Optical Connector Having A Plurality Of Optical Fibres With Staggered Cleaved Ends Coupled To Associated Microlenses

An optical construction comprising:

• a first major surface comprising a first plurality of waveguide alignment features;
• a first plurality of optical waveguides with angle cleaved end faces disposed adjacent the first major surface, the angle cleaved end faces being staggered relative to one another;
• a second major surface opposite the first major surface and comprising a second plurality of waveguide alignment features;
• and
• a second plurality of optical waveguides with angle cleaved end faces disposed adjacent the second major surface, the angle cleaved end faces being staggered relative to one another;
• wherein each optical waveguide in the first plurality of optical waveguides corresponds to a different optical waveguide in the second plurality of optical waveguides, the angle cleaved faces of corresponding optical waveguides being so oriented that light exiting one optical waveguide enters the corresponding optical waveguide.

An optical construction, comprising:

• an optically transmissive substrate comprising:
• a first major side comprising a first floor surface;
• a first staircase formed on the first floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
• a second major side opposite the first major side and comprising a second floor surface;
• a second staircase formed on the second floor surface and comprising at least a first step comprising a first tread;
• a first plurality of staggered microlenses disposed on the second floor surface and forming rows of microlenses;
• a second plurality of staggered microlenses disposed on the first tread of the second staircase and forming rows of microlenses,
• wherein the substrate, the first and second staircases and the microlenses form a unitary construction;
• a first plurality of optical waveguides with angle cleaved end faces disposed on the first floor surface, the angle cleaved end faces being staggered relative to one another;
• and
• a second plurality of optical waveguides with angle cleaved end faces disposed on the first tread of the first staircase, the angle cleaved end faces being staggered relative to one another,
• wherein each angle cleaved end face of an optical waveguide in the first and the second plurality of optical waveguides corresponds to a different microlens so that light exiting each optical waveguide is directed by the angle cleaved end face to the corresponding microlens through the substrate.