Patent ID: 7121739

Claim:
An optical to electrical signal transmission system, comprising in combination: an elongate run of light transmitting fiber having at least one terminal end; a first fiber connector attached to said fiber adjacent said at least one terminal end; a first component connector adapted to be coupled to said first fiber connector; an optical to electrical signal converter in fixed position relative to said first component connector and adapted to receive an optical signal from said at least one terminal end of said fiber when said first fiber connector is attached to said first component connector; a ball lens at said at least one terminal end of said fiber, said ball lens having a greater width then a width of said fiber; wherein said first fiber connector includes a shroud of cylindrical form located abutting said ball lens, said shroud oriented substantially coaxial with said ball lens; wherein said shroud has an interior surface with a width substantially equal to a maximum width of said ball lens; wherein said shroud extends to a tip, said ball lens having a front surface most distant from said elongate run of fiber, said front surface of said ball lens located short of said tip of said shroud and within 0.05 inches of said tip of said shroud along said central axis; said shroud extending at said tip further along said central axis and away from said elongate run of fiber than any other portions of said first fiber connector, said shroud having an inner cylindrical surface which has a diameter matching said width of said ball lens, said inner cylindrical surface extending to said tip with said inner cylindrical surface having a common diameter at said tip as at said location abutting said ball lens; and wherein said ball lens is made of a common material with said fiber, and with said ball lens formed continuously with said fiber.