Aligning implement for optical fibers and optical fiber array fabricated by use of the aligning implement

An aligning implement for optical fibers for aligning a plurality of optical fibers, that is adapted to be used in an optical fiber array having a plurality of optical fibers aligned substantially in parallel with one another with a predetermined pitch therebetween, said aligning implement comprising:

• a substrate having a plurality of ridges formed on one surface of the substrate substantially in parallel with one another with said predetermined pitch;
• and
• a cover member having a plurality of ridges formed on one surface of the cover member substantially in parallel with one another with said predetermined pitch, and wherein
• the width of the ridges of the substrate and the width of the ridges of the cover member are set to have such values that the cover member is movable relative to the substrate in the direction substantially orthogonal to the ridges in a state that the ridges of the substrate and the ridges of the cover member are engaged with one another;
• and
• the substrate and the cover member are arranged such that in the state that the ridges of the substrate and the ridges of the cover member are engaged with one another, sliding of the cover member in the direction substantially orthogonal to the ridges relative to the substrate causes each optical fiber to be nipped, positioned and held between the wall surface of each ridge of the substrate and the wall surface of each corresponding ridge of the cover member.