Patent ID: 8123417

Claim:
An optical connector having a front and back orientation and suitable for operating within a temperature range, said connector comprising: a ferrule comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (COE), and having a first diameter at a first temperature below a transition temperature within said temperature range, and a second diameter at a second temperature above said transition temperature, said ferrule also comprising an endface, and containing at least one fiber having a fiber end presented at said endface; a resilient member disposed behind said ferrule and in contact with said ferrule to apply a forward urging force to said ferrule; and a housing comprising a second material having a second COE, said housing defining a bore hole having a diameter greater than the diameter of said ferrule at any temperature within said temperature range, and an interface portion having a restricted bore hole having a third diameter at said first temperature, and a fourth diameter at said second temperature; wherein said connector is configured in one of two ways, in a first configuration, said second COE is greater than said first COE, and in said second configuration, said second COE is less than said first COE; wherein, in said first configuration, said first diameter is greater than said third diameter and said second diameter is less than said fourth diameter; and wherein, in said second configuration, said first diameter is less than said third diameter, and said second diameter is greater than said fourth diameter.