Patent Publication Number: US-2015078709-A1

Title: Methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering in a connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cable system, and related fiber optic cables and assemblies

Description:
PRIORITY APPLICATION 
     This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/330,072, filed on Dec. 19, 2011, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The technology of the disclosure relates to connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cable preparations and manufacture, and related cables, assemblies, and systems. The connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cables, assemblies, and systems may be used as medium for data transfer between data processing units, including in high performance computing systems, as an example. 
     2. Technical Background 
     The increasing trend towards high performance computing (HPC) is driving the need for increased bandwidth of data communications between electrical data processing units. For example, communication rates between electrical data processing units may require data transfer rates of Gigabits per second (Gps) or even tens (10s) of Gps. In this regard, optical fibers are increasingly being used in lieu of copper wires as a communication medium between these electrical data processing units for high data rate communications. One or more optical fibers are packaged in a cable to provide a fiber optic cable for communicatively connecting electrical data processing units. Optical fiber is capable of transmitting an extremely large amount of bandwidth compared to a copper conductor with less loss and noise. An optical fiber is also lighter and smaller compared to a copper conductor having the same bandwidth capacity. 
     An example of a connectorized fiber optic cable arrangement  10  that may be used to interconnect electrical data processing units is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the connectorized fiber optic cable arrangement  10  includes three fiber optic cables  12 ,  14 , and  16 . The break lines illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the fiber optic cables  12 ,  14 , and  16  signify that these fiber optic cables  12 ,  14 , and  16  can be of any length desired. This fiber optic cable arrangement  10  may be used to connect four (4) electrical data processing units as an example. As an example, each fiber optic cable  12 ,  14 ,  16  may include twelve (12) optical fibers. Each fiber optic cable  12 ,  14 ,  16  is connectorized on each end with a fiber optic connector A, B, B′, C, C′, D. The fiber optic connectors A, B, B′, C, C′, D allow each fiber optic cable  12 ,  14 ,  16  to be connected to an electrical data processing unit. In this example, each fiber optic connector A, B, B′, C, C′, D is a twelve-fiber multi-fiber termination push-on (MTP) connector to provide bandwidth in the capacity of twelve (12) optical fibers. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the fiber optic cable  12  is comprised of two fiber optic connectors A, B on each end. The fiber optic connector A may be connected to a first electrical data processing unit (not shown). The fiber optic connector B may be connected to a second electrical data processing unit to connect the first electrical data processing unit to the second electrical data processing unit via optical fiber in the fiber optic cable  12 . Similarly, the fiber optic cable  14  is comprised of two fiber optic connectors B′ and C, where the fiber optic connector B′ can be connected to the same (second) electrical data processing unit as the fiber optic connector B. Similarly, the fiber optic cable  16  is comprised of two fiber optic connectors C′ and D, where the fiber optic connector C′ can be connected to the same (second) electrical data processing unit as the fiber optic connector C. The fiber optic connector D can be connected to yet another electrical data processing system to carry optical signals to and from the fiber optic connector C′. 
     The fiber optic cable arrangement  10  in  FIG. 1  provides twelve (12) optical fibers for data communications. But, HPC may require much greater bandwidth. Thus, higher optical fiber densities may need to be provided in a fiber optic cable arrangement. To support this need, optical fibers can be provided in smaller sizes to allow for more optical fibers to be disposed in a fiber optic cable. For example, if a fifty (50) micrometer (μm) diameter optical fiber is coated up to a seventy-five (75) μm diameter and packaged into a conventional 2.0 millimeter (mm) outer diameter (OD) fiber optic cable, two hundred (200) or more optical fibers are possible to be packaged in the 2.0 mm OD fiber optic cable as an example. 
     The same connectorized fiber optic cable arrangement  10  provided in  FIG. 1  could also be employed with higher optical fiber count fiber optic cable, but with challenges. For example, maintaining the same ordering of the optical fibers is a challenge. Ordering is the particular assignment of an optical fiber to a particular location or channel in a connector so that fiber optic cables can be interchangeably used and maintain the same fiber-to-fiber connections. To maintain ordering, the fiber optic connectors A, B, B′, C, C′, D could be designed to maintain a determined ordering of each optical fiber in the fiber optic cables  12 ,  14 ,  16 . However, this may not be possible with standard fiber optic connector types for higher fiber counts unless the optical fiber count is split among multiple fiber optic cables from point-to-point (e.g., A to B, B to C, C to D). For example, if a two-hundred (200) optical fiber count is desired, and the available fiber optic connectors only support a forty-eight (48) optical fiber count maximum, five (5) fiber optic cables would be required between each point-to-point adding both complexity, space issues, and cost. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to provide a connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cable system. Related fiber optic cables and assemblies are also disclosed. The embodiments disclosed herein allow for a section of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to be prepared to form two or more connectorized fiber optic cables as part of a multi-fiber cable system without requiring a specific fiber ordering in the fiber optic connectors. To accomplish this feature, the natural ordering of the optical fibers in the fiber optic cable is fixed in place in at least one section of the fiber optic cable before the optical fibers are cut to form adjacent fiber optic connectors in the cable system. A “natural fiber ordering” means the fiber ordering that exists as a result of the arrangement of the optical fibers inside the fiber optic cable and as altered when the optical fibers move or translate as a section of the fiber optic cable is windowed (i.e., cable jacket removed) and optical fibers exposed and/or disposed in a ferrule. Thus, the fiber ordering between adjacent fiber optic connectors in the cable system will be the same even though the fiber ordering of the optical fibers was random during cable preparations. In other embodiments, one or more of the cable ends can be provided according to a specific fiber ordering if desired. 
