Abstract: An improved coupling element for coupling light into and out of a light component, which coupling element consists of a single core of cladded glass fiber whose cladding has a diameter that amounts to at least 1 mm so that the cladding acts as a member for supporting the core in the coupling element. Preferably, at least one flat surface is formed on the cladding to facilitate attaching the branching waveguide or fiber.

Abstract: An optical device for frequency-selectively distributing light characterized by waveguides for directing a beam of light at a beam divider filter layer which will reflect light of one frequency and pass light of another frequency to form two partial beams and at least one color filter arranged in the path of one of the partial beams to filter out light of a frequency different than the main frequency of the beam. The optical device can be expediently provided by producing two components which support the optical waveguides and are provided with abutting surfaces, assembling the components with the beam divider layer disposed between the abutting surfaces and providing at least one color filter on a transparent body aligned with the beam divider layer. Preferably, the transparent body is a gradient lens and the two components are formed by cutting a single member, which is either a flat plate or a capillary, into the two components after a waveguide such as an optical fiber has been secured to the member.

Abstract: A branching element for distributing light from a group of incoming waveguides to outgoing waveguide groups characterized by a member having at least three separate groups of channels, all the channels in each group being parallel to each other and lying in a plane of the group, two of said groups of channels being aligned to lie in the same plane with the channels of the one group being axially aligned with the channels of the other group and separated therefrom by a common partially permeable reflecting layer extending at an angle to the plane and formed by the two groups of channels, at least one additional group of channels extending at an angle to the plane of the two aligned groups of channels and intersecting the aligned two groups of channels at a common reflective layer, and light waveguides being arranged in each of the channels, the light waveguides in the channels of the two aligned groups having end faces extending in the plane of the layer and enaged therewith and the waveguides in the additiona

Abstract: A branching element for a single mode light waveguide characterized by monomode guides extending from a semi-transmissive reflective layer that is inclined to the axis thereof and the branching light waveguide is a multimode light waveguide which is positioned to receive light reflected by the layer from one of the monomode guides. The device has a good coupling efficiency and can be manufactured by a cheap and simple process.

Abstract: A branch element and method of making the element which distributes light signals from an incoming waveguide to outgoing waveguides characterized by a member having a pair of aligned waveguides received in channels with their end faces separated by a partially reflective layer and at least one branch waveguide engaging a portion of the surface of one of the aligned waveguides adjacent the reflective layer so that a light signal reflected by the layer is received in the branch waveguide. The method involves providing a single member having grooves for receiving each of the waveguides, cutting the member into two parts, polishing the cut edges to form polished surfaces with one of the surfaces being provided with the partially reflecting layer and joining the waveguide together. The position for the cutting is selected to be in a plane removed from the groove for the branch waveguide so that after polishing, the reflector is positioned in the desired relationship to the branch waveguide.

Abstract: An arrangement for branching off a signal from an optical waveguide and detecting the signal with a detector characterized by the waveguide in the area of the detector being free of bends and having means, such as a notch or an entire separation, for forming a signal dispersing point located in the area of a window of the detector.

Abstract: A branch component and method of making the component which can be used either to distribute light from a single waveguide into four outgoing waveguides or to collect light from four incoming waveguides into a single outgoing waveguide.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling a light signal traveling in a light conducting core of one light waveguide into the light conducting core of a second waveguide with an adjustable ratio of the amount of coupling therebetween characterized by a pair of support members for mounting the waveguides in a fixed position along a coupling segment with the waveguides substantially parallel and being embedded in a medium with an index of refraction which is lower in comparison to the index of refraction of the cores, each of the support members being mounted for relative movement to each other from a first position with the waveguides in alignment with each other to a second position with the waveguides separated and displaced from each other and a device for moving the support members between the positions in the prescribed amounts to change the ratio of the light signal coupled from one waveguide to the other waveguide.

Abstract: A branching device for optical waveguides by which a component of light is coupled out of the main light path which is formed by a first and second waveguide into a subsidiary third waveguide comprises a simplified construction which reduces material costs as well as assembly costs. For this purpose, the invention provides that between two coaxially aligned optical waveguides there is arranged only one beam divider reflector which is in the form of a coating or layer and that in the region of the group of light beams which is emitted from the end surface of one of the waveguides and is reflected by the beam divider reflector there is a gradient lens which focuses the end surface of the one waveguide onto the end surface of a third waveguide.

Abstract: A probe for the non-contact measurement of electric or magnetic field strengths has two wave guides provided on a substrate. One of the wave guides has a measurement portion consisting of an electro-optical material or a magneto-optical material in a region of a measurement zone. A magnetic or electric field changes the index of refraction of the measuring portion and the intensity of a light wave traveling through this portion of the wave guide is reduced. Comparison is then made between a standard intensity in the other wave guide and a reduced intensity in the light traveling through the wave guide measuring portion.

