Patent Publication Number: US-2023135807-A1

Title: Optical fiber connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Nos. 63/275,638, 63/282,127, and 63/317,040, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure generally pertains to an optical fiber connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The prevalence of the Internet has led to unprecedented growth in communication networks. Consumer demand for service and increased competition has caused network providers to continuously find ways to improve quality of service while reducing cost. 
     Certain solutions have included deployment of high-density interconnect panels. High-density interconnect panels may be designed to consolidate the increasing volume of interconnections necessary to support the fast-growing networks into a compacted form factor, thereby increasing quality of service and decreasing costs such as floor space and support overhead. However, room for improvement in the area of data centers, specifically as it relates to fiber optic connections, still exists. For example, manufacturers of connectors and adapters are always looking to reduce the size of the devices, while increasing ease of deployment, robustness, and modifiability after deployment. In particular, more optical connectors may need to be accommodated in the same footprint previously used for a smaller number of connectors in order to provide backward compatibility with existing data center equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an optical fiber connector comprises a plurality of optical fiber ferrules and at least one front housing. Each front housing is configured for holding one or more of the optical fiber ferrules, a rear housing is configured to be releasably connected the front housing in either of a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the optical fiber ferrules define a first width. In the second configuration, the optical fiber ferrules define a second width. The first width is different from the second width. 
     In another aspect, an optical fiber connector comprises a plurality of optical fiber ferrules. One or more connector housing components are configured to hold the plurality of optical fiber ferrules. The optical fiber connector is selectively reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the one or more connector housing components hold the plurality of optical fiber ferrules in a first ferrule arrangement and the optical fiber connector is mateable with a receptacle of a first type such that optical connections can be made to each of the plurality of optical fiber ferrules at the receptacle of the first type. In the second configuration, the one or more connector housing components hold the plurality of optical fiber ferrules in a second ferrule arrangement and the optical fiber connector is mateable with a receptacle of a second type such that optical connections can be made to each of the plurality of optical fiber ferrules at the receptacle of the second type. 
     Other aspects and features will be apparent hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective of a first embodiment of an optical fiber connector in a first configuration approaching a receptacle of a first type; 
         FIG.  2    is top plan view of the scene in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective of the connector in a second configuration approaching a receptacle of a second type; 
         FIG.  4    is a top plan view of the scene in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is another top plan view similar to  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a top plan view of the connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  7    is another top plan view of the connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  8    is a top plan view of the connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  9    is another top plan view of the connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  10    is another top plan view of the connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  11    is another perspective of the connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  12    is an exploded perspective of the connector; 
         FIG.  13    is another exploded perspective of the connector; 
         FIG.  13 A  is a perspective of an inner connector subassembly; 
         FIG.  14    is a fragmentary perspective of a subassembly of the connector including a back body base and a plurality of inner connector subassemblies; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective of a back body lid; 
         FIG.  16    is an elevation of a spring push; 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective of the spring push; 
         FIG.  18    is another perspective of the connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  19    is a perspective of a rear housing of the connector in an orientation corresponding to the first configuration as shown in  FIG.  18   ; 
         FIG.  20    is another perspective of the connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  21    is a perspective of the rear housing in a second, inverted orientation corresponding to the second configuration as shown in  FIG.  20   ; 
         FIGS.  22 - 27    are a series of perspectives showing a sequence of steps of reconfiguring the connector from the first configuration to the second configuration; 
         FIG.  28    is an elevation of the connector; 
         FIG.  29    is another perspective of the connector; 
         FIG.  30    is a fragmentary perspective of a subassembly of the connector in which the rear housing is removed; 
         FIG.  31    is a perspective of the rear housing. 
