Patent ID: 7887243

Claim:
An optical coupler for transmitting a plurality of light beams from a plurality of ends of optical fibers disposed in ferrules of a first mechanical transferring (MT) connector to a plurality of ends of optical fibers disposed in ferrules of a second MT connector, the optical coupler comprising: a beam splitting element having a first side, a second side, and a partially reflective portion for partially transmitting and partially reflecting the light beams; a first collimating lens fixed at the first side of the beam splitting element; a second collimating lens fixed at the second side of the beam splitting element; and at least one alignment element configured for passively aligning the first MT connector with the first collimating lens and passively aligning the second MT connector with the second collimating lens such that at least a portion of each of the plurality of light beams extending from the first MT connector are directed by the beam splitting element through the second collimating lens into optical fibers of the second MT connector, wherein the at least one alignment element comprises cross-pins having a plurality of appendages each configured to slide into openings formed in the MT connectors, aligning the first MT connector with the first collimating lens, the second MT connector with the second collimating lens.