Optical ferrule having multiple rows of multiple optical fibers

A ferrule comprising:

• a one part body having a first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, a second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and a third row of optical fiber receiving apertures, and wherein each aperture of the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures accommodates a respective optical fiber, and wherein each aperture of the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures has a substantially circular shape;
• a first cover mounted to the one part body adjacent to the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and wherein each V-groove of the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves accommodates a respective optical fiber which is aligned therein by the first cover, and wherein the first cover adjacent to the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves is substantially flat;
• and
• a second cover mounted to the one part body adjacent to the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and wherein each V-groove of the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves accommodates a respective optical fiber which is aligned therein by the second cover, and wherein the second cover adjacent to the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves is substantially flat, and wherein
• the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves is separated from the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves by the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures, and wherein
• each V-groove of the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves substantially lies in a first plane, and wherein each V-groove of the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves substantially lies in a second plane, and wherein each aperture of the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures substantially lies in a third plane, and wherein
• the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the third plane.

A ferrule comprising:

• a body having a first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, a second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and a third row of optical fiber receiving apertures, and wherein the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves is separated from the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves by the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures, and wherein each V-groove of the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves substantially lies in a first plane, and wherein each V-groove of the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves substantially lies in a second plane, and wherein each aperture of the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures substantially lies in a third plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the third plane, and the body has a first length;
• a first cover mounted to the body adjacent to the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and the first cover having a second length;
• and
• a second cover mounted to the body adjacent to the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and the second cover having a third length, and wherein
• the second length of the first cover is substantially equal to the third length of the second cover, and wherein
• the first length of the body is different than the second length of the first cover.