Lens-integrated optical fiber and production method thereof, optical module, and optical transmission apparatus

A lens-integrated optical fiber, comprising:

• an optical fiber including a core and a clad;
• and
• a lens mounted on an end face of the core at an end face of the optical fiber.

A method to produce a lens-integrated optical fiber, comprising:

• (a) forming a lens precursor on the end face of the optical fiber by discharging a liquid drop on the end face of the optical fiber;
• and
• (b) forming a lens by curing the lens precursor, the lens being formed so that the maximum width d2 of the maximum cross section S1 of the lens is greater than the maximum width d1 of the end face of the optical fiber, where the maximum cross section S1 is the cross section of the lens cut by a plane that is parallel with the end face of the optical fiber and that makes the cross section area of the lens greatest.

A method to produce a lens-integrated optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a lens precursor on the end face of the core by discharging a liquid drop on the end face of the core, at an end of an optical fiber including a core and a clad;
• and
• (b) forming a lens by curing the lens precursor.