Abstract: An actuation device with several positions includes a support, at least one flexible membrane attached to the support forming at least one closed containment with the support with volume filled with at least one first liquid in the form of one or several drops, and at least a second liquid, the first liquid and the second liquid being immiscible, and an electrical device to modulate the profile of the membrane by controlling the shape of at least one of the drops.

Abstract: Equalization device for the optical pathways of parallel optical beams (f1, f2) between two planes (P1, P2), including a plane of reflection. These beams have an impact (A1, A2, B1, B2) with the planes. It comprises parallel mirrors each intercepting one of the beams at a point (O1, O2). Each beam has a first section (f11, f12) between the plane of reflection (P1) and a mirror, and a second section (f12, f22) between the mirror and the other plane (P2). Two mirrors and the beam sections they intercept allow the two points (O1, O2) to be separated by a distance (d?), parallel to a distance (d?) separating two auxiliary beams (f1?, f2?) symmetric to one of the first sections relative to a normal to the plane of reflection at the associated impact, and allow angle (?) of the mirrors with the beams to verify: d?(1?cos 2?)=d?[sin 2?(tg??sin 2?)?cos 2?]? being the angle between the sections and a normal to the plane of reflection at the impact.

Abstract: An actuation device with plural positions and including a support, at least one flexible membrane attached to the support forming at least one closed containment with the support with volume filled with at least one first liquid in a form of one or plural drops, and at least a second liquid, the first liquid and the second liquid being immiscible, and an electrical device to modulate the profile of the membrane by controlling the shape of at least one of the drops.

Abstract: An optical deflection matrix including at least two optical deflection modules each for providing, from an incoming beam having a given direction of propagation, an output beam having a direction of propagation taken in a set of potential directions. The modules each include a single deflection element of the incoming beam capable of assuming plural potential positions in relation to the potential directions of the set and two fixed return elements, on either side of the deflection element, a main potential position of the deflection element leading to a principal direction of the set, this principal direction being colinear with the given direction of propagation of the incoming beam, the principal directions of the deflection modules being located in the same plane. The matrix may find particular application to routing of beams.

Abstract: An optical deflection matrix including at least two optical deflection modules each for providing, from an incoming beam having a given direction of propagation, an output beam having a direction of propagation taken in a set of potential directions. The modules each include a single deflection element of the incoming beam capable of assuming plural potential positions in relation to the potential directions of the set and two fixed return elements, on either side of the deflection element, a main potential position of the deflection element leading to a principal direction of the set, this principal direction being colinear with the given direction of propagation of the incoming beam, the principal directions of the deflection modules being located in the same plane. The matrix may find particular application to routing of beams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photonic integrated circuit including a substrate (1) comprising at least one optical circuit (4) and means for interconnecting (2, 3) the optical circuit with at least one opto-electronic component (6, 8, 9, 11, 12) added on to the substrate. The interconnection means are constituted by at least one zone of the substrate with the refractive index thereof being modified to provide said interconnection. This zone of the substrate includes at least one graded index lens.

Abstract: An optical routing device for coupling each of a plurality NE of optical incoming channels (1) to one of a plurality NS of optical output channels (5) and for orienting each of the optical beams coming through the incoming channels to any one of the NS optical output channels, includes: an input module including NE optical inputs, for shaping each beam, so as to obtain a plurality of shaped optical beams; an input deflection module for generating for each input a number PTN of different positions of angular deflection at least equal to the number NS of optical output channels; a linking module for assembling in bi-unique manner on PTN spatial focusing points, respectively the PTN angular deflection positions of each; an output deflection module having PTN inputs for intercepting PTN intermediate optical beams; and an optical output module for shaping each NS output beam.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical micro-mirror including a fixed part and a moveable part, with a reflection device connected to the fixed part by an articulation mechanism. This method realizes a stack including a mechanical substrate, a first layer of thermal oxidation material, and at least one second layer of material for forming the moveable part, realizes the articulation mechanism, realizes the reflection device on the second layer, realizes the moveable part by etching of at least the second layer of material, and eliminates the thermal oxidation layer to liberate the moveable part. Such an optical micro-mirror may find possible applications to optical routing or image projection systems.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical switch using a micromirror and its method of fabrication. This optical switch comprises at least one input optical path (31) and at least a first and a second output optical path (35,37) and a micromirror (41) able to move between an output of the input optical path and inputs of the first and second output optical paths. The micromirror comprises a reflector part (13) and an actuating part (15) able to drive the reflector part in rotation. The invention applies to all areas using optical switches, and in particular the sphere of optic telecommunications.

