Durable optical fiber and connector assembly

An optical fiber assembly comprising:

• an optical fiber ribbon comprising:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• a ribbon body comprising a matrix;
• a first fiber embedded in the ribbon body and extending from the first end to the second end;
• a second fiber embedded in the ribbon body and extending from the first end to the second end;
• and
• a split in the ribbon body extending along a portion of the length of the ribbon from the first end toward the second end of the ribbon, the split having an inner terminus located between the first and second ends of the ribbon, the split located between the first fiber and the second fiber forming a gap between the first fiber and the second fiber at the first end of the ribbon;
• and
• an optical connector comprising:
• a body including an outer surface;
• a first fiber receiving passage defined in the body and extending inward from the outer surface into the optical connector, wherein the first fiber is received within the first fiber receiving passage;
• a second fiber receiving passage defined in the body and extending inward from the outer surface into the optical connector, wherein the second fiber is received within the second fiber receiving passage;
• wherein the inner terminus of the split is located outside of the body of the optical connector.

A connecting assembly for connecting optical fibers to a circuit board including a transmit diode array and a receive diode array and located within a housing, the connecting assembly comprising:

• an optical connector comprising:
• a body including a first outer surface and a second outer surface;
• a first array of openings defined in the body and formed through the first outer surface of the body;
• and
• a second array of openings defined in the body and formed through the first outer surface of the body, the second array spaced from the first array defining a separation distance;
• wherein the optical connector is configured to be connected to the circuit board such that the second outer surface of the body faces the transmit diode array and the receive diode array;
• and
• an optical fiber ribbon comprising:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• a ribbon body;
• a first group of a plurality of optical fibers embedded in the ribbon body, each optical fiber of the first group received within an opening of the first array of openings;
• a second group of a plurality of optical fibers embedded in the ribbon body, each optical fiber of the second group received within an opening of the second array of openings;
• a split in the ribbon body extending along a portion of the length of the ribbon from the first end toward the second end, the split located between the first and second groups of optical fibers forming a gap therebetween, the split having an inner terminus located between the first and second ends of the ribbon, the split allowing the first group of optical fibers to align with the first array of openings and the second group of optical fibers to align with the second array of openings;
• wherein the first array of openings and the second array of openings are located between the second surface of the body and the inner terminus of the split.

A method of connecting an optical fiber ribbon to a circuit board comprising:

• providing an optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of parallel fibers embedded in a ribbon matrix;
• splitting the optical fiber ribbon lengthwise from a first end along a portion of the length of the ribbon, such that the first end of the ribbon is separated into a first group of fibers and a second group of fibers, wherein an inner split terminus is formed between a first end and a second end of the ribbon;
• providing an optical connector including a body, a first outer surface and a second outer surface and a plurality of passages formed through the first outer surface and extending into the body;
• moving the first end of the first group of fibers away from the first end of the second group of fibers such that a gap is formed between the first and second group of fibers;
• inserting the first ends of the first group and second group of fibers into the plurality of passages of the optical connector;
• and
• connecting the optical connector to a circuit board comprising a diode array such that the second surface of the connector faces the diode array and such that the optical connector is positioned between the diode array and the inner split terminus.