Patent ID: 7121733

Claim:
A ferrule having a transverse axis and comprising: at least two alignment pin holes into which alignment pins for positioning mating ferrule are inserted; and a plurality of fiber fixed holes for inserting an optical fiber, said fiber fixed holes being formed at predetermined locations along said transverse axis with respect to said two alignment pin holes, each of said fiber fixed holes having at least a fiber guide portion for guiding the optical fiber, a fiber hole portion adjacent said fiber guide portion to receive the tip end of the optical fiber, and a fiber insertion portion adjacent said fiber guide portion, said fiber insertion portion being formed as a common fiber insertion portion to receive sheathed portions a plurality of optical fibers; wherein said fiber guide portion and said fiber insertion portion are joined with a connecting portion having a tapered shape; and wherein said fiber insertion portion has a convex portion for regulating the movement of said sheathed portions of the optical fibers along said transverse axis, and the width of said fiber insertion portion at the convex portion in the direction perpendicular to said transverse axis is smaller than the diameter of said sheathed portion.