         FIG.  32    is a perspective of a second embodiment of an optical fiber connector comprising multifiber ferrules, wherein the multifiber ferrule connector is shown in a first configuration approaching a receptacle of a first type; 
         FIG.  33    is top plan view of the scene in  FIG.  32   ; 
         FIG.  34    is a perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector in a second configuration approaching a receptacle of a second type; 
         FIG.  35    is a top plan view of the scene in  FIG.  34   ; 
         FIG.  36    is another top plan view similar to  FIG.  33   ; 
         FIG.  37    is a top plan view of the multifiber ferrule connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  38    is another top plan view of the multifiber ferrule connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  39    is a top plan view of the multifiber ferrule connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  40    is another top plan view of the multifiber ferrule connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  41    is another top plan view of the multifiber ferrule connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  42    is another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  43    another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector, showing the connector with eight-fiber ferrules; 
         FIG.  43 A  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  43   , showing one of the ferrules; 
         FIG.  44    is another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector, showing the connector with sixteen-fiber ferrules; 
         FIG.  44 A  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  44   , showing one of the ferrules; 
         FIG.  45    is a fragmentary perspective of a subassembly of the multifiber ferrule connector including a back body base and a plurality of inner connector subassemblies; 
         FIG.  45 A  is a perspective of the inner connector subassembly; 
         FIG.  45 B  is another perspective of an inner connector subassembly; 
         FIG.  46    is a perspective of a back body lid of the multifiber ferrule connector; 
         FIG.  47    is an elevation of a spring push of the multifiber ferrule connector; 
         FIG.  48    is a perspective of the spring push of  FIG.  47   ; 
         FIG.  49    is another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  50    is a perspective of a rear housing of the multifiber ferrule connector in an orientation corresponding to the first configuration as shown in  FIG.  49   ; 
         FIG.  51    is another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  52    is a perspective of the rear housing in a second, inverted orientation corresponding to the second configuration as shown in  FIG.  51   ; 
         FIGS.  53 - 58    are a series of perspectives showing a sequence of steps of reconfiguring the multifiber ferrule connector from the first configuration to the second configuration; 
         FIG.  59    is an elevation of the multifiber ferrule connector; and 
         FIG.  60    is another perspective of the multifiber ferrule connector. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding parts are given corresponding reference characters throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 10   , an exemplary embodiment of an optical fiber connector in the scope of this disclosure is generally indicated at reference number  110 . As will be explained more fully below, connectors in the scope of this disclosure can comprise one or more optical fiber ferrules held in one or more housing components. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector  110  holds single-fiber ferrules (e.g., LC ferrules, cylindrical ferrules, round ferrules), but the disclosure also encompasses connectors that hold multi-fiber ferrules (e.g., MT ferrules, rectangular ferrules). As can be seen, the illustrated connector  110  is selectively adjustable between a first configuration, shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11   , and a second configuration, shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  8 , and  10   . The first configuration is different than the second configuration. In the first configuration, the housing components hold the ferrules in a first ferrule arrangement and the connector  110  is mateable with a receptacle R 1  of a first type, shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  5   . In the second configuration, the housing components hold the ferrules in a second ferrule arrangement and the connector  110  is mateable with a receptacle R 2  of a second type. The ferrule spacing differs in the first ferrule arrangement and the second ferrule arrangement, allowing for optical compatibility with both types of receptacle R 1 , R 2 . In addition, the connector  110  has a first connector width CW1 ( FIG.  9   ) in the first configuration and a second connector width CW2 ( FIG.  10   ) in the second configuration, wherein the second connector width is greater than the first, again allowing for compatibility with two types of receptacles R 1 , R 2 . 
     Various types of receptacles can be accommodated using the general principles of this disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the first type of receptacle R 1  has a plurality of channels (e.g., each channel supports at least one pair of Tx-Rx signals) undivided by partition walls and the second type of receptacle R 2  comprises partition walls. The first type of receptacle R 1  is also narrower than the second type of receptacle R 2 . The first type of receptacle R 1  is also shutter-less, whereas the second type of receptacle includes one or more shutters (e.g., one or more shutter elements-per-channel). 
