Method for making optical fiber bundle structure, and method for connecting optical fiber bundle structure with multicore fiber

Abstract

First, small-diameter portions of a plurality of optical fibers are inserted into a small-diameter capillary. Then, in a state in which the optical fibers are inserted into the small-diameter capillary until end faces of the optical fibers protrude slightly from an end face of the small-diameter capillary, the optical fibers and the small-diameter capillary are fixed together by using an adhesive. Next, a large-diameter capillary is fixed on an outer periphery of the small-diameter capillary. Then, end faces of the large-diameter capillary, the small-diameter capillary, and the optical fibers (the small-diameter portions) are polished collectively to mirror-finish the end faces of the optical fibers. Next, the large-diameter capillary is removed from the small-diameter capillary. In this way, an optical fiber bundle structure can be obtained.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.