Abstract: A surface optical device apparatus includes a surface optical device capable of emitting or receiving light through a surface thereof and a thick layer formed of a radiation-curable or electron-beam-curable material, such as a polymerizable resist. In the thick layer, a guide hole for inserting an end portion of a light-transmission member, such as an optical fiber, and a plastic optical fiber with a flat end face or a lens-shaped end face, therein is formed at a position corresponding to the surface of the surface optical device such that the surface optical device can be optically coupled to the light-transmission member inserted in the guide hole. The guide hole is formed in the thick layer by performing a patterning on the thick layer using photolithography to selectively harden the thick layer and developing the thick layer.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber with a lens portion includes a plastic optical fiber with a concave portion formed on its end face, and a lens portion having a function of controlling light rays. The lens portion is formed of a refractive index adjusting material filled in the concave portion and having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the plastic optical fiber.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber with a lens of the present invention includes a plastic optical fiber including a core and a cladding, and a lens having a function of controlling light rays. The lens is formed of a material with a thermally-softening temperature higher than a thermally-softening temperature of the core of the plastic optical fiber, and the lens is integrated with the plastic optical fiber by heating and pressing the lens against an end face of the plastic optical fiber.