     The optical fiber connector  110  is broadly configured to terminate a multi-fiber optical cable (not shown). Referring to  FIGS.  12  and  13   , in the illustrated embodiment, the one or more housing components of the connector  110  comprise a rear housing  112  and one or more front housings  114 . Each front housing  114  is releasably connected with the rear housing  112 , and each receives and retains an individual inner connector subassembly  116  therein. Each inner connector subassembly  116  comprises a front ferrule holder  118 , first and second optical fiber ferrules  120  spaced apart heightwise, first and second ferrule springs  122  arranged behind the optical fiber ferrules, and a spring push  124  connected to the ferrule holder  118  for compressing the ferrule springs forward against the ferrules  120 . The connector  110  further comprises a back body assembly  126  that receives a portion of each spring push  124 . The illustrated back body assembly  126  comprises the body base  128 , the body lid  130  configured to be fastened to the body base by screws  132  (although other fasteners, such as integral latches, can also be used), and a back post  134  received between the body base and the body lid. The back body assembly  126  is generally configured to be received in the rear housing  112 . The illustrated connector  110  further comprises a crimp ring  136  configured to crimp strength members of the cable onto the back post  134  and a cable strain relief boot  138  configured to receive the cable where it enters the connector  110 . The rear housing  112  is configured to receive the multifiber cable, and the back body assembly  126  is configured such that a plurality of optical fibers of the multifiber cable are passable through the back body assembly to the ferrules  120  in one or more front housings  114 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the individual front housings  114  and inner connector subassemblies  116  of the illustrated connector  110  form SN-style plug units. Those skilled in the art will further understand how SN-style plug units latch and unlatch from the adapter, e.g., by displacing the front housings  114  rearward in relation to the inner connector subassemblies  116  to displace adapter latches from corresponding latch recesses of the inner connector subassembly. As explained more fully below, the rear housing  112  is configured to interface with each front housing  114  such that all of the front housings can be simultaneously displaced rearward for unlatching the illustrated connector  110  from the receptacle R 1 , R 2  at once by displacing the rear housing rearward in relation to the back body assembly  126 . In other words, the rear housing  112  functions as a slider for simultaneously unlatching individual latched connections between each front housing  114  and the receptacle R 1 , R 2 . 
     It is expressly contemplated that the SN-style plug units can be replaced by other types of plug units corresponding to other connector formats. For example, another connector  210  having dual-receptacle compatibility features, but which uses SN-MT-style plug units, is described below. It is further contemplated that SN-style plug units could be replaced with CS-style, MDC-style, or MMC-style plug units without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In these embodiments, no inner front ferrule holder would be required. Rather each plug unit would be made up of a front housing, one or more ferrules, a ferrule spring for each ferrule, and a spring push that fixedly attaches to the rear end of the front housing. Further, instead of interfacing with the front housings  114  so that the rear housing  112  can simultaneously pull all of the front housings, the rear housing could be configured to interface with the respective pullback unlatch actuators of these types of plug units, which are separate components connected to the front housings in these types of plug units, to facilitate simultaneous unlatching of the plurality of plug units. In other embodiments (not shown), a rear housing may interface with the front housing so that release of the front housings may not occur simultaneously. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the connector  110  is generally configured so that the front housings  114  (broadly, the unlatch actuators of the plug units) connect to the rear housing  112  and the spring pushes  124  connect to the back body assembly  126 . Moreover, the illustrated connector  110  is broadly configured to adjust from the first configuration to the second configuration by adjusting the positions at which the front housings  114  connect to the rear housing  112  and the positions at which the spring pushes  124  connect to the back body assembly  126 . More particularly, the back body assembly  126  is connected to the spring pushes  124  so as to substantially constrain movement of the inner connector subassemblies  116  and front housings  114  in relation to the back body assembly to a limited range of motion that, for each individual front housing  114 , includes a first position at which the front housing can define the first configuration of the connector  110  and second position at which the front housing can define the second configuration of the connector. 
