OPTICAL CONNECTOR, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND MOLD CONTAINER FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

摘要

Provided is an optical connector that can optically couple a multi-core fiber and single-mode fibers with a high efficiency. The optical connector connects: N (N is an integer of 3 to 14) single-mode fibers each including one core with a high refractive index, in a cladding material with a low refractive index; to a multi-core fiber including N cores with high refractive indexes in a cladding material with a low refractive index such that the cores of the single-mode fibers are respectively optically coupled to the cores of the multi-core fiber. The optical connector includes: a quartz glass cylinder having a first end face to be in contact with the multi-core fiber and a second end face to be in contact with the single-mode fibers; and N glass fibers that are arranged in the quartz glass cylinder so as to extend from the first end face to the second end face, the N glass fibers each including: a circular rod with a high refractive index that has a constant outer diameter; and a low refractive index material that surrounds an outer periphery of the circular rod and has a constant thickness.

主权项

1. An optical connector for connecting: N (N is an integer of 3 to 14) single-mode fibers each comprising one core with a high refractive index in a cladding material with a low refractive index; to a multi-core fiber comprising N cores with high refractive indexes in a cladding material with a low refractive index, in such a manner that the cores of the single-mode fibers are respectively optically coupled to the cores of the multi-core fiber, the optical connector comprising:
a quartz glass cylinder having a first end face to be in contact with the multi-core fiber and a second end face to be in contact with the single-mode fibers; and N glass fibers that are arranged in the quartz glass cylinder so as to extend from the first end face to the second end face, the N glass fibers each containing: a circular rod with a high refractive index that has a constant outer diameter; and a low refractive index material that surrounds an outer periphery of the circular rod and has a constant thickness, wherein the glass fibers are arranged in the quartz glass cylinder such that: a distance between the glass fibers on the first end face is equal to a core distance of the multi-core fiber; and a distance between the glass fibers on the second end face is equal to a core distance of adjacent ones of the N single-mode fibers when they are bundled.