     In one embodiment, a method of preparing connectorized ends in a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to provide a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable system is provided. The method comprises providing a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable at a length. The method also comprises windowing a section of the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable at a first access point to expose optical fibers disposed in the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable. The method also comprises placing at least a portion of the exposed optical fibers from the windowed section of the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable into at least one channel in an interior space of a double ferrule having a first end and a second end, the optical fibers exposed through both the first end and the second end of the double ferrule to form a double ferrule assembly. The method also comprises fixing the ordering of the optical fibers disposed in the double ferrule assembly in a fixed ordering. The method also comprises cutting the double ferrule assembly between the first end of the double ferrule and the second end of the double ferrule to provide a first ferrule having a first end face and a second ferrule having a second end face, wherein the optical fibers disposed through the first end face and the optical fibers disposed through the second end face both have the fixed ordering. 
     In another embodiment, a multi-fiber cable system is provided. The system comprises a first multi-fiber, fiber optic cable comprising a first plurality of optic fibers. The first multi-fiber, fiber optic cable also comprises a first end having a first multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having a first fiber ordering of the first plurality of optical fibers. The first multi-fiber, fiber optic cable also comprises a second end having a second multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having a second fiber ordering of the first plurality of optical fibers different from the first fiber ordering. The system also includes a second multi-fiber, fiber optic cable comprising a second plurality of optic fibers. The second multi-fiber, fiber optic cable also comprises a first end having a third multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having the second fiber ordering for the second plurality of optical fibers. The second multi-fiber, fiber optic cable also comprises a fourth end having a second multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having a third fiber ordering of the second plurality of optical fibers different from the second fiber ordering. 
     Any number of additional multi-fiber, fiber optic cables could be provided in the multi-fiber cable system to avoid and/or reduce the need fiber ordering. As one non-limiting example, the multi-fiber cable system could further comprise a third multi-fiber, fiber optic cable comprised of a third plurality of optic fibers. The third multi-fiber, fiber optic cable could also comprise of a fifth end having a fifth multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having the third fiber ordering for the third plurality of optical fibers. The third multi-fiber, fiber optic cable could also comprise a sixth end having a sixth multi-fiber, fiber optic connector assembly disposed thereon having a fourth fiber ordering of the third plurality of optical fibers different from the third fiber ordering. 
     Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary connectorized fiber optic cable arrangement that can be employed to interconnect electrical data processing units; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a fully assembled, multi-fiber termination push-on (MTP) connectorized end of a high density multi-fiber, fiber optic cable resulting from method(s) of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIG. 2B  is an enlarged end view of the connectorized end of the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIGS. 3A-3I  illustrate exemplary preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare MTP connectorized ends for high density multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary high density MTP connectorized fiber optic cable arrangement and system prepared from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare high density MTP connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate exemplary preparations to a high density multi-ribbon, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare MTP connectorized ends for multi-ribbon, fiber optic cables in a multi-ribbon cable system; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates perspective view of a fully assembled, MTP connectorized end exposing stacked ribbons from a multi-ribbon fiber optic cable resulting from method(s) of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of MTP connectorized ends for multi-ribbon, fiber optic cables in a multi-ribbon cable system; 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate exemplary preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare LC-style connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method and fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrates another exemplary method and fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate another exemplary method of forming a fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrates another exemplary method and fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; 
         FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrates another exemplary method and fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system; and 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate another exemplary method of forming a fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts. 
     As a non-limiting example, it may be desired to provide a high density, high bandwidth, fiber optic cable system that includes a large number of optical fibers for applications requiring high bandwidth or data transfer rates, such as for high performance computing (HPC) applications as an example. These applications may require Gigabits per second (Gps), tens of Gps, or even hundreds of Gps of data transfer capability in a communication medium, and thus why optical fiber for such communication medium presents an excellent choice. Multiple fiber optic cables may be required for a particular application where the connectorized ends between cables require an assigned fiber ordering for compatibility reasons. However, standard fiber optic ferrules that allow for assigning particular fiber ordering (i.e., location in the ferrule) for fiber optic connectors may not readily exist to support a larger number of optical fibers in a single fiber optic cable for high bandwidth applications. 
     In this regard, embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to provide a connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cable system. Related fiber optic cables and assemblies are also disclosed. The embodiments disclosed herein allow for a section of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to be prepared to form two or more connectorized fiber optic cables as part of a multi-fiber cable system without requiring a specific fiber ordering in the fiber optic connectors. To accomplish this feature, the ordering of the optical fibers in the fiber optic cable as they exist without manipulation of ordering (i.e., the natural ordering), is fixed in place in at least one section of the fiber optic cable before the optical fibers are cut to form adjacent fiber optic connectors in the cable system. Thus, the fiber ordering between adjacent fiber optic connectors in the cable system will be the same even though the fiber ordering of the optical fibers was random during cable preparations. In other embodiments, one or more of the cable ends can be provided according to a specific fiber ordering if desired. 
