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.

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 ferrule includes a body and a lens part. The body includes a first connecting surface at which a slit for inserting an optical waveguide is open. The lens part includes a lens and a second connecting surface. The lens part is bonded to the body with an adhesive with the second connecting surface facing and contacting the first connecting surface. At least one of the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface includes a curved surface.

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 housing for a fiber optic connector includes an opening extending between a front end and a rear end, and having an integral spring stop surface between the front end and the rear end. A front section receives an elastic member into the opening from the front end and the elastic member is engageable with the integral spring stop of the housing. There is a middle section of the main body to transition optical fibers between a fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic cable. A rear section of the main body has an outer surface to engage a crimp ring.

A multi-fiber ferrule has a main body with a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion includes a top cut-out therein to form a first forward facing surface to engage a housing of a fiber optic connector. The top cut-out extends rearwardly from the front end. The bottom portion also has a bottom cut-out portion forming a second forward facing surface to engage the housing of the fiber optic connector, the bottom cut-out also extending rearwardly from the front end. The multi-fiber ferrule also includes an end face at a front end of the main body, and a rear face at a rear end of the main body. There is a rear central opening that extends into the main body from the rear end face and configured to receive at least three optical fibers.

A position determination method for determining a position of a point on a flat surface by observing the position of the point and a position of a fiducial portion on the flat surface in an image of a measuring system provided with an imaging optical system using coaxial episcopic illumination is provided. The fiducial portion is in the shape of a pillar at least in the basal portion and provided with an inclined surface surrounding the foot of the pillar. The method includes the steps of determining a position of the outer boundary of the foot from the boundary between the inclined surface and the flat surface in the image; determining the position of the fiducial portion from the position of the outer boundary of the foot; and determining the position of the point with respect to the position of the fiducial portion.

Optical ports providing passive alignment connectivity are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical port includes a substrate having a surface, a photonic silicon chip, a connector body, and a plurality of spacer elements. The photonic silicon chip includes an electrical coupling surface, an upper surface and an optical coupling surface. The optical coupling surface is positioned between the electrical coupling surface and the upper surface. The photonic silicon chip further includes at least one waveguide terminating at the optical coupling surface, and a chip engagement feature disposed on the upper surface. The connector body includes a first alignment feature, a second alignment feature, a mounting surface, and a connector engagement feature at the mounting surface. The connector engagement feature mates with the chip engagement feature. The plurality of spacer elements is disposed between the electrical coupling surface of the photonic silicon chip and the surface of the substrate.

A ferrule boot for a fiber optic cable includes a front body portion defining at least one aperture, and includes at least one rear body portion defining at least one guide channel that facilitates insertion of loose optical fiber segments through the at least one aperture. At least a portion of each guide channel lacks a top surface boundary that is registered with a top surface of a corresponding aperture, such that an accessible (e.g., open) top portion is provided to ease insertion of at least one group of optical fibers into the at least one guide channel, with the optical fibers preferably being non-ribbonized. Fiber optic cable assemblies and methods for fabrication utilizing the ferrule boot are further provided.

Optical ports providing passive alignment connectivity are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical port includes a substrate having a surface, a photonic silicon chip, a connector body, and a plurality of spacer elements. The photonic silicon chip includes an electrical coupling surface, an upper surface and an optical coupling surface. The optical coupling surface is positioned between the electrical coupling surface and the upper surface. The photonic silicon chip further includes at least one waveguide terminating at the optical coupling surface, and a chip engagement feature disposed on the upper surface. The connector body includes a first alignment feature, a second alignment feature, a mounting surface, and a connector engagement feature at the mounting surface. The connector engagement feature mates with the chip engagement feature. The plurality of spacer elements is disposed between the electrical coupling surface of the photonic silicon chip and the surface of the substrate.