Multi-fiber connector for use with ribbon fiber optic cable

1. A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:

a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F 1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F 2 , the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F 1 ;

a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S 1 parallel to major dimension F 1 and a minor dimension S 2 parallel to the minor dimension F 2 , the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S 1 ;

a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P 1 parallel to the major dimension S 1 and a minor dimension P 2 parallel to the minor dimension S 2 , the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P 1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including spring support shelves positioned adjacent the rounded ends of the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push defining a fiber passage having an end at the spring seat, the fiber passage having a first transverse cross-sectional profile adjacent the spring seat defining a major dimension parallel to the major dimension P 1 and a minor dimension parallel to the minor dimension P 2 , the first transverse cross-sectional profile having central notch portions corresponding to the major dimension of the first transverse cross-sectional profile and inward projections positioned on opposite sides of the central notch portions, the spring support shelves having first shelf widths corresponding to the central notch portions and second shelf widths corresponding to the inward projections, the second shelf widths being larger than the first shelf widths; and

a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push.

2. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the inward projections include convex dimples.

3. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 2 , wherein the central notch portions include concave curvatures.

4. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the spring overlaps the spring support shelves at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile by a distance greater than a clearance between the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile and inner surfaces of the latch arms at the spring support shelves.

5. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 4 , wherein the spring is formed by a coil member having a coil member thickness, and wherein the spring overlaps the spring support shelves at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile by a distance greater than 0.5 times the coil member thickness.

6. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 4 , wherein the spring is formed by a coil member having a coil member thickness, and wherein the spring overlaps the spring support shelves at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile by a distance greater than 0.75 times the coil member thickness.

7. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 4 , wherein the spring is formed by a coil member having a coil member thickness, and wherein the spring overlaps the spring support shelves at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile by a distance greater than 1.0 times the coil member thickness.

8. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the fiber passage of the spring push includes a necked portion defining the first transverse cross-sectional profile and an enlarged portion that extends from the necked portion towards the proximal end of the spring push, the enlarged portion having a second transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension larger than the major dimension of the first transverse cross-sectional profile.

9. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 8 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connector is connected to an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the optical fiber ribbon has a ribbon transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension R 1 , wherein the boot defines a fiber passage having a boot transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension B 1 parallel to the major dimension R 1 , and wherein the major dimension B 1 is at least 25 percent larger than the major dimension R 1 .

10. The multi-fiber optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber optical connector is connected to an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the optical fiber ribbon is de-ribbonized within the fiber optic connector at a location proximal of the multi-fiber ferrule.

11. A multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly comprising:

a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F 1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F 2 , the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F 1 ;

a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S 1 parallel to major dimension F 1 and a minor dimension S 2 parallel to the minor dimension F 2 , the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S 1 ;

a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P 1 parallel to the major dimension S 1 and a minor dimension P 2 parallel to the minor dimension S 2 , the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P 1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including oppositely positioned spring support shelves positioned to support the proximal end of the spring at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile;

a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push; and

an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the optical fiber ribbon is de-ribbonized within the connector body and/or the spring push at a location proximal of the multi-fiber ferrule.

12. The multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly of claim 11 , wherein the optical fiber ribbon includes a de-ribbonized section proximal of the multi-fiber ferule that extends at least 10 percent of length of a multi-fiber connector of the multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly.

13. A multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly comprising:

a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F 1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F 2 , the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F 1 ;

a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S 1 parallel to major dimension F 1 and a minor dimension S 2 parallel to the minor dimension F 2 , the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S 1 ;

a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P 1 parallel to the major dimension S 1 and a minor dimension P 2 parallel to the minor dimension S 2 , the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P 1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including oppositely positioned spring support shelves positioned to support the proximal end of the spring at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile;

a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push; and

an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the optical fiber ribbon has a ribbon transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension R 1 , wherein the boot defines a fiber passage having a boot transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension B 1 parallel to the major dimension R 1 , and wherein the major dimension B 1 is at least 25 percent larger than the major dimension R 1 .