Optical fiber fixing member, method of manufacturing the optical fiber fixing member, optical fiber array, and method of manufacturing the optical fiber array

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber array, comprising the steps of:

• securing optical fibers in the grooves of an optical fiber fixing member having a plurality of optical fiber engagement grooves for positioning and fixing the optical fibers;
• pressing said optical fibers in said optical fiber engagement grooves with a pressure plate;
• and
• fixedly configuring said optical fiber fixing member, optical fibers, and pressure plate as a unitary structure, wherein said method for manufacturing an optical fiber array is characterized in that a molding material is pressed by a mold provided with convexities and concavities corresponding to said optical fiber engagement grooves and the peaks between the optical fiber engagement grooves such that the molding material is forced into the concavities of said mold, the shape of the convexities of said mold is transferred to the molding material, optical fiber engagement grooves whose surfaces are mold transfer surfaces are formed, a state is maintained in which the molding material fills the concavities of said mold only partially, and an optical fiber fixing member is fabricated by forming peaks between the optical fiber engagement grooves such that, of the surfaces thereof, the portions described in any of (i) to (iii) below are free surfaces;
• said optical fibers are sequentially laid out in said optical fiber engagement grooves, starting from the side of the end face located closer to optical connections, in such a way that the tips of the optical fibers extend sufficiently far beyond the end face of said optical fiber fixing member located closer to optical connections, in a state in which the tips of the optical fibers are inclined in relation to said grooves;
• and
• the lateral surfaces of said optical fibers are pressed and fixed with said pressure plate;
• (i) Peak surfaces extending all the way in the longitudinal direction of the peaks;
• (ii) The peak surfaces on the side of the end face located closer to optical connections (excluding case (i));
• (iii) The peak surfaces on the side of the end face located closer to optical connections and on the side of the end face opposite the end face located closer to the optical connections (excluding case (i)).

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber array, comprising the steps of:

• securing optical fibers in the grooves of an optical fiber fixing member having a plurality of optical fiber engagement grooves for positioning and fixing optical fibers;
• pressing said optical fibers in said optical fiber engagement grooves with a pressure plate;
• and
• fixedly configuring said optical fiber fixing member, optical fibers, and pressure plate as a unitary structure, wherein said method for manufacturing an optical fiber array is characterized in that a molding material is pressed by a mold provided with convexities and concavities corresponding to said optical fiber engagement grooves and the peaks between the optical fiber engagement grooves such that the molding material is forced into the concavities of said mold, the shape of the convexities of said mold is transferred to the molding material, optical fiber engagement grooves whose surfaces are mold transfer surfaces are formed, a state is maintained in which the molding material fills the concavities of said mold only partially, and an optical fiber fixing member is fabricated by forming peaks between the optical fiber engagement grooves such that, of the surfaces thereof, the portions described in any of (i) to (iii) below are free surfaces;
• said optical fibers are sequentially laid out in said grooves in the direction from the end face opposite the end face located closer to optical connections toward the end face located closer to the optical connections, in a state in which said optical fibers are inclined in relation to said optical fiber engagement grooves, and the tips of the optical fibers are at a distance from said grooves;
• and
• the lateral surfaces of said optical fibers are pressed and fixed with said pressure plate;
• (i) Peak surfaces extending all the way in the longitudinal direction of the peaks;
• (ii) The peak surfaces on the side of the end face opposite the end face located closer to optical connections (excluding case (i));
• (iii) The peak surfaces on the side of the end face located closer to optical connections and on the side of the end face opposite the end face located closer to the optical connections (excluding case (i)).