Method and apparatus for analyzing the end face of a multifiber ferrule

A method for determining an end face angle of a ferrule with a guide pin hole defined by the ferrule, the method comprising:

• determining a reference plane, the reference plane disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis of the guide pin hole;
• measuring a plane defined by at least a portion of an end face of the ferrule;
• and
• determining at least one end face angle based upon an angular difference between the reference plane and the plane defined by the at least a portion of the end face of the ferrule.

A method for determining the height of at least one optical fiber of a ferrule relative to a plane defined by the ferrule, the ferrule comprising an end face defining at least one bore through which an end of the optical fiber extends, the bore defining an axis, the method comprising:

• measuring a reference plane disposed proximate an end face of the ferrule at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis defined by the bore;
• measuring the plane defined by the ferrule;
• measuring a plane defined by the end of the optical fiber;
• at the location of the optical fiber, determining a linear difference in the direction of the axis defined by the bore between the reference plane and the plane defined by the ferrule;
• at the location of the optical fiber, determining a linear difference in the direction of the axis defined by the bore between the reference plane and the end of the optical fiber;
• and
• determining the height of the optical fiber relative to the plane defined by the ferrule by comparing the linear difference between the reference plane and the plane defined by the ferrule to the linear difference between the reference plane and the end of the optical fiber.