Indexable optical fiber connectors and optical fiber connector arrays

An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a connector body comprising an optical coupling face;
• a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein:
• the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face;
• the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship;
• and
• the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship.

An optical fiber connector array comprising:

• a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each individual optical fiber connector of the plurality of optical fiber connectors comprising:
• a connector body comprising an optical coupling face;
• a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein:
• the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face;
• the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship;
• and
• the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship;
• and
• a removable retention mechanism surrounding the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the removable retention mechanism retains the plurality of optical fiber connectors in the optical fiber connector array such that that the indentation arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors are mated to the protrusion arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors.

An optical fiber connector system comprising:

• a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each individual optical fiber connector of the plurality of optical fiber connectors comprising:
• a connector body comprising an optical coupling face;
• a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein:
• the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face;
• the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship;
• the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship;
• and
• a fiber optic cable extending from a rear surface of the connector housing;
• a removable retention mechanism surrounding the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the removable retention mechanism retains the plurality of optical fiber connectors in an optical fiber connector array such that that the indentation arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors are mated to the protrusion arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors;
• and
• a holder tray comprising:
• a support feature having a width and a length such that the holder tray accommodates the plurality of optical fiber connectors;
• and
• a securing surface extending from the support feature, the securing surface comprising a plurality of openings sized to accept a plurality of fiber optic cables associated with the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the securing surface maintains the plurality of optical fiber connectors within the holder tray.