Dans le domaine du contrôle non-destructif par ultrasons l’utilisation de sondes ultrasonores pouvant fonctionner en continue à des températures à minima de 300°C serait d’un grand intérêt. Par exemple, cela pourrait concerner le contrôle de santé de structures de l’industrie nucléaire ou pétrolière. Plus fondamentalement, de telles sondes pourraient être également utilisées pour caractériser le comportement mécanique d’une large gamme de matériaux soumis à des stress thermiques et réaliser par exemple le suivi de l’endommagement et de vieillissement de ces matériaux. Or, commercialement il n’existe pas de sondes ultrasonores pouvant fonctionner à de telles températures, cela reste du domaine de la recherche.Une sonde ultrasonore est constituée de 3 éléments principaux : le dos, l’élément actif et la face avant. Des éléments actifs pouvant fonctionner à des températures très élevées existent, citons à titre d’exemple le LiNb03 (température de curie de 1350°C). Toutefois dans l’objectif d’obtenir des sondes ultrasonores performantes à hautes températures il est nécessaire d’optimiser les propriétés et également le couplage acoustique de chacun des trois constituants de la sonde. Le dos est un élément important qui, par atténuation de l’onde émise en face arrière de l’élément actif, permet de contrôler la bande passante et la sensibilité des sondes.Le présent travail de thèse concerne la réalisation et la caractérisation de composites particulaires métalliques utilisés comme dos de sondes ultrasonores destinées à fonctionner à hautes températures. Les composites sont réalisés par pressage uni-axial d’une poudre servant de matrice et d’une deuxième de diffuseur. Durant ce travail exploratoire nous avons mis au point un protocole de fabrication qui nous a permis de réaliser des composites d’étain/sn ayant des propriétés acoustiques intéressantes (atténuation et impédance). Pour caractériser nos échantillons un banc de spectroscopie ultrasonore a été spécifiquement mis en œuvre / In the field of ultrasonic non-destructive testing, the use of ultrasonic transducer which can operate continuously at temperatures of at least 300 ° C. would be of great interest. For example, this could concern the health control of structures in the nuclear or petroleum industry. More fundamentally, such probes could also be used to characterize the mechanical behavior of a wide range of materials subjected to thermal stresses and, for example, to monitor the damage and aging of these materials. However, commercially, there are no ultrasonic probes that can operate at such temperatures, but this is still a research area.An ultrasonic probe consists of 3 main elements: the back, the active element and the front face. Active elements which can operate at very high temperatures exist, for example LiNbO 3 (curie temperature of 1350 ° C.). However, in order to obtain high-performance ultrasonic probes at high temperatures, it is necessary to optimize the properties and also the acoustic coupling of each of the three components of the probe. The back is an important element which, by attenuation of the wave emitted on the back of the active elements, allows to control the bandwidth and the sensitivity of the probes.The present thesis deals with the realization and characterization of metallic particulate composites used as backs of ultrasonic probes intended to operate at high temperatures. The composites are produced by uni-axial pressing of a matrix powder and a second diffuser. During this exploratory work, we developed a manufacturing protocol that allowed us to produce tin / sn composites with interesting acoustic properties (attenuation and impedance). To characterize our samples a bench of ultrasonic spectroscopy has been specifically implemented

Aujourd'hui l'utilisation de l'échographie 3D en cardiologie est limitée car l'imagerie de la totalité du myocarde sur un cycle cardiaque, sans apnée, reste un défi technologique. Une solution consiste à réduire le nombre de capteurs dans les sondes échographiques matricielles afin d'alléger le procédé d'acquisition: ces sondes sont dites parcimonieuses. Le but de cette thèse est de proposer les meilleures dispositions d'un nombre réduit de capteurs piézo-électriques répartis sur la surface active de la sonde afin d'optimiser leur capacité à produire des images homogènes en termes de contraste et résolution dans tout le volume d'intérêt. Ce travail présente l'intégration de