Massive parallel optical interconnect system

An optical receptacle assembly comprising:

• an optical receptacle including a first and second receptacle half;
• a first connector including a first ferrule, the first ferrule including a beveled edge, said first ferrule being inserted into said first receptacle half;
• a second connector including a second ferrule, the second ferrule having an end face inserted into said second receptacle half;
• and
• a pair of guide members that engage the end face of said second ferrule and engage said beveled edge of said first ferrule in order to align the first ferrule to the second ferrule.

A fiber optical ferrule having a proximal and distal side, the ferrule comprising:

• a ferrule first half containing a first front portion having a first major surface for receiving a plurality individual optical fibers;
• a first vertically aligned wall protruding beyond the first major surface and along the proximal side;
• and
• a first cut-out running along said distal side.

A fiber optical ferrule comprising:

• a pair of mutually opposing ferrule halves joined to define in part a fiber optical support region for receiving at least one optical fiber;
• one of said ferrule halves including a vertically aligned wall protruding therefrom towards the other of said ferrule halves at a first side;
• a first beveled edge contained within one of said ferrule halves at the first side;
• a second vertically aligned wall included within one of said ferrule halves and protruding therefrom towards the other of said ferrule halves at a second side;
• and
• a second beveled edge contained within one of said ferrule halves at the second side.

A fiber optical ferrule comprising:

• a top ferrule half including a front portion having an upper major surface;
• a bottom ferrule half including a front portion having a lower major surface;
• a plurality of V-grooves formed in the upper and lower major surfaces;
• an upward wall integrally formed with the front portion of the bottom ferrule half, the upward wall axially bordering the front portion of the bottom ferrule half at a proximal side, and the upward wall protruding vertically beyond the lower major surface;
• a downward wall integrally formed with the front portion of the top ferrule half, the downward wall axially bordering the front portion of the top ferrule half at a distal side, and the downward wall protruding vertically beyond the upper major surface;
• a first cut-out formed in the bottom ferrule half which axially borders the front portion of the bottom ferrule half at the distal side, wherein the first cut-out receives the downward wall;
• a second cut-out formed in the top ferrule half which axially borders the front portion of the top ferrule half at the proximal side, wherein the second cut-out receives the upward wall;
• a first beveled edge formed in the upward wall and axially extending along the front portion of the bottom ferrule half;
• and
• a second beveled edge formed in the downward wall and axially extending along the front portion of the top ferrule half.

A method for assembling a fiber optical ferrule comprising the steps of:

• providing a first ferrule half including a first front portion having a first major surface and at least one V-groove formed therein, the first front portion also having a first vertically aligned wall at a proximal side, wherein the first vertically aligned wall protrudes beyond the first major surface and extends axially along the first front portion, and wherein the first vertically aligned wall includes a first beveled edge at the proximal side;
• placing at least one optical fiber within the V-groove;
• providing a second ferrule half including a second front portion having a second major surface, the second front portion also having a second vertically aligned wall at a distal side, wherein the second vertically aligned wall protrudes beyond the second major surface and extends axially along the second front portion, and wherein the second vertically aligned wall including a second beveled edge at the distal side;
• applying a bonding material to the optical fiber;
• and
• mating the first major surface to the second major surface wherein the first and second vertically aligned walls prevent the bonding material from seeping into the respective first and second beveled edges.