     An exemplary connectorized end supporting a large number of optical fibers from a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable prepared using the methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations disclosed herein is first described. In this regard,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a fully assembled, multi-fiber termination push-on (MTP) connectorized end  20  (or “connectorized end  20 ”) of one multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  22  (or “fiber optic cable  22 ”).  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the fully assembled, MTP connectorized end  20  of the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  22 .  FIG. 2B  is an enlarged end view of the connectorized end  20  of the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  22  in  FIG. 2A . The connectorized end  20  of the fiber optic cable  22  resulted from method(s) of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system, as will be described in more detail below. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an MTP ferrule  24  (or “ferrule  24 ”) is provided in an MTP connector  26  on an end  27  of the fiber optic cable  22 . The number of optical fibers  28  provided in the fiber optic cable  22  may be hundreds, for example, two hundred (200) or more. For example, the number of optical fibers  28  provided in the fiber optic cable  22  is three hundred and fifty (350) in this example. To provide for a large number of the optical fibers  28  to be provided in a fiber optic cable  22  that is of acceptable size to be desirable, the size of the optical fibers  28  may be minimized. For example, the outer diameter of the optical fibers  28  may be selected to be between forty (40) and sixty (60) micrometers (μm) (e.g., 50 μm) of glass (e.g., core with or without cladding) and having an outer diameter of 70-100 μm (e.g., 75 μm) when coated. This may allow a large number of the optical fibers  28  to be provided in a smaller sized fiber optic cable  22 . For example, the outer diameter of the fiber optic cable  22  may be less than 5.1 millimeters (mm), and 2.0 mm or approximately 2.0 mm (e.g., 1.9 mm to 2.1 mm) in one example. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the MTP ferrule  24  is provided in the MTP connector  26  as one example of a convenient ferrule that can be employed to connectorize a larger number of optical fibers  28  from the fiber optic cable  22 . The MTP ferrule  24  in this example was not selected because of an exclusive ability to support a larger number of optical fibers for fiber optic connections. The MTP ferrule  24  was selected in this embodiment as a convenient ferrule type to provide a standard connector type to allow for mating of ferrules for fiber optic connections. The MTP ferrule  24  is one example of a convenient ferrule type that contains an opening  30  sized to allow the desired large number of optical fibers  28  to be supported by the ferrule  24  for high density fiber optic connections in a fiber optic cable system. However, as will be described, other ferrule types are possible, and the methods and cable systems disclosed herein are not limited to any particular ferrule type. As will be described herein, custom ferrule types or form factors can also be employed if desired. 
     With the methods disclosed herein, the selection of a ferrule is not based on how the ferrule design may allow or encourage specific assignment optical fibers to specific locations or channels in an end face  32  of the ferrule  24 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , optical fibers  28  from the fiber optic cable  22  exposed through the end face  32  of the ferrule  24  are not assigned to a particular fiber order or separated to particular locations by the ferrule  24 . This may be advantageous, because standard ferrule types may not be available that support allowing for optical fibers to be assigned specific locations in an end face of the ferrule for the number of optical fibers provided in a fiber optic cable to create the fiber optic cable system. Further, even if a ferrule type was available to allow for specific assignment of location of optical fibers, providing such during assembly may be extremely costly in terms of labor and complexity. 
     In this regard, with reference back to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the optical fibers  28  are arranged in random order through the opening  30  in the end face  32  of the ferrule  24 . As will be described in this disclosure, the methods of preparing fiber optic cable systems disclosed herein do not require the optical fibers, including the optical fibers  28  exposed from the ferrule  24  of the MTP connector  26  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , to be specifically ordered to provide a compatible fiber optic cable system. 
       FIGS. 3A-3I  illustrate exemplary preparations to a fiber optic cable  34  that will eventually produce at least two fiber optic cables for a fiber optic cable system, one of which is the fiber optic cable  22  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in this example. These preparations reduce and/or avoid fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for high-density multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system.  FIGS. 3A-3F  illustrate exemplary preparations to the fiber optic cable  34  before the fiber optic cable  34  is separated into two separate fiber optic cables, one of which is the fiber optic cable  22  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , to form part or a whole of a fiber optic cable system.  FIGS. 3F-3G  illustrate exemplary preparations to connectorize ends of the fiber optic cable  34  once prepared using the preparations described and illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3E .  FIGS. 3H and 3I  illustrate the fiber optic cables for the fiber optic cable system prepared from the fiber optic cable  34  when the MTP connector  26  is fully assembled on the ends of the fiber optic cables. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  34 . The multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  34  may be a high-density fiber optic cable that includes a larger number of optical fibers to support high data rate transfers. For example, the fiber optic cable  34  can include the same exemplary characteristics and fiber count as the fiber optic cable  22  discussed above in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , since the fiber optic cable  22  was prepared from the fiber optic cable  34 , as will be described below. The fiber optic cable  34  may include an outer cable jacket  35  to protect optical fibers disposed within the fiber optic cable  34 . The fiber optic cable  34  is provided at the desired length L 1  for the entire length of the fiber optic cable system to be prepared and manufactured, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . A section  36  of the fiber optic cable  34  is windowed to expose the optical fibers  38  disposed in the fiber optic cable  34 . For example, windowing may involve stripping away the outer cable jacket  35  from the fiber optic cable  34  to expose the optical fibers  38  disposed in the fiber optic cable  34 . A stripping tool or other tool may be employed to strip away the outer cable jacket  35 . 
     Note that the optical fibers  38  referenced in  FIG. 3B  are the same optical fibers  28  in the fiber optic cable  22  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  after preparations are completed in accordance with  FIGS. 3A-3I  to prepare the fiber optic cable system. These preparations will eventually provide a cutting of the fiber optic cable  34  and optical fibers  38  disposed therein to provide at least two separate fiber optic cables from the single fiber optic cable  34 . In this example, two fiber optic cables will be produced from the single fiber optic cable  34 : the fiber optic cable  22  supporting optical fibers  28 , and another fiber optic cable  22 ′ supporting optical fibers  28 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
     After windowing of the section  36  of the fiber optic cable  34  to the expose the optical fibers  38 , the optical fibers  38  in this example are placed in a double ferrule  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . At least a portion of the exposed optical fibers  38  from the windowed section  36  of the fiber optic cable  34  are disposed in a channel  42  in an interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40 . The exposed optical fibers  38  are exposed through both a first end  46  and a second end  48  of the double ferrule  40  to form a double ferry assembly  50 . The double ferrule  40  in the double ferrule assembly  50  provides a structure that can be cut to provide two opposing ferrules that can be connectorized to provide compatible adjacent fiber optic connectors as part of the fiber optic cable assembly. It may be desired to try to suppress angles in the double ferrule  40  to avoid kerf resulting in offset in the optical fibers  38 . 
