Connector for transitioning multi-core fiber to plural single core fibers

A connector system comprising:

• a ferrule having an end surface;
• a holder formed in said ferrule and extending up to said end surface;
• and
• a plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said holder with first ends of said plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a given pattern at said end surface of said ferrule, wherein said given pattern includes a central single-core optical fiber surrounded by six satellite single-core optical fibers in a hexagonal pattern.

A connector system comprising:

• a first ferrule having a first surface;
• a first holder formed in said first ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove extending up to said first end surface;
• a plurality of single-core optical fibers mounted in said first holder in an abutting relationship along a length of said first holder, with first ends of said plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged in a first given pattern at said first end surface of said first ferrule;
• a second ferrule having a second end surface;
• a second holder formed in said second ferrule and formed as a single opening or groove extending up to said second end surface;
• and
• a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of cores arranged in a second given pattern;
• said multi-core optical fiber being mounted in said second holder with a first end of said multi-core optical fiber being located at said second end surface of said second ferrule, wherein when said second ferrule is mated to said first ferrule, at least one of said plurality of single-core optical fibers is aligned with at least one of said cores in said multi-core optical fiber.

A connector system comprising:

• first and second multi-core optical fibers each including a plurality of cores arranged in a first pattern, one core of said first multi-core fiber and one core of said second multi-core fiber being a target core;
• a first connector terminating a first end of said first multi-core optical fiber and presenting said plurality of cores of said first multi-core fiber in a first pattern;
• a second connector terminating a first end of said second multi-core optical fiber and presenting said plurality of cores of said second multi-core fiber in a second pattern;
• and
• a multiple fiber segment having a third connector terminating first ends of said multiple fiber segment and a fourth connector terminating second ends of said multifiber segment, said third connector being connectable to said first connector and said fourth connector being connectable to said second connector, at least one fiber of said multiple fiber segment having a first end residing within said third connector and aligned with one of said cores of said first multi-core optical fiber in said first connector, when said first and third connectors are mated, said at least one fiber of said multiple fiber segment having a second end residing within said fourth connector and aligned with one of said cores of said second multi-core fiber in said second connector, when said fourth and second connectors are mated,
• wherein said multiple fiber segment has a first target fiber extending from said third connector and a first jumper connector at a free end of said first target fiber, a termination end of said first target fiber within said third connector being aligned with a termination end of said target core of said first multi-core fiber within said first connector when said first and third connectors are mated, and a second target fiber extending from said fourth connector and a second jumper connector at a free end of said second target fiber, a termination end of said second target fiber within said fourth connector being aligned with a termination end of said target core of said second multi-core fiber within said second connector when said fourth and second connectors are mated.