Abstract: A method for characterizing an electric signal (10), includes the propagation of a first light beam (18) through an electro-optical medium (17) in a first propagation direction, wherein at least one optical property of the medium changes when it is submitted to an electrical field, and the propagation of a second light beam (19) through the electro-optical medium in a second propagation direction different from the first direction. For each light beam, a measurement of a variation in an optical property of the light beam (18; 19) due to the propagation of the beam in the medium (17) is used for determining the propagation direction (20) of an electric signal (10) submitting the medium to an electrical field. A device for implementing the method, and an electro-optical probe implemented in the device are also disclosed. Applicability: electro-optical sampling of a component, characterization of electric pulses in guided structures.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for identifying fibers of fiber optic cables is disclosed. Waveforms may be generated by integer subdivision of a clock, the waveforms for modulation of a laser beam into a set of unique signals. Preferably, however, each waveform has two states and a different integer X associated therewith. The repeat period of the waveforms is preferably set at 2Y cycles of the clock, Y being an integer greater than the highest value of X, and the waveforms can be generated by counting X mod Y and changing the state of each waveform whenever this counting reaches or exceeds Y. The signals may be applied either successively or simultaneously to individual fibers at one end of a fiber optic cable. At another end of the cable, each signal can be detected as having a frequency by taking a Fourier Transform; the frequencies detected preferably being in arithmetic progression, whereby each fiber can be identified individually.