Method and apparatus for adapting a miniature form-factor connector to a standard format fiber optic connector plug

An adaptor apparatus suitable for facilitating the optical interconnection of optical fibers arranged in a standard format connector plug with photonic devices arranged in miniature form factor format on an optical subassembly of a miniature form factor connector sleeve, the adaptor apparatus comprising:

• an adaptor jacket having a first end and a second end;
• the first end of the adaptor jacket configured to receive a standard format connector plug that holds plug optical fibers in standard connector format arrangement;
• the second end of the adaptor jacket suitable for connection with a miniature form factor connector sleeve;
• and
• the first end of the adaptor jacket being optically connected to the second end of the adaptor jacket using an optical ribbon that includes a plurality of optical fibers, said plurality of optical fibers being arranged at the second end of the adaptor jacket in accordance with a miniature form factor format to optically interface with photonic devices arranged in the same miniature form factor format and arranged at the first end of the adaptor jacket in accordance with a standard format to optically interface with optical fibers arranged in the same standard format in a connector plug, whereby the plurality of optical fibers of the optical ribbon transmit light between the photonic devices and corresponding optical fibers of the plug.

A method for interconnecting optical fibers carried by a connector plug and arranged in a first format with photonic devices arranged in a second format, the method comprising:

• providing a plug having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in accordance with a first format;
• providing a connector having a plurality of photonic devices arranged in accordance with a second format;
• providing an adaptor having a first optical interface configured to optically connect with the plug having plurality of optical fibers arranged in accordance with the first format and having a second optical interface configured to optically connect with the with the plurality of photonic devices arranged in accordance with the second format;
• connecting the plurality of optical fibers of the plug to the first optical interface of the adaptor;
• and
• connecting the second optical interface of the adaptor to the plurality of photonic devices of the connector, thereby optically interconnecting the plurality of photonic devices arranged in a second format with the plurality of optical fibers carried by a connector plug and arranged in a first format.