Abstract: A photovoltaic converter for electric power generating panels includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules (5), each comprising a substrate (14), extending along a main direction (D) from a first end to a second end, and a plurality of photovoltaic devices (15), arranged on the substrate (14) in succession along the main direction (D). The photovoltaic converter further includes at least a bridge module (10, 11) insertion-connecting a respective upstream photovoltaic module (5) and a respective downstream photovoltaic module (5).

Abstract: An optical mode converter has a coupling waveguide and a receiving waveguide. The coupling waveguide has at an input end a first effective refractive index and includes a tapered core of a substantially constant refractive index with a substantially square cross section at the input end, which has a size that tapers down moving away from the input end. The coupling waveguide also has a cladding at least partially surrounding the tapered core. The receiving waveguide has a second effective refractive index at an output end and includes a core of a substantially constant refractive index greater than the refractive index of the tapered core of the coupling waveguide and a cladding at least partially surrounding the core. A side surface of the tapered core of the coupling waveguide is optically in contact, in a coupling portion, with the receiving waveguide so as to allow optical coupling between the coupling waveguide and the receiving waveguide.

Abstract: An optical mode converter has a coupling waveguide and a receiving waveguide. The coupling waveguide has at an input end a first effective refractive index and includes a tapered core of a substantially constant refractive index with a substantially square cross section at the input end, which has a size that tapers down moving away from the input end. The coupling waveguide also has a cladding at least partially surrounding the tapered core. The receiving waveguide has a second effective refractive index at an output end and includes a core of a substantially constant refractive index greater than the refractive index of the tapered core of the coupling waveguide and a cladding at least partially surrounding the core. A side surface of the tapered core of the coupling waveguide is optically in contact, in a coupling portion, with the receiving waveguide so as to allow optical coupling between the coupling waveguide and the receiving waveguide.

Abstract: An integrated optical add/drop device having switching function for use in wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems, has first and second optical couplers between which first and second interferometric arms of an interferometer are extended. The integrated optical add/drop device has an optical filter having first and second input ports connected to first portions of the first and second interferometric arms and first and second output ports connected to second portions of the first and second interferometric arms. The optical filter acts as a selective switch exchanger for exchanging between one interferometric arm and the other at least one of a plurality of optical signals S (?1), S (?2), . . . , S (?n), received at its input ports and for transmitting the remaining optical signals through its output ports in the first and second interferometric arms.

Abstract: A tunable resonant grating filter that can reflect optical radiation at a resonant wavelength, the resonant wavelength being selectively variable. The filter includes a diffraction grating, a planar waveguide, and a light transmissive material having a selectively variable refractive index to permit tuning of the filter, the light transmissive material forming a tunable cladding layer for the waveguide, preferably a liquid crystal material. The diffraction grating is placed on the opposite side of the tunable layer with respect to the planar waveguide, thereby making it possible to tailor the grating structural parameters to the desired bandwidth of the filter response without significantly affecting the tunability of the filter. Within the resonant structure, the core layer, i.e., the waveguide, can be placed close to the tunable layer either in direct contact with the tunable layer or with an interposed relatively thin intermediate layer(s) between the core and the tunable layer.

Abstract: A tuneable grating assisted directional optical coupler to couple a transmission signal has a first waveguide including a first core and a first cladding, the first waveguide having a first effective refractive index. The coupler also has a second waveguide including a second core and a second cladding, the second waveguide having a second effective refractive index different from the first effective index and being in substantially close proximity to the first waveguide in a predetermined region to provide coupling therebetween. A periodic perturbation is positioned in the coupling region to cause the coupling to be wavelength selective for one given wavelength function of the first and/or the second effective refractive index. Additionally, the second cladding of the second waveguide has a tuneable material and the first cladding of the first waveguide has a non-tuneable material.

Abstract: An integrated optical add/drop device having switching function for use in wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems, has first and second optical couplers between which first and second interferometric arms of an interferometer are extended. The integrated optical add/drop device has an optical filter having first and second input ports connected to first portions of the first and second interferometric arms and first and second output ports connected to second portions of the first and second interferometric arms. The optical filter acts as a selective switch exchanger for exchanging between one interferometric arm and the other at least one of a plurality of optical signals S (?1) , S (?2), . . . , S (?n), received at its input ports and for transmitting the remaining optical signals through its output ports in the first and second interferometric arms.

Abstract: An optical wavelenth selective filter on an optical waveguide and a method of making the same is provided. The filter is able to transmit a first predetermined band of wavelengths and to reflect a second predetermined band. The filter further includes a plurality of transmissive couples and reflective couples in series, with each of the couples including a first zone of high refractive index and a second zone of low refractive index adjacent to each other so as to form a structure with a high gap modulated refractive index.

Abstract: A Raman amplifier having a microstructured fiber and at least one pump laser, optically connected to one end of the microstructured fiber. The pump laser is adapted for emitting a pump radiation at a wavelength ?p, and the microstructured fiber has a silica-based core surrounded by a plurality of capillary voids extending in the axial direction of the fiber. The core of microstructured fiber has at least one dopant added to silica, the dopant being suitable for enhancing Raman effect.

