Patent ID: 8616781

Claim:
An expanded beam optical connector operable to receive multiple terminated optical fibers, said connector comprising: a housing presenting a passage that extends through the housing; an optical ferrule including an end-face and multiple fiber openings that intersect the end-face and are operable to receive respective fiber ends of the multiple terminated optical fibers, said optical ferrule being mounted in the passage; and a plurality of GRIN lenses mounted in the passage, said plurality of GRIN lenses being substantially axially aligned with corresponding fiber openings so that the plurality of GRIN lenses and corresponding optical fibers are configured to be in optical communication with one another, said plurality of GRIN lenses being in abutting engagement with the end-face, at least one of the GRIN lenses presenting an outer lens surface; and at least one endless sealing device including a metallic layer applied to the outer lens surface, said metallic layer being soldered to the housing in sealing engagement therewith.