Optical fiber array substrate and method for producing the same

摘要

An optical fibre array substrate (11) and a method of manufacturing the substrate (11) are described. The optical fibre array substrate (11) is made of glass or crystallized glass in which crystals are precipitated in amorphous glass, the substrate (11) having a plurality of optical fiber securing grooves (12) formed therein, wherein a cross sectional shape of each of side surfaces (11a, 11b) of the substrate (11) parallel to the grooves (12) is a convexly rounded shape. The method comprises preparing a base material made of glass or crystallized glass, the base material having a plurality of linear grooves (12) formed in one surface thereof; gripping the base material by a gripping part of feeding means and feeding it into a heating furnace so that the base material is heated to a predetermined temperature; drawing the base material while drawing a lower part of the base material by drawing means to obtain a formed body; cutting the formed body into a predetermined length to provide a longer body having a substantially similar shape to the base material and having a size in a desired range; and cutting the longer body into a desired length, wherein in the step of preparing the base material, a cross sectional shape of each of side surfaces (11 a, 11 b) of the base material parallel to the grooves (12) is a convexly rounded shape.