Patent ID: 7899288
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: B41J,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical fiber structure comprising: a first optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers, the output ends of which are linearly arranged; and a second optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers, the output ends of which are linearly arranged, wherein the first optical fiber array and the second optical fiber array are placed one on the other, wherein the optical fibers in the first optical fiber array and the second optical fiber array include at least one first optical fiber, the core diameter of which at the output end thereof is a first core diameter, and at least one second optical fiber, the core diameter of which at the output end thereof is a second core diameter, wherein the first core diameter is different from the second core diameter, and wherein at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber has a taper portion, the core diameter of which decreases or increases along an optical axis, wherein each of the first optical fiber array and the second optical fiber array includes at least one first optical fiber and at least one second optical fiber arranged therein, wherein each of the first optical fibers and the second optical fibers is arranged in such a manner that an order of arrangement in the second optical fiber array is reverse to an order of arrangement in the first optical fiber array and wherein: the at least one first optical fiber comprises a plurality of first optical fibers, the at least one second optical fiber comprises a plurality of second optical fibers, the first optical fiber array includes at least one of the first optical fibers arranged in a half of the first optical fiber array and the at least one of the second optical fibers arranged in another half of the first optical fiber array, and the second optical fiber array includes at least one other of the second optical fibers arranged in a half of the second optical fiber array and at least one other of the first optical fibers arranged in another half of the second optical fiber array.