Compact fiber optic connectors having multiple connector footprints, along with cable assemblies and methods of making the same

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and a tuning pocket in cooperation with the longitudinal passageway, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end along with at least one selectively tunable surface, wherein the at least one selectively tunable surface cooperates directly with the tuning pocket of the housing allowing rotation of the ferrule for optical tuning;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end and a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and a part of the rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end;
• a transverse ferrule retention member for securing the ferrule, wherein the transverse ferrule retention member is attachable to the housing for limiting the movement of the ferrule relative to the housing;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, and a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end;
• a transverse ferrule retention member for securing the ferrule, wherein the transverse ferrule retention member is attachable to the housing for limiting the movement of the ferrule relative to the housing;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, a tuning pocket in cooperation with the longitudinal passageway, and a transition region between the rear end and the front end, wherein the transition region comprises an asymmetric transition with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, a tuning pocket in cooperation with the longitudinal passageway, an opening that is transverse to the longitudinal passageway, and a transition region between the rear end and the front end, wherein the transition region comprises an asymmetric transition with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end along with a selectively tunable surface, wherein the selectively tunable surface cooperates directly with the tuning pocket of the housing for allowing rotation and optical tuning of the ferrule;
• a clip, wherein the clip is sized for fitting into the opening for limiting the rotation of ferrule relative to the housing when assembled;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a rear end and a front end with a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, a tuning pocket in cooperation with the longitudinal passageway and a resilient member cavity defined by the longitudinal passageway, and the housing comprising an opening and a transition region disposed between a rear portion and a front portion, wherein the transition region comprises an asymmetric transition, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end along with a selectively tunable surface, wherein the selectively tunable surface cooperates directly with the tuning pocket of the housing for allowing rotation and optical tuning of the ferrule without using a ferrule holder;
• a resilient member for biasing the ferrule to a forward position;
• a transverse ferrule retention member, wherein the transverse ferrule retention member is sized for being insertable into the opening for limiting the rotation of ferrule relative to the housing when assembled;
• a nosepiece attachable to the front end of the housing;
• and
• a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A method of making a fiber optic connector, comprising:

• inserting a ferrule partially into a housing from a front end of a longitudinal passageway that extends from the front end to a rear end of the housing, the housing configured as a one-piece component and comprising a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, wherein the ferrule comprises a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint with a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• attaching a transverse ferrule retention member to the housing for limiting the movement of ferrule relative to the housing by inserting the transverse ferrule retention member into an opening disposed in an outer surface of the housing, wherein the opening is transverse to the longitudinal passageway;
• and
• attaching a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A method of making a fiber optic connector, comprising:

• inserting a ferrule partially into a housing from a front end, the housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and a part of the rear portion of the housing comprising a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprising a non-round cross-section, wherein the ferrule comprises a selectively tunable surface positioned with a tuning pocket of the housing, wherein the housing provides a first connector footprint and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• attaching a transverse ferrule retention member to the housing for limiting the rotation of ferrule relative to the housing by inserting the transverse ferrule retention member into an opening disposed in an outer surface of the housing, wherein the opening is transverse to the longitudinal passageway;
• and
• attaching a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.

A method of making a fiber optic connector, comprising:

• inserting a resilient member into a longitudinal passageway of a housing from a front end of the housing, the housing configured as a one-piece component comprising a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and a part of the rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section, wherein the resilient member is at least partially disposed within a resilient member cavity of the housing, and the housing provides a first connector footprint and the locking feature is a subtractive portion from the primitive geometry of the rear portion;
• inserting a ferrule partially into the housing from the front end, wherein the ferrule comprises a selectively tunable surface that is positioned within a tuning pocket of the housing;
• attaching a transverse ferrule retention member to the housing for limiting the rotation of ferrule relative to the housing by inserting the transverse ferrule retention member into an opening disposed in an outer surface of the housing, wherein the opening is transverse to the longitudinal passageway of the housing;
• attaching a nosepiece to the front end of the housing;
• and
• attaching a conversion housing, wherein the conversion housing cooperates with the housing for changing the fiber optic connector from the first connector footprint to a second connector footprint.