# US 8,998,507 B2 · Fiber optic connectors and structures for optical fibers and methods for using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,998,507 B2 - Document ID: US8998507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/023,762 - Filed: 2011-02-09 - Published: 2011-08-11 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-11 - Assignees: Corning Incorporated - Applicants: Davide Domenico Fortusini; Micah Colen Isenhour; Dennis Michael Knecht; James Phillip Luther - Inventors: Davide Domenico Fortusini; Micah Colen Isenhour; Dennis Michael Knecht; James Phillip Luther - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8998507B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/3833: {Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture} - G02B 6/25: Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting - G02B 6/3853: {Lens inside the ferrule (lensed connectors G02B6/32)} - G02B 6/325: {comprising a transparent member, e.g. window, protective plate} - G02B 6/3834: {Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule} - G02B 6/3849: {using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes (G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44)} - G02B 6/3858: {Clamping, i.e. with only elastic deformation} - G02B 6/4292: {the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In one embodiment, a device comprises at least one ferrule having a bore, the bore extending from a rear of the ferrule toward a front of the ferrule, wherein the bore is sized to receive an optical fiber with a buffer at a rear end face of the ferrule, wherein the front end of the ferrule includes an optical component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: at least one ferrule having a bore, the bore extending from a rear of the ferrule toward a front of the ferrule, wherein the bore is sized to receive a single optical fiber with a glass core, a cladding, a protective layer and a buffer surrounding the fiber cladding at a rear end face of the ferrule and at front end face of the ferrule, wherein said front end of the ferrule includes an optical component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said optical component is an optically transparent window or a lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said ferrule further includes an index matching material situated in said bore proximate to said optical component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said index matching material is situated at least on one side of said optical component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said ferrule further includes at least one fiber securing structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5 wherein said fiber securing structure includes at least one protrusion applying compressive force and indenting into said buffer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein said securing structure forms a cavity that is big enough the single optical fiber with a buffer van be pressed or inserted by hand into the securing area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said ferrule includes movable split arms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said ferrule has an outer surface with mating features structured to engage at least one surface of an active device or of a ferrule connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including an optically transparent protruding structure situated inside the bore, near the front end of the ferrule. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a protruding structure, and a fiber with the fiber endface situated adjacent to said protruding structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further including an index matching material between said fiber endface situated and said protruding structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein (i) said ferrule further comprises ribs situated on a surface of the bore; and/or (ii) comprising a buffered fiber situated in said bore, wherein said ribs contact the buffer. ### Claim 14 The method of connecting an optical fiber/buffer assembly to an active device or ferrule connector, comprising the steps of: (i) inserting the fiber/buffer assembly into a ferrule that includes an optical component, such that the endface of the optical fiber/buffer assembly is situated in adjacent to at least one surface of said optical component, wherein the fiber/buffer assembly includes an optical fiber with a glass core, a cladding surrounding the core, a protective coating thereon, and a buffer situated over said coating; (ii) inserting the ferrule into the mating receptacle of the active device or of the ferrule connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: (i) cutting or cleaving the optical fiber buffer assembly while the buffer surrounds the optical fiber; (ii) inserting the fiber/buffer assembly into the ferrule such that the cut or cleaved endface of the optical fiber is situated in adjacent to the at least one surface of said optical component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of inserting index-matching material into the ferrule so that index-matching material is situated in contact with the endface of the optical fiber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein said ferrule includes a portion with a U shaped opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including said single optical fiber, the optical fiber and said fiber forming a fiber/buffer assembly comprising an optical fiber with the glass core having a core diameter of at least 80 microns, a cladding surrounding the core, the protective coating surrounding said cladding, and the buffer is situated over said coating. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein said protective coating has a protective coating having a Young's modulus greater than 700 MPa, a thickness≦15 μm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein said core is 175 to 220 microns in diameter.