Patent ID: 7303296

Claim:
A variable-shape mirror comprising: a support base; a mirror portion that is disposed to face the support base and that has a mirror surface on a side thereof facing away from the support base; an even number of piezoelectric elements that are sandwiched between the support base and the mirror portion and that vary a shape of the mirror surface, the piezoelectric elements being bonded directly to the mirror portion in outer peripheral parts of the mirror portion, the piezoelectric elements being arranged on the support base such that, of the piezoelectric elements, every two located opposite to each other across a part of the mirror surface where an amount of shape variation thereof is maximal are symmetrically arranged; and support portions each having one end thereof that makes contact with the mirror portion and other end thereof that is placed next to each of the piezoelectric elements as a pair on a support base, wherein each of the piezoelectric elements is placed closer to a peripheral side of the support base than each of the support potions with which said each of the piezoelectric elements makes a pair is placed.