Abstract: A filter comprising multiple cylindrical layers of alternately high- and low-refractive materials and surrounded by a light-absorbent material with an outer diffusing surface is deposited by evaporation about a short axial length of a glass fiber to polarize or spectrum-filter light passing through said fiber. The indices of refraction of the filter layers are higher than the effective guide indices of the modes of the fiber core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical waveguide network for crossing-free switching of a guided signal from any input to any output and consisting of n waveguides disposed optically parallel to one another and located on a substrate and of a plurality of pairs of electrodes. A waveguide network of this type is provided having two electrode pairs in each case disposed such that two adjacent waveguides are connected by two electrode pairs and either the substrate made of lead zirconate and lead titanate ceramic material or a liquid crystal layer is provided instead, disposed above or below the waveguide plane or another electro-optical switchable material. In a preferred embodiment, an additional dielectric intermediate layer is provided under and/or above the waveguide plane, together with perhaps another dielectric insulating layer disposed above the waveguide plane.

Abstract: Narrow band wave guide reflectors arranged on a substrate and having wave guide layers with periodic perturbations are tuned by adapting the effective index of refraction n.sub.eff of the wave guide layer to fulfill the Bragg condition of reflection. The index of refraction is adapted by either varying the thickness of the wave guide layer continuously over a width of the layer or by applying a field to a substrate or superstrate comprised of magneto- or electro-optical material to change the index of refraction of the substrate or superstrate.

Abstract: The invention discloses a wave guide structure utilizing a narrow band reflection polarizer comprising a substrate and a multiple layer dielectric for a generally incident unpolarized electromagnetic wave of wavelength .lambda..sub.1 in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions. The dielectric layers comprise a medium having an index of refraction n.sub.o, and at least two layers deposited by vaporization of material having alternatively high and low indices of refraction, n.sub.2 and n.sub.1, respectively. The layers having the high and low refractive indices exhibit the same effective optic layer thickness equal to (1/4) (j+1) .lambda..sub.1, where j = even integers, for the refractive index structure n.sub.s (n.sub.1, n.sub.2).sup.k n.sub.o, or n.sub.s (n.sub.1, n.sub.2).sup.k n.sub.1 n.sub.o and n.sub.1 = index of refraction of the first layer connected to the medium, n.sub.2 = index of refraction of the second layer connected serially to the first layer, and k = 0, 1, 2, . . .

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: An electro-optical switch and modulator for use in a region of a waveguide system which consists of either intersecting waveguides or branching waveguides, which are arranged on a dielectric substrate and consists of electro-optical material at the region and have at least one insulating layer engaging the region of the waveguides characterized by at least one electrode structure being located at the region and comprising a plurality of electrode fingers extending at right angles to a line which either is a bi-sector of the angle between the intersecting and branching waveguides when the region is located at the point of branching and intersecting or is a longitudinal axis of the waveguide when the region is spaced from the point of branching and intersecting. Preferably, the dielectric insulating layer also consists of an electro-optical material. When more than two electrode structures are used, the fingers may either have equal spacing or possess differing and separate switchable periodicity.

Abstract: A controllable, electro-optical grating coupler for the optional switch-over or modulation of optical waves in waveguides includes a substrate with a first areal electrode arranged on the substrate and a first dielectric layer arranged on the electrode and carrying a waveguide. A periodic grating structure is arranged in the waveguide transversely to the direction of propagation of light and either the grating structure of the waveguide consist of electro-optical material in the region of the grating structure. A second dielectric layer is arranged on the waveguide and a second areal electrode is arranged on the dielectric layer. By varying the voltage across the electrodes it is possible to amplify or reduce the interference provided by the grating structure so that the light in the waveguide is modulated, switched, scattered from the waveguide or input coupled to a second waveguide.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide has a first waveguide portion with a tapered terminus which directs the light carried therein into a multiple, high-and low-refractive layered filter system for spectrum or polarization filtration. A second optical waveguide portion has a tapered origin spaced closely adjacent the tapered terminus of the first portion on the topmost filter layer to pick up and transmit light from the filter. Effective indices of refraction of the integrated waveguides are greater than the index of refraction of the adjoining topmost layer of the filter for wave lengths of desired light.

Abstract: An improved device of the type suitable for coupling light waves from a first waveguide into a second waveguide, both waveguides being arranged by an integrated technique on a given substrate in intersecting fashion one above the other. Insulated electrodes adjacent opposed faces of the waveguides at the intersection zone between the waveguides permit generation of an electric field in response to an applied voltage therebetween. By forming the waveguides of electro optical material having appropriate indices of refraction, coupling is achievable between first and second waveguides.

Abstract: Optical waveguide systems useful as frequency-selective reflectors, filters, or resonators. Each system utilizes at least one grid fan means having elongated grating strips arranged in a fan-like manner and adapted to have a continuously variable grating constant. At least one waveguide is spatially located in adjacent relationship to a given grid fan in each system.