     Without making a connection of the front housings  114  to the rear housing  112 , each inner connector subassembly  116  and corresponding front housing is freely adjustable within its corresponding range of motion relative to the back body assembly  126 . As explained more fully below, the rear housing  112  is configured to selectively fasten to the front housings  114  in a first orientation at which the rear housing secures the front housings at the first positions corresponding to the first connector configuration and in a second orientation, which is inverted relative to the first orientation, to secure the front housings at the second positions corresponding to the second connector configuration. 
     Hence, as shown in  FIGS.  22 - 27   , the connector  110  is configured to be adjusted form the first configuration to the second configuration, or vice versa, by (i) disconnecting the rear housing  112  from the plurality of front housings  114 , (ii) sliding the rear housing  112  backwards, (iii) rotating the rear housing 180 degrees in relation to the front housings, (iv) adjusting the front housings  114  and inner connector sub-assemblies  116  in relation to the back body assembly  126  from the first positions to the second positions, (v) sliding the rear housing  112  back to the original position, and (vi) reattaching the inverted rear housing to the front housings. 
     This disclosure will now turn to the details of one exemplary embodiment of an adjustable connection of the inner connector subassemblies  116  to the back body assembly  126 . Referring to  FIGS.  12 - 17   , the back body assembly  126  comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis. The front end portion of the back body assembly  126  defines a plurality of spaced apart adjustment openings  140  ( FIG.  13   ). In detail, the body lid  130  and body base  128  define the adjustment openings  140 . The rear end portion of the back body assembly  126  defines a cable opening  141  through which a plurality of optical fibers of the multifiber cable are passable to the adjustment openings  140 . Each of the adjustment openings  140  is configured so that a subset of the plurality of optical fibers entering through the cable opening  141  are passable through the adjustment opening  140  to the respective front housing  114 . At least a portion of the inner connector assembly  116  is received within the adjustment opening  140  and movable in the width direction. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  140  are spaced apart widthwise. Each adjustment opening  140  is configured to receive an individual spring push  124  and sized to allow movement of the spring push  124  in the width direction such that each spring push  124  is slidable in a limited range of motion that includes a first position corresponding with the first configuration of the connector  110  and a second position corresponding with the second configuration of the connector. In other words, the inner connector subassembly  126  is movable between the first position corresponding with the first configuration and second position corresponding with the second configuration. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the back body assembly  126  defines a slide bearing at each adjustment opening and the spring push  124  is shaped and arranged to define a slide carriage that is slidably received in the slide bearing such that the spring push  124  is constrained to move only widthwise in relation to the back body assembly. The slide joint between the back body assembly  126  and each spring push  124  prevents the components from disconnecting under longitudinal tension. To make the slide joint, as shown in  FIGS.  14 - 17   , each spring push  124  comprises back flange  142  and the back body assembly  126  defines a pair of opposing widthwise grooves  144  at each adjustment opening  140 . The opening  140  is sized and shaped to allow the spring push to move along the width direction. Opposite end portions of the back flange  142  are received as slidable tongues in the opposing widthwise grooves  144  of the corresponding adjustment opening when the body base  128  and body lid  130  are fastened together and coupled to each spring push. The grooves  144  define bearing surfaces that constrain the flanges  142  to move by sliding along the groove, i.e., widthwise in relation to the back body assembly  126 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  28 - 31   , this disclosure will now turn to the details of one exemplary embodiment of a releasable connection of the front housings  114  to the rear housing  112  for selectively fixing the front housings at first positions or second positions for defining the first configuration and second configuration of the connector, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the same connection features that fix the front housings  114  at the desired widthwise positions also operatively attach the rear housing  112  to the unlatch actuators for simultaneously unlatching all of the front housings from a receptacle. However, it will be understood that connectors in the scope of this disclosure could also have two different points of connection for (i) fixing the front housings at different positions corresponding to the first and second configurations of the dual-receptacle connector and (ii) operatively connecting the rear housing to the individual unlatch actuators associated with each front housing. 