simulations acoustiques réalistes élaborées au sein d'un processus d'optimisation stochastique (algorithme de recuit simulé). La structure proposée pour le design des sondes parcimonieuse est suffisamment générale pour être appliquée aux sondes régulières (éléments actifs disposés selon une grille) et non-régulières (positionnement arbitraire des éléments actifs). L'introduction d'une fonction d'énergie innovante permet de sculpter en 3D le diagramme optimal de rayonnement de la sonde. Les résultats de sondes optimisées obtenues possèdent 128, 192 ou 256 éléments pour favoriser leur compatibilité avec les échographes commercialisés à ce jour, ce qui permettrait de déployer l'échographie 3D à moindre coût et à très large échelle / Today, the use of 3D ultrasound imaging in cardiology is limited because imaging the entire myocardium on a single heartbeat, without apnea, remains a technological challenge. A solution consists in reducing the number of active elements in the 2D ultrasound probes to lighten the acquisition process: this approach leads to sparse arrays. The aim of this thesis is to propose the best configuration of a given number of active elements distributed on the probe active surface in order to maximize their ability to produce images with homogeneous contrast and resolution over the entire volume of interest. This work presents the integration of realistic acoustic simulations performed in a stochastic optimization process (simulated annealing algorithm). The proposed sparse array design framework is general enough to be applied on both on-grid (active elements located on a regular grid) and non-grid (arbitrary positioning of the active elements) arrays. The introduction of an innovative energy function sculpts the optimal 3D beam pattern radiated by the array. The obtained optimized results have 128, 192 or 256 active elements to help their compatibility with currently commercialized ultrasound scanners, potentially allowing a large scale development of 3D ultrasound imaging with low cost systems

Apresentam-se as bases teóricas do Método de Elementos Finitos (MEF) piezoelétrico, e a sua aplicação na modelagem de transdutores de ultra-som piezoelétricos, que consiste na determinação das características vibracionais (frequências de ressonância e anti-ressonância, modos de vibrar e coeficiente de acoplamento eletromecânico), obtenção da curva de admitancia, análise transiente da estrutura piezoelétrica sujeita a uma excitação pulsada e análise da influência da variação das constantes piezoelétricas do transdutor com o raio. Utilizando-se o MEF aplicado a acústica obteve-se o campo acústico gerado pelo transdutor operando em onda contínua, bem como iniciou-se o estudo da propagação de ondas num líquido, analisando-se as ondas geradas pela excitação pulsada de um pistão plano em contato com o fluido. Os modos de vibrar e os valores de frequências de ressonância obtidos para um transdutor, foram comparados com os resultados experimentais. / The theoretical basis of piezoelectric finite element method (FEM), and its application in piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer modelling is presented. Among these applications we have the calculation of resonance and antiresonance frequencies, vibration modes, piezoelectric coupling coefficient, admittance curve and transient analysis of piezoelectric structure excited by a short pulse. By means of piezoelectric FEM the influence of variation of piezoelectric constant with radius is analysed. It is discussed three kind of functions (linear, cosinoidal and Gaussian). This technique is called apodization. The acoustic filed generated by the transducer operating in continuous wave (CW) was calculated by using FEM applied to acoustic, considering the fluid-structure coupling. The study of wave propagation in liquids is started by using FEM, analyzing the waves generated by a plane piston in contact with the fluid, excited by a short pulse. For each case discussed above, all boundary conditions and hypothesis assumed in the construction of finite element models are discussed. Although the models considered are circular transducers, the concepts acquired can be expanded to other geometries. The vibrational modes were visualized by means of a laser interferometry technique (ESPI), and the admittance curves were measured by using an impedometer. These results were compared with the FEM results, and the models precision was discussed.

