Abstract: There is provided a ferrule which has a fiber fixed hole into which an optical fiber can be inserted easily without being broken and which can provide a sufficient fiber bonding strength, and which can restrain variations in connection loss caused by the temperature variations. A ferrule 10 is provided with two alignment pin holes 10a into which alignment pins for positioning with respect to a mating ferrule are inserted, and a plurality of fiber fixed holes H formed at predetermined intervals between the alignment pin holes to insert optical fibers. Each of the fiber fixed holes H has at least a fiber guide hole 10d for guiding the optical fiber, a fiber hole 10c connected with the fiber guide hole to accommodate the tip end of the optical fiber, and a fiber insertion hole 10e connected with the fiber guide hole 10d to introduce the optical fiber into the ferrule. A connecting portion of the fiber guide hole 10d and the fiber insertion hole 10e is formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: [Object] There is provided a ferrule which has a fiber fixed hole into which an optical fiber can be inserted easily without being broken and which can provide a sufficient fiber bonding strength, and which can restrain variations in connection loss caused by the temperature variations.

Abstract: In a prior art multiple-fiber optical connector, it was difficult to easily and securely insert and mount a plurality of optical fibers led out from the multiple-fiber optical fiber ribbon. Further, in such a prior art multiple-fiber optical connector, it was possible to prevent a transmission loss from being generated due to local deformation of optical fibers, which is produced in mounting optical fibers, and a connection loss from being generated due to hardening and contraction of an adhesive agent, which are in the final assembling process. In order to solve such problems, a structure of an optical connector was designed as shown below; That is, a tapered portion (3) is provided in a fiber ribbon insertion hole (2) in order to narrow the width thereof, and the tip end (33) of a sheathed portion of a multiple-fiber optical fiber ribbon (31) is engaged in and stopped in the intermediate portion (8) of the tapered portion (3), whereby the insertion position is determined.