| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To form a microlens on an end surface of an optical fiber easily and precisely with good reproducibility by using an optical fiber of the same kind with the optical fiber on which the lens is formed, and utilizing such a characteristic that the core layer is lower in fusion point than the clad layer. CONSTITUTION:When discharge heating 15 is performed between electrodes 1 and 2 and a discharging current is increased gradually, only the core layer with a lower fusion point is fused to obtain a shape 16 with curvature by surface tension. Core layers 16 with the curvature on end surfaces of optical fibers 13 and 14 are put opposite in contact on the axis 0 of the discharging electrodes 1 and 2, and discharge heating 17 is performed again with the core layers 16 in contact; and the optical fibers 13 and 14 are drawn away from each other while the discharge heating 17 is carried on, and the heating 17 is stopped when the core layers project in a conic shape 18. Discharge heating 19 is performed again to fuse the core parts projecting in the conic shape, and then a microlens 20 is formed on the end surface of the optical fiber 14 by surface tension. At this time, the discharging current and discharge time are adjusted to the microlens 20 with optional curvature on the end surface of the optical fiber. |
