Patent ID: 8425126
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A multi-core optical fiber which has a plurality of core portions arranged separately from one another in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, and a cladding portion located around the core portions, the multi-core optical fiber comprising: a cylindrical portion of which diameter is constant; and a reverse-tapered portion gradually expanding toward at least one edge in the longitudinal direction which connects to the cylindrical portion, wherein a gap between each adjacent ones of the core portions in the reverse-tapered portion is greater than that in the cylindrical portion, each core portion is to be optically connected to each of a plurality of connection targets which are arranged separately from one another, and the gap between each adjacent ones of the core portions expands so as to come closer to a gap between each adjacent ones of the connection targets.