Abstract: An acousto optic diffractive device including a transducer for launching acoustic energy into a crystal so as to maximize overlap of the acoustic energy within the crystal, and a light source for illuminating the crystal so that the light is diffracted by the overlapping acoustic energy. By operating an acousto optic diffractive device in resonance, the amount of power required to drive the acousto optic diffractive device is significantly lowered, without adversely affecting the wavelength pass band of the device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is described for interacting bulk acoustic waves with an optical waveguide on a common substrate to switch, modulate or deflect guided light at a very high speed. A direct application lies in a monolithic optical analog-to-digital converter. To this effect, a plurality of transducer elements regularly spaced in an array across the optical waveguide are controlled with constant or variable phase shift along a slope, thus causing deflection of the guided light in a fashion analog to phased-array radar technique. A fully integrated monolithic device is constructed combining the bulk acoustic wave generating and optical waveguide functions.

Abstract: The self-generating thermal radiation properties of an optical fiber element are employed to determine the temperature, location and length of a hot spot, or region, of an object.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is described for interacting bulk acoustic waves with an optical waveguide on a common substrate to switch, modulate or deflect guided light at a very high speed. A direct application lies in a monolithic optical analog-to-digital converter. To this effect, a plurality of transducer elements regularly spaced in an array across the optical waveguide are controlled with constant or variable phase shift along a slope, thus causing deflection of the guided light in a fashion analog to phased-array radar technique. A fully integrated monolithic device is constructed combining the bulk acoustic wave generating and optical waveguide functions.

Abstract: An improved optical fiber temperature sensor includes at least one optical fiber light conductor including an optical fiber core, cladding material around the core, and a jacket surrounding the core and cladding material. The core exhibits an evanescent field which extends through the cladding material into the jacket in a first selected range of optical wavelengths. Light attenuation in the conductor below a first temperature range is less than light attenuation above the temperature range. By applying light to the conductor at a frequency with the selected optical wavelength range and detecting the light passed through the conductor, an approximate temperature within the temperature range can be sensed. A more accurate temperature can be sensed by using either two optical fiber light conductors having different optical properties or by using two light frequencies with a single conductor which responds differently to the two frequencies.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring a particular condition, specifically temperature in a preferred embodiment, is disclosed herein and includes a sensor in the form of at least one optical fiber. This optical fiber cooperates with a light source and detector for sensing changes in the temperature being monitored and is accomplished by selecting the fiber such that the amount of light which passes through it varies with changes in temperature.