Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerator device for wavelength division multiplexed optical signals designed to regenerate the N channels of a multiplex simultaneously, the device being characterized in that it comprises at least one regenerator component (112, 152) suitable for coupling the inlet signal with a multiplex of N optical carriers, the regenerator component (112, 152) being constituted by a material presenting a spectrum line with non-uniform broadening so that there is no interaction between the various channels involved within the component.

Abstract: The device comprises a first opto-optical gate for resynchronization and a second opto-optical gate for amplitude regeneration, the signal output by the first gate being applied to the control input of the second gate. The device also includes an opto-optical gate for regenerating contrast which receives a signal to be generated both on a source input and on a control input. The opto-optical gate is a three-input Mach-Zehnder interferometer, with each of the two branches thereof having a respective semiconductor optical amplifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wavelength conversion apparatus for transmitting data carried by an incident pump wave beam of wavelength .lambda. to a probe wave of wavelength .lambda..sub.s. The apparatus has two semiconductor optical amplifiers and means for splitting the incident pump wave beam so as to inject a respective secondary pump wave beam into each of said optical amplifiers, said optical amplifiers are connected in series on the path of the probe wave so that each of them modulates said wave in intensity with the corresponding secondary pump wave beam by means of a crossover gain-saturation phenomenon.

Abstract: Optical communications system using traveling wave semiconductor optical amplifiers has at lest one optical fiber (2), tranceivers, (S1. . . , SN) placed along the fiber and having in each case at least one travelling wave semiconductor optical amplifier (A1. . . , AN), which is located in series with the fiber and transmission means (L1, L2) for feeding into the fiber at least one continuous optical signal. Each amplifier is used alternately to modulate the continuous optical signal in order to transmit information, and to detect information modulations of the optical signal which carry information.

Abstract: A multi-purpose component with integrated optics includes an optical light guide (12) formed on one face of a substrate (10) made of a double refracting material having neutral axes orientated so that one electromagnetic wave extending into the guide (12) is split up into two waves having polarizations perpendicular to each other and along the neutral axes. A power source (18) applies an electric filed perpendicular to the optical light guide (12) and uniformly along the guide (12). Two rectilinear polarizers (20, 22) with polarization directions (d1, d2) parallel to each other are each disposed at one extremity of the guide (12). The component also includes focussing means (24, 26, 28, 30). The component has particular utility for tuneable optical filtering and optical telecommunications.

Abstract: An image system (SPI) provides an image file which is recorded in a memory (3). A segmentation and framing module (M1) isolates each of the characters in the image file within individual matrices. A module (M2) finds primitive shapes in each character matrix by initially finding strokes therein and then substracting the strokes from the matrix. A module (M3) then makes a description of primitive shapes in the form of at least one partially ordered list of primitive shapes, and a module (M4) compares said description with standard description expressed in the same manner in a data base (M5). Character recognition, per se, is performed by determining the distances between the description of a character to be identified and the standard descriptions.

Abstract: A non-resonating laser diode optical amplifier comprises a strip of optically active material forming an amplifying optical guide, covered with a confinement sheath and defined by antireflection coating layers. The strip has end portions whose thickness is lesser than that of a central portion and is selected to give a low value to the difference between the wavelengths corresponding to the reflectivity minima for the two inherent polarization states. The end portions are connected to the central portion by transition sections having a progressively increasing thickness.

Abstract: The base comprises a metal support having a planar holder and a prismatic part provided with a slot, in which a metal strip is brazed. The upper edge of the strip is polished and receives the laser chip. An interconnection wafer is brazed to the holder.