Thomson-csf

Michel C Ceccaldi

Dominique Broussoux

Pierre Leclerc

A device to eliminate ice formed on the surface of a wall, notably on the surface of an optical or radio-electric window, comprises a piezoelectric material having a vibrating active surface that mechanically cooperates with the wall to be de-iced, and means for the polarization of this piezoelectric material, comprising an AC voltage source and conducting or semiconducting electrodes placed in contact with this material according to a geometry capable of generating, within this material, an acoustic wave that has a direction of vibration which is oriented longitudinally and/or transversally to said surface to be de-iced, the amplitude of this vibration being sufficient to respectively detach and/or break the deposit of ice formed on said surface. The piezoelectric material is preferably a ferroelectric polymer such as a polymer of the group comprising PVF.sub.2, PVF.sub.2 -TrFE, PVDCN-VAc, PVF.sub.2 -TFE and the mixture of these polymers with one another and/or with PMMA or PEMA. The electrodes are preferably formed into a thin layer deposited on the surface of the piezoelectric material, and their material is then advantageously a material of the group comprising resistive indium-tin oxide, the polymers that are conductive in a matrix, hydrogenated amorphous silicon and polyimides charged with organic salts.

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Verrieres le Buisson, France

Michel C Ceccaldi