Abstract: The optical communication module can be coupled to at least one optical fiber and includes at least one optoelectronic device, a base portion, and a cover portion which can be connected to the base portion to define an internal chamber to house the optoelectronic device. The cover portion includes at least one window to couple at least one optical signal between the at least one device and the optical fiber. The module further includes a plate, substantially transparent to the optical signal, having a first side facing the cover portion and a second side facing the internal chamber, the first plate substantially enabling sealing of the window. A shielding plate can be connected to the second side and provided with at least one opening substantially aligned with the window to enable passage of the optical signal.

Abstract: Integrated optical network comprising: an array of optical waveguides having respective output ends defining a array of radiating elements, wherein said guides receive respective optical input signals and output said optical signals from said radiating elements to form an optical beam; and actuator means to introduce in said array of guides relative phase differences between said optical signals in order to deflect the optical beam formed; characterized in that the actuator means include at least one actuator track comprising a plurality of track sections substantially aligned with respective optical guides, said sections being fed by a common control signal to locally modify refractive indexes of the respective optical guides in order to introduce said phase differences.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical device including a Bragg grating formed in an optical waveguide, the method comprising: providing a support substrate; positioning the optical waveguide with respect to an optical source so as to achieve a desired optical coupling of optical power emitted by the optical source into the optical waveguide; attaching the waveguide to the support substrate in correspondence of a first location along the waveguide, said first location being at one side of the Bragg grating; attaching the waveguide to the support substrate in a correspondence of a second location along the waveguide, said second location being at an opposite side of the Bragg grating, so as to freeze a first stress condition in the Bragg grating.

Abstract: A delay device is provided that includes at least one first optical guide for receiving an optical signal, and at least one optical means for outputting a delayed optical signal. A plurality of total signal reflection means are placed along the first optical guide, and a plurality of second optical guides are placed between the reflection means of the plurality of reflection means and the at least one optical means. An activation means activates at least one of the reflection means, and selection means select which of the reflection means of the plurality of reflection means is to be activated to obtain a desired delay on the optical path of the optical signal. The reflection means are placed in succession along the first optical guide. Also provided is a transmission system that includes at least one laser source, an emission source, and at least one such optical delay device.

Abstract: External cavity laser with reflector in optical wave guide, particularly HDBR laser, with an active element comprising a semiconductor optical amplifying cavity having a low-reflectivity facet (3), for example a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) with a facet (30) opposite to said low-reflectivity facet treated with a reflecting coating, or a Fabry-Perot laser, and an external reflector comprising a Bragg grating (70) formed in an optical wave guide (4) near a termination (5), facing said facet, of a segment (5, 6, 7) of said optical wave guide coupled with the facet. The grating has a spatial profile of modulation of the refraction index such that a corresponding optical reflectivity spectrum (A) has an optical bandwidth (W) sufficiently small around a prescribed laser oscillation mode wavelength (?c) for the laser to oscillate only on the prescribed mode and not on other oscillation modes even in conditions of high-frequency direct modulation.

Abstract: An optical device is formed by a first chip and a second chip bonded together. The first chip (4 has an optical layer of glass housing an optical circuit; the second chip has a body of semiconductor material housing integrated electronic components and coated with a bonding layer of glass fixed directly and contiguous to the optical layer of the first chip. The bonding layer delimits cavities facing corresponding cavities in the first chip in positions corresponding to the intersection points of waveguides constituting the optical circuit. The cavities are filled with a liquid having the same refractive index as the waveguides. Underneath each cavity, in the body of semiconductor material there is present a resistor, which, when traversed by current, causes formation of a bubble inside the chamber and deflection of the light beam traversing a waveguide towards a different waveguide.

Abstract: An optical module for access networks to wideband communication systems composed of passive optical networks PON, in such a way as to permit the transportation in particularly efficient manner of flows of numeric and/or analog information, relating to different types of services such as: telephone services in a broad sense, intended as traditional telephone services and data transmission services, and services of more strictly television nature such as the distribution of the CATV.

