Аннотация:The paper presents results on research of tunable acousto- optic filters operating in ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions of spectrum. High spectral and spatial resolution, perfect diffraction efficiency and low driving power provide application of the filters in optics and spectroscopy as well as in optical information processing and laser technology. Precise and efficient electronic control of laser light intensity and fast electronic tuning of lasing wavelength was executed by means of collinear acousto-optic devices. Application of the collinear filters as selectors of arbitrary polarized optical signals in modern WDM waveguide communication lines has also demonstrated high capabilities of the acousto-optic instruments. Experiments with the acousto- optic devices on base of the wide-angular geometry of interaction confirmed the unique possibility to regulate spatial structure of convergent laser beams and optical rays forming images.