     The rear housing  112  comprises opposing lateral sidewalls  148  and a first wall  151  and an opposite second wall  152  transverse to the lateral sidewalls. The first wall  151   comprises a first set of attachment points  153  on the first wall and a second set of attachment points  154  on the opposite second wall  152 . The rear housing  112  is configured to attach to the front housings  114  at the first set of attachment points  153  to configure the optical fiber connector  110  in the first configuration, and the rear housing is configured to attach to the plurality of front housings at the second set of attachment points  154  to configure the optical fiber connector in the second configuration. The first and second walls  151 ,  152  form upper and lower walls of the rear housing  112 , but which of the first and second walls forms the upper wall and the lower wall will vary depending on whether the rear housing is in the first orientation for defining the first configuration of the connector or the inverted second orientation for defining the second configuration of the connector. In an exemplary embodiment, each attachment point  153 ,  154  has substantially the same size and shape. In the illustrated embodiment each attachment point  153 ,  154  is a latch recess on the respective housing wall  151 ,  152 . The attachment points  153 , are spaced apart along a width of the rear housing  112 , but the second set of attachment points  154  on the second wall  152  are more widely spaced than the first set of attachment points  153  on the first wall  151 . As explained below, this difference in attachment point spacing facilitates selective reconfiguring of the connector  110  between the first and second configurations. See also  FIGS.  7  and  9   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  19 ,  21 ,  30 , and  31   , the rear housing  112  also comprises additional alignment features for operatively aligning the rear housing with the back body assembly  126  and the front housings  114 . With respect to the back body assembly  126 , the rear housing comprises symmetrical alignment keys  156  (broadly, alignment formations) on each of the first and second walls  151 ,  152  and each sidewall  148 . The alignment keys  156  are configured to be slidably received in corresponding keyways  158  on the back body assembly  126  in either of the first and second orientations of the rear housing  112  to align the rear housing in relation to the back body assembly. Furthermore, the second wall  152  comprises a first set of rearward alignment recesses  161  ( FIG.  31   ) and the first wall  151  comprises a second set of rearward alignment recesses (not visible in  FIG.  31   ). The first set of rearward alignment recesses  161  are aligned widthwise with the first set of latch recesses  153  on the opposing wall, and the second set of rearward alignment recesses are aligned widthwise with the second set of latch recesses  154 . The second set of rearward alignment recesses have the same size, shape, and front-to-back position as the first set of rear alignment recess, differing only by having widthwise spacing corresponding to the widthwise spacing of the second set of latch recesses  154 . The inner surface of the first wall  151  further comprises a first set of forward alignment keyways  163  aligned with the latch recesses  153 . Likewise, the inner surface of the second wall  152  comprises a second set of forward alignment keyways  164  aligned with the second set of the latch recesses  154 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  13  and  30   , the front housings  114  have top and bottom walls  171 ,  172  and open sidewalls  174  between the top and bottom walls along the rear section of each front housing. The open sidewalls  174  provide space for receiving the back body assembly  126  and sidewalls  148  of the rear housing  112 . The rear section of each top wall  171  comprises an alignment key  175  and a latch protrusion  176 . The rear end portion of the bottom wall  172  forms an alignment extension  178  that is rearward of the rear end of the top wall. In general, the alignment keys  175  are configured to be selectively received in either set of forward alignment keyways  163 ,  164 , the latch protrusions  176  are configured to selectively latch with the corresponding set of latch recesses  153 ,  154 , and the alignment extensions  178  are configured to be received in the opposing set of rearward alignment recesses (e.g., recesses  161 ). The latch protrusions  176  latched with either set of latch recesses  153 ,  154  couple the front housings  114  to the rear housing  112  such that the rear housing can be displaced rearward in relation to the back body assembly  126 , thereby simultaneously displacing each of the front housings rearward in relation to the inner connector assemblies  116  to actuate the unlatch mechanism of each front housing. 
