Abstract: An X-cut or near Y-cut monocrystalline wafer of electro-optical material forms a substrate of a digital optical switch. Waveguides of LiNbO.sub.3 are diffused into the wafer to form ribbon waveguides such that light propagates in a direction near the Z axis of the wafer. These waveguides form a Y-shape, refractive indices of which are controlled by electrodes formed closely adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Polarization independent switch or coupler including a directional coupler with extremely relaxed fabrication tolerances. The coupler includes a mono-crystalline wafer of electro-optic material with two closely adjacent light waveguides at an upper surface along with electrodes positioned adjacent the waveguides. The electrodes include a grounded, main electrode formed on one side of the waveguides and four smaller electrodes formed in a line on a side or sides of the waveguides opposite to the main electrode, each of the four smaller electrodes being supplied with a voltage. The electrodes and waveguides can be in a planar or stacked relationship to one another. When the voltages applied to the middle two electrodes have equal values and have like polarity (V.sub.c =V.sub.b) and the voltages applied to the outer electrodes have equal values and like polarity (V.sub.d =V.sub.a), the light travelling in one waveguide is barred from transferring to another waveguide.

Abstract: Polarization directing optoelectronic coupler on a wafer of doubly refracting material with an optical axis (L1). The coupler has an interaction region (L1) with waveguides (L1) and an electrode means. The interaction region (L1) is divided into two sections with a central electrode and two outer electrodes in each section. Voltage sources are connected to the electrodes and generate electrical fields through the waveguides. The electrical field between the outer electrodes has in each section the same direction in both waveguides and achieves an .DELTA.H modulation. The electrical field between the central electrode and outer electrodes has mutually reverse direction in both waveguides in the sections and achieves a .DELTA..beta. modulation. For an arbitrarily polarized lightwave both the crossover state and the bar state can be achieved for both the TE and TM modes or one of its oscillation modes can be crossed over and the other of its oscillation modes can be coupled straight through.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical repeaters in a two-way optical line link, e.g. one included in a teletransmission system. The optical repeaters are implemented such as to provide a system which, inter alia in fault localizing, utilizes the line link transmission capacity optimally by completely optical through-connection of signals on the optical fibre cables. In fault localizing, one repeater at a time is checked, by an end terminal in the link transmitting a test signal including an address for selecting a repeater for testing and a test pattern. An optical amplifier amplifies the test signal in every repeater through which the signal passes, and when it reaches the repeater indicated by the address, a control circuit controls an optical switch such that the test signal is switched (loop connected) and is returned to the transmitting terminal where fault analysis takes place.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polarization-independent optoelectronic directional coupler. A wafer (11) e.g. of lithium niobate has light waveguides (13) at its upper surface (12). There are main electrodes (17) and secondary electrodes (18) along the interaction length (L.sub.1) of the light waveguides. The wafer is oriented in relation to its crystalline structure (X,Y,Z) such that its optical axis (Z) is in a plane at right angles to the upper surface (12) and contains the longitudinal direction of the waveguides (13). The optical axis (Z) deviates here an angle (.beta.) of at most 15 degrees from the upper surface (12), and the X axis may have six symmetrically distributed positions, of which one is in the plane of the upper surface (12). Independent of the polarization state of a light beam, this beam entering at an input (14) can be switched in its entirety to either of the outputs (15) of the coupler.