Abstract: A group of two or more vehicles (21, 22, 23), each vehicle (21, 22, 23) comprising a communication unit (210, 220, 230) coupled with a navigation unit (211, 221, 231), wherein one vehicle of the group is classified as master vehicle (21) leading the group and the remaining vehicles of the group are classified as slave vehicles (22, 23) following the master vehicle (21), travel together. A central remote navigation server (30) provides the vehicles (21, 22, 23) with a navigation service, wherein the navigation server (30) calculates for each of the slave vehicles (22, 23) route instructions (506, 606) such that the slave vehicles (22, 23) are instructed to follow the master vehicle (21). The route instructions (506, 606) are transmitted to the slave vehicles (22, 23) via a communication network (10).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forwarding telephone messages to a resident telephone device 10 associated to a telephone number and a resident telephone device. The method is comprising the steps of detecting 12 whether a hand held cellular telephone 8 associated to said resident telephone device 10 is located in a neighboring area of said resident telephone device 10, and activating a telephone message forwarding routine for redirecting incoming telephone messages 30 destined to said cellular telephones to said resident telephone device 10 using said telephone number. The method is used for an automatic handover from a mobile telephone handset to another telecommunication set, preferably a resident mobile telephone device in a car 5 to avoid the use of a hand held cellular phone 8 by a driver 1 of the car 5.

Abstract: A group of two or more vehicles (21, 22, 23), each vehicle (21, 22, 23) comprising a communication unit (210, 220, 230) coupled with a navigation unit (211, 221, 231), wherein one vehicle of the group is classified as master vehicle (21) leading the group and the remaining vehicles of the group are classified as slave vehicles (22, 23) following the master vehicle (21), travel together. A central remote navigation server (30) provides the vehicles (21, 22, 23) with a navigation service, wherein the navigation server (30) calculates for each of the slave vehicles (22, 23) route instructions (506, 606) such that the slave vehicles (22, 23) are instructed to follow the master vehicle (21). The route instructions (506, 606) are transmitted to the slave vehicles (22, 23) via a communication network (10).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forwarding telephone messages to a resident telephone device 10 associated to a telephone number and a resident telephone device. The method is comprising the steps of detecting 12 whether a hand held cellular telephone 8 associated to said resident telephone device 10 is located in a neighbouring area of said resident telephone device 10, and activating a telephone message forwarding routine for redirecting incoming telephone messages 30 destined to said cellular telephones to said resident telephone device 10 using said telephone number. The method is used for an automatic handover from a mobile telephone handset to another telecommunication set, preferably a resident mobile telephone device in a car 5 to avoid the use of a hand held cellular phone 8 by a driver 1 of the car 5.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical switch fabric comprising at least one micro mirror array with tilting micro mirrors for individually switching optical paths for optical signals between input and output ports, especially fibers or waveguides gathered in at least one fiber arrays, comprising a beam splitter and a detector array, wherein the beam splitter is adjusted to partly reflect the optical signals reflecting from the mirrors of said at least one micro mirror array to said detector array and micro mirror control means, that are realised such, that a control signal is generated out of a feedback signal of said a detector array to correct the angular positions of the micro mirror and a method therefore.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical switch fabric comprising at least one micro mirror array with tilting micro mirrors for individually switching optical paths for optical signals between input and output ports, especially fibres or waveguides gathered in at least one fibre arrays, comprising a beam splitter and a detector array, wherein the beam splitter is adjusted to partly reflect the optical signals reflecting from the mirrors of said at least one micro mirror array to said detector array and micro mirror control means, that are realised such, that a control signal is generated out of a feedback signal of said a detector array to correct the angular positions of the micro mirror and a method therefore.

Abstract: An optical wavelength monitor provided with an optical coupler for coupling at least a part of the optical signals transmitted in an optical waveguide, which signals are transmitted by means of different carrier wavelengths divided into channels. The coupler is connected via an optical amplifier to a wavelength demultiplexer which selects at least one carrier wavelength of these optical signals and forwards each of these selected carrier wavelengths to a specific output. Optical detectors are connected to these outputs, which detectors each convert an optical signal, detected in a specific channel, into an electrical signal. The optical wavelength monitor is wherein an oscillator is provided which is suitable for modulating the optical signals, supplied to the optical amplifier, with a frequency.

Abstract: An optical wavelength monitor provided with an optical coupler for coupling at least a part of the optical signals transmitted in an optical waveguide, which signals are transmitted by means of different carrier wavelengths divided into channels. The coupler is connected via an optical amplifier to a wavelength demultiplexer which selects at least one carrier wavelength of these optical signals and forwards each of these selected carrier wavelengths to a specific output. Optical detectors are connected to these outputs, which detectors each convert an optical signal, detected in a specific channel, into an electrical signal. The optical wavelength monitor is wherein an oscillator is provided which is suitable for modulating the optical signals, supplied to the optical amplifier, with a frequency.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a plurality of glass waveguides (GWL1 . . . GWL4) are arranged in a first plane. In an overlying plane there is arranged at least one polymer waveguide (PWLA) which forms an acute angle with the glass waveguides. Vertical coupling regions are formed where the polymer waveguide intersects the underlying glass waveguides. The coupling properties can be selectively influenced with the aid of heating electrodes (EA1 . . . EA4; EB1 . . . EB4). To switch over light from one glass waveguide into another, the temperature of the vertical coupling regions is set such that light is coupled up from the one glass waveguide into the polymer waveguide, is guided therein, and is coupled down into the desired glass waveguide in another coupling region.

Abstract: It is known to expose a photosensitive waveguide core to an optical interference pattern which is produced using a phase mask. Precise positioning of the phase mask above the optical waveguide is difficult if several Bragg gratings are to be produced in a confined space. The invention solves the problem of how to produce virtually arbitrarily defined refractive-index gratings in a core of an optical waveguide with high precision without the use of phase masks. To accomplish this, a buffer layer of the optical waveguide, preferably the cladding layer (CLA), is patterned in such a way that UV laser light directed to the waveguide forms an optical interference pattern in the core (COR), thereby imprinting a Bragg grating. The pattern (GST) in the buffer layer is preferably formed by etching.

Abstract: For the connection of an electro-optical chip (5) to a substrate (4), optical and electrical connecting elements (1, 8) are produced on a flexible interconnect member (2) and connected, using a film bonding process previously known only for purely electrical connections, both with connector elements of the chip and with connector paths or optical waveguides (3) on the substrate. If the optical connecting elements (1) are positioned physically between the electrical connecting elements (8), they are secured and located by the soldering connections produced on both sides of the electrical connecting elements. In addition to electrical test adapter connectors, optical test loops which link optical inputs and outputs with each other and which are removed during a later stamping process can also be provided on the flexible interconnect member (2).

Abstract: A semiconductor laser is disclosed whose front or rear surface is provided with a multilayer dielectric and/or reflective coating in such a way that either a temperature-independent differential quantum efficiency or a temperature-independent power output is obtained. The sequence of layers is chosen so that the reflection coefficient decreases with increasing light wavelength. (In other laser systems, it may be necessary for the reflection coefficient to increase).