Optical connector, optical connecting structure and method of manufacturing optical connector

Abstract

An optical connecting member realizes an optical connecting between a multi-core fiber and a plurality of single-core fibers by a waveguide part which connects a first end face and a second end face. With the optical connecting member, a connected end which is connected to the first end face is a straight-line portion that is orthogonal to the first end face in each of the plurality of waveguide parts. In addition, a diverged end which is diverged to the second end face is a straight-line portion that is orthogonal to the second end face. Consequently, light that has passed through the waveguide parts is emitted from the first end face and the second end face substantially perpendicularly to the faces, thereby enabling optical connecting loss to be favorably inhibited.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An optical connecting member for connecting a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores, and a plurality of single-core fibers,
 comprising:   a first end which is connected to an end face of the multi-core fiber;   a second end which is diverged to the plurality of single-core fibers;   an intermediate part positioned between the first end and the second end;   a plurality of waveguide parts which extends so as to connect the first end and the second end,   wherein each of the plurality of waveguide parts includes a straight-line portion in the first end, and at least an end of the straight-line portion is connected with an end face of the first end, and the straight-line portions are parallel to each other, and   wherein each of the plurality of waveguide parts spreads outward in the intermediate part, and a pitch of the plurality of waveguide parts on the second end is greater than that on the first end.   
     
     
         29 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the plurality of waveguide parts are arrayed two-dimensionally at the first end, and in one line at the second end.   
     
     
         30 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of waveguide parts includes a core with constant diameter, but the outer diameter gradually increases toward the second end.   
     
     
         31 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein an angle of the straight-line portion relative to the end face of the first end is within a range of 90 degrees±0.5 degrees.   
     
     
         32 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the first end has a shape configured to being fixed with the multi-core fiber retained by an optical ferrule by a guide member.   
     
     
         33 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein the first end has a cylindrical shape so that the first end can be fixed with the multi-core fiber retained by a cylindrical ferrule by a sleeve.   
     
     
         34 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein an overall outer shape of the optical connecting member is a substantial hexahedron, and the optical connecting member has a pair of fitting holes so that the first end can be fixed with the multi-core fiber retained by a ferrule by a pair of guide pins.   
     
     
         35 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of waveguide parts is a single-core fiber.   
     
     
         36 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the length of the first end is 5 times or more of a core diameter of the multi-core fiber.   
     
     
         37 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the length of the second end is 5 times or more of a core diameter of the multi-core fiber.   
     
     
         38 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a first fixing component configured to retain one end of each of the plurality of waveguide parts at the first end, wherein the first fixing component internally fixes the plurality of waveguide parts so that the plurality of waveguide parts are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         39 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 38 ,
 wherein the first fixing component has a tapered part which spreads from the first end side to the second end side so that the plurality of waveguide parts can be easily spread.   
     
     
         40 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a second fixing component configured to retain other end of each of the plurality of waveguide parts at the second end, wherein the second fixing component internally fixes the plurality of waveguide parts so that the plurality of waveguide parts are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         41 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the plurality of waveguide parts are single-core fiber and include a coated part, and   wherein the coated part is retained in the optical connecting member and the coated part extends from the second end.   
     
     
         42 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the first end has substantially cylindrical shape and the second end has substantially rectangular shape, and   wherein the intermediate part has a shape which spreads from the first end side to the second end side so as to connect the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         43 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein an overall outer shape of the optical connecting member is a substantial hexahedron.   
     
     
         44 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the plurality of waveguide parts are respectively formed by filling a fluid in the plurality of through-holes formed in the first end, the second end and the intermediate part,   wherein the fluid has a higher refractive index than the first end, the second end and the intermediate part.   
     
     
         45 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the plurality of waveguide parts are each formed by coating an optical reflective film on an inner wall of each of the plurality of through-holes formed in the first end, the second end and the intermediate part.   
     
     
         46 . An optical connecting member for connecting a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores, and a plurality of single-core fibers, comprising:
 a first end which is connected to an end face of the multi-core fiber;   a second end which is diverged to the plurality of single-core fibers;   an intermediate part positioned between the first end and the second end;   a plurality of waveguide parts which extends so as to connect the first end and the second end,   wherein each of the plurality of waveguide parts includes a straight-line portion in the first end, and at least an end of the straight-line portion is connected with an end face of the first end, and the straight-line portions are parallel to each other, and   wherein the length of the first end is 5 times or more of a core diameter of the multi-core fiber.   
     
     
         47 . The optical connecting member according to  claim 46 ,
 wherein the length of the second end is 5 times or more of a core diameter of the multi-core fiber.