Adaptive optical device and associated manufacturing process
Improved adaptive optical device and associated manufacturing process. The invention relates to an adaptive optical system comprising: a deformable primary plate having an optical surface for deforming an incident wavefront, a plurality of primary actuators for applying a force to said primary plate in order to deform said optical surface, a structure that is fixed with respect to said primary plate, the device also comprising: a deformable secondary plate bearing the primary actuators, a secondary actuator, connected to the structure, and designed to exert, on said secondary plate, a force in an actuation secondary direction in order to deform it, said secondary direction and said secondary plate being secant. The invention is particularly suitable for rapidly and precisely change, with various amplitudes, the curvature of an optical surface intended to modify an incident wavefront within an optical system.
1 . An adaptive optical device comprising at least:
a deformable primary plate, which has an optical surface intended for deforming an incident wavefront by refraction and/or reflection,
a plurality of primary actuators, designed to each apply a respective force in a primary direction of actuation to said deformable primary plate in order to deform said optical surface,
a frame that is fixed with respect to said deformable primary plate,
wherein the adaptive optical device further includes at least:
a deformable secondary plate that supports the plurality of primary actuators,
at least one secondary actuator, connected to the frame, and designed to exert, on said deformable secondary plate, a force in a secondary direction of actuation in order to deform said deformable secondary plate, said secondary direction of actuation being secant to a main extension plane of said secondary plate, said deformable primary plate having at least one peripheral surface extending around and/or adjacent to said optical surface, said adaptive optical device further comprising a plurality of external actuators connecting the frame and the at least one peripheral surface of the deformable primary plate and each of the plurality of external actuators designed to apply a punctual force on said at least one peripheral surface in order to deform said deformable primary plate, the plurality of external actuators being distinct from said at least one secondary actuator.
2 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said deformable primary plate comprises at least, at the opposite of said optical surface, a hidden surface, on which said plurality of primary actuators each exert their respective force.
3 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one peripheral surface comprises at least one moving primary part connected at least to one of said plurality of external actuators so that the latter can deform it, in such a way that said moving primary part transmits a deformation force to said optical surface, the at least one peripheral surface further comprising at least one respective fixed primary part that is fixedly attached to said frame to be immobilized with respect to the latter.
4 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of external actuators are removable.
5 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable primary plate is formed of a first and a second plates distinct from each other but fastened to each other, said first plate forming at least the optical surface whereas said second plate forms at least said at least one peripheral surface.
6 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 5 , wherein said second plate is removable, and in particular reversibly attached to said first plate.
7 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one secondary actuator is removable.
8 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said deformable primary plate and said deformable secondary plate have substantially similar shapes.
9 . The adaptive optical device according to claim 1 , wherein said deformable secondary plate comprises a movable part disposed so that, in projection on a main extension plane of the optical surface, the movable part extends around and/or next to the optical surface, said at least one secondary actuator being connected to said movable part, and wherein said at least one secondary actuator and the plurality of external actuators being, in projection on the main extension plane of the optical surface, arranged around and/or next to the plurality of primary actuators.
10 . A method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device including at least:
a primary step of making or providing a deformable primary plate having an optical surface intended for deforming an incident wavefront by refraction and/or reflection,
a secondary step of making or providing a deformable secondary plate,
a step of positioning a plurality of primary actuators in such a way, on the one hand, that said plurality of primary actuators can each apply a respective force in a primary direction of actuation to said deformable primary plate in order to deform said optical surface, and on the other hand, that said plurality of primary actuators are supported by said deformable secondary plate,
a step of positioning at least one secondary actuator in such a way, on the one hand, that said at least one secondary actuator is connected to a frame, which is fixed with respect to said deformable primary plate, and on the other hand, that said at least one secondary actuator can exert, on said deformable secondary plate, a force in a secondary direction of actuation in order to deform said deformable secondary plate, said secondary direction of actuation being secant to a main extension plane of said deformable secondary plate, said deformable primary plate having at least one peripheral surface extending around and/or adjacent to said optical surface, the method further comprising a step of positioning a plurality of external actuators, in such a way that the plurality of external actuators connect the frame and the at least one peripheral surface of the deformable primary plate, the plurality of external actuators being configured to each apply a punctual force on said at least one peripheral surface in order to deform said deformable primary plate, the plurality of external actuators being distinct from said at least one secondary actuator.
11 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises at least the following successive steps:
said at least one secondary actuator being connected to the frame,
a step of changing a curvature of said deformable secondary plate by exerting, using said at least one secondary actuator, a force on said deformable secondary plate in such a way as to impart to the latter a changed curvature configuration,
a step of secondary attachment, said deformable secondary plate being in the changed curvature configuration, of said deformable secondary plate and/or an edge of said deformable primary plate on the frame,
a step of unfastening said at least one secondary actuator from the frame.
12 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises at least the following successive steps:
a step of changing a curvature of said deformable primary plate by exerting, using the plurality of external actuators, a force on said deformable primary plate, in such a way as to impart to the latter a changed curvature configuration,
a step of primary attachment, said deformable primary plate being in the changed curvature configuration, of an attaching portion of said deformable primary plate, on the frame.
13 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises a step of unfastening the plurality of external actuators from the frame.
14 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 12 , wherein, during said primary attachment step, said attaching portion is formed either by part of said second plate, or by an edge of said first plate.
15 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises a step of fastening a first and a second plates distinct from each, in order to form said deformable primary plate, said first plate forming at least the optical surface whereas said second plate forms at least said at least one peripheral surface.
16 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises a step of unfastening said first and second plates.
17 . The method for manufacturing an adaptive optical device, according to claim 10 , wherein, said deformable secondary plate comprising a movable part; the step of positioning of said at least one secondary actuator is such that said at least one secondary actuator is connected to said movable part and, in projection on a main extension plane of the optical surface, the movable part extends around and/or next to the optical surface, and wherein the step of positioning a plurality of external actuators is configured, together with the positioning of said at least one secondary actuator, so that said at least one secondary actuator and the plurality of external actuators are, in projection on the main extension plane of the optical surface, arranged around and/or next to the plurality of primary actuators.