Abstract:
An optical connector for optically coupling a fiber to an optical pathway of a mating component when in a mated state, the connector comprising: (a) a housing having a front end portion and a back end portion, the housing having at least one passageway extending from the back end portion to the front end portion to accommodate at least one fiber, the housing defining a cavity along a first portion of the passageway such that a fiber in the passageway is deflected into the cavity when the connector is in the mated state; (b) a barrier along a second portion of the passageway, the barrier preventing a fiber from being deflected into the second portion when the connector is in the mated state; (c) a fiber retainer at the back end portion, the fiber retainer adapted to restrict a fiber's backward movement with respect to the housing when in the mated state; and (d) the front end portion being configured to mate with an alignment member such that a fiber in the passageway is received within a passage of the alignment member, the front end having a first end face having an opening through which the passageway extends such that a fiber in the passageway is supported at the back end portion by the fiber retainer and at the front end portion by the end face and is deflected between the front and back end portions during mating.