A deformable mirror according to the present invention includes a substrate 1, a plurality of micromirrors 20, which are supported by the substrate 1 while being segmented from each other, and a plurality of driving sections, which drive the micromirrors 20 independently of each other. Each of the driving sections includes a number of fixed electrodes 5 to 7, and the same number of movable electrodes 13 to 15, which are provided so as to face the fixed electrodes 5 to 7. Each of the micromirrors...

A model kit of the type described for building a wide variety of different geometric structures in which the struts and hub connectors may be manufactured by relatively simple inexpensive tooling, the struts being hollow tubular members extruded by a plastic extrusion process, and cut to length by any suitable shearing means, and the hub connectors preferably being formed by stamping them out of sheet thermoplastic material, thereby avoiding the necessity for the design and building of expensive...

A deformable mirror according to the invention comprises a substrate, a reflector which is supported by said substrate and the shape of whose reflecting areas is variable, and a plurality of drive units for independently driving a plurality of regions of the reflector and thereby controlling the distances between said plurality of regions and said substrate. Each of the plurality of drive units comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed over said substrate, a tilt member which is rotated round...

This invention relates to a cooled deformable-mirror and its mount. A deformable mirror is provided comprising a reflective element provided on a substrate that is secured to a deformable element, wherein the substrate comprises at least one channel having a pair of ports both located around the peripheral edge of the substrate. In addition, a deformable-mirror mount and the deformable mirror described above are provided, wherein the mount has a body with a central aperture defined by a supporti...

Disclosed herein is a disappearing ball seat. The disappearing ball seat includes, a tubular member having an inside dimension, and a restricted dimension portion of the tubular member dimensioned to prevent passage of a tripping ball therethrough, the restricted dimension portion being reconfigurable to a dimension capable of passing the tripping ball therethrough.

A device is provided. The device includes a substrate, an inorganic layer disposed over the substrate, and an organic layer disposed on the inorganic conductive or semiconductive layer, such that the organic layer is in direct physical contact with the inorganic conductive or semiconductive layer. The substrate is deformed such that there is a nominal radial or biaxial strain of at least 0.05% relative to a flat substrate at an interface between the inorganic layer and the organic layer. The nom...

A bearing housing to receive and be deformed around a ball having a predetermined radius R to form a bearing, an inner surface of the bearing housing being generally cup-shaped, having at least approximately circular symmetry around a central axis, and comprising: a cup portion of the radius R shaped to seat closely a first portion of a ball of radius R placed in the bearing housing; and a conforming portion lying in the plane which is perpendicular to the central axis and contains the centre of...

A toy, art object, decoration, ornament, entertainment device, advertising device, paperweight, or other device is made of a soft deformable plastic material in shapes of prisms, lenses, wedges, cubes, pyramids, as well as other forms that display the changing stress patterns formed by deformations of the photoelastic material. Magnets embedded in the material apply forces that create new patterns. Polarizing films within, or covering the clear plastic enhance the viewing effects. External force...

An anatomically deformable support and, in particular, a lordosis support, is provided for use with seats, couches or the like. The anatomically deformable support includes a frame, and an anatomically deformable supporting part connected to the frame and that can be arched in the reversible manner. The supporting part is connected to the frame by a connection arrangement including elongates cylindrical members, for example, wires, secured to the frame and first and second mounting arrangements ...

A valve system is provided with a wall portion that includes an inlet side, an outlet side, at least one aperture extending between the inlet and outlet sides, and a valve seat on the outlet side. One preferred form of the valve system also includes a movable valve member having a spout, a mounting portion, a toggle portion, and at least one seal surface for sealingly engaging the wall portion valve seat when the valve member is toggled to a closed position to prevent flow from the wall portion ...