Abstract: An optical deflection module adapted to generate a plurality of angular positions for at least one incident optical beam. For each optical beam, the module comprises a line containing:—a plurality of N cascading deflection elements (MD1, MD2, . . . MDI, . . . MDN) which can each take respectively P1, P2, . . . PI, . . . or PN different angular deflection configurations around at least one given axis; and—a plurality of N?1 optical conjugate elements (MCO1, MCO2, . . . MCO1, . . . , MCON?1) which are each disposed between two successive deflection elements in order to produce an object/image conjugate between the successive deflection elements.

Abstract: A transfer element has a first face and a second face. The first face is arranged facing a first optical component comprising at least one optical guide. The second face is arranged to face a second optical component. The transfer element is capable of transferring a light wave comprising one or several wavelengths, from one component to another. The transfer element is transparent to at least one wavelength of the light wave and has a refraction index greater than the largest of the effective indexes associated with the light wave when the light wave propagates in the first and in the second component. The transfer element also comprises at least one coupling/decoupling pattern on a first face positioned facing part of the optical guide. The pattern is separated from the first component by a distance dg1 less than a threshold distance ds1 above which no light wave can be transferred from the first component to the transfer element and vice versa.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical routing device for coupling each of a plurality NE of optical incoming channels (1) to one of a plurality NS of optical output channels (5) and for orienting each of the optical beams coming through the incoming channels to any one of the NS optical output channels, comprising: an input module (40) including NE optical inputs, designed to shape each one of the beams coming through the optical incoming channels, so as to obtain a plurality of shaped optical beams (112); an input deflection module (30) designed to generate for each of the inputs a number PTN of different positions of angular deflection at least equal to the number NS of optical output channels; a linking module (50) designed to assemble in bi-unique manner on PTN spatial focusing points, respectively the PTN angular deflection positions of each of the inputs, said module being designed to generate PTN intermediate optical beams; an output deflection module (35) having PTN inputs designed to intercept PTN interm

Abstract: An optical deflection module adapted to generate a plurality of angular positions for at least one incident optical beam. For each optical beam, the module comprises a line containing:—a plurality of N cascading deflection elements (MD1, MD2, . . . MDI, . . . MDN) which can each take respectively P1, P2, . . . PI, . . . or PN different angular deflection configurations around at least one given axis; and—a plurality of N−1 optical conjugate elements (MCO1, MCO2, . . . MCO1, . . . , MCON-1) which are each disposed between two successive deflection elements in order to produce an object/image conjugate between the successive deflection elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical switch comprising:

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical micro-mirror comprising a fixed part, a moveable part, with reflection means connected to the stationary part by articulation means.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical amplifying structure capable of amplifying at least one light wave S, comprising in a substrate, for each wave to be amplified, an amplifying assembly composed of:

Abstract: This invention relates to a micro-mirror comprising a fixed part (31), a movable part (41, 48) comprising means of reflection (48) and means of articulation linking the movable part to the fixed part, this micro-mirror is characterised in that the means of articulation are made of a pivot hinge (47) located under the movable part between the latter and the fixed part and capable of allowing displacement of the movable part according to axes of rotation contained in the movable part and going through the axis of the pivot hinge, and in which the fixed comprises at least a cavity (36) facing at least a zone of an end of the movable part.

Abstract: Integrated optical structure containing, in a substrate, an optical guide having at least one non-buried guide portion and on the surface of the substrate at least one coating element (5) located above the non-buried guide portion and able to isolate within said guide portion a light wave propagating therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to an transverse electric mode electro-optic cell for a modulator, as well as to its production process.The cell has on a substrate (4), an active region (10), and modulation control electrodes (16) on either side of the active region (10). According to the invention, the cell has confinement regions (14) of a material having a lower refractive index and lower resistivity than the material of the active region, the confinement regions being positioned on either side and against the active region (10) and between the control electrodes (16).

Abstract: This invention relates to a scanning micro-element for an optical system, characterized in that it comprises:a substrate (12),a membrane (14, 16) made of a dielectric material deposited on a substrate surface, the membrane defining two planes making a non-zero angle .alpha. between them, part (14) of the membrane including a reflecting area (20) capable of being deflected along at least a first direction above a cavity formed in the substrate,means (22, 24, 26, 28) to deflect this part of the membrane along at least one direction.