Fiber-optic connector

A fiber-optic connector comprising:

• a plurality of ferrules, each of said ferrules having extending centrally therethrough only one optical fiber;
• a sleeve surrounding said ferrules, abutting all peripheral ones of said ferrules, and exercising a radially compressive force on said plurality of ferrules to urge said ferrules into a configuration in which said plurality of ferrules are coparallel and nested so as to form a stable bundle which in transverse section is substantially axisymmetrical;
• means for retaining said plurality of ferrules in said configuration;
• and
• alignment structure for angular positioning of said plurality of ferrules in said connector in said transverse section about a nominal longitudinal axis of said bundle for registry of said connector with a second complementary connector.

A fiber-optic connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector having a plurality of ferrules, each of said ferrules having extending centrally therethrough only one optical fiber;
• a sleeve surrounding said ferrules, abutting all peripheral ones of said ferrules, and exercising a radially compressive force on said plurality of ferrules to urge said plurality of ferrules into a configuration in which said plurality of ferrules are coparallel and nested so as to form a stable bundle which in transverse section is substantially axisymmetrical;
• means for retaining said plurality of ferrules in said configuration;
• alignment structure for angular positioning of said plurality of ferrules in said connector in said transverse section about a nominal longitudinal axis of said bundle for registry of said first connector with a second complementary connector;
• and
• an alignment sleeve adapted to receive and retain said first connector and said second connector in axial alignment and in abutting relationship.

A fiber-optic connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector having a plurality of single-channel ferrules, each having extending centrally therethrough a single optical fiber;
• means abutting all peripheral ones of said ferrules for exercising a radially compressive force on said plurality of ferrules for urging said plurality of ferrules into a configuration in which said plurality of ferrules are coparallel and nested so as to form a stable bundle which in transverse section is substantially axisymmetrical, and retaining said plurality of ferrules in said configuration;
• alignment structure for angular positioning of said plurality of ferrules in said connector in said transverse section about a nominal longitudinal axis of said bundle for registry of said first connector with a second connector of complementary configuration;
• and
• an alignment sleeve adapted to receive and retain said first connector and said second connector in axial alignment and in abutting relationship.