A calorimetria indireta para análise do metabolismo humano tem se mostrado um método não invasivo de crescente importância no estudo mais preciso das respostas metabólicas e cardio-respiratórias. Entretanto, o alto custo dos equipamentos aliado à falta de conhecimento das técnicas tem impedido a disseminação do uso de analisadores metabólicos no Brasil. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o intuito de oferecer uma visão global dos procedimentos de calorimetria indireta aplicados à avaliação do metabolismo humano sob a abordagem de Engenharia Biomédica. Foram avaliados três transdutores tipicamente utilizados em equipamentos de calorimetria indireta para análise metabólica humana: um transdutor eletroquímico de oxigênio, um transdutor de dióxido de carbono por radiação infravermelha e um transdutor de fluxo em volume tipo turbina. O transdutor de oxigênio mostrou-se bastante confiável, mas com um tempo de resposta bastante elevado para aplicações em análises de respiração a respiração. A principal deficiência do transdutor de dióxido de carbono está no fato de sua configuração proporcionar um aumento significativo na resistência à respiração do indivíduo. Verificou-se que o transdutor de fluxo em volume apresenta um melhor comportamento para um fluxo em torno de 20 litros/minuto. Apesar das limitações apresentadas pelos transdutores, os resultados dos ensaios foram úteis e representativos para a compreensão do funcionamento de um analisador metabólico humano porcalorimetria indireta, evidenciando quais deficiências devem ser sanadas em pesquisas futuras e os cuidados a serem considerados na implantação do laboratório para análise metabólica/respiratória sendo instalado no Laboratório de Engenharia Biomédica da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo. / The indirect calorimetry for analysis of the human metabolism has been a no invasive method of increasing importance in the study of metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses. However, the high cost of the equipment ally to the lack of knowledge of the techniques have been obstacles to the use of metabolic analysers in Brazil. This research was developed with the intention to offer a global vision of the applied procedures of indirect calorimetry to the evaluation of the human metabolism under the prism of the Biomedical Engineering. Three transducers typically used in equipment of indirect calorimetry for metabolic analysis had been evaluated: an electrochemical transducer of oxygen, a carbon dioxide transducer by infrared absorption and a turbine flowmeter. The oxygen transducer revealed sufficiently trustworthy, but a too high response time for applications in breath by breath analyses. The main deficiency of the transducer of carbon dioxide is to provide a significant increase in the flow resistance. It was verified that the flowmeter presents one better behavior for a stream around 20 litres/minute. Despite the limitations presented for the transducers, the results of the assays had been useful and representative for the understanding of the functioning of a human metabolic analyser for indirect calorimetry, evidencing which points have to be improved in future researches and to be considered in the implantation of the laboratory for metabolic and respiratory analysis being installed in the Laboratório de Engenharia Biomédica da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo.

L’utilisation des ultrasons pour l’imagerie présente plusieurs avantages : elle est extrêmement sure car ellen'utilise pas de radiations ionisantes et ne présente pas d'effets néfastes sur la santé. D’autre part, elle donne desrésultats d’excellente qualité avec un coût relativement faible. Historiquement, les matériaux piézoélectriques et leurscomposites ont été très tôt utilisés pour la génération d’ultrasons. Les transducteurs fabriqués à partir de ces matériauxdominent actuellement le marché des sondes ultrasonores. Cependant, pour certaines applications, ils ne peuvent pasêtre utilisés pour des raisons de dimensionnement et de limitations dues aux propriétés des matériaux. Une solutionpeut être apportée par l’utilisation des transducteurs ultrasonores capacitifs micro-usinés dits CMUTs. Ces dernierssuscitent un intérêt croissant dans le milieu de l’imagerie ultrasonore et sont considérés comme une alternativepotentielle et viable aux transducteurs piézoélectriques. Cette nouvelle technologie CMUTs est caractérisée par uneplus large bande passante, une sensibilité élevée, une facilité de fabrication et une réduction des coûts de production.Cette thèse est consacrée à la mise en place d’un certain nombre d’outils théoriques et expérimentaux permettant lamodélisation/conception, la fabrication et la caractérisation de transducteurs CMUTs à membrane circulaire pourl’émission des ultrasons. Nous commençons par développer des outils de simulation à base de calculs par élémentsfinis, permettant la compréhension et la modélisation du comportement électromécanique des CMUTs pour laconception et le dimensionnement des