Abstract: The light which is input from an optical fiber to a first port is output to an optical path. The light which is input from the optical path to a half mirror is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path reaches to and is reflected from a first reflecting mirror, and returns to the half mirror by an optical path. The light which is input to the half mirror by the optical path is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path reaches to and is reflected from a second reflecting mirror, and returns to the half mirror by an optical path. The light which is input to the half mirror by the optical path is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path is output from a second port to an optical fiber, and the light which is output to the optical path is output from a third port to an optical fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-compensated optical communication interference device. In this device, an optical divider divides light entering an input port into two light beams. An optical coupler superposes these beams and feeds the superposed light to an output port. First and second optical paths are provided between the divider and the coupler. First and second optical components are placed on the first and second optical paths, respectively. The divider, coupler, and optical components are placed on a substrate. The substrate has members with coefficients of linear expansion having different signs. Temperature dependence of an optical path length difference between the first and second paths is reduced due to the difference between the signs of the coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer. In the multiplexer/demultiplexer, a first grating receives to diffract a multi-wavelength light signal from a first port into light signals with different wavelengths. A second grating diffracts these light signals towards second ports. The second grating is disposed parallel with the first grating. The second grating has the same grating interval and grating direction as the first grating. The light signals diffracted by the second grating travel parallel with each other. Therefore, the light signals can efficiently enter the second ports without sophisticated lens design and adjustment of the optical system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device and the like which can facilitate a fine adjustment for an optical waveguide type diffraction grating device. The optical device includes a flexible member in which the optical waveguide type diffraction grating device is secured to a predetermined position, and bending means for applying a stress to said optical waveguide type diffraction grating device by bending said flexible member. The optical device changes the optical characteristics of the optical waveguide type diffraction grating device by adjusting the stress applied thereto by the bending means, to thereby perform easily various functions such as optical multiplexing, optical demultiplexing, path changing, and adjustment of dispersion characteristics.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical fiber fusion splicing method in which splice loss can be reduced, and also to provide an arc-heating unit used for heating the fusion spliced part of an optical fiber. The method comprises a process of fusion-splicing together the end faces of two optical fibers and a process of continuously heating the fusion spliced part by arc while moving one pair of electrodes provided opposite to each other across the fusion spliced part. The arc heating process is performed with the operation for decreasing arc temperature.

Abstract: An optical signal, which is to become the subject of dispersion compensation, is split by optical combining/splitting unit 2, and each frequency component of the optical signal that is split is reflected by the corresponding reflective mirror 30 included in reflective mirror group 3 to apply a predetermined phase shift to the respective frequency components Each reflected frequency component is then combined using optical combining/splitting unit 2, to give dispersion compensated optical signal Furthermore, in regards to reflective mirror group 3, which is used to apply phase shift to each frequency component of an optical signal, each of the respective plurality of reflective mirrors 30 is made a movable mirror having a movable reflection position that reflects the frequency components. Through this, dispersion that develops in an optical signal may be compensated with favorable controllability and high accuracy.

Abstract: A method of fusion-splicing optical fibers having different mode field diameters or small mode field diameters is provided, which method is advantageous in that the splicing loss is smaller. The method comprises a fusion splicing process in which fusion splicing is performed by butting end faces of two optical fibers together and a heat treatment process in which the fusion spliced part of the optical fibers and the vicinity thereof are heated. The heat treatment process is performed by moving an arc heating unit in a direction other than the Y-axis direction (a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis direction and the opposing direction of arc electrodes) and Z-axis direction (the axial direction of the optical fiber), via the fusion spliced part in a Y-Z plane formed by the Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction.

Abstract: An optical connecting article according to the present invention is comprised of a main body in which a plurality of optical fibers are distributed in an encapsulated state and in a planar shape; and a plurality of flexible branches arranged as integral with the main body and formed on the same plane as the main body, while encapsulating end portions of the respective fibers.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device that can restrain the dependence of the center wavelength of reflection at the diffraction grating upon the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element from shifting depending on the temperature. An embodiment of the optical device has the following structure.

Abstract: In the OADM apparatus incorporates a reflecting filter having a tunable mechanism, part of an added or dropped signal light is branched and extracted as a monitor light, and the monitor light is further branched into two lights. One of the two lights after branching is passed through an optical filter having wavelength dependency. The monitor light that has passed through the optical filter and the other monitor light that has not passed through the optical filter are guided to detectors of a detection circuit. The ratio of optical power of the two monitor lights is obtained, and the tunable mechanism is controlled so that the value of the ratio may be a predetermined value.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical connector connecting apparatus. In the apparatus, a plurality of fixed optical connectors are mounted on a fixed member in a lined-up manner. An optical connector containing member having a movable optical connector mounted thereon is supported on a support member through a small-diameter beam. A moving plate mounted on a base supports the support member, and the movable optical connector is moved in X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions so as to be connected to the fixed optical connector. Therefore, a position deviation at the time of the connection is corrected by the flexing of the small-diameter beam so that fine-positioning is unnecessary.

Abstract: A wired commodity vending system which comprises a plurality of slave stations each having an automatic vending machine including an outer door and an inner door and a controller for preparing and storing commodity sales data, and a master station for managing the slave stations to which the slave stations are commonly connected through data transmission lines so that the items of commodity sales data in the respective vending machines are processed by the master station.

Abstract: A vending machine system for hotels or the like is disclosed in which a plurality of remote vending machines communicate with a central processing unit to transmit thereto information on article sales. Each of the vending machines includes sensors for sensing the presence of articles in an article store and a memory for storing data indicating the number of articles which can be accommodated in the article store, the number of articles sold and the number of articles remaining to be sold for each kind of article. Counting means are provided for counting articles sold and articles added to the vending machines and for modifying the stored data. The sales number data for each type of article is transmitted from the vending machines to the central processing unit for processing.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine makes use of a microcomputer to compute the time duration for supply of component materials in accordance with stored data and supplied input data.

Abstract: In a wire data transmission system which transmits data from a master station to a number of slave stations or vice versa through a pair of signal wires connected in parallel with each other, only the master station need be provided with a data transmission power source. Signal lines receiving DC voltage from the power source through a resistor are periodically short-circuited within the master station, thereby to transmit "1" or "0" encoded data according to the duration of the short-circuiting time of the signal lines, along with an identification code which designates a slave station. In the slave station, a variation of a voltage between the signal lines is detected, so that the slave station receives the identification code and encoded data from the master station, and a state of short circuit between lines corresponding to encoded data or a clock pulse from the master station is changed by short-circuiting the signal lines, so that the slave station transmits the encoded data to the master station.