     A method of selectively adjusting the connector  110  in the first and second configurations for mating with the first and second types of receptacles R 1 , R 2 , will now be briefly described. The top and bottom walls  171 ,  172  of the front housings  114  define the frame of reference for orientation of components in this description. For purposes of explanation, the method begins with the rear housing disconnected from the front housings  116 . From this starting point, the rear housing  112  is rotated about the cable to a first orientation with the first wall  151  above the second wall  152 , and the front housings  114  are slidably adjusted in relation to the back body assembly  126  to the respective first positions. Then, the rear housing  112  is advanced forward onto the back body assembly  126 . The alignment keys  156  slide into corresponding keyways  158  on the back body assembly  126  to align the rear housing  112  in relation to the back body assembly. The alignment keys  175  of the front housings  116  are likewise slidably received in the forward alignment keyways  163  on the first wall  151  of the rear housing  112  until the alignment extensions  178  are received in the corresponding rearward alignment recesses  161  and the latch protrusions  176  latch with the first set of latch recesses  153 . Then the connector  110  is configured in the first configuration. As shown in  FIG.  9   , in the first configuration, the connector  110  has a first on-center widthwise housing-to-housing spacing HW1, e.g., HW1 is about 3.9 mm. In addition, the connector has a first connector width CW1, e.g., CW1 is about 15.45 mm. 
     To selectively adjust the connector  110  from the first configuration to the second configuration, the user presses down on the upper walls  171  of the front housings  114 , flexing the upper walls to unlatch the latch protrusions  176  from the first set of latch recesses  153 . The user then pulls the rear housing  112  rearward ( FIG.  28   ). Then the rear housing  112  is rotated about the cable to the inverted second orientation with the second wall  152  above the first wall  151 , and the front housings  114  are slidably adjusted in relation to the back body assembly  126  to the respective second positions. Next, the rear housing  112  is pushed forward onto the back body assembly  126 . The alignment keys  156  slide into corresponding keyways  158  on the back body assembly  126  to position the back body assembly in the rear housing. The alignment keys  175  of the front housings  116  are likewise slidably received in the forward alignment keyways  164  on the second wall  152  of the rear housing  112  until the alignment extensions  178  are received in the corresponding rearward alignment recesses (not shown) and the latch protrusions  176  latch with the second set of latch recesses  154 . then the connector  110  is configured in the second configuration. As shown in  FIG.  10   , in the second configuration, the connector  110  has a second on-center widthwise housing-to-housing spacing HW2 greater than the first spacing HW1, e.g., HW2 is about 4.5 mm. In addition, the connector  110  has a first connector width CW1, e.g., CW1 is about 17.25 mm. Those skilled in the art could understand that the first spacing HW1 may be larger or smaller than 3.9 mm and likewise the second spacing HW2 may be larger or smaller than 4.5 mm, as long as the first spacing HW1 is different from the second spacing HW2. 
     In one or more embodiments, HW1 is less than 4.2 mm and HW2 is greater than 4.2 mm. In certain embodiments, HW1 is at least .1 mm less than HW2 (e.g., at least .2 mm less than HW2, at least .3 mm less than HW2, at least .4 mm less than HW2, at least .5 mm less than HW2). In one or more embodiments, CW1 is less than 16.2 mm and CW2 is greater than 16.2 mm. In certain embodiments, CW1 is at least .4 mm less than CW2 (e.g., at least .8 mm less than CW2, at least 1.2 mm less than CW2, at least 1.6 mm less than CW2). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  32 - 60   , another exemplary embodiment of an optical fiber connector in the scope of this disclosure is generally indicated at reference number  210 . The connector  210  is similar to the connector  110  in most respects, and corresponding parts are given the same reference number, plus  100 . Essentially, the connector  210  differs from the connector  110  in that, where two single-fiber ferrules  120  were used in the connector  110 , a single multifiber ferrule  220  is used in the connector  210 . Other than changes to the size and shape of various components to accommodate the differences in ferrules, the mutifiber ferrule connector  210  has essentially the same parts, with essentially the same functions. As shown in  FIG.  43   -44A, multifiber ferrules  220 ,  220 ′ with different numbers of fibers can be used with the connector  210 . Each multifiber ferrule can comprise at least one vertical row of four or more fibers. In the illustrated embodiment, the multifiber ferrule  220  comprises one vertical row of eight fibers, and the multifiber ferrule  220 ′ comprises one vertical row of sixteen fibers. 
