A disclosed multimode optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding surrounding the core. The core has an outer radius r.sub.1 in between 20 μm and 30 μm. The cladding includes a first outer cladding region having an outer radius r.sub.4a and a second outer cladding region having an outer radius r.sub.4b less than or equal to 45 μm. The second outer cladding region comprises silica-based glass doped with titania. The optical fiber further includes a primary coating with an outer radius r.sub.5 less than or equal to 80 μm, and a thickness (r.sub.5−r.sub.4) less than or equal to 30 μm. The optical fiber further includes a secondary coating with an outer radius r.sub.6 less than or equal to 100 μm. The secondary coating has a thickness (r.sub.6−r.sub.5) less than or equal to 30 μm, and a normalized puncture load greater than 3.6×10.sup.−3 g/micron.sup.2.

An optical connector assembly includes first and second optical ferrules. Each of the first and second optical ferrules includes a front portion extending forwardly from a rear portion. The rear portion includes a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side of the rear portion defines a recessed portion. The first and second optical ferrules mate with each other such that the front portion of each of the first and second ferrules is disposed in the recessed portion of the other one of the first and second ferrules. Discrete retainers are assembled to opposite ends of the mated first and second ferrules. Each of the retainers defines a resilient portion resiliently forcing the front portion of one of the first and second mated ferrules against the other one of the first and second optical ferrules.

An optical ferrule configured to move along a mating direction to mate with a mating optical ferrule. The optical ferrule includes an attachment portion for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides. First and second engagement portions are formed integrally with the optical ferrule and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction. First and second engagement portions are formed integrally with the mating optical ferrule and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction. When the optical ferrule mates with the mating optical ferrule, the first and second engagement portions of the optical ferrule engage the respective second and first engagement portions of the mating optical ferrule. The engagement of the engagement portions of the optical ferrules prevents each of the optical ferules from moving relative to the other optical ferrule along at least mutually orthogonal first and second directions orthogonal to the mating direction.

A light coupling unit for use in an optical connector includes a waveguide alignment member that receives and aligns at least one optical waveguide. The light coupling unit includes a light redirecting member that has an input surface configured to receive input light from the end face of the optical wave guide. A curved reflective surface of the light redirecting member receives light from the input surface propagating along an input axis and redirects the light such that the redirected light propagates along a different redirected axis. An output surface of the light redirecting member receives the redirected light and transmits the redirected light as output light propagating along an output axis and exiting the light redirecting member. A curved intersection of the curved reflective surface and a first plane formed by the input and redirected axes has a radius of curvature. The curved reflective surface has an axis of revolution disposed in the first plane. The axis of revolution forms a first angle with the redirected axis which is non-zero. The waveguide alignment member is configured such that the end face of the optical wave guide is positioned at a location that is not a geometric focus of the curved reflective surface.

An optical ferrule comprises first and second compound stop features respectively disposed at opposing sides of the optical ferrule. Each compound stop feature has upper and lower contact surfaces. The lower contact surface is offset below the mating surface of the optical ferrule along a thickness axis perpendicular to the mating surface. The upper contact surface is offset above the mating surface along the thickness axis. The lower contact surface is offset forward from the upper stop surface along a mating direction of the optical ferrule. A connecting surface connects the upper contact surface and the lower contact surface.

An optical fiber connecting component includes a glass plate having a plurality of first through holes, a resin ferrule fixed to the glass plate and having a plurality of second through holes that are each coaxial with corresponding one of the plurality of first through holes, and a plurality of optical fibers including a glass fiber and a resin coating that covers the glass fiber. The glass fiber exposed from a tip of each of the optical fibers is held in corresponding one of the first through holes and corresponding one of the second through holes, and a material for the resin ferrule has a flexural modulus of 5 GPa or more at 200° C.

An optical ferrule (200) includes an input surface (10) for receiving and transmitting a central light ray (21) from an optical fiber (20) attached to the optical ferrule. A light redirecting side (30) receives, along a first direction (40), the central light ray (21) transmitted by the input surface (10) and redirects the received light along a different second direction (41). The redirected central light ray (23) exits the optical ferrule through an output surface (50) of the optical ferrule. As the central light ray (21) propagates in the optical ferrule from the input surface (10) to the output surface (50), the central light ray (21) propagates through distinct first and second portions (60,70) of the optical ferrule having different respective first and second compositions.

A multifiber ferrule has a generally forward-facing angled ferrule contact surface that is skewed with respect to the widthwise axis of the ferrule such that the angled ferrule contact surface defines a widthwise skew angle with respect to the widthwise axis. A multifiber optical connector has a connector housing assembly that holds at least one of this type of ferrule. The connector housing assembly can hold two such ferrules so that the ferrule contact surfaces are angled in opposite widthwise directions and so that a broad side of the first ferrule opposes a broad side of the second ferrule in parallel, spaced apart relationship therewith. A polarity-changeable multifiber optical connector is also provided that includes a multifiber ferrule with a generally forward-facing ferrule contact surface at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

An optical assembly includes a hermaphroditic cassette comprising a hood that includes a narrower section and a wider section. The narrower and wider sections are separated by slots such that the narrower section fits at least partially within a wider section of an identical mating hood of a mating optical assembly and the wider section receives a narrower section of the mating hood. The hood has first and second stop features configured to engage with second and first stop features of the mating hood. The first stop feature comprises a mating end of the narrower section of the hood and the second stop feature comprises a stop surface disposed within the wider section of the hood. Engagement of the stop features of the hood with stop features of the mating hood is configured to stop relative translational movement of the hood and the mating hood along the mating axis during mating.

A terminal for making a hydraulic, electrical, or optical connection in an ink jet printing machine. The terminal extends along an axis XX′, and its external surface includes: a cylindrical portion, including a contact end and having a first diameter (d1), this end being provided with hydraulic or electrical or optical connection structure. The external surface also includes a collar, having a diameter (d2) higher than the first diameter (d1), and a throat, the bottom of which has a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis XX′, having at least one arc of circle portion having a third diameter (d3) lower than that of the collar, at least one planar part, and a part of this cross-section having a width lower than the third diameter. The throat continues with a connection device, for connecting to at least one hydraulic conduit or one electrical cable or one optical fiber.