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Fibre Connector Summary

While not exhaustive, this summary is meant to be helpful. Additions and corrections are welcome.

Connectors

Style	BICONIC		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	AT&T/Bell Labs (FOCIS 1)		Cables	3mm
Applications	Military & long haul (Obsolete)		Ferrules	plastic
Features	Good fibre alignment, hard to manufacture		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: >0.7dB, MM: ~1dB		Polishes
Style	D4		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	NEC		Cables	3, 0.9mm
Applications	(Obsolete)		Ferrules	Zr, 2.5mm
Features	Screw coupling		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	DEUTSCH 1000		Modes
Developed by	Deutsch		Cables
Applications	(Obsolete)		Ferrules	none
Features			Shapes
Insertion loss	3dB		Polishes
Style	DIN		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by			Cables
Applications			Ferrules
Features	Spring loaded free floating ferrule, fast polishing		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	E2000 (LSH)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by			Cables
Applications			Ferrules
Features	Integrated ferrule endface shutter		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes	PC, APC
Style	ESCON (Enterprise system connection)		Modes
Developed by	IBM		Cables
Applications			Ferrules	2.5mm
Features	Duplex		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	FC (Ferrule Connector or Face Contact)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	NTT (FOCIS 4)		Cables	3, 2, 0.9mm
Applications	Datacom, telecom. See Connector Key Sizes below		Ferrules	SS, Zr, 1.25, 2.5mm
Features	Floating ferrule - good mechanical isolation but screw action can scratch		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: 0.50~1.00, Rep: 0.20dB		Polishes	PC, APC
Style	FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)		Modes	MM
Developed by	ANSI		Cables
Applications	Computer networks		Ferrules	2.5, 1.25mm
Features	Snap coupling, duplex		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: 0.20~0.70, Rep: 0.20dB		Polishes
Style	LC (Local Connector)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	Lucent (FOCIS 10)		Cables	3, 2mm
Applications			Ferrules	Zr, 1.25mm
Features	High density interconnection, snap coupling		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM:0.15, MM: 0.20, Rep: 0.20dB		Polishes	PC, APC
Style	LX-5		Modes
Developed by			Cables
Applications			Ferrules	1.25mm
Features	shuttered		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	MPAK		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	Johnson		Cables
Applications	Trunk cable, fibre aggregation, patch panels		Ferrules	MT
Features	High density interconnection, keyed connection		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM:0.15dB, MM:0.35dB		Polishes
Style	MPX		Modes
Developed by	AMP & Tyco		Cables
Applications			Ferrules
Features	Up to 12 fibre ribbon		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	MPO (Multi-fibre Push On / Pull Off)		Modes
Developed by	NTT / Molex (FOCIS 5)		Cables
Applications	Multi-fibre ribbon cables (4~72)		Ferrules	MT
Features	Snap coupling		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes	PC, APC
Style	MTP (Mechanical Transfer Push-on / Pull-off)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	US Conec		Cables
Applications	Multi-fibre ribbon cables (4~72)		Ferrules	MT
Features	Snap coupling, MTP is a higher performance version of MPO		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: 0.10~0.25dB (typ) MM: 0.20dB (typ)		Polishes	PC, APC
Style	MT-RJ (Mechanical transfer registered jack)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	AMP (FOCIS 12)		Cables	1.8, 0.9mm
Applications	Backbone, LANs & telecom (2 fibres)		Ferrules	polymer, MT-RJ
Features	Easy to terminate, high port density, duplex, similar to RJ-45 connectors		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: 0.20dB (typ) MM: 0.10dB (typ)		Polishes	PC
Style	MU (Miniature Unit-coupling)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	NTT (FOCIS 17)		Cables	3, 2, 0.9mm
Applications			Ferrules	1.25mm
Features	SFF SC		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes	PC, APC
Style	OGI (Optical Gateway Interface)		Modes	SM
Developed by	3M		Cables
Applications	Multi-fibre feedthroughs		Ferrules
Features	8~12 fibres		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	OPTIMATE		Modes
Developed by	AMP		Cables
Applications	(Obsolete)		Ferrules	plastic
Features			Shapes
IL (SM/MM/Rep)			Polishes
Style	SC & SC Duplex (Subscriber Connector)		Modes	SM, MM
Developed by	NTT, EIA/TIA (FOCIS 3)		Cables	3, 2, 0.9mm
Applications	Datacom		Ferrules	Zr / 2.5mm
Features	Snap coupling, good packing density, push-pull action reduces scratching		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM:0.20~0.45, Rep:0.10dB		Polishes	PC, APC
Style	SMA 905 & 906 (Subminiature A)		Modes	MM
Developed by	Amphenol		Cables
Applications	(Obsolete)		Ferrules	SS, Zr / 1, 8in
Features			Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	SMC		Modes
Developed by	Infineon		Cables
Applications			Ferrules	MT
Features	12 fibre ribbon cable		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	ST (Straight Tip)		Modes	SM/MM
Developed by	AT&T (FOCIS 2)		Cables	3/2/0.9mm
Applications	Inter-/intra-building, security, Navy		Ferrules	Zr/SS/plastic, 2.5mm
Features	Twist bayonet coupling		Shapes
Insertion loss	SM: 0.40, MM: 0.50, Rep: 0.30dB		Polishes	PC
Style	TIA FOCIS-6 (Fiber Jack/Opti-Jack)		Modes
Developed by	Panduit		Cables
Applications			Ferrules	Zr, 2.5mm
Features			Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	TOSLINK (Toshiba-Link)		Modes
Developed by	Toshiba		Cables
Applications	Consumer audio equipment		Ferrules
Features	limited to 10 meters, snap Connection		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes
Style	Volition VF-45		Modes
Developed by	3M		Cables
Applications			Ferrules	None
Features	No ferrule, fibres aligned in a V-groove		Shapes
Insertion loss			Polishes

Ferrule Shapes Before Polishing Not to scale
2.5mm	PC	APC Conical	APC Stepped
Plain
Pre-angled
Pre-domed

Ferrule Shapes After Polishing Not to scale
2.5mm	Flat	PC/SPC/UPC/HPC	APC Conical	APC Stepped
Polished

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