     The connector  210  is selectively adjustable between a first configuration, shown in  FIGS.  32 ,  33 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 , and  40   , and a second configuration, shown in  FIGS.  34 ,  35 ,  39 , and  41   . In the first configuration, the housing components  212 ,  214  hold the ferrules  220  in a first ferrule arrangement and the connector  210  is mateable with a receptacle R 3  of a first type, shown in  FIGS.  32  and  33   . In the second configuration, the housing components  212 ,  214  hold the ferrules  220  in a second ferrule arrangement and the connector  210  is mateable with a receptacle R 4  of a second type, shown in  FIGS.  34  and  35   . The ferrule spacing differs in the first ferrule arrangement and the second ferrule arrangement, allowing for optical compatibility with both types of receptacle R 3 , R 4 . In addition, the connector  210  has a first connector width CW3 ( FIG.  40   ) in the first configuration and a second connector width CW4 ( FIG.  41   ) in the second configuration, wherein the second connector width is greater than the first, again allowing for compatibility with two types of receptacles R 3 , R 4 . 
     As above, the illustrated first type of receptacle R 3  has a plurality of channels (e.g., each channel supports at least one pair of Tx-Rx signals) undivided by partition walls and the illustrated second type of receptacle R 4  comprises partition walls. The first type of receptacle R 3  is also less wide than the second type of receptacle R 4 . The first type of receptacle R 3  is also shutter-less, whereas the second type of receptacle includes one or more shutters (e.g., one or more shutter elements-per-channel). 
     The optical fiber connector  210  is broadly configured to terminate a multi-fiber optical cable (not shown). Each front housing  214  receives and retains an individual inner connector subassembly  216  ( FIG.  45   ) therein. Each inner connector subassembly  216  as shown in  FIGS.  45 A and  45 B  comprises a front ferrule holder  218 , the multifiber ferrule  220  configured to be accommodated in the ferrule holder and protrude from a front end of the holder, a single ferrule spring  222 , and a spring push  224 . The ferrule spring  222  is positioned between the front ferrule holder  218  and the spring push  224  for compressing the ferrule spring forward against the ferrule. The connector  210  further comprises a back body assembly  226  that receives a portion of each spring push  224  and each spring push  224  is movable in the width direction with respect to the back body assembly. The illustrated back body assembly  226  comprises a body base  228  ( FIG.  45   ) and a body lid  230  ( FIG.  46   ) configured to be fastened to the body base. The body base and body lid define opposing grooves  244  which form an opening. As above, a back post (not shown) may be received between the body base  228  and the body lid  230 , a crimp ring (not shown) may be configured to crimp strength members of the cable onto the back post, and a cable strain relief boot (not shown) may be configured to receive the cable where it enters the connector  210 . 
     As with the connector  110 , the connector  210  is generally configured so that the front housings  214  (broadly, the unlatch actuators of the plug units) releasbly connect to the rear housing  212  and the spring pushes  224  adjustably connect to the back body assembly  226 . The back body assembly  226  defines a plurality of spaced apart adjustment openings  240  spaced apart widthwise, each configured to slidably receive the flange  242  of an individual spring push  224  in a groove  244  such that each spring push  224  is slidable along the width of the connector  210  in a limited range of motion that includes a first position corresponding with the first configuration of the connector  210  and a second position corresponding with the second configuration of the connector. 
