Abstract: Moving-map display for bringing about the precise position control of the area of the film to be displayed transversely in "x" (longitude) by purely electronic and static means and longitudinally in y (latitude) by using the lateral perforations of the film. To this end it has a computer which processes, as a function of the longitude and heading, the line-by-line scanning data of the useful area to be displayed and, as a function of the latitude, the positioning data in "y" by cyclically carrying out a lateral scan along the perforations where there are coded inscriptions in such a way as to process a signal corresponding to the variation in "y" to be cancelled out by controlling a servo-motor.

Abstract: Several virtually punctiform, sequentially excited sources of luminous radiation on a pilot's helmet facilitate continuous determination of the pilot's line of sight with the aid of a linear array of photoelectric cells illuminated via a pair of mutually parallel cylindrical lenses perpendicular to the array. The light path through one of these lenses includes a beam rotator in the form of two juxtaposed prisms which turns one of two sheets of light rays from an excited source, lying originally in two mutually orthogonal planes, through 90.degree. into a plane including the axis of one of the lenses so as to intersect the array in one point while the other sheet of light rays retains its orientation in passing through the axis of the other lens to intersect the array in another point.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the spatial location of radiation relative to the sensor including three unit sensors each having a cylindrical optical lens and a linear array of photosensitive elements positioned in the focal plane at a fixed angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lens. Each lens determines substantially a plane of radiation passing through the source. The unit sensors are arranged to define three separate planes having the radiation source being detected as common point. The detected signals are processed to identify respectively the serial position of the elements activated by the focused radiation. Ancillary calculating means calculates the location of the source from the serial position information. By detecting a plurality of sources coupled to a movable body, the present invention enables the user to continuously determine the direction of a fixed axis of the movable body.

Abstract: A light retro-reflective responser and data modulator arrangement which, in particular, allows expected incident radiation to be reflected back with no contour field within the operating field and which enables an optical modulator of very small size to be used. It comprises a retro-reflective system formed by an optical objective and in the corresponding focal zone, a lens, an electronically controlled optical modulator, and a reflective mirror, the two latter items being produced as layers deposited on at least one face of the lens and preferably on the plane face of a plano-convex lens.

Abstract: An arrangement which enables the presence in an observed field of a light source whose radiation spectrum is known to be detected with a high signal to noise ratio. It includes an acousto-optical tunable filter controlled to scan through the expected spectrum of the source periodically and preferably linearly. The photo-detected signals are processed by a high-pass filter which removes the D.C. component due to ambient interference radiation and provides a periodic signal which correspond to the observed light source. The arrangement applies, in particular, to the angular location of luminous targets.

Abstract: A reciprocal coupler for connecting anyone of a plurality of optical signal transmission lines to all the other transmission lines in an optical communication system.The coupler comprises an elongated transparent optical mixing rod optically coupled by a first endface to each of the waveguides forming the lines to be interconnected and by its second endface to both ends of return guides provided by a fiber bundle which form a loop.

Abstract: A stripping tool for stripping ends of cables containing multiple conductors surrounded by an external protecture sheath, intended in particular for stripping optical fibre bundles. It comprises two gripping devices to clamp the cable in two separate areas by means of an adjustable compression on the sheath surrounding the conductors, a control device to position one of the gripping devices so as to stretch axially the sheath lying between thw two areas, and a cutting device to cut a piece of sheath of the desired stripped length; the distance between the areas and the extent of the stretch are predetermined on the basis of the elasticity of the sheath and the length to be stripped.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling the end of an optical signal transmission line comprising at least one optical waveguide, to a solidstate converter device such as a light emitting diode or a photosensitive diode according to the case, the converter device presenting a refractive index N3 higher than the refractive index N1 of the optical waveguide. The coupler comprises a transparent matching medium having at least a refractive index N4 of value intermediate between the values N1 and N3 and forming a thin parallel faced plate whose maximum thickness is determined on the basis of the numerical aperture of the guide.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling in the same manner any one of a plurality of optical signal transmission lines to all of the other transmission lines. The coupler comprises at least three elongated frusto-conical shaped arms of transparent material coupled together by their minor bases through a connecting medium and connected by their major bases to end faces of optical transmission lines respectively. The base diameters and the axial length of these arms are determined such that each minor base has a hemispherical radiation pattern given the numerical aperture of the associated transmission line.

Abstract: A lamp for installation in the flashers or winkers of motor vehicles, with a flasher device integrated into the lamp itself, is provided. The flashing is produced, in the case of the invention, by the utilization of substances which exhibit a sudden change in resistivity at a certain temperature. This is the case with powdered V O.sub.2 when formed into an aglomerate by the use of an organic binder. A block assembled in the bulb of the lamp and in electrical parallel with the filament, does not effect the incandescent state of the latter as long as a temperature of 68.degree. C is not exceeded, but effectively short-circuits the filament beyond this temperature. In this fashion, successive extinctions and relightings take place by a process of relaxation. In the case of a C.sub.36 H.sub.74 wax filled with conductive powder, the phenomena are reversed and the block must be connected in series with the filament.

Abstract: A system for creating independent communication channels using a single optical fibre, is provided. To this end, at the transmitting end, several "laser" diodes such as that E.sub.11 (FIG. 1) supply infrared rays of a wavelength defined to within at least 50 angstrom units (in the case of suitably doped gallium arsenide diodes), to selective mirrors such as that M.sub.11 which are quasi-transparent vis-a-vis other wave lengths. These rays focussed along with those coming from other diodes, upon the entry face 11 of the fibre. At the receiving end, there is an arrangement similar to that at the transmitting end, but comprising, instead of the diodes, photodetectors. A diode and a photodetector may be exchanged in order to provide a channel operating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: In the telecommunication system using optical fibers, each terminal or repeater station comprises negative feedback via an optical channel, the output electroluminescent diode being coupled to the input photodiode by an optical fiber.