Patent ID: 7359594

Claim:
An optical waveguide structure comprising: a first clad section having a rigid curved surface for gradually turning the direction in which light travels almost squarely and a groove formed in the curved surface along the direction in which light travels; a core section which is made from only a transparent material with a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the first clad section and with which the groove is filled in; and a second clad section, which is a different component from the first clad section, and which covers an exposed surface of the core section and the curved surface of the first clad section on the curved surface side and which is integrated with the first clad section; wherein the core section has a higher reflective index than the first and second clad sections, and wherein the first and second clad sections reflect light propagating within the core section and confine the propagating light in the core section.