US 12,169,310 B2
Stackable optical ferrule and connector using same
Michael A. Haase, St. Paul, MN (US); and Terry L. Smith, Roseville, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/099,432.
Application 18/099,432 is a continuation of application No. 16/977,111, granted, now 11,585,990, previously published as PCT/IB2019/052085, filed on Mar. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/646,495, filed on Mar. 22, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0161118 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/40 (2006.01); G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/406 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3676 (2013.01); G02B 6/383 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A molded, unitary, optical ferrule comprising:
at least one stacking member along a longitudinal edge of the optical ferrule;
one or more parting line artifacts, the one or more parting line artifacts including a parting line artifact extending substantially around an external perimeter of the optical ferrule, the parting line artifacts dividing a surface of the optical ferrule into a first section along a first direction of a thickness axis and an opposing second section along a second direction of the thickness axis, wherein the first section comprises:
a contact surface of the stacking member;
one or more elements configured to receive and secure an optical waveguide; and
one or more elements configured to redirect input light within the unitary optical ferrule; and
wherein the second section comprises
at least one output window configured to transmit the redirected light out of a mating surface; and
a distal end of the stacking member extending beyond the mating surface, the distal end configured to interface with a corresponding contact surface of a corresponding optical ferrule, wherein the distal end of the stacking member is configured to prevent the mating surface of the optical ferrule from contacting the corresponding optical ferrule.