OPTICAL FIBER LATERAL INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber lateral input/output device that facilitates adjustment of a pressing force applied to an optical fiber ribbon for obtaining a desired input/output efficiency and bending loss when performing lateral input/output to/from the optical fiber ribbon.SOLUTION: In an optical fiber lateral input/output device according to the present invention, since a refractive index matching material is interposed between coated optical fibers and a recess curved surface, application of a pressing force causes the refractive index matching material to be deformed to be able to fill a gap between the coated optical fibers and the recess curved surface with itself. Consequently, such a large pressing force as to eliminate the gap between the coated optical fibers and the recess curved surface is made unnecessary, and a bending loss due to side pressure can be also reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4 【課題】テープ心線の側方入出力を行う際に、所望の入出力効率と曲げ損失を得るためのテープ心線へ印加する押圧力の調整が容易である光ファイバ側方入出力装置を提供することを目的とする。【解決手段】本発明に係る光ファイバ側方入出力装置は、屈折率整合材料が光ファイバ心線と凹曲面との間にあり、押圧力が印可された時に屈折率整合材料が変形して光ファイバ心線と凹曲面との空隙を埋めることができる。このため、光ファイバ心線と凹曲面との空隙を解消する大きな押圧力が不要となり、側圧による曲げ損失も低減することができる。【選択図】図４