Fiber optic interface device with bent optical path

A fiber optic interface assembly, comprising:

• (I) a fiber optic interface configured as a plug and comprising:
• (a) a ferrule with a body having front and rear ends and an internal cavity adjacent the front end and defined by a rear wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall having inner and outer surfaces, with at least one of the inner and outer surfaces being curved to define at least one lens, the body having at least one bore open to the cavity rear wall and the body rear wall;
• and (b) at least one optical waveguide having an end and that defines a bent optical path within the cavity, the at least one optical waveguide supported by the at least one bore so that the bent optical path is aligned with the at least one lens;
• and
• (II) a second fiber optic interface device configured as a receptacle that receives and matingly engages with the plug, the receptacle having a front-end entrance aperture, a rear section, a central axis and a moveable cleaning element, wherein the moveable cleaning element is displaced when the plug and receptacle are matingly engaged.

A receptacle fiber optic interface device (“receptacle”) for matingly engaging with a plug fiber optic interface device (“plug”), comprising:

• a circuit board having a substantially planar surface and that operably supports an optical transmitter and an optical receiver that respectively emit transmit light and detect receive light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar surface of the circuit board;
• a housing arranged relative to the circuit board and having a front-end aperture that leads to a housing interior, the front-end aperture and housing interior configured to received and engage the plug fiber optic interface device;
• and
• a moveable cleaning element supported in the housing interior in a forward-biased position over the optical transmitter and optical receiver, the moveable cleaning element configured to be displaced relative to the optical transmitter and optical transceiver when the plug matingly engages the receptacle.

A fiber optic interface device, comprising:

• first and second optical fibers that respectively include first and second features that define respective first and second bent optical paths;
• a ferrule having a body with front and rear ends and a bottom surface, a central cavity and first and second bores that respectively support the first and second optical fibers so that the first and second features reside within the central cavity;
• and
• first and second lenses formed in the ferrule body and having first and second convex surfaces on the ferrule bottom surface, the first and second lenses being respectively operably aligned with the first and second bent optical paths.

The fiber optic interface assembly, comprising:

• (I) a fiber optic interface device, comprising:
• first and second optical fibers that respectively include first and second features that define respective first and second bent optical paths;
• a ferrule having a body with front and rear ends and a bottom surface, a central cavity and first and second bores that respectively support the first and second optical fibers so that the first and second features reside within the central cavity;
• and
• first and second lenses formed in the ferrule body and having first and second convex surfaces on the ferrule bottom surface, the first and second lenses being respectively operably aligned with the first and second bent optical paths, the first and second features comprising at least one of an optical fiber bend and an angled facet;
• and
• (II) a receptacle configured to receive the fiber optic interface device, the receptacle supported by a circuit board having first and second active devices;
• and
• wherein the first and second lenses are configured to provide optical communication between the first and second optical fibers and the respective first and second active devices over the respective first and second bent optical paths, the receptacle containing a moveable cleaning member that moves across and contacts the first and second active devices when the fiber optic interface device moves within the receptacle.