Patent ID: 9568688
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: G02B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A multi-core optical fiber interconnection structure comprising: a first multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of first cores extending along a first central axis, a first common cladding covering each of the plurality of first cores, and a first marker provided within the first common cladding while being completely separated from both the first central axis and an outer periphery of the first common cladding, to ensure a rotation of the first multi-core optical fiber in a circumferential direction about the first central axis and to function as an index for cutting end portion of the first multi-core optical fiber slantwise relative to the plane normal to the first central axis; a first ferrule attached to the end portion of the first multi-core optical fiber so that end faces of the first ferrule and the first multi-core optical fiber correspond to each other; a second multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of second cores extending along a second central axis, a second common cladding covering each of the plurality of second cores, and a second marker provided within the second common cladding while being completely separated from both the second central axis and an outer periphery of the second common cladding, to ensure a rotation of the second multi-core optical fiber in a circumferential direction about the second central axis and to function as an index for cutting end portion of the second multi-core optical fiber slantwise relative to the plane normal to the second central axis; and a second ferrule attached to the end portion of the second multi-core optical fiber so that end faces of the second ferrule and the second multi-core optical fiber correspond to each other, wherein both the end faces of the first ferrule and the first multi-core optical fiber are coincident with a common plane which slants relative to a plane normal to the first central axis and both the end faces of the second ferrule and the second multi-core optical fiber are coincident with a common plane which slants relative to a plane normal to the second central axis, wherein the first and second multi-core optical fibers are arranged so that the plurality of first cores and the plurality of second cores are optically coupled in a one-to-one correspondence relation where the slanted end faces of the first ferrule and the first multi-core optical fiber directly face the slanted end faces of the second ferrule and the second multi-core optical fiber in a state in which the first central axis and the second central axis are on a same straight line, and wherein the slanted end faces of the first ferrule and the first multi-core optical fiber face the slanted end faces of the second ferrule and the second multi-core optical fiber so as to minimize variation in core pitches of pairs of the first and second cores each in the one-to-one correspondence relation, each of the core pitches being defined along the first and second central axes.