     At this point, the natural fiber ordering of the exposed optical fibers  38  in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40  can be fixed to ensure that the fiber ordering does not change as further preparations are made. A “natural fiber ordering” means the fiber ordering that exists as a result of the arrangement of the optical fibers  38  inside the fiber optic cable  34  and as altered when the optical fibers  38  move or translate as the section  36  is windowed and the optical fibers  38  exposed and disposed in the double ferrule  40 . In this regard, as illustrated in  FIG. 3D , the first end  46  and the second end  48  of the double ferrule  40  is sealed with collars  52 ,  52 ′ so a potting material  56  disposed in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40  is retained in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3E . For example, the collars  52 ,  52 ′ may be sealed on the first end  46  and the second end  48  of the double ferrule  40  using an Ultraviolet (UV) adhesive, an epoxy, and room temperature vulcanizing (RTV). The potting material  56  is used to fix the fiber ordering, as it exists up through this point in preparations, of the exposed optical fibers  38  disposed in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40 . The double ferrule assembly  50  may then be cured in an oven or through other heat source to solidify the potting material  56  in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40  to fix the fiber ordering of the optical fibers  38 . For example, the double ferrule assembly  50  may be cured at temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius and/or for a period of time such as up to two (2) minutes, as non-limiting examples. Thus, when the double ferrule assembly  50  is cut to form two separate ferrules from the double ferrule  40 , the fiber order of the optical fiber  38  will be the same between both ferrules without the fiber order having to be assigned. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 3F  illustrates the double ferrule assembly  50  after the double ferrule  40  has been cut between the first end  46  and the second end  48 . In this embodiment, the double ferrule  40  is cut in half at center line C 1  to provide a first ferrule  24  having a first end face  32  and a second ferrule  24 ′ having a second end face  32 ′. The cutting of the double ferrule  40  also provides two fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′. For example, the double ferrule  40  may be cut using a laser, a diamond blade, and/or an abrasive wire. The first ferrule  24  is provided as part of the fiber optic cable  22 , and the second ferrule  24 ′ is provided as part of the fiber optic cable  22 ′. As previously discussed, the optical fibers  28  that are disposed through the first ferrule  24  and the optical fibers  28 ′ that are disposed through the second ferrule  24 ′ have the same fiber ordering since the fiber ordering was filed at the center line C 1  when the potting material  56  was disposed in the interior space  44  of the double ferrule  40 . Thus, the first ferrule  24  and the second ferrule  24 ′ are compatible, meaning they contain exposed optical fibers  28 ,  28 ′ having the same fiber ordering, and without the fiber ordering having to have been assigned or selected in the ferrules  24 ,  24 ′. 
     The optical fibers  28 ,  28 ′ may then be polished or planarization preparations made to prepare the fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′ for use. Rough polishing may be provided. Also, flock polishing of the optical fibers  28 ,  28 ′ may be performed. The exact polishing preparations and steps may depend on the material selected for the ferrules  24 ,  24 ′. For example, if ULTEM® is selected, flock polishing sequences may be appropriate. 
       FIG. 3G  illustrates one of the fiber optic cables  22  or  22 ′ after the double ferrule  40  is cut and the optical fibers  28  or  28 ′ exposed through the end face  32  or  32 ′.  FIGS. 3H and 3I  illustrate right and left perspective views, respectively, of one of the fiber optic cables  22  or  22 ′ after the ferrule  24  or  24 ′ has been connectorized, which in this example is an MTP connector  26  or  26 ′. As can be seen from  FIG. 3H , once the double ferrule  40  is cut and the ferrules  24 ,  24 ′ are produced and connectorized as a result of the above discussed preparations, the fiber optic cable  22 ,  22 ′ produced for the fiber optic cable system appears like the connectorized fiber optic cable  22  in  FIG. 2A . 
     The methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of the fiber optic cable  34  in  FIG. 3A  to provide connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′ described above allow providing a cable system. The cable system, in the example of  FIGS. 3A-3I , is comprised of two fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′ each having MTP connectors  26 ,  26 ′ having the same fiber ordering although fiber ordering was not specifically assigned. However, this method and other exemplary methods herein can be employed to produce any number of fiber optic cables for a fiber optic cable system, as discussed below. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary high density MTP connectorized fiber optic cable system  60  prepared from preparations to the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  34  illustrated in  FIG. 3A  described above. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the fiber optic cable system  60  is comprised of three (3) fiber optic cables in this example: the fiber optic cables  22  and  22 ′ previously discussed and illustrated above, and a third fiber optic cable  22 ″. The single length of fiber optic cable  34  illustrated in  FIG. 3A  was used to produce all three fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′, and  22 ″ in the example fiber optic cable system  60  in  FIG. 4 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , the three fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′, and  22 ″ provided in the fiber optic cable system  60  were created as a result of providing two double ferrules  40 ,  40 ′ in two different sections of the fiber optic cable  34  in  FIG. 3A  according to the method described above. The fiber optic cable  22  may be considered an intermediate or jumper cable in this exemplary fiber optic cable system  60 . The fiber optic cable  22 ′ may be provided to connect a source to a detector connected to the fiber optic cable  22 ″. In this regard, two pairs of adjacent ferrules  24 ,  24 ′ were created as a result of cutting the double ferrule  40 . Another two pairs of adjacent ferrules,  24 ″,  24 ′″ were created as a result of cutting the double ferrule  40 ′. Thus, in the fiber optic cable system  60 , adjacent ferrules  24 ,  24 ′ contain the same fiber ordering, and adjacent ferrules  24 ″,  24 ′″ contain the same fiber ordering. However, the fiber ordering does not have to be the same between ferrules  24 ,  24 ′ and  24 ″,  24 ′″ for the fiber optic cable system  60  to provide fiber optic cable compatibility. All that is required is that the fiber ordering between adjacent ferrules  24 ,  24 ′ and  24 ″,  24 ′″ have the same fiber ordering to maintain compatibility of connections between adjacent fiber optic cables  22 ,  22 ′ and  22 ′,  22 ″. In other words, the fiber optic cable  22  is compatible with the fiber optic cables  22 ′ and  22 ″. 
