Abstract: 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 (1) presents an optically active first main surface (6) and a second main surface (7) opposite to the first main surface, together with at least first and second opposite lateral faces (2, 3), and in that the ceramic active elements comprise at least two pairs of bars (21, 22; 31, 32) of piezoelectric ceramic placed facing each other on said first and second lateral faces (2, 3), each pair comprising two bars (21, 22; 31, 32) placed on one of the first and second lateral faces (2, 3) on either side of a middle surface of the optical element (1) that constitutes the neutral axis thereof.

Abstract: A method of shaping an aspherical optical element, such as a composite mirror element, the method comprising the following steps: fastening, preferably by adhesive, an optical element blank, presenting an optical surface that is to be shaped, to the inside of a ring, the optical surface of the blank projecting beyond an edge of said ring; applying forces and moments to the perimeter of the ring in such a manner as to deform it in controlled manner, thereby also deforming the optical surface of the blank fastened to its inside; shaping said deformed optical surface by abrasion so as to restore it to a shape that is spherical or planar; and extracting the blank from the ring so as to release the stresses deforming said shaped optical surface, thereby enabling it to acquire the desired aspherical shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bimorph mirror presenting first and second layers (1, 2) 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 (1, 2) are separated by a central core (5) of material such as glass or silica, forming a semirigid beam.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A surface polishing method in which a workpiece having at least one surface for polishing is set into rotation and has said surface pressed against a polishing element that is driven with motion in rotation or in translation, wherein said surface of the workpiece presents points that are situated outside a circumference of center coinciding with the center of rotation of the workpiece and traveling, during one revolution of said workpiece, along a path comprising first and second portions, with the rate of polishing over said second portion being smaller than over said first portion, in such a manner as to compensate for an over-polishing effect that occurs on the edge of said workpiece over said first portion of the path.

Abstract: A device for measuring axial speed by means of a light source emitting a parallel ray beam through an optical system comprising a Fabry-Perot interferometer, spectrum offset optical means, and an interference filter, the optical system being used for receiving backscattered light flux, and the device further comprising at least one photodetector on which the light flux leaving the optical system is focused, the device serving, in particular, to measure axial wind speed at distances lying between about 10 meters and about 100 meters.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring meteorological parameters comprises a laser generator transmitting pulse laser signals which are backscattered at least in part by the atmosphere, a receiver including spectrum filter means that are substantially monochromatic, means for adjusting the center wavelength of the transmitted spectrum and of the received wavelength, and means for analyzing the backscattered signal as a function of altitude, as a function of the doppler shifts between the transmitted signals and the backscattered signals, and variations in said signals as a function of the observation direction.