Abstract: An integrated optical device having a first and a second integrated waveguide; a section of the first waveguide and a section of the second waveguide arranged so as to be in optical coupling relationship. A first and a second modulated refractive index structures are respectively formed along the first waveguide section and the second waveguide section. Each modulated refractive index structure has at least one pair of regions of mutually different refractive index, adjacent to each other along the respective waveguide section. The regions of mutually different refractive index have a portion of the respective waveguide section and a gap formed in the waveguide section. The refractive indexes of the regions differ from each other by least approximately 1.5%. The device can be used for optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, particularly for wavelength division multiplexing optical communications.

Abstract: An integrated optical device having a first and a second integrated waveguide arranged so as to be in optical coupling relationship in a first and a second spaced-apart coupling region and having respective optically uncoupled waveguide sections in between the first and second coupling regions. A first and a second modulated refractive index structures are provided, each one formed along a respective uncoupled waveguide section; the modulated refractive index structures each having at least one pair of regions of mutually different refractive index adjacent to each other along the respective uncoupled waveguide section. The regions of mutually different refractive index have a portion of the respective uncoupled waveguide section and a gap formed in the uncoupled waveguide section, the refractive indexes of the regions differing from each other by at least approximately 1.5%.

Abstract: A Raman amplifier having a microstructured fiber and at least one pump laser, optically connected to one end of the microstructured fiber. The pump laser is adapted for emitting a pump radiation at a wavelength ?p, and the microstructured fiber has a silica-based core surrounded by a plurality of capillary voids extending in the axial direction of the fiber. The core of microstructured fiber has at least one dopant added to silica, the dopant being suitable for enhancing Raman effect.

Abstract: A compensating optical fiber length having a negative chromatic dispersion slope, the compensating optical fiber having a core region surrounded by a cladding region, the cladding region defining a first ring of holes, which substantially defines, around the core region an annulus with an inner radius r1 and an outer radius r2, and at least one second ring of holes that surrounds the first ring of holes, the holes running along the compensating optical fiber longitudinally and being spaced apart from each other substantially according to a predefined pitch ?, wherein a) r1??/n?r2 where n is the refractive index of the material making up the core region of the compensating optical fiber length; b) the holes of the first and the at least one second ring are substantially of the same diameter d; and c) the ratio d/? substantially satisfies the following relationship (A) 0.8?d/?<1.

Abstract: Optical multi/demultiplexer (4) device comprising a substrate, a plurality of wave guides (45, 46, 47, 48) on a surface of said substrate, a plurality of selective wavelength filters (452, 462, 472, 482). Each of said plurality of filter is able to transmit a first predetermined band of wavelengths (PB?) and to reflect a second predetermined band (SB?). Each one of said plurality of filter comprising a plurality of transverse cuts (4521, 4522, 4523) provided on said waveguide disposed in predetermined positions. Said cuts forms a plurality of transmissive couple providing said first predetermined band and a plurality of reflective couple providing said second predetermined band. Said transmissive couples and said reflective couples are disposed in series. A wavelength selective filter is separately disclosed, an a method of making a filter.

Abstract: Unit (100) comprising a portion of holey optical fibre (12) having a length Lc comprising a core region (13) and a cladding region (14), said cladding region (14) comprising, in turn, a plurality of holes passing through it longitudinally, said holes having a respective diameter and being spaced, two by two, according to a respective pitch, said unit comprising also a temperature adjusting device (16) for bringing and maintaining the holey optical fibre (12) at temperature values T selectable in a predetermined interval of temperatures Tx-Ty.

Abstract: A compensating optical fibre length having a negative chromatic dispersion slope, the compensating optical fibre having a core region surrounded by a cladding region, the cladding region defining a first ring of holes, which substantially defines, around the core region an annulus with an inner radius r1 and an outer radius r2, and at least one second ring of holes that surrounds the first ring of holes, the holes running along the compensating optical fibre longitudinally and being spaced apart from each other substantially according to a predefined pitch &Lgr;, wherein a) r1≦&lgr;/n≦r2 where n is the refractive index of the material making up the core region of the compensating optical fibre length; b) the holes of the first and the at least one second ring are substantially of the same diameter d; and c) the ratio d/&Lgr; substantially satisfies the following relationship (A) 0.8≦d/&Lgr;<1.

Abstract: Unit (100) comprising a portion of holey optical fibre (12) having a length Lc comprising a core region (13) and a cladding region (14), said cladding region (14) comprising, in turn, a plurality of holes passing through it longitudinally, said holes having a respective diameter and being spaced, two by two, according to a respective pitch, said unit comprising also a temperature adjusting device (16) for bringing and maintaining the holey optical fibre (12) at temperature values T selectable in a predetermined interval of temperatures Tx-Ty.