     The methods described herein can also be employed with ribbon fiber optic cables or multi-ribbon fiber optic cables. In this regard,  FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate exemplary preparations to a high density multi-ribbon, fiber optic cable  70  (or “fiber optic cable  70 ”) for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare MTP connectorized ends for multi-ribbon, fiber optic cables in a multi-ribbon fiber optic cable system. As illustrated in the perspective view in  FIG. 5A , the fiber optic cable  70  contains multiple ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N), with N signifying any number of ribbons. As a non-limiting example, the fiber optic cable  70  may include high fiber counts, such as thirty (30), 900 μm fibers, or alternatively a lower fiber count ribbon. Providing the multi-ribbon, fiber optic cable  70  may allow for a large number of optical fibers to be provided in a fiber optic cable to provide high-density fiber optic cable systems for high-density applications. The fiber optic cable  70  may include an outer cable jacket  74  to protect the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) disposed within the fiber optic cable  70 . The fiber optic cable  70  may be provided at the desired length for the entire length of the multi-ribbon fiber optic cable system to be prepared and manufactured. A section  76  of the fiber optic cable  70  is windowed to expose the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) disposed in the fiber optic cable  70 . For example, windowing may involve stripping away the outer cable jacket  74  from the fiber optic cable  70  to expose the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) disposed in the fiber optic cable  70 . A stripping tool or other tool may be employed to strip away the outer cable jacket  74 . 
     After windowing of the section  76  of the fiber optic cable  70  to the expose the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N), the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) in this example are placed in a double ferrule  78 , as illustrated in the perspective view in  FIG. 5A .  FIGS. 5B-5D  illustrate top, additional perspective, and close-up perspective views, respectively, of the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) disposed in the double ferrule  78 . The exposed ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) from the windowed section  76  of the fiber optic cable  70  are disposed in channels  80 ( 1 )- 80 N in an interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78 . The notation  1 -N signifies that any number of channels  80  can be provided in the double ferrule  78 . The double ferrule  78  may be designed to provide for an orderly and even distribution of the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) in the channels  80 ( 1 )- 80 (N). One ribbon  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) may be disposed in a given channel  80 ( 1 )- 80 (N), or multiple ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) may disposed in a single channel  80 ( 1 )- 80 (N). 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D , the exposed ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) are exposed through both a first end  84  and a second end  86  of the double ferrule  78  to form a double ferrule assembly  88 . The double ferrule  78  in the double ferrule assembly  88  provides a structure that can be cut to provide two opposing ferrules that can be connectorized to provide compatible adjacent fiber optic connectors as part of the fiber optic cable assembly. At this point, the natural fiber ordering of the exposed ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) in the interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78  can be fixed to ensure that the ribbon  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) ordering and/or fiber ordering in the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) does not change as further preparations are made. In this regard, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the first end  84  and the second end  86  of the double ferrule  78  can optionally be sealed so a potting material  90  disposed in the interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78  is retained in the interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78 . The potting material  90  is used to fix the ribbon/fiber ordering, as it exists up through this point in preparations, of the exposed optical ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) disposed in the interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78 . 
     The double ferrule assembly  88  may then be cured in an oven or through other heat source to solidify the potting material  90  in the interior space  82  of the double ferrule  78  to fix the fiber ordering of the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N). For example, the double ferrule assembly  88  may be cured at temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius, and/or for a period of time such as up to two (2) minutes, as non-limiting examples. Thus, when the double ferrule assembly  88  is cut to form two separate ferrules from the double ferrule  78 , the fiber order of the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) and optical fibers disposed therein will be the same between both ferrules without the fiber order having to be assigned. 
     The double ferrule  78  is then cut between the first end  84  and the second end  86  to create two separate ferrules in the fiber optic cable  70 . For example, the double ferrule  78  can be cut in half at the center of the double ferrule  78  to provide a first ferrule having a first end face and a second ferrule having a second end face. The double ferrule  78  may also include reduced cross-section portions, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , where the double ferrule  78  is to be cut to reduce cut time and to aid in fiber protrusion. The cutting of the double ferrule  78  also provides two fiber optic cables  92 ,  92 ′, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D . For example, the double ferrule  78  may be cut using at least one of a laser, a diamond blade, and an abrasive wire. The ordering of the ribbons  72 ( 1 )- 72 (N) and optical fibers therein will be fiber ordered the same in both ferrules produced from cutting the double ferrule  78 . Further, the individual ferrules produced by cutting the double ferrule  78  can be connectorized, if desired, such as with MTP connectors when the double ferrule  78  is a MTP type double ferrule. If another type of ferrule is used, other compatible connector types can be provided. 
     For example,  FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a fully assembled, MTP connectorized end  100  of ribbons  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) from a fiber optic cable prepared according to methods disclosed herein. In this example, a ferrule  104  that resulted from cutting a double ferrule according to the methods and embodiments disclosed herein allowed for stacking of the ribbons  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) in a specific order, which are shown in an end face  106  of the ferrule  104 . In this example, the ferrule  104  is internally configured to allow assignment of a particular ribbon  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) to a particular vertical position in the Y-direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . However, the particular ordering of the ribbons  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) into particular vertical positions is not required according to the methods and embodiments disclosed herein. Because the ribbons  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) will have been assigned into vertical positions consistently in the double ferrule from which the ferrule  104  resulted before being cut, the ribbons  102 ( 1 )- 102 (N) will have been assigned into vertical positions consistently between an adjacent ferrule to the ferrule  104 , thus maintaining the same fiber ordering. 
