Abstract: A coupler for connecting a radiant energy transmitting element to a radiant nergy receiving element which utilizes a specially designed lens for each element, said lenses having spherical convex segments positioned in close face-to-face relationship so that the radiant energy emerging from the transmitting element is treated as a point source which is sequentially defocused and focused by means of the lenses onto the receiving element to minimize refraction and other losses and to insure maximum coupling efficiency.

Abstract: Waveguides having light propagating therethrough are positioned between a common electrode and individual electrodes arranged along a charge-coupled device. The waveguides are of a type which modulate the propagating light responsive to an electric field. The charge-coupled device is activated to place charges at selected ones of the individual electrodes, creating a field across the waveguide by which light propagating through the waveguide is modulated.

Abstract: The dispersion effects in an optical fiber transmission line are equalized by producing a predetermined delay characteristic for each wavelength of an optical beam having a finite bandwidth which is the inverse of a given delay characteristic for each optical wavelength propagated through the transmission line. This is accomplished by launching shorter wavelength components of the optical beam at low angles with respect to the axis of the transmission line into the transmission line and launching longer wavelength components at high angles with respect to the axis of the transmission line into the transmission line. Two arrangements are disclosed to accomplish the above-mentioned launching technique. One arrangement includes a time of flight dependent annularly ruled transmission grating and the other arrangement includes passing a time of flight dependent moving acoustic wave through the optical beam.

Abstract: A connector assembly which is adapted for use with fiber optic cable is disclosed. Techniques for aligning the corresponding light ways of a multiway cable and for minimizing the loss of light energy across the connector are developed. The connector illustrated includes a spacer disposed between the opposing ends of the corresponding light ways within the connector. The ends of the light ways are accessible for optical cleaning after repeated use to restore efficient light transmissive capabilities to the connector.

Abstract: A buffered optical waveguide fiber suitable for use in forming an optical waveguide cable is described. An optical waveguide fiber is first coated with a glass protective coating applied to the exterior longitudinal surface of the fiber with a release agent coating applied over the glass protective coating. Thereafter, a protective layer of a thermoplastic synthetic resinous material surrounding the fiber is disposed over the coating of release agent.

Abstract: An optical fibre has a light conducting core surrounded by first and second cladding layers of sequentially lower refractive index. A data-carrying signal can be propagated in the core and a monitoring signal--of a higher modal order than the data signal--can be propagated in the core and first cladding layer. Any attempt to rap the fibre and abstract data information results in aberration of the monitor signal, which can be detected. The monitor signal can be such that resolvable signals cannot be obtained from the data channel by a tap.

Abstract: An optical waveguide arrangement operates in the manner of an interferometer to provide modulator and/or switching functions. Two optical waveguide branches having a common connection diverge along a substantially coextensive distance and reconverge to provide first and second light paths of identical optical length. Conductive electrodes are disposed contiguous to at least one of the optical waveguide branches and are connectable through a controlling switch to a source of electrical energy for producing an electric field across the energized electrodes. In the absence of such electric field, light energy entering the two optical waveguide branches will propagate along identical optical path lengths and recombine constructively at the reconvergence of the waveguide branches.

Abstract: A planar optical waveguide is optically coupled to a source of laser radiation for propagation of light therein. The optical waveguide comprises a substrate having a first light transmitting layer deposited thereon and a second light transmitting layer deposited on the first layer. Both light transmitting layers are made of materials having indexes of refraction compatable with a semiconductor material taken from the group consisting of III-V semiconductor compounds and mixed ternary III-V semiconductor compositions. The index of refraction of the second light transmitting layer is higher than the index of refraction of the first light transmitting layer thereby providing optical confinement in the second layer.

Abstract: Input and output devices for an optical fiber include an acoustic transducer for generating a planar acoustic wave tilted at an angle with respect to the axis of an optical fiber embraced by a quartz block. The gap between the optical fiber and the quartz block is filled with a liquid, such as water, to obtain acoustic impedance matching. A desired mode of propagating light can be extracted from the fiber or injected therein by reflection under Bragg's condition through a glass block and optical system without cutting or damaging the optical fiber.

Abstract: A connector for connecting two optical fibres comprising two bunches of six flexible rods having the same diameter as the fibre and assembled together tangentially, in order to center each of the two optical fibres which are to be connected together, by insertion along the axis of each bunch, the two fibres being secured in position by clamping each bunch by a concentric ring.

Abstract: A device for connecting optical fibers, the ends of which are provided with cylindrical envelopes of magnetic material which envelop the ends of the fibers and which are rigidly connected thereto. The connection device comprises a magnet having pole-shoes provided with means for guiding the said envelopes in order to position the end faces of the fibers one opposite the other in the air gap formed by the pole-shoes.

