupling system includes a first optical fiber end having a first core, a second optical fiber end having a second core, and a laser diode optically coupled to the first core and the second core at an optical coupling location. The laser diode emits a light beam having an asymmetrical cross-sectional light beam profile comprising a fast axis diameter and a slow axis diameter. The fast axis diameter is longer than the slow axis diameter. Further, the first optical fiber end and the second optical fiber end are adjacently positioned along the fast axis diameter of the asymmetrical cross-sectional light beam profile of the laser diode at the optical coupling location such that the first core and the second core are within the asymmetrical cross-sectional light beam profile at the optical coupling location.

A system forms, at an end of a multifiber ribbon cable, a multifiber ribbon cable segment having an enlarged core-to-core spacing. A UV-transparent mold is mounted on top of a chassis. The mold defines a plurality of individual fiber channels corresponding to individual fibers of the existing multifiber ribbon cable and having a spacing equal to that of the enlarged core-to-core spacing. Each individual fiber channel passes through the internal cavity. The assembled mold further includes an injection system for receiving light curable, flowable material from the reservoir and pumping system and feeding it into the internal cavity, and at least one vent for allowing air to escape from the internal cavity as the light-curable, flowable material is fed into the internal cavity. The injected material is cured by exposure to a curing light.