Gradient index (GRIN) lens holders employing groove alignment feature(s) and total internal reflection (TIR) surface, and related components, connectors, and methods

A method of providing a gradient index (GRIN) lens for a fiber optic connector, comprising:

• providing a lens holder body comprising an internal chamber;
• disposing at least one GRIN lens in at least one groove alignment feature disposed in a recessed floor disposed in the internal chamber of the lens holder body to provide a gap between the recessed floor and the at least one GRIN lens, the at least one groove alignment feature optically aligned with at least one lens opening in a first optical axis and disposed in a mating face of the lens holder body, to optically align the at least one GRIN lens with the at least one lens opening, the at least one lens opening coupled in free space to the internal chamber;
• providing a total internal reflection (TIR) surface disposed in the lens holder body in the first optical axis of the at least one lens opening, the TIR surface TIR reflecting light in the first optical axis;
• and
• disposing a first end portion of the at least one GRIN lens through the at least one lens opening and planar to the mating face of the lens holder body.

A gradient index (GRIN) lens connector system, comprising:

• a plug, comprising:
• a plug lens holder body comprising a plug internal chamber,
• a plug mating face disposed in the plug lens holder body;
• at least one plug lens opening disposed in the plug mating face and coupled in free space to the plug internal chamber, the at least one plug lens opening disposed in a first optical axis and configured to receive at least one end portion of at least one plug GRIN lens;
• and
• at least one plug groove alignment feature disposed in a recessed floor of the plug internal chamber of the plug lens holder body and optically aligned with the at least one plug lens opening, the at least one plug groove alignment feature configured to support at least one plug GRIN lens disposed in the plug internal chamber with a gap between the at least one plug GRIN lens and the recessed floor of the plug internal chamber and align at least one end portion of the at least one plug GRIN lens with the at least one plug lens opening;
• and a receptacle, comprising:
• a receptacle lens holder body comprising a receptacle internal chamber,
• a receptacle mating face disposed in the receptacle lens holder body;
• at least one receptacle lens opening disposed in the receptacle mating face and coupled in free space to the receptacle internal chamber, the at least one receptacle lens opening disposed in a second optical axis and configured to receive at least one end portion of at least one receptacle GRIN lens;
• a total internal reflection (TIR) surface disposed in the receptacle lens holder body in the second optical axis of the at least one receptacle lens opening, the TIR surface configured to reflect light in the second optical axis;
• and
• at least one receptacle groove alignment feature disposed in a recessed floor of the receptacle internal chamber of the receptacle lens holder body and optically aligned with the at least one receptacle lens opening, the at least one receptacle groove alignment feature configured to support at least one receptacle GRIN lens disposed in the receptacle internal chamber with a gap between the at least one receptacle GRIN lens and the recessed floor of the receptacle internal chamber and align at least one end portion of the at least one receptacle GRIN lens with the at least one receptacle lens opening;
• wherein the plug mating face of the plug lens holder body is mated to the receptacle mating face of the receptacle lens holder body to optically connect the at least one plug GRIN lens and the least one receptacle GRIN lens.

A method of providing a gradient index (GRIN) lens connector system, comprising:

• providing a plug, comprising:
• a plug lens holder body comprising a plug internal chamber,
• a plug mating face disposed in the plug lens holder body;
• at least one plug lens opening disposed in the plug mating face and coupled in free space to the plug internal chamber, the at least one plug lens opening disposed in a first optical axis and configured to receive at least one end portion of at least one plug GRIN lens;
• and
• at least one plug groove alignment feature disposed in a recessed floor of the plug internal chamber of the plug lens holder body and optically aligned with the at least one plug lens opening, the at least one plug groove alignment feature configured to support at least one plug GRIN lens disposed in the plug internal chamber with a gap between the at least one plug GRIN lens and the recessed floor of the plug internal chamber and align at least one end portion of the at least one plug GRIN lens with the at least one plug lens opening;
• and
• providing a receptacle, comprising:
• a receptacle lens holder body comprising a receptacle internal chamber,
• a receptacle mating face disposed in the receptacle lens holder body;
• at least one receptacle lens opening disposed in the receptacle mating face and coupled in free space to the receptacle internal chamber, the at least one receptacle lens opening disposed in a second optical axis and configured to receive at least one end portion of at least one receptacle GRIN lens;
• a total internal reflection (TIR) surface disposed in the receptacle lens holder body in the second optical axis of the at least one receptacle lens opening, the TIR surface configured to TIR reflect light in the second optical axis;
• and
• at least one receptacle groove alignment feature disposed in a recessed floor of the receptacle internal chamber of the receptacle lens holder body and optically aligned with the at least one receptacle lens opening, the at least one receptacle groove alignment feature configured to support at least one receptacle GRIN lens disposed in the receptacle internal chamber with a gap between the at least one receptacle GRIN lens and the recessed floor of the receptacle internal chamber and align at least one end portion of the at least one receptacle GRIN lens with the at least one receptacle lens opening;
• and
• mating the plug mating face of the plug lens holder body to the receptacle mating face of the receptacle lens holder body to optically connect the at least one plug GRIN lens and the least one receptacle GRIN lens.