Patent ID: 6934450

Claim:
An optical path-changing connector for optical connection to a first external component having a positioned member, the first external component including one of optical waveguides and optoelectronic converting elements arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, said optical path-changing connector comprising: an optical path-changing device comprising: a cladding having a first face, a second face, and at least one mirror surface; and a plurality of cores, each core having a first core end surface exposed at said first face and a second core end surface exposed at said second face, each core constituting a continuous optical path extending from said first core end surface to said mirror surface, changing in direction at said mirror surface, and extending to said second core end surface, wherein said first core end surfaces and said second core end surfaces are arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally at said first face and said second face, respectively; and a first positioning member positionally adjusted relative to optical axes of said first core end surfaces for positioning said first external component relative to said first core end surfaces by engaging said positioning member.