Dust mitigating optical connector

A light coupling unit, comprising:

• a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides;
• and
• a second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit, the second major surface comprising:
• an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough;
• and
• a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves, the second grooves substantially parallel to each other and oriented along a direction different from the first direction of the first grooves on the first major surface.

A light coupling unit, comprising:

• a first section comprising a mating tongue having a mating tongue surface;
• a second section comprising:
• a first surface comprising an attachment area configured for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides;
• and
• a second mating surface opposing the first surface and comprising a plurality of grooves, the grooves configured to capture particulate contaminants between the second mating surface and a mating tongue surface of a mating light coupling unit;
• a plurality of light redirecting members on the first surface optically coupled to the optical waveguides;
• and
• an optically transmitting window on the second mating surface between the grooves and the mating tongue, the optically transmitting window optically coupled to the light redirecting members.