     Like the rear housing  112  of the connector  110 , the rear housing  212  is configured to attach to the front housings  214  at a first set of attachment points  253  to configure the optical fiber connector  210  in the first configuration, and the rear housing is configured to attach to the plurality of front housings at the second set of attachment points  254  to configure the optical fiber connector in the second configuration. Here again, the first attachment points  253  comprise latch recesses spaced apart along the width of the first wall  251  and the second set of attachment points  254  comprise latch recesses spaced apart along the width of the second wall  252 , wherein the second attachment points are more widely spaced than the first. The front housings  214  comprise upper and lower walls  271 ,  272 , with open sidewalls  274  between the upper and lower walls along the rear sections of the housings. As above, the upper wall  272  defines latch protrusions  276  for latching with the latch recesses  253 ,  254  on either wall  251 ,  252  of the rear housing to selectively secure the front housings  214  in first positions corresponding to the first configuration of the connector  210  or second positions corresponding to the second configuration of the connector. The rear housing  212  can have all of the same features for aligning with the front housings  214  and back body assembly  226  as the rear housing  112  has for aligning with the front housings  114  and the back body assembly  126 . For example, the forward alignment keyways  263 ,  264  are visible in  FIGS.  50  and  52   . Similarly, the front housings  214  and back body assembly  226  likewise can have the same alignment features as the front housings  114  and back body assembly  226  described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  53 - 58   , the steps of selectively adjusting the connector  210  between the first and second configurations for mating with the first and second receptacles R 3 , R 4 , will now be briefly described. In  FIG.  53   , the connector  210  is shown in a first configuration suitable for mating with a first receptacle R 3 . As shown in  FIG.  40   , in the first configuration, the connector  210  has a first on-center widthwise housing-to-housing spacing HW3, e.g., HW3 is about 3.9 mm. In addition, the connector has a first connector width CW3, e.g., CW3 is about 15.45 mm. 
     To selectively adjust the connector  210  from the first configuration to the second configuration, the user presses down on the upper walls  271  of the front housings  216 , flexing the upper walls to unlatch the latch protrusions  276  from the first set of latch recesses  253 . The user then pulls the rear housing  212  away rearward ( FIG.  54   ). Then as shown in  FIGS.  55 - 56   , the rear housing  212  is rotated about the cable to the inverted second orientation with the second wall  252  above the first wall  251 , and the inner connector subassembly  216  and front housings  214  are slidably adjusted in relation to the back body assembly  226  to the respective second positions. Next, as shown in  FIGS.  57 - 58   , the rear housing  212  is pushed forward onto the back body assembly  226 . The various alignment features of the rear housing  212 , back body assembly  226 , and front housings  214  operatively align the rear housing with the front housings until the latch protrusions  276  latch with the second set of latch recesses  254 . The connector  210  is configured in the second configuration. As shown in  FIG.  41   , in the second configuration, the connector  210  has a second on-center widthwise housing-to-housing spacing HW4 greater than the first spacing HW3, e.g., HW4 is about 4.5 mm. In addition, the connector  210  has a first connector width CW3, e.g., CW3 is about 17.25 mm. 
     In one or more embodiments, HW3 is less than 4.2 mm and HW4 is greater than 4.2 mm. In certain embodiments, HW3 is at least .1 mm less than HW4 (e.g., at least .2 mm less than HW4, at least .3 mm less than HW4, at least .4 mm less than HW4, at least .5 mm less than HW4). In one or more embodiments, CW3 is less than 16.2 mm and CW4 is greater than 16.2 mm. In certain embodiments, CW3 is at least .4 mm less than CW4 (e.g., at least .8 mm less than CW4, at least 2.2 mm less than CW4, at least 2.6 mm less than CW4). 
     As can be seen, the above-described connectors  110 ,  210  enable the same single-cable, multi-ferrule connector to be used with two different types of receptacles. 
     The connectors  110 ,  210  may be referred to as very small form factor (VSFF) uniboot connectors. U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/937,006, filed Sep. 30, 2022, and entitled FIBER OPTIC NETWORK SYSTEMS, describes numerous applications for VSFF uniboot connectors like connectors  110 ,  210  in high density fiber optic networks. U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/937,006 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.