US 12,366,710 B2
Fiber optic ferrule and interface for coupling hollow-core and solid-core optical fibers
Stephan Lvovich Logunov, Corning, NY (US); Pushkar Tandon, Painted Post, NY (US); and Qi Wu, Painted Post, NY (US)
Assigned to Corning Research & Development Corporation, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/988,924.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/283,616, filed on Nov. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168436 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3822 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3826 (2013.01); G02B 6/3845 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic coupling assembly comprising:
a first fiber optic ferrule comprising a first body structure having a first longitudinal axis, a first proximal end face, and a first distal end face, the first body structure defining a first bore extending from the first proximal end face to the first distal end face; and
a second fiber optic ferrule comprising a first body structure having a second longitudinal axis, a second proximal end face, and a second distal end face, the second body structure defining a second bore extending from the second proximal end face to the second distal end face;
wherein:
the second longitudinal axis is coaxial with the first longitudinal axis;
at least a portion of the first proximal end face is non-parallel to the second proximal end face;
a first portion of the first proximal end face is in contact with a first portion of the second proximal end face, and an air gap is provided between a second portion of the first proximal end face and a second portion of the second proximal end face;
at least one of the first proximal end face or the second proximal end face is non-perpendicular to each of the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis;
the first bore contains a solid core optical fiber having a first mode field diameter at the first proximal end face, having a second mode field diameter at the first distal end face, and having a mode field diameter transition region arranged between the first proximal end face and the first distal end face, the mode field diameter transition region providing a mode field diameter that transitions from the first mode field diameter to the second mode field diameter; and
the second bore contains a hollow core optical fiber.