Modified MT ferrule with removed cantilevered fibers and internal lenses and mold pin
A modified MT fiber optic ferrule has optical fiber receiving holes by the front end to receive the ends of optical fibers inserted into and through the ferrule. The optical fiber receiving holes are aligned with optical fiber openings in the center of the ferrule and have lenses formed in the optical fiber receiving holes to collimate from or focus light into the optical fibers in the fiber optic ferrules. The front end of the fiber optic ferrule may also have integral mating surfaces.
1. A fiber optic ferrule comprising:
a main body having a front end, a back end, and a middle portion disposed between the front end and back end;
a first opening through the back end of the main body, the first opening configured to receive at least two optical fibers through the back end of the main body;
a plurality of optical fiber openings disposed in the middle portion and in communication with and extending from the first opening toward the front end, each of the plurality of optical fiber openings configured to receive an optical fiber inserted through the back end and an optical fiber stop disposed within each of the plurality of optical fiber openings;
a second opening disposed between the middle portion and the front end, the second opening extending through a surface of the main body perpendicular to a front face disposed at the front end of the main body; and
a front portion, the front portion disposed between the second opening and the front end, the front portion having a plurality of lens holes, each of the plurality of lens holes corresponding to one of the plurality of optical fiber openings in the middle portion and opening into the second opening.
2. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lens holes has a lens, the lens in each of the plurality of lens holes is disposed between the front face of the main body and the lens hole.
3. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , further comprising adhesive disposed in the second opening and the plurality of lens holes, the adhesive and the fiber optic ferrule having a refractive index that are different from one another.
4. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , the further comprising adhesive disposed in the second opening and the plurality of lens holes, the adhesive and the core of the optical fibers having a refractive index that are the same.
5. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mating surfaces disposed on the front face of the main body, each of the plurality of mating surfaces corresponding to one of the plurality of lens holes.
6. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of mating surfaces have a flat forward facing surface.
7. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of mating surfaces have a convex mating surface.
8. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , further comprising a mating surface, the mating surface corresponds to the front face of the fiber optic ferrule.
9. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light transmission surfaces, each of the plurality of light transmission surfaces being optically aligned with one of the plurality of lens holes and one of the plurality of optical fiber openings.
10. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of light transmission surfaces comprise a plurality of mating surfaces.
11. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of light transmission surfaces are recessed below a mating surface disposed on the front end of the main body.
12. A fiber optic ferrule comprising:
a main body having a front end, a back end, and a middle portion disposed between the front end and back end;
a first opening through the back end of the main body, the first opening configured to receive at least one optical fiber through the back end of the main body;
at least one optical fiber opening in communication with and extending from the first opening toward the front end, the at least one optical fiber opening configured to receive an optical fiber inserted through the back end, wherein the at least one optical fiber opening has a lens associated therewith, the lens having a convex surface that extends rearwardly from the front end towards the back end.
13. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 12 , further comprising an optical fiber stop disposed within the at least one optical fiber opening.
14. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 12 , further comprising a second opening disposed between the middle portion and the front end, the second opening extending through a surface of the main body perpendicular to a front face disposed at the front end of the main body and in communication with the at least one optical fiber opening.
15. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 14 , further comprising a front portion, the front portion disposed between the second opening and the front end, the front portion having at least one lens hole, the at least one lens hole corresponding to the at least one optical fiber opening in the middle portion and opening into the second opening and having the lens disposed therein.
16. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 12 , further comprising at least one mating surface disposed on the front face of the main body, the at least one mating surface corresponding to the at least one optical fiber receiving hole.
17. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 12 , further comprising a mating surface, the mating surface corresponds to the front face of the fiber optic ferrule.
18. The fiber optic ferrule according to claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of light transmission surfaces, each of the plurality of light transmission surfaces being optically aligned with one of the plurality of lens holes and one of the plurality of optical fiber openings.