Abstract: A fastening device is provided to be associated with a first object, for the attachment of the object to a second object. The device comprises at least one fastening element having a base portion and at least one securing portion. The fastening element is originally produced with its securing portion having a first orientation relative to the base portion and with a possibility to bring the securing portion into a second orientation relative to the base portion, to allow the at least one securing portion to penetrate the second object being exposed thereto while staying in the second orientation, and being adapted to change the second orientation into the first orientation to provide the attachment.

Abstract: A shearing generator comprising: an input light source; an image generator that generates two images of the input light source at an output plane, the image generator comprising a beam splitter that splits light from the input source into at least one pair of interfering light waves at an output thereof, and defines different optical paths for the light propagation of the light waves, said optical paths including at least one phase shifting element that provides for a different phase shift for the two paths.

Abstract: A shearing generator comprising: an input light source; an image generator that generates two images of the input light source at an output plane, the image generator comprising a beam splitter that splits light from the input source into at least one pair of interfering light waves at an output thereof, and defines different optical paths for the light propagation of the light waves, said optical paths including at least one phase shifting element that provides for a different phase shift for the two paths.

Abstract: This application describes an optical switching method for selectively directing an input beam to at least one of two output channels. The input beam impinges on a polarizing beam splitting surface, splitting the input beam into two beam components of different polarizations propagating along different optical paths. These beam components then pass through a controllable polarization rotating medium which selectively affects the polarization of each of the beam components. The beam components are then directed back onto the polarizing beam splitting surface again, producing at least one output beam which propagates toward at least one selected output channel, depending on the state of the medium. The polarizing beam splitting surface is fabricated on a block of the controllable polarization rotating medium, and the input beam also passes through the medium before being split into two beam components by the polarizing beam splitting surface.

Abstract: A method for encoding a data symbol vector in an OFDM symbol and decoding an OFDM symbol to recover a data symbol vector encoded therein, the method comprising: receiving a vector of values; generating at least one input spatial light pattern responsive to the vector; generating for each input spatial light pattern an output spatial light pattern that is an interference pattern produced by light from the input spatial light pattern; sensing the output spatial light pattern at discrete spatial points and generating signals responsive to the sensed light; and if the vector represents a data symbol vector, using the signals to encode the data symbol vector in an OFDM signal and if the vector represents an OFDM symbol, using the signals to recover a data symbol vector encoded in the OFDM symbol.

Abstract: A shearing generator comprising: an input light source; an image generator that generates two images of the input light source at an output plane, the image generator comprising a beam splitter that splits light from the input source into at least one pair of interfering light waves at an output thereof, and defines different optical paths for the light propagation of the light waves, said optical paths including at least one phase shifting element that provides for a different phase shift for the two paths.

Abstract: A method and device are presented for carrying out all-optical switching by directing an input beam towards at least one selected output channel. The input beam interacts with a polarizing beam splitting surface, and is therefore split into two beam components of different polarizations. The two input beam components passes through a controllable polarization rotating medium capable of affecting the polarizations of the beam components, when in an operative mode of the medium, and allowing the beam components propagation with unchanged polarizations, when in an inoperative mode of the medium. The beam components passed through said medium are directed towards said polarizing beam splitting surface to thereby produce at least one output beam propagating towards the at least one selected output channel.