A ferrule includes a ferrule body and a film. The ferrule body has a connecting end face that connects to another ferrule, a fiber hole into which an optical fiber inserts, and a recessed portion with a bottom surface that is recessed from the connecting end face at a depth. The film is disposed to cover the fiber hole that is open at a bottom surface of the recessed portion, and the film is thinner than a depth of the recessed portion.

A ferrule-based fiber optic connectors having a ferrule retraction balancing characteristic for preserving optical performance are disclosed. The fiber optic connector comprises a connector assembly, a connector sleeve assembly and a balancing resilient member. The connector assembly comprises a ferrule and a resilient member for biasing the ferrule forward and the connector sleeve assembly comprises a housing and a ferrule sleeve, where the connector assembly is at least partially disposed in the passageway of the housing and the ferrule of the connector assembly is at least partially disposed in the ferrule sleeve. The balancing resilient member biases the housing to a forward position with the biasing resilient member having a predetermined resilient force that is greater than the friction force required for displacement of the ferrule within the ferrule sleeve.

An insertion and extraction tool for a fiber optic connector is provided. The tool includes a first frame member, second frame member, and a pivot connection. The pivot connection secures the first and second frame members to one another for movement between an open position and a closed position. The frame members define tips at one side of the pivot connection and handles at an opposite side of the pivot connection. The frame members, at least at the tips, have a cross sectional width equal to or smaller than the fiber optic connector. The frame members are configured so that the tips define a plurality of discrete gripping regions.

A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the non-conventional connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule, a ferrule hub supporting the ferrule, and a split sleeve surrounding the ferrule.

A ferrule-based fiber optic connectors having a ferrule retraction balancing characteristic for preserving optical performance are disclosed. The fiber optic connector comprises a connector assembly, a connector sleeve assembly and a balancing resilient member. The connector assembly comprises a ferrule and a resilient member for biasing the ferrule forward and the connector sleeve assembly comprises a housing and a ferrule sleeve, where the connector assembly is at least partially disposed in the passageway of the housing and the ferrule of the connector assembly is at least partially disposed in the ferrule sleeve. The balancing resilient member biases the housing to a forward position with a the biasing resilient member having a predetermined resilient force that is greater than the friction force required for displacement of the ferrule within the ferrule sleeve.

An optical fiber connector member includes an optical fiber and a housing into which the optical fiber is inserted and that fixes the optical fiber. The housing includes a wedge portion that pressurizes the optical fiber only in a first direction included in diametric directions of the optical fiber.

A method of terminating an optical fiber having an inner core with a fiber optic connector including a ferrule having a micro-bore and an end face with a mating location is disclosed. The method includes determining a bore bearing angle of a bore offset of the micro-bore in the ferrule; determining a core bearing angle of a core offset of the inner core in the optical fiber; orienting the ferrule and the optical fiber relative to each other to minimize the distance between the inner core and the mating location; heating the ferrule to an processing temperature above room temperature; and coupling the optical fiber to the micro-bore of the ferrule. The size of the micro-bores and optical fibers may be selected to maximize the number of interference fits in a population of ferrules and optical fibers while minimizing failed fittings between the ferrules and optical fibers in the populations.

Aspects of the disclosure are drawn to methods for producing a fused connector termination. An exemplary method may include setting a specification requirement to be met by the fused connector termination and applying an amount of heat to a proximal region of an unfused connector termination. The proximal region of the unfused connector termination may include an inner optical fiber coaxially positioned within an outer ferrule, and applying the amount of heat may at least partially fuse the optical fiber to the outer ferrule to form an at least partially fused connector termination. The method may also include imaging the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination and determining, based on the imaging, whether the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination meets the specification.

An optical waveguide member connector kit includes an optical waveguide member including an optical waveguide and a connector accommodating the optical waveguide member. The connector includes a main body having a bottom wall, and a first wall and a second wall that extend from the bottom wall toward one side in a thickness direction of the bottom wall and face each other at spaced intervals therebetween, and a lid disposed between the first wall and the second wall and sandwiching the optical waveguide member with the bottom wall when the optical waveguide member is accommodated in the connector. A ratio (L1/L2) of a length L1 in a facing direction of the lid to a facing length L2 between the first wall and the second wall is 0.80 or more and 0.99 or less.

A method of terminating an optical fiber having an inner core with a fiber optic connector including a ferrule having a micro-bore and an end face with a mating location is disclosed. The method includes determining a bore bearing angle of a bore offset of the micro-bore in the ferrule; determining a core bearing angle of a core offset of the inner core in the optical fiber; orienting the ferrule and the optical fiber relative to each other to minimize the distance between the inner core and the mating location; heating the ferrule to an processing temperature above room temperature; and coupling the optical fiber to the micro-bore of the ferrule. The size of the micro-bores and optical fibers may be selected to maximize the number of interference fits in a population of ferrules and optical fibers while minimizing failed fittings between the ferrules and optical fibers in the populations.