Optical connection systems, optical cable assemblies, and optical receptacle assemblies for optically coupling multiple optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing, wherein the receptacle housing defines a receptacle passage, and an adapter sleeve disposed within the receptacle passage of the receptacle housing. The adapter sleeve includes a sleeve passage and a sleeve inner threaded surface. The optical receptacle assembly further includes an adapter housing disposed within the receptacle passage having a first connector opening and a second connector opening, a first receptacle optical connector and a second receptacle optical connector. The first receptacle optical connector is disposed within the first connector opening of the adapter housing and the second receptacle optical connector is disposed within the second connector opening of the adapter housing.

A line-card comprising: an optical blindmate connector to connect to the midplane of the switch sub-chassis; and a printed circuit board (PCB) including: an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); an electrical blindmate connector to connect to a midplane of a switch sub-chassis; and a liquid blindmate connector to connect to the switch sub-chassis.

A fiber optic network architecture for distributing service to local subscribers is disclosed. The architecture includes a plurality of high-fiber count cables connected end-to-end at connectorized coupling locations to form a main cable trunk. The connectorized coupling locations include high-fiber count pass-through connections for optically connecting optical fibers of adjacent ones of the high-fiber count cables end. The connectorized coupling locations also including high-fiber count branch connections for optically connecting optical fibers of the high-fiber count cables to branch locations.

An optical connector ferrule according to an embodiment includes an MT ferrule, and a spacer mounted on an optical end surface of the MT ferrule and having a guide hole into which a guide pin is inserted. The spacer has a contact surface that contacting the counterpart connector and a recess surrounded by the contact surface. The spacer includes a lens part exposed on a bottom surface of the recess and optically coupled to the optical end surface of the MT ferrule and a base part that retains the lens part by surrounding the lens part. The material of the lens part and the material of the base part are different from each other, and the difference between the linear expansion coefficient of the base part and the linear expansion coefficient of the MT ferrule is 0.510.sup.5/ C. or less.

Detachable optical connectors including a connector support for optical chips and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical assembly includes an optical chip including a surface, an edge extending from the surface, and at least one chip waveguide proximate the surface and terminating at the edge. The optical assembly further includes a waveguide support having a chip coupling surface, and at least one waveguide disposed within the waveguide support and terminating at the chip coupling surface, wherein the chip coupling surface is coupled to the edge of the optical chip such that the at least one waveguide within the waveguide support is optically coupled to the at least one chip waveguide of the optical chip. The optical assembly further includes a connector support having a first portion coupled to the optical chip, and a second portion coupled to the waveguide support.

A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is provided having a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for the fibers from the cable. First and second keys for setting the polarity of the fibers within the connector located on opposing sides of the connector. The connector has either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector. The keys are movable between a first active position and a second retracted position, such that when one of the keys is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a first polarity and when the second key is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a second polarity reversed from the first polarity.

An optical connector includes: a plurality of first ferrules; a first housing that houses the plurality of first ferrules; a plurality of second ferrules; and a second housing that houses the plurality of second ferrules. The first housing includes: a plurality of first inner housings; and a first outer housing. The optical connector butt-couples the first ferrules and the second ferrules, respectively, by mating the first housing and the second housing. Each of the plurality of first inner housings houses at least one of the plurality of first ferrules. The first outer housing is releasable from the plurality of first inner housings. The plurality of first inner housings and the second housing are mated in stages. When each of the plurality of first inner housings and the second housing are mated, each of the plurality of first inner housings to be mated is released from the first outer housing.

A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is provided having a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for the fibers from the cable. First and second keys for setting the polarity of the fibers within the connector located on opposing sides of the connector. The connector has either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector. The keys are movable between a first active position and a second retracted position, such that when one of the keys is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a first polarity and when the second key is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a second polarity reversed from the first polarity.

A fiber optic network architecture for distributing service to local subscribers is disclosed. The architecture includes a plurality of high-fiber count cables connected end-to-end at connectorized coupling locations to form a main cable trunk. The connectorized coupling locations include high-fiber count pass-through connections for optically connecting optical fibers of adjacent ones of the high-fiber count cables end. The connectorized coupling locations also including high-fiber count branch connections for optically connecting optical fibers of the high-fiber count cables to branch locations.

A connector member for an optical waveguide includes a housing provided with a space portion for holding an end portion of an optical waveguide. In the housing, protruding portions serving as a positioner are provided on left-hand and right-hand side wall portions defining the space portion. Notches in the optical waveguide are fitted on the protruding portions, whereby a front end surface of the end portion of the optical waveguide is positioned at a location a predetermined distance inward from a front end surface of the housing. This configuration achieves optical coupling without bringing the end surface of the optical waveguide into direct abutment with an end surface of a target optical connector.