Inspection Tip for a Fiber Optic Inspection Probe

A method of inspecting a ferrule and/or a terminated optical fiber within a fiber optic adapter, the method comprising:

• providing a inspection probe, the inspection probe extending between a first end and a second end, the inspection probe including an outer surface;
• providing a inspection probe holder, the inspection probe holder extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the inspection probe holder including a coupling feature, the inspection probe holder including a passage extending between the first and the second ends of the inspection probe holder, the passage including a first opening at the first end of the inspection probe holder and a second opening at the second end of the inspection probe holder;
• inserting the inspection probe into the passage of the inspection probe holder;
• inserting the inspection probe holder into a first port of the fiber optic adapter;
• and
• engaging the coupling feature of the inspection probe holder with a ferrule receiver of the fiber optic adapter.

An inspection tip for receiving an inspection probe of a probe microscope, the inspection tip being used to inspect a ferrule of a fiber optic connector while the fiber optic connector is mounted within a fiber optic adapter, the inspection tip comprising:

• a tip body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the proximal end being adapted for connection to the probe microscope, the distal end being adapted for insertion within the fiber optic adapter, the tip body defining a passage that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the tip body, a proximal end of the passage being positioned at the proximal end of the tip body and a distal end of the passage being positioned at the distal end of the tip body, the passage including a proximal portion and a distal portion that meet at an intermediate location, the proximal portion of the passage extending from the proximal end of the passage to the intermediate location and the distal portion of the passage extending from the distal end of the passage to the intermediate location, the proximal portion of the passage defining a first axis that aligns with a microscope inspection axis when the tip body is connected to the probe microscope, the distal portion of the passage defining a coupling feature that receives an end of a split sleeve holder of the fiber optic adapter, the distal portion of the passage defining a second axis that aligns with a central axis of the ferrule of the fiber optic connector when the split sleeve holder is received in the coupling feature, the first axis intersecting the second axis at an oblique angle, the distal end of the tip body including an alignment key that rotationally aligns the tip body within the fiber optic adapter, the distal end of the tip body also including a clearance notch positioned opposite from the alignment key, the clearance notch providing clearance for allowing the distal end of the tip body to be inserted into the fiber optic adapter.