     The methods of reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering during preparations of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to provide a connectorized multi-fiber, fiber optic cable system can also be provided with different types of fiber optic ferrules other than the MTP style ferrules disclosed above. For example,  FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate exemplary preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  110  for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare LC-style connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. For example, an LC-style ferrule type may be used to produce a fiber optic cable system like the fiber optic cable system  60  in  FIG. 4  as an example, except that LC-style connectors will be disposed on the fiber optic cable ends instead of MTP connectors. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates the multi-fiber, fiber optic cable  110 . The multi-fiber, fiber optic cable may be a high-density fiber optic cable that includes a larger number of optical fibers to support high data rate transfers. The fiber optic cable  110  may include an outer cable jacket  112  to protect optical fibers  114  disposed within the fiber optic cable  110 . The fiber optic cable  110  is provided at the desired length for the entire length of the fiber optic cable system to be prepared and manufactured. A section  116  of the fiber optic cable  110  is windowed to exposed the optical fibers  114  disposed in the fiber optic cable  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7A . For example, windowing may involve stripping away the outer cable jacket  112  from the fiber optic cable  110  to expose the optical fibers  114  disposed in the fiber optic cable  110 . A stripping tool or other tool may be employed to strip away the outer cable jacket  112 . 
     After windowing of the section  116  of the fiber optic cable  110  to the expose the optical fibers  114 , the optical fibers  114  in this example are placed in an LC-style double ferrule  118  (or “double ferrule  118 ”) as also illustrated in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a side view of the double ferrule  118 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates a top view of the double ferrule  118 . At least a portion of the exposed optical fibers  114  from the windowed section  116  of the fiber optic cable  110  are disposed in at least one channel  120  in an interior space  122  of the double ferrule  118 . The exposed optical fibers  114  are exposed through both a first end  124  and a second end  126  of the double ferrule  118  to form a double ferrule assembly  128 . The double ferrule  118  in the double ferrule assembly  128  provides a structure that can be cut to provide two opposing ferrules that can be connectorized to provide compatible adjacent fiber optic connectors as part of the fiber optic cable assembly. 
     At this point, the natural fiber ordering of the exposed optical fibers  114  in the interior space  122  of the double ferrule  118  can be fixed to ensure that the fiber ordering does not change as further preparations are made. A “natural fiber ordering” means the fiber ordering that exists as a result of the arrangement of the optical fibers  114  inside the fiber optic cable  110  and as altered when the optical fibers  114  move or translate as the section  116  is windowed and the optical fibers  114  exposed and disposed in the double ferrule  118 . In this regard, as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the first end  124  and the second end (not shown in  FIG. 7B ) of the double ferrule  118  are sealed with a collar  130 . A potting material  131  is used to fix the fiber ordering, as it exists up through this point in preparations, of the exposed optical fibers  114  disposed in the interior space  122  of the double ferrule  118 . The double ferrule assembly  128  may then be cured in an oven or through other heat source to solidify the potting material  131  in the interior space  122  of the double ferrule  118  to fix the fiber ordering of the optical fibers  114 . For example, the double ferrule assembly  128  may be cured at temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius and/or for a period of time such as up to two (2) minutes, as non-limiting examples. Thus, when the double ferrule  118  is cut to form two separate ferrules from the double ferrule  118 , the fiber order of the optical fibers  114  will be the same between both ferrules without the fiber order having to be assigned. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 7B  illustrates a portion of the double ferrule assembly  128  after the double ferrule  118  has been cut between the first end  124  and the second end  126 . In this embodiment, the double ferrule  118  is cut in half at center line C 2  ( FIG. 7A ) to provide a first ferrule  132  having a first end face  134  and a second ferrule (not shown) having a second end face. The cutting of the double ferrule  118  also provides two fiber optic cables  136 ,  136 ′. For example, the double ferrule  118  may be cut using at least one of a laser, a diamond blade, and an abrasive wire. The first ferrule  132  is provided as part of the fiber optic cable  136 , and a second ferrule is provided as part of the fiber optic cable  136 ′. The optical fibers  114  are disposed through the first end face  134  of the first ferrule  132  and through the end face of the second ferrule such that the exposed optical fibers  114  have the same fiber ordering. This is because the fiber ordering was filed at the center line C 2  when the potting material was discussed in the interior space  122  of the double ferrule  118 . Thus, the first ferrule  132  and a second ferrule produced from cutting the double ferrule  118  are compatible, meaning they contain exposed optical fibers  114  having the same fiber ordering without the fiber ordering having to have been assigned or selected. 
       FIG. 7C  illustrates the fiber optic cables  136  after the first ferrule  132  has been connectorized, which in this example is an LC-style fiber optic connector  138 . The LC-style fiber optic connector  138  has features normally present in LC-style fiber optic connectors, including a connector housing  140 , a fiber optic cable boot  142 , and a trigger  144  configured to activate a latch  146  for removing the LC-style fiber optic connector  138  from an adapter or another connector. 
