US 12,032,212 B2
Ferrules, alignment frames and connectors
Alexander A. Mathews, Austin, TX (US); Terry L Smith, Roseville, MN (US); and Michael A. Haase, St. Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/466,303.
Application 17/466,303 is a division of application No. 15/754,024, granted, now 11,137,551, previously published as PCT/US2016/054665, filed on Sep. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/240,066, filed on Oct. 12, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0396937 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/30 (2006.01); G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/40 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/383 (2013.01) [G02B 6/30 (2013.01); G02B 6/3636 (2013.01); G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3882 (2013.01); G02B 6/403 (2013.01); G02B 6/3817 (2013.01); G02B 6/3826 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical connector comprising:
a housing;
one or more alignment features attached to the housing for engaging a corresponding one or more alignment features attached to a housing of a mating connector; and
a unitary optical ferrule at least partially disposed within the housing and comprising:
an optical waveguide alignment member for receiving, aligning and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides;
a light redirecting member for changing a direction of light propagating within the optical ferrule; and
first and second flexible alignment features on opposite sides of the optical ferrule, such that when the connector mates with a mating connector comprising a mating optical ferrule, the first and second flexible alignment features flex away from one another and engage the mating optical ferrule at respective first and second contact points, wherein the first and second flexible alignment features are maximally flexed away from the sides of the optical ferrule when the optical ferrule is mated with the mating connector.