Abstract: A light measuring and indicating circuit utilizing indicating elements such as light-emitting diodes, to indicate corresponding light intensity levels. Intermediate levels are indicated without increasing the number of flip-flops employed in an activating circuit for the light-emitting diodes by intentionally causing the circuit to activate light-emitting diodes alternately. The activating circuit includes a reversible digital counter controlling the light-emitting diodes, two comparators for operating the counter reversibly in response to the comparison of light-dependent and standard signals, and a digital-to-analog converter which varies one or more of said signals in accordance with a counter output.

Abstract: There is disclosed an angle selective coupler for coupling optical energy into and/or out of optical fibers. The coupler consists of a section of the optical fiber modified in such a way as to allow optical excitation of a plurality of higher order modes of optical transmission, each mode being defined by a given angle of propagation relative to the fiber axis. In one embodiment the coupling section comprises a single strand of glass fiber waveguide which is tapered along its length. The existence of the tapered section allows coupling of radiation from an external source into a given propagation angle in the fiber. In another embodiment no taper is used, but the fiber cladding is etched down to a thin layer and higher index material is deposited over the thin layer. This allows coherent coupling of radiation into one or more higher order modes in the optical fiber as determined by the angle of the incident light beam with respect to the cladding of the fiber.

Abstract: In an optical display system, information recorded on a face plate or like optical element is injected into a main optical path by means of a standby sight device comprising a lens unit and a flexible fibre optic bundle having a numerical aperture sufficiently large to cover the maximum acceptance angle of the lens unit.

Abstract: An optical coupling device for coupling of integrated optical components which are arranged on separate component substrates that may have different thicknesses characterized by a base substrate, at least two component substrates disposed on the base substrate and arranged closely adjacent to each other, an intermediate substrate disposed between the two component substrates and in engagement therewith, and at least one waveguide disposed on a surface of the intermediate substrate and coupled to two optical components on their respective component substrates. Preferably, the intermediate substrate, which may be either a band, fiber, a portion of a cylindrical rod, or an integral portion of one of the component substrates, provides a curved surface which enables bridging the space between the two component substrates and allows compensation for different thicknesses therebetween.

Abstract: A graded index optical fiber waveguide for use in an optical communication system is disclosed. The waveguide is a circular symmetric fiber having a cladding with an index of refraction n.sub.2 surrounding a core whose index of refraction is graded from an on axis value of n.sub.1 to a value of n.sub.2 at the core-cladding interface. The index of refraction within the core is defined in terms of a profile function F by the following equationn.sup.2 = n.sub.1.sup.2 (1-F)where F is O on the axis and a function of the radial coordinate r and wavelength .lambda. within the core and satisfies the following equation ##EQU1## where D is a function of .lambda. having a value approximately equal to 2 for minimum modal dispersion and ##EQU2## IS THE GROUP INDEX ON AXIS. The modal dispersion achieved with this design is only a function of n.sub.1 - n.sub.

Abstract: An optical system in which individual connections are made involving the passage of light between a specific device in one array of optical devices and a specific device in another array of optical devices includes a phase halogram plate of the transmission type fixed relative to each array.

Abstract: A spectroscopically selective filter device for light which is being conveyed in a waveguide disposed on a substrate characterized by at least two Bragg reflectors with distributed feedback which are disposed at spaced given intervals on a surface of the waveguide, a pair of electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the waveguide and between each pair of Bragg reflectors, the waveguide in at least the region adjacent the electrodes consisting of electro-optical material and means for applying an electrical voltage on the electrodes to vary the index of refraction of the electro-optical material and to thus adjust the length of the optical path between each pair of reflector. Preferably, each of the reflectors is a grating which is either formed in a surface of the waveguide or in a material disposed on the surface.

Abstract: A measurement module projects into a microscope a fiduciary image having a visually extensive area. Measurements are made by translating the fiduciary relative to the object between two positions in which different fiduciary image boundaries are tangent to respective object image sides, as determined by null positions in which neither dark overlap nor bright separation zones appear between the two semi-transparent images. The width of the object can be determined from the distance of relative movement of the fiduciary between these positions. In preferred form the fiduciary image has first and second boundaries in fixed relation at a predetermined spacing and the measurement is corrected by the spacing between the two fiduciary boundaries.

Abstract: This specification describes a fiber optic cable in which the delicate glass fibers are supported by carriers which protect the fibers from stresses imposed during the manufacturing process, the installation of the cable and the environmental conditions after installation. Microbending of the fibers is eliminated by having smooth supports and by protecting the fibers from contact with any structure that will stress them. Another feature is the provision of tension elements in the carriers with neutral axes in transverse alignment with the neutral axes of the glass fibers that the carriers support.