Abstract: To increase the bit rate of wavelength division multiplexed optical data switched in a photonic switching matrix, whilst maintaining a high bandwidth, a wavelength selector and converter includes a demultiplexer with n outputs respectively connected to n inputs of a coupler via n wavelength converters. Each wavelength converter has an optical gate function and selectively supplies converted signals conveyed by the same wavelength. Applications include optical packet switching.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplex optical signal regenerator is inserted between two optical fiber sections of a wavelength division multiplex fiber optic transmission system including a transmission line made up of a plurality of optical fiber sections and providing N channels at different wavelengths where N is an integer greater than 1. The regenerator includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing wavelength division multiplexed optical signals onto N individual channels, and a multiplexer for multiplexing optical signals at the output of the N individual channels into multiplexed optical signals. Each individual channel includes a saturable absorber for reshaping the optical signals of each channel, and a delay line. The length of each delay line is chosen to introduce a total delay &tgr;n″ between the (n+1)th channel and the nth channel to obtain a time shift of &tgr;n between the (n+1)th channel and the nth channel.

Abstract: To increase the bit rate of wavelength division multiplexed optical data switched in a photonic switching matrix, whilst maintaining a high bandwidth, a wavelength selector and converter includes a demultiplexer with n outputs respectively connected to n inputs of a coupler via n wavelength converters. Each wavelength converter has an optical gate function and selectively supplies converted signals conveyed by the same wavelength. Applications include optical packet switching.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical integrated circuit comprising at least one etched and buried BRS waveguide coupled to at least one etched but not buried ridge waveguide includes defining an imprint for the two types of guide beforehand, using a common mask, and then defining the two types of guide by successive etching operations.

Abstract: A process is provided for fabricating an integrated optical circuit comprising waveguides having different structures. In this process the coupled ends of the different structures are designed to enlarge the lateral mode size of optical waves issuing from them. The optical coupling losses of the integrated optical circuit obtained in this way are considerably reduced.

Abstract: The demultiplexer has two couplers connected together by a grating of waveguides that are all of different lengths. To make a grating component of low order and that occupies little space, each waveguide has three adjacent segments having radii of curvature that are respectively positive, negative, and positive. The demultiplexer is particularly applicable to duplex optical communications.

Abstract: The demultiplexer comprises a diffraction space defined by a reception surface coupled to a grating. In order to obtain output waves of flattened spectral response, the input waveguide and the reception surface are dimensioned so that the input wave diffracts over said surface and presents a plurality of secondary lobes. The demultiplexer is particularly applicable to optical communications systems with wavelength multiplexing.