US 11,914,196 B2
Optical ferrule assemblies
Changbao Ma, Austin, TX (US); James M. Nelson, Lino Lakes, MN (US); and Michael A. Haase, St. Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Appl. No. 18/266,043
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/060856
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 8, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/130071, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 23, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/199,248, filed on Dec. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0393348 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3829 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3854 (2013.01); G02B 6/3855 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical ferrule assembly comprising:
a hybrid optical ferrule comprising a glass portion assembled to a polymeric portion, the polymeric portion comprising:
a groove for receiving and supporting an optical fiber and comprising opposing open front and back ends; and
a light redirecting member comprising:
an input surface for receiving light from an optical fiber received and supported in the groove; and
a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input surface, wherein the open back end of the groove is disposed between the open front end of the groove and the input surface, the open back end of the groove and the input surface defining a recessed region therebetween; and
the glass portion comprising an optically transparent glass insert disposed in the recessed region and substantially conforming in shape to an internal shape of the recessed region; and
an optical fiber received and supported in the groove, the optical fiber comprising a fiber end laser welded to the glass insert so that a central light ray from the optical fiber propagates through the glass insert before being received and redirected by the light redirecting side.