     The optical fibers from a fiber optic cable may be disposed in a ferrule in a number of manners and methods, including with different processes and using different materials. These manners and methods may include techniques to maximize the interior space inside a ferrule for maximum disposition of optical ferrules therein. These ferrules may include certain packaging or geometric features to assist in retaining optical fibers in an interior space of the ferrule. In this regard,  FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method and fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a U-shaped ferrule  150  is provided that may be used as a ferrule for preparations of a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable to reduce and/or avoid fiber ordering to prepare a fiber optic cable system. The U-shaped ferrule  150  in  FIG. 8  is a custom U-shaped ferrule in this embodiment, and formed using injection molded plastic, or stamped metal as examples. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 8 , optical fibers  154  are arranged in a stacked fashion inside an interior space  156  formed inside the U-shaped ferrule  150 . The stacked optical fibers  154  may be provided in individual ribbons that are stacked on top of each other, or may be provided as individual fibers that are arranged and/or stacked inside the interior space  156  of the U-shaped ferrule  150 . Just as previously discussed, a potting material  158  is disposed inside the interior space  156  and surrounds an interstitial space  157  between the optical fibers  154  to fix the optical fiber  154  in place to provide for a fixed fiber ordering prior to cutting of the U-shaped ferrule  150 . For example, the U-shaped ferrule  150  may be cut using at least one of a laser, a diamond blade, and an abrasive wire. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 8 , the U-shaped ferrule  150  may include an exterior surface  152  that is smooth in this embodiment. The exterior surface  152  of the U-shaped ferrule  150  may be dimensionally uniform along the length of the U-shaped ferrule  150  prior to cutting. In order to use the U-shaped ferrule  150  to prepare a fiber optic cable system according to the embodiments disclosed herein, a custom fiber optic connector may need to be created and/or modified to accommodate the variances in optical fiber shape of the arrangement of the optical fibers  154  disposed in the interior space  156  of the U-shaped ferrule  150  and fixed therein after potting. In this example, it may be useful to ensure that the fiber optic connector assembly employed to connectorize the U-shaped ferrule  150  only applies force to exterior surfaces  152  of the U-shaped ferrule  150  wherein dimensional control is well maintained, such as a bottom  160  and sides  162 A,  162 B of the U-shaped ferrule  150 . Providing a custom ferrule design, such as the U-shaped ferrule  150 , could be used to ensure that standard fiber optic connector types, such as LC-style or MTP type connectors for example, will not mistakenly be used in a fiber optic cable system created from the custom ferrule. 
     In an alternative configuration, the depth of a U-shaped ferrule may be increased to provide deformable tabs extending above the region where optical fibers are disposed inside the ferrule. This allows the deformable tabs to be folded back onto the ferrule to provide an enclosure to protect the optical fibers disposed inside the ferrule. In this regard,  FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate such an alternative U-shaped ferrule  170 . The U-shaped ferrule  170  can be used to support optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , optical fibers  172  are arranged in a stacked fashion inside an interior space  174  inside the U-shaped ferrule  170 . The optical fibers  172  may contain ribbons of optical fibers or individual optical fibers that are stacked inside the interior space  174  of the U-shaped ferrule  170 . Just as previously discussed, a potting material  176  is disposed inside the interior space  174  and surrounds an interstitial space  178  between the optical fibers  172  to fix the optical fiber  172  in place to provide for providing a fixed fiber ordering prior to cutting of the U-shaped ferrule  170 . For example, the U-shaped ferrule  170  may be cut using at least one of a laser, a diamond blade, and an abrasive wire. 
     The U-shaped ferrule  170  in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  is similar to the U-shaped ferrule  150  in  FIG. 8 . However in the U-shaped ferrule  170 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , a depth D 1  of the U-shaped ferrule  170  may be extended so that deformable tabs  180 A,  180 B are provided on each side  182 A,  182 B of the U-shaped ferrule  170 . The deformable tabs  180 A,  180 B are configured to be pushed inward towards the interior space  174 , as shown by arrows  184 A,  184 B in  FIG. 9A  before or after the optical fibers  172  are potted inside the interior space  174  of the U-shaped ferrule  170 . In this manner, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , the U-shaped ferrule  170  completely or almost complete surrounds the optical fibers  172  disposed in the interior space  174  of the U-shaped ferrule  170 . 
     A mold may be used to form a ferrule used to prepare fiber optic cable systems using the methods disclosed herein, the ferrule may also be formed using molded potting material as another example. In this regard,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate another exemplary ferrule  190  for supporting optical fibers  192  resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. In this example as illustrated in  FIG. 10A , a mold  194  is provided that has a similar form to the U-shaped ferrules  150  or  170  in  FIG. 8  and  FIGS. 9A and 9B , respectively. The mold  194  may be provided to assist in forming the ferrule  190 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10B . For example, a ferrule from the mold may enable a low cost fabrication of connectors and connectorization of fiber optic cables in a fiber optic cable system provided according to the embodiments and methods disclosed herein. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the mold  194  is used to pot the optical fibers  192  to provide the ferrule  190 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10B . The mold  194  maybe constructed from a potting material. A separate potting material  195  is disposed inside an interior space  196  in the mold  194  to fix the optical fibers  192  together and in a fixed ordering before cutting, as illustrated in  FIG. 10A . After the potting material  195  has solidified, such as after a curing process as an example, the mold  194  can be removed, as illustrated in  FIG. 10B . The ferrule  190  will then consist of the potted optical fibers  198  after potting without the retention of the mold  194 . The ferrule  190  can then be cut to form compatible ferrules having the same fiber ordering as part of a fiber optic cable system. 
