Societe Europeenne De Systemes Optiques

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Thales Seso

Université De Provence - Aix Marseille 1

Jean-François Carre

Emmanuel Hugot

Marc Ferrari

Christian De Mollerat Du Jeu

Gérard Lemaitre

Jean-Jacques Ferme

Jean Jacques Ferme

The invention relates to a bimorph optical device comprising a deformable optical element and active elements made of piezoelectric ceramic provided with electrodes, said elements being controlled in pairs and in opposition so as to produce a compression movement for a first element of a pair and an extension movement for the second element of a pair, the device being characterized in that the optical element () presents an optically active first main surface () and a second main surface () opposite to the first main surface, together with at least first and second opposite lateral faces (), and in that the ceramic active elements comprise at least two pairs of bars () of piezoelectric ceramic placed facing each other on said first and second lateral faces (), each pair comprising two bars () placed on one of the first and second lateral faces () on either side of a middle surface of the optical element () that constitutes the neutral axis thereof.

Bimorph optical element

A method of shaping an aspherical optical element, such as a composite mirror element, the method comprising the following steps:

Method of shaping an aspherical optical element

The invention relates to a bimorph mirror presenting first and second layers () of piezoelectric ceramic together with at least one electrode enabling at least one curvature of the mirror to be varied as a function of at least one electrical voltage applied to the piezoelectric ceramics. The mirror of the invention is characterized in that the first and second layers () are separated by a central core () of material such as glass or silica, forming a semirigid beam.

Bimorph mirror with two piezoelectric layers separated by a central core of semirigid material

The invention relates to a deformable system comprising a part of a rectangular block shape, such as a beam, coupled to an actuator enabling the part to be deformed by generating curvature in the length direction, the system being characterized in that said part presents a main portion to be deformed, which main portion carries projections at its ends such that, in longitudinal section, the part presents an elongate U-shape, and in that the actuator presents levers coming to bear against said projections in order to transmit thereto a force suitable for producing deformation of the part.

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Pertuis, France

Jean-François Carre