Patent ID: 8911157

Claim:
An optical connector having a front and back orientation, 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, and a second diameter at a second temperature, said ferrule also comprising an endface; a housing comprising a second material having a second COE, said housing having a restricted borehole having a third diameter at said first temperature, and a fourth diameter at said second temperature; a resilient member disposed in said housing and in contact with said ferrule to apply a forward urging force to said ferrule; wherein said connector has a first and second configuration, in said first configuration, said second COE is greater than said first COE, said first diameter is greater than said third diameter such that said connector is in an interference state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is less than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in a clearance state at said second temperature, in said second configuration, said second COE is less than said first COE, said first diameter is less than said third diameter such that said connector is in said clearance state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is greater than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in said interference state at said second temperature; and wherein clearance between the ferrule and the housing is less than 0.5 μm at room temperature.