     While certain embodiments disclosed herein, such as  FIGS. 8-10B , disclose the preparation of a ferrule with arrays or ribbons of optical fibers, a similar approach may be followed using a large number of individual optical fibers. In this regard,  FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate another exemplary fiber optic ferrule for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. With reference to  FIG. 11A , a U-shaped ferrule  210  is provided and disposed in front of a fiber optic cable jacket  211 . Individual optical fibers  212  are disposed in fiber clusters  213  inside an interior space  214  of the U-shaped ferrule  210 . A potting material  216  can be disposed in the interior space  214  to fix the optical fibers  212  and fix the fiber ordering inside the interior space  214 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the U-shaped ferrule  210  contains two deformable tabs  218 A,  218 A that can be deformed towards each other rotationally in the directions of arrows  220 A,  220 B towards the interior space  214  of the U-shaped ferrule  210  either before or after the potting material  216  is disposed in the interior space  214  of the U-shaped ferrule  210 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11B , a gap G remains between the two deformable tabs  218 A,  218 B. The gap G provides a feature in the U-shaped ferrule  210  that, for example, could be used to provide rotation alignment of the U-shaped ferrule  210  in a connector assembly when the U-shaped ferrule  210  is connectorized. Alternatively, the gap G could provide a precision slot that is sawed into the U-shaped ferrule  210  prior to the formation of the U-shaped ferrule  210 , so that the position and dimensions of the gap G are used to ensure rotation alignment during the connectorization process. 
     Alternatively or optionally, the optical fibers disposed in a ferrule could be forced or packed down in an interior space of the ferrule using a press and/or vibration to control the disposition or ordering of the optical fibers to micro-precision, to reduce the interstitial space between optical fibers, and/or allow more optical fibers to be provided in a given ferrule. These features could be provided with any of the ferrule embodiments disclosed herein. In this regard,  FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrate a fiber optic ferrule  230  for supporting optical fibers resulting from preparations to a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable for reducing and/or avoiding fiber ordering to prepare connectorized ends for multi-fiber, fiber optic cables in a multi-fiber cable system. The ferrule  230  in this embodiment includes an interior space  232  that is configured to receive optical fibers  234 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12A . A press  236  is provided that will be used to force the optical fibers  234  down into the interior space  232  of the ferrule  230  towards a bottom surface  238  of the ferrule  230 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 12B , the press  236  is activated to press the optical fibers  234  disposed in the interior space  232  towards the bottom surface  238  of the ferrule  230 , either prior to or after a potting material  240  is disposed in the interior space  232  of the ferrule  230 . The optical fibers  234  will self-align to a regular array in response so that the center locations in each optical fiber  234  are established to be within small distances to each other, such as within few micrometers of each other, after the press  236  is withdrawn, as illustrated in  FIG. 12C . The alignment of the optical fibers  234  will be fixed, thereby fixing the fiber ordering, when the potting material  240  solidifies, such as through a curing process as an example. The ferrule  230  may also be vibrated in lieu of or in addition to employing the press  236 , including in a lateral motion, as indicated by arrows  242  in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  as an example, to further reduce the interstitial space between the optical fibers  234  disposed in the interior space  232  of the ferrule  230  to cause the optical fibers  234  to self-align, as discussed above. 
     Alternatively, similar to the ferrule  190  in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a ferrule in  FIGS. 13A and 13B  may be provided as the result of using a mold  250 . The mold  250  will be removed after the potting material  240  is applied to the optical fibers  234  disposed in the mold  250 . The mold  250  can then be removed to produce a ferrule  252  as the optical fibers  234  are secured by the potting material  240 . The features discussed with respect to any of the embodiments discussed above, including but not limited to pressing, vibration, packing, and potting, may be applied to the mold  250  to self-align the optical fibers  234  disposed there before the mold  250  is removed to form the ferrule  252 . Also as discussed above for  FIGS. 10A and 10B , producing a ferrule from a mold may enable a low cost fabrication of connectors. 
     As used herein, it is intended that terms “fiber optic cables” and/or “optical fibers” include all types of single mode and multi-mode light waveguides, including one or more optical fibers that may be upcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonized and/or have other organizing or protective structure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strength members, jackets or the like. The optical fibers disclosed herein can be single mode or multi-mode optical fibers. Likewise, other types of suitable optical fibers include bend-insensitive optical fibers, or any other expedient of a medium for transmitting light signals. An example of a bend-insensitive, or bend resistant, optical fiber is ClearCurve® Multimode fiber commercially available from Corning Incorporated. Suitable fibers of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0166094 and 2009/0169163, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the ferrules disclosed herein can also include optional ports for injecting the potting material or material into an interior space of the ferrules. Ferrules can be produced from molds that are removed, leaving only potted optical fibers or fiber arrays, which may be beneficial for low mate/demate frequency applications as one non-limiting example. Alternatively, slots or other external features can be provided to aid in mechanical interconnection or latching of the ferrules. These slots can be used to engage other components within the same connector for the U-shaped ferrule, such as a collar component or to engage mechanical mating features within an alignment channel to retain a connector in place to the ferrule. Integrating these mechanical interconnections or latching features within the body of the ferrule may enable simplified and/or low cost connectors for connectorizing the fiber optic cable systems prepared using the methods disclosed herein. 
     While the fiber array or individual optical fiber arrangements disclosed herein are not required to be specifically assigned or ordered, the optical fibers disposed within any of the ferrules disclosed herein could be specifically assigned, if desired, during the preparations and methods disclosed herein. This approach would allow replacement of at least one side of a mass fiber array connection, either at the source, at an intermediate jumper cable, or at the detector, without requiring replacement of the entire length of a fiber optic cable system. However, even if the optical fibers are not specifically ordered, the mapping of optical fibers could be detected by a detector by electronic mapping or remapping. One example of mapping of optical fibers in a fiber optic cable system that may be employed to map optical fibers in the fiber optic cable systems disclosed herein is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,793 entitled “System and Method of Configuring Fiber Optic Communication Channels Between Arrays of Emittters and Detectors,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Though the connectors and adapters provided herein are fiber optic connectors and adapters, other types may be provided, including but not limited to FC, SC, ST, LC, MTP and MPO, as examples. The terms “connector” and “adapter” are not limited. A “connector” can be provided in any form or package desired that is capable of providing a connection to allow one or more communications lines to be communicatively connected or coupled to other communications lines disposed in another adapter or connector in which the connector is attached. 
     Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.