Abstract: External cavity laser with reflector in optical wave guide, particularly HDBR laser, with an active element comprising a semiconductor optical amplifying cavity having a low-reflectivity facet (3), for example a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) with a facet (30) opposite to said low-reflectivity facet treated with a reflecting coating, or a Fabry-Perot laser, and an external reflector comprising a Bragg grating (70 ) formed in an optical wave guide (4) near a termination (5), facing said facet, of a segment (5, 6, 7) of said optical wave guide coupled with the facet. The grating has a spatial profile of modulation of the refraction index such that a corresponding optical reflectivity spectrum (A) has an optical bandwidth (W) sufficiently small around a prescribed laser oscillation mode wavelength (&ggr;c) for the laser to oscillate only on the prescribed mode and not on other oscillation modes even in conditions of high-frequency direct modulation.

Abstract: An optical device is formed by a first chip and a second chip bonded together. The first chip (4 has an optical layer of glass housing an optical circuit; the second chip has a body of semiconductor material housing integrated electronic components and coated with a bonding layer of glass fixed directly and contiguous to the optical layer of the first chip. The bonding layer delimits cavities facing corresponding cavities in the first chip in positions corresponding to the intersection points of waveguides constituting the optical circuit. The cavities are filled with a liquid having the same refractive index as the waveguides. Underneath each cavity, in the body of semiconductor material there is present a resistor, which, when traversed by current, causes formation of a bubble inside the chamber and deflection of the light beam traversing a waveguide towards a different waveguide.

Abstract: Fault tolerant topology for passive optical networks essentially based on a "tree configuration" with branch points or nodes (16, 17) made up of passive optical splitters, in which each node (16, 17) of a specific level is connected to the same number of nodes (16, 17) of the level immediately below by two or more branches (Rd, Rs) and a supplementary connection (S1, S2 . . . ) is provided between each pair of nodes of the same level (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Multifiber interconnection element for optic fiber cable including two cylindrical complementary elements with optic fibers belonging to multifiber cables to be connected, abutted to the same. Each one of the complementary elements shows outside a longitudinal notch at least, having shape and size similar to the shape and size of a corresponding longitudinal slide obtained on the internal surface of a coupling bush. These complementary elements are inserted for reciprocal coupling inside this bush with the relevant front contact parts turned one against the other.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided for allowing the bidirectional exchange of received and transmitted signals over a single monomodal optical fiber. The light transmitter (usually a laser or a LED), the receiver of optical signals and an optical system suitable for directing the optical signal to be transmitted to the monomodal optical fiber ad for directing the optical signal from the monomodal optical fiber to the receiver collects the signals in one passage. The optical system uses an optical transceiver employing a light transmitter and a light receiver. This optical transceiver is formed in a unitary housing. The optical system includes first and second lenses which may be graded-index waveguide sections and a planar filter disposed therebetween, the planar filter typically being an interferential filter. The optical system is formed on a support which allows the light transmitter which is typically a laser to be disposed directly adjacent one of the lenses.

Abstract: In order to couple an input end of an optical fiber to a light source designed to illuminate same with message signals, the light source--such as an LED--is mounted on a dielectric disk where it is surrounded by a flat ring confronting another ring with a stepped inner profile from which a cylindrical sleeve projects on the side opposite that disk. A capillary tube, closely fitting into the axial bore of the sleeve, is fitted around an extremity of the fiber stripped of its protective sheath so as to extend close to the source when the two rings are substantially coaxially juxtaposed; with the source energized, the light emitted at the opposite fiber end is measured to determine the correct alignment position in which the two rings are cemented to each other.

Abstract: In order to provide an end face of an optical fiber with a spherical curvature of predetermined radius, designed to optimize the transfer of luminous intensity from an adjoining light source such as a light-emitting diode, a flat fiber is heated to a temperature near its melting point while its profile is optically enlarged. When that profile is found to have reached a predetermined shape criterion, as determined by visual observation or by electronic scanning, heating is terminated.