cellules élémentaires et des réseaux. Nous proposons par la suite un nouveauprocédé de fabrication de transducteurs CMUTs basé sur le collage anodique d’une couche de silicium monocristallind’épaisseur fixe d’une plaquette de SOI sur un substrat de verre. L’évolution du procédé de fabrication est détailléepour chaque étape technologique en soulignant à chaque fois les améliorations/modifications apportées pour unefiabilité et une répétitivité accrue associées à une connaissance des limites de faisabilité. Dans la dernière partie de cetravail, on s’intéresse à la mise en œuvre de plusieurs plateformes expérimentales permettant différentescaractérisations électromécaniques statiques et dynamiques des dispositifs CMUTs fabriqués / The use of ultrasound imaging has several advantages: it is extremely safe because it does not use ionizingradiation and has no adverse effects on health. It gives excellent quality results with a relatively low cost. Historically,piezoelectric materials and their composites have been early used for ultrasound generation. Transducers made fromthese materials dominate currently the ultrasonic probes market. However, for some applications, they can’t bebecause of design and limitation reasons due to material properties. A solution can be provided by the use ofcapacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers CMUTs. A growing interest in the field of the ultrasound imaging isshown to this technology considered as a potential and viable alternative to piezoelectric transducers andcharacterized by a wide bandwidth, high sensitivity, ease of manufacture and reduce production costs. This thesis isdevoted to the establishment of a number of experimental and theoretical tools for the modeling/design, fabricationand characterization of circular membrane CMUTs transducers for ultrasound transmission. We begin by developingsimulation tools based on finite elements method in order to understand/model the CMUTs electromechanicalbehavior for the design and dimensioning of elementary cells and networks. Thereafter, we introduce a new CMUTtransducers fabrication process based on the anodic bonding a fixed thickness single crystal silicon layer of a SOIwafer on a glass substrate. The process evolution is detailed for each technological step highlighting everyimprovements/changes introduced for increased reliability and repeatability associated with an increased knowledgeof feasibility limits. In the last part of this work, we focus on the implementation of several experimental platformsallowing different static and dynamic electromechanical characterizations of the fabricated CMUTs devices.

Apresentam-se as bases teóricas do Método de Elementos Finitos (MEF) piezoelétrico, e a sua aplicação na modelagem de transdutores de ultra-som piezoelétricos, que consiste na determinação das características vibracionais (frequências de ressonância e anti-ressonância, modos de vibrar e coeficiente de acoplamento eletromecânico), obtenção da curva de admitancia, análise transiente da estrutura piezoelétrica sujeita a uma excitação pulsada e análise da influência da variação das constantes piezoelétricas do transdutor com o raio. Utilizando-se o MEF aplicado a acústica obteve-se o campo acústico gerado pelo transdutor operando em onda contínua, bem como iniciou-se o estudo da propagação de ondas num líquido, analisando-se as ondas geradas pela excitação pulsada de um pistão plano em contato com o fluido. Os modos de vibrar e os valores de frequências de ressonância obtidos para um transdutor, foram comparados com os resultados experimentais. / The theoretical basis of piezoelectric finite element method (FEM), and its application in piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer modelling is presented. Among these applications we have the calculation of resonance and antiresonance frequencies, vibration modes, piezoelectric coupling coefficient, admittance curve and transient analysis of piezoelectric structure excited by a short pulse. By means of piezoelectric FEM the influence of variation of piezoelectric constant with radius is analysed. It is discussed three kind of functions (linear, cosinoidal and Gaussian). This technique is called apodization. The acoustic filed generated by the transducer operating in continuous wave (CW) was calculated by using FEM applied to acoustic, considering the fluid-structure coupling. The study of wave propagation in liquids is started by using FEM, analyzing the waves generated by a plane piston in contact with the fluid, excited by a short pulse. For each case discussed above, all boundary conditions and hypothesis assumed in the construction of finite element models are discussed. Although the models considered are circular transducers, the concepts acquired can be expanded to other geometries. The vibrational modes were visualized by means of a laser interferometry technique (ESPI), and the admittance curves were measured by using an impedometer. These results were compared with the FEM results, and the models precision was discussed.

