Optical connectors and optical ferrules

An optical connector, comprising:

• a resilient member;
• and
• an optical ferrule comprising:
• an attachment area for receiving and securing an optical waveguide;
• and
• a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in the attachment area, the light propagating along an optical path not intersecting the resilient member,
• such that when the optical ferrule mates with an optical mating ferrule along a mating direction, the resilient member is resiliently deformed to produce a resilient force urging the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule along a first direction making an oblique angle with the mating direction, wherein the oblique angle is between about 20 to about 70 degrees;
• wherein the optical ferrule comprises opposing first and second arms integrally formed with, and extending from, opposing respective first and second sides of the optical ferrule in a direction substantially perpendicular to the respective first and second sides and the mating direction of the optical ferrule, and wherein the optical connector comprises a pair of first resilient members contacting the first arm and a pair of second resilient members contacting the second arm, such that when the optical connector mates with an optical mating connector comprising a mating optical ferrule assembled thereto, and the optical ferrule mates with the mating optical ferule, at least one first resilient member and at least one second resilient member are resiliently deformed to produce resilient forces urging the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule along the first direction, wherein the first resilient members contact opposite sides of the first arm, and the second resilient members contact opposite sides of the second arm, and wherein for each of the first and second resilient members, one end of the resilient member makes contact with the respective arm of the ferrule, and an opposite end of the resilient member makes contact with the housing of the optical connector.

An optical ferrule comprising:

• a plurality of attachment areas for receiving and securing a plurality of optical waveguides;
• a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide received and secured in an attachment area by at least 45 degrees;
• opposing first and second arms integrally formed with, and extending from, opposing respective first and second sides of the optical ferrule in a direction substantially perpendicular to the respective first and second sides and the mating direction of the optical ferrule;
• and
• a pair of first resilient members contacting the first arm and a pair of second resilient members contacting the second arm, wherein when the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferrule, at least one first resilient member and at least one second resilient member are resiliently deformed to resiliently force the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule.