Abstract: An integrated optic component comprises a substrate (10) carrying a layer (11) of polymeric material which has an aliphatic or aromatic polymer backbone with bonded sidegroups exhibiting hyperpolarizability. The layer (11) shows a refractive index pattern induced by irradiation with wavelengths within the electronic absorption bands of the sidegroups and within the range of about 230 to 650 nm. The component may be poled so as to be an active component and may be in the form of a ridge guide. Typical sidegroups comprise 4'-amino or 4'-oxy substituted 4-nitrostilbene moieties, or 4'-amino substituted 4-cyanostilbene moieties, or N-substituted 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl) buta-1,3-diene moieties.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated optical device which comprises an adjustable Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The waveguide structure of the device is fabricated on the basis of polable unpoled material, the material in one (2) of the branches (2, 3) of the MZ interferometer being poled in a certain area (7). In the case of maximum poling in advance, the degree of poling of the poled material can subsequently be adjusted under conditions of accelerated thermal relaxation. Advantage: the device can first be fabricated, as far as its structure is concerned, using fabrication techniques which are standard for the selected material without additional attention to correct sizing, after which the interferometer section can then be adjusted in a simple manner to the optical pathlength differences required for the specific function of the device. As an example, a passive polarisation splitter is described.

Abstract: A planar row of optical fibres (9) is obtained by placing the fibres in a mutually parallel position situated contiguously alongside one another. For this purpose, the fibres (9) are placed alongside one another on a substrate (1) in a groove (6) having a laterally somewhat elastic boundary (2, 3) at an accurately determined spacing (D), which is somewhat less than the sum of the diameters of the fibres (9), and then smoothing them and pressing them down so as to be free of crossovers with the aid of a small plate (5) having a thickness D. The spaces left over in the groove (6) are filled with curing filling material. A coupling device for coupling the fibres (9) to corresponding optical channels is obtained by sawing through (along line A--A) and machining the sawn surface obtained.

Abstract: An integrated optic component comprises a substrate (10) carrying a layer (11) of polymeric material which has an aliphatic or aromatic polymer backbone with bonded sidegroups exhibiting hyperpolarizability. The layer (11) shows a refractive index pattern induced by irradiation with wavelengths within the electronic absorption bands of the sidegroups and within the range of about 230 to 650 nm. The component may be poled so as to be an active component and may be in the form of a ridge guide. Typical sidegroups comprise 4'-amino or 4'-oxy substituted 4-nitrostilbene moieties, or 4'-amino substituted 4-cyanostilbene moieties, or N-substituted 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl) buta-1, 3-diene moieties.

Abstract: Electro-optical components and semi-manufactured articles, and method for making them. A light conducting layer is formed from a poleable or poled glassy polymer material, which has an under ionizing radiation definitively destructible e/o activity. A selective irradiation under a parallel beam will give sharp transitions (C, D) from an e/o active area (2.1) or an area which can still be activated to an e/o nonactive area. The buffer layers (3 and 5) can also consist of such like irradiated material. A suitable positioning of the electrodes (4 and 11) between which by means of a difference in voltage applied across the connections (12 and 13) an electric field with a sufficient intensity and/or uniformity can be induced extending into the border area, on both sides of the transition planes (C, D), will make sharp inducible refractive index transitions possible. This is utilized with e/o inducible waveguides in thin layers to obtain sharp lateral definitions, and in an optical intermediate switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated optical polarization splitter based on the mode filter principle, in which the asymmetry, necessary therefor, of the waveguides is obtained by using a polable glassy polymer as optical waveguide material, which material is polarization-sensitive in the poled state and is not, or virtually not polarization-sensitive in the unpoled state. A Y-shaped optical waveguide pattern 8 of polable glassy polymer comprises a continuous optical waveguide formed by the optical waveguide sections 8.1 (incoming) and 8.2 (outgoing) in which the polymer is in the unpoled state and an outgoing optical waveguide section 8.3 which connects to said optical waveguide at an acute angle and in a tapered fashion and in which the polymer is in the poled state. Since the poled material is also electro-optical, an electric field, for example generated between electrodes 2 and 10, can still correct any small deviations in the asymmetry.

Abstract: A light conducting layer is formed from a poleable or poled glassy polymer material, which has an e/o activity which is definitively destructable under ionizing radiation. A selective irradiation under a parallel beam will give sharp transitions from and e/o active area (or an area which can still be electro-optically activated) to an e/o inactive area. The buffer layers can also consist of such irradiated material. A suitable positioning of the electrodes between which, by means of a difference in voltage applied across the electrode connections, an electric field with a sufficient intensity and/or uniformity can be induced extending into the border area, on both sides of the transition boundaries, will make it possible to induce sharp refractive-index transitions. This is utilized to obtain sharp lateral definitions of waveguides induced by electric field poling in thin layers of glassy polymers.

Abstract: Method and device for controlling a beam off light (17), which is coupled in into a working layer (2) of electro-optical material and which is supplied to a working area (16). In a first optically conductive state the working area has a poling mode which differs from the one of the surrounding working-layer material (7), as a consquence of which other refractive indices will arise, due to which the working area will form a light waveguide through which the beam of light coupled in will be conducted (19) to a first glass fibre (22). In a second optically conductive state the working area has a poling mode which is equal to the one of its surroundings. Because of the fact that the refractive indices inside and outside the working area are not equal, the working area will not form a light waveguide, but (e.g.) a light insulator or a light reflector, by means of which the beam of light coupled in will be conducted to a second glass fibre (21).

Abstract: A glass-fibre cable has been provided with a signalling conductor for signalling liquid which has penetrated into the cable sheath. The signalling conductor is a glass fibre, which is inserted in a protective perforated sheath in the usual way. The inner periphery of this sheath is provided with a wave-shaped pattern on one side, whereas the opposite side is provided with a layer of swelling powder. As soon as the liquid which has entered the cable, reaches the swelling powder, the volume of this swelling powder will considerably increase, in consequence of which the glass fibre will be pressed against the wave-shaped pattern. This causes microbending which involves a strong, measurable attenuation of the light signal transmitted through the glass fibre. The swelling powder can be applied to a substrate.