A calorimetria indireta para análise do metabolismo humano tem se mostrado um método não invasivo de crescente importância no estudo mais preciso das respostas metabólicas e cardio-respiratórias. Entretanto, o alto custo dos equipamentos aliado à falta de conhecimento das técnicas tem impedido a disseminação do uso de analisadores metabólicos no Brasil. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o intuito de oferecer uma visão global dos procedimentos de calorimetria indireta aplicados à avaliação do metabolismo humano sob a abordagem de Engenharia Biomédica. Foram avaliados três transdutores tipicamente utilizados em equipamentos de calorimetria indireta para análise metabólica humana: um transdutor eletroquímico de oxigênio, um transdutor de dióxido de carbono por radiação infravermelha e um transdutor de fluxo em volume tipo turbina. O transdutor de oxigênio mostrou-se bastante confiável, mas com um tempo de resposta bastante elevado para aplicações em análises de respiração a respiração. A principal deficiência do transdutor de dióxido de carbono está no fato de sua configuração proporcionar um aumento significativo na resistência à respiração do indivíduo. Verificou-se que o transdutor de fluxo em volume apresenta um melhor comportamento para um fluxo em torno de 20 litros/minuto. Apesar das limitações apresentadas pelos transdutores, os resultados dos ensaios foram úteis e representativos para a compreensão do funcionamento de um analisador metabólico humano porcalorimetria indireta, evidenciando quais deficiências devem ser sanadas em pesquisas futuras e os cuidados a serem considerados na implantação do laboratório para análise metabólica/respiratória sendo instalado no Laboratório de Engenharia Biomédica da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo. / The indirect calorimetry for analysis of the human metabolism has been a no invasive method of increasing importance in the study of metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses. However, the high cost of the equipment ally to the lack of knowledge of the techniques have been obstacles to the use of metabolic analysers in Brazil. This research was developed with the intention to offer a global vision of the applied procedures of indirect calorimetry to the evaluation of the human metabolism under the prism of the Biomedical Engineering. Three transducers typically used in equipment of indirect calorimetry for metabolic analysis had been evaluated: an electrochemical transducer of oxygen, a carbon dioxide transducer by infrared absorption and a turbine flowmeter. The oxygen transducer revealed sufficiently trustworthy, but a too high response time for applications in breath by breath analyses. The main deficiency of the transducer of carbon dioxide is to provide a significant increase in the flow resistance. It was verified that the flowmeter presents one better behavior for a stream around 20 litres/minute. Despite the limitations presented for the transducers, the results of the assays had been useful and representative for the understanding of the functioning of a human metabolic analyser for indirect calorimetry, evidencing which points have to be improved in future researches and to be considered in the implantation of the laboratory for metabolic and respiratory analysis being installed in the Laboratório de Engenharia Biomédica da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo.

A utilização de sensores e de atuadores cresceu vertiginosamente nos últimos anos. As aplicações centralizadas em sensoriamento e controle avançaram com a instrumentação industrial, passando pela incorporação desses elementos em redes distribuídas até culminar, na atualidade, em redes integradas que possuem inúmeras funções e aplicações, dentre elas: controle, monitoramento, rastreamento e segurança. Entretanto o crescimento do número de sensores e atuadores conectados através de barramentos e redes não ocorreu de forma única, proliferando uma diversidade de formas de padronização na comunicação entre esses e seus respectivos monitores ou controladores. Dessa pluralidade de protocolos emergiu a necessidade de criação de um padrão que permitisse interoperabilidade entre transdutores e redes de controle, bem como a introdução do conceito de sensores e atuadores inteligentes. Nesse contexto foi proposto o protocolo IEEE1451 (Standards for Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators). Nessa perspectiva o trabalho em questão apresenta os resultados do desenvolvimento e a utilização desse padrão em duas aplicações de engenharia biomédica. Primeiramente em um sistema embarcado capaz de realizar aquisição e processamento de biopotenciais, em específico, de eletrocardiogramas e a posterior transmissão dos dados coletados através de uma interface sem fio Wifi (IEEE802.11b/g) utilizando os protocolos IEEE1451.0 e IEEE1451.5. E em um eletrogoniômetro, para fins fisioterápicos, que realiza medidas de amplitude de movimento das articulações e transfere os dados serialmente através de uma interface USB (Universal Serial Bus) utilizando como padrões o IEEE1451.0 e o IEEE1451.2. Ambos os sistemas permitem além do monitoramento local, o acesso das informações coletadas pela Internet através de uma instrumentação remota implementada por um Web Service. Dessa maneira foi construída uma rede de sensores padronizada que permitiu demonstrar os benefícios e as potencialidades do protocolo IEEE1451. / The use of sensors and actuators grew vertiginously in recent years. The centralized applications in sensing and controlling advanced with industrial instrumentation, going through the incorporation of these elements into industrial computer network protocols until currently culminating in integrated networks with innumerable functions and applications, amongst them: controlling, monitoring, tracking and security. However, the growth of the number of sensors and actuators connected through bus and computers networks did not occur in a single way, and a diversity of communication standards proliferated. From these protocols, plurality required the creation of a standard to allow interoperability between transducers and networks, as well as the introduction of the smart sensors and actuators concept. In this context the IEEE1451 protocol (Standards for Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators) was proposed. In this perspective, this work presents two applications of biomedical engineering using the IEEE1451 standard. The first application is an embedded system for biopotencial acquisition and processing, specifically, electrocardiogram signals and data transmission through a wireless interface Wifi (IEEE802.11b/g) using IEEE1451.0 and IEEE1451.5 protocols. The other application is an electrogoniometer, for physiotherapy, that measures the joint movements amplitude and transfers the data through an USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection using the IEEE1451.0 and the IEEE1451.2 protocols as standards. Both systems allow local monitoring and the access to information through a remote instrumentation implemented by Web Services. Hence, this project demonstrates the IEEE1451 benefits and the potentialities.

