Multi-fiber ferrule with lens elements

An optical fiber assembly comprising:

• a ferrule body having a forward face and an oppositely facing rearward face;
• an alignment member including a plurality of alignment apertures, each alignment aperture having a first tapered lead-in section and a first lateral alignment section aligned with each first lead-in section, each first lateral alignment section having a non-tapering cross-section, the first lateral alignment sections of the plurality of alignment apertures defining an alignment array;
• a lens plate having a body with a front face and an oppositely facing rear face, a plurality of lens elements adjacent the front face, a plurality of optical fiber alignment sockets adjacent the rear face, each optical fiber alignment socket being aligned with one of the lens elements and having a first end and a second end within the body, each optical fiber alignment socket including a second tapered lead-in section, a stop surface, and a second lateral alignment section, the stop surface defining the second end and the second lateral alignment section having a non-tapering cross-section between the second lead-in section and the stop surface, and a plurality of optical transmission recesses, each optical transmission recess extending from the stop surface towards the front face of the body, the lateral alignment sections of the plurality of optical fiber alignment sockets defining a socket array corresponding to the alignment array;
• a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber extending through one of the first lateral alignment sections of the alignment member and being disposed within one of the second lateral alignment sections of the plurality of optical fiber alignment sockets of the lens plate;
• and
• an optically transmitting medium within each optical transmission recess.