Multiple-channel optical fiber connector assembly

Claim 1

A multi-channel optical-fiber connector assembly, comprising: a first connector half; said first connector half including an elongated body having front and back surfaces, a circular recess extending longitudinally from said front surface partially through said elongated body, a polygonal passageway, having internal corners, extending from said back surface to communicate with said circular recess in axial alignment therewith; a common transfer lens having inner and outer surfaces, mounted in said circular recess, said outer surface being set back from the front surface of said elongated body; a plurality of optical fibers, having terminal ends, mounted in said polygonal passageway, the terminal ends abutting said inner surface of said common transfer lens; means for wedging said optical fibers into the vee-grooves formed by the corners of said polygonal passageway; a second connector half, optically configured as a mirror image of said first connector half; and means for mating said first and second connector halves so as to axially align said connector halves and to allow a small separation between the outer surfaces of the common transfer lenses that are secured in the respective connector halves.