Array and duplex polarity schemes for optical links using multi-row optical connectors with signal inversion and crossover

A method for ensuring correct polarity in an optical link having a first transceiver and a second transceiver, comprising:

• providing a first multi-fiber ferrule with two rows of optical fibers, guide pins, and supporting optical fibers carrying optical signals passing through the first transceiver, and a second multi-fiber ferrule with two rows of optical fibers, guide pins, and supporting optical fibers carrying optical signals passing through the second transceiver;
• and
• providing only three configurations of connector assemblies to maintain correct routing of optical signals between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, the three configurations of connector assemblies including:
• a jumper assembly having two female connectors on opposing ends of a first plurality of optical fibers, a trunk assembly having two male connectors on opposing ends of a second plurality of optical fibers, and an extender assembly having exactly one male connector and one female connector on opposing ends of a third plurality of optical fibers,
• wherein routing of the optical signals is carried out using at least one jumper assembly couplable to the first multi-fiber ferrule of the first transceiver and the second multi-fiber ferrule of the second transceiver, the at least one jumper assembly including an inversion in an order of the first plurality of optical fibers for each row of the first plurality of optical fibers connected between the two female connectors of the at least one jumper assembly,
• wherein when the optical link includes at least one extender assembly, the optical fibers in a first row of a third multi-fiber ferrule in the male connector cross-over to a second row of a fourth multi-fiber ferrule in the female connector, and the optical fibers of a second row of the third multi-fiber ferrule of the male connector cross-over to a first row of the fourth multi-fiber ferrule of the female connector such that each of the two rows are switched to the other of the two rows in the extender assembly and wherein a total number of inversions in the first, second and third plurality of optical fibers between the first transceiver and the second transceiver is odd;
• and
• wherein when the extender assembly is used in addition to the jumper assembly and/or the trunk assembly.

An optical system, comprising:

• a first adapter communicatively associated with a first transceiver;
• a second adapter communicatively associated with a second transceiver, the first transceiver and the second transceiver being physically separated and optically coupled;
• a first multi-fiber ferrule with guide pins and two rows of optical fibers inside the first adapter, the optical fibers carrying optical signals passing through the first transceiver;
• a second multi-fiber ferrule with guide pins and two rows of optical fibers inside the second adapter and carrying optical signals passing through the second transceiver;
• and
• at least one female-to-female jumper assembly having two female connectors and each of the two female connectors having respective multi-fiber ferrules capable of holding two rows of optical fibers, one of the two female connectors positioned at opposing ends of a plurality of optical fibers, a first of the two female connectors coupling to a first multi-fiber ferrule thereof, and a second of the two female connectors coupling to a second multi-fiber ferrule thereof,
• wherein said at least one female-to-female jumper assembly includes an inversion in an order of each row of optical fibers connecting the two female connectors,
• wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver and the at least one female-to-female jumper assembly form an optical link, and
• wherein when the optical link further includes at least one male-to-female extender assembly having a male connector on a first end of the at least one male-to-female extender assembly and a female connector on a second end of the at least one male-to-female extender assembly between said first and second transceivers, optical fibers in a first row of a multi-fiber ferrule in the male connector cross-over to a second row of a multi-fiber ferrule in the female connector, and the optical fibers of a second row of the multi-fiber ferrule of the male connector cross-over to a first row of the multi-fiber ferrule of the female connector such that each of the two rows are switched to the other of the two rows in the at least one male-to-female extender assembly, and
• a total number of inversions of optical fibers between the first adapter and the second adapter is odd.

An optical system comprising:

• a first adapter communicatively associated with a first transceiver;
• a second adapter communicatively associated with a second transceiver, the first and the second transceivers being optically coupled;
• and
• a plurality of fiber optic assemblies having a respective plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of optical fibers having opposing ends, the opposing ends being terminated by a first fiber optic connector and a second fiber optic connector and each of the fiber optic connectors have a two row multi-fiber ferrule disposed therein, the fiber optic connectors having a gender of either male or female, and
• wherein when fiber optic connectors assemblies have fiber optic connectors with the same gender, the plurality of optical fibers are inverted between respective two-row multi-fiber ferrules of the fiber optic connectors and when the fiber optic connectors assemblies have fiber optic connectors with opposite genders, the optical fibers in a first row of the multi-fiber ferrule in a male connector cross-over to a second row of a multi-fiber ferrule in a female connector, and the optical fibers of a second row of the multi-fiber ferrule of the male connector cross-over to a first row of the multi-fiber ferrule of the female connector such that each of the two rows are switched to the other of the two rows in the fiber optic assemblies having fiber optic connectors with the opposite genders.