Optical fiber array and a method of producing the same

摘要

An optical fiber array includes a plurality of optical fibers which are arranged and fixed in a fiber array member. The optical fibers each have an end projecting from an end face of the fiber array member at substantially the same distance, and each have a lens formed at the end thereof. The optical fiber array is produced by arranging and fixing a plurality of optical fibers in the fiber array member such that each end of the optical fibers is projected from the end face of the fiber array member; forming a coating layer of a desired thickness over the end face of the fiber array member and portions of the optical fibers projecting from the end face of the fiber array member; collectively polishing the ends of the optical fibers projecting from the end face of the fiber array member, together with the coating layer, up to a predetermined position, thereby making the lengths of projections of the optical fibers substantially equal; and removing the coating layer and forming a lens at each end of the optical fibers.