Les dispositifs de stimulation tactile sont des systèmes destinés à fournir un retour sensoriel à leurs utilisateurs. Ils enrichissent les interfaces homme-machine dans les applications de réalité virtuelle ou augmentée. Ce mémoire traite de l’apport des microsystèmes électromécaniques (MEMS) actionnés magnétiquement à la réalisation d’interfaces de stimulation tactile facilement intégrables.Un état de l’art des solutions d’actionnement mises en œuvre dans les dispositifs existants est proposé, ainsi qu'une définition des besoins pour les applications visées. Les solutions retenues sont basées sur l’actionnement magnétostatique.Les premiers prototypes d’interfaces de stimulation tactile se présentent sous la forme d'un réseau de 4x4 actionneurs élastomériques hybrides avec un pas de 2 mm, combinant microfabrication et techniques de fabrication conventionnelles. La conception et l’élaboration de ces micro-actionneurs est présentée en détail. L'actionnement impulsionnel permet d'atteindre des amplitudes de vibration importantes (jusqu'à 200 µm) et des forces élevées (32mN par actionneur). Des tests sensoriels confirment enfin leur efficacité. Des micro-bobines ont aussi été développées afin de répondre aux besoins des micro-actionneurs magnétiques, ainsi qu'au cahier des charges des interfaces de stimulation tactile. Diverses configurations de micro-bobines adaptées à l'actionnement de puissance sont proposées et réalisées par électrodéposition. Des micro-actionneurs basés sur ces bobines intégrées ont alors été réalisés, puis caractérisés. L'utilité des bobines pour les micro-actionneurs de puissance est alors discutée face aux solutions d’actionnement hybride / Tactile display devices are systems bound to provide a tactile feedback to their users. They improve human-machine interfaces in the fields of virtual or augmented reality. This report deals with the contribution of magnetically actuated micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) to the elaboration of easily integrable tactile display devices.A state of the art of actuation techniques used in existing devices is proposed, along with a requirements analysis for tactile applications. Magnetostatic actuation was considered for these needs.First tactile display device prototypes are designed as a network of 4x4 hybrid elastomeric micro-actuators with a 2 mm pitch, and combined microfabrication and conventional fabrication techniques.The conception and elaboration of these micro-actuators is detailed. High vibration amplitudes can be reached using pulse actuation (up to 200 µm), with instantaneous forces of 32 mN per actuator. Sensitive tests were also achieved in order to confirm their efficiency.Micro-coils were also developed in order to fulfill the magnetic micro-actuators needs, and meet the requirements for tactile display devices. Various micro-coil configurations suitable for power actuation are proposed and elaborated by electrodeposition. Micro-actuators based on elastomeric membranes were fabricated and characterized. The contribution of these micro-coils for micro-actuation is discussed face with hybrid approaches

"Dynamics" is very roughly the study of how objects change in time; for instance whether an electrical circuit goes to equilibrium, due to thermal dissipation. By "information", we mean how helpful it is to observe an object in order to know it better, for instance how many binary digits we can acquire on the value of a voltage by an appropriate measure. A "computation" is a physical process, e.g. the flow of current into a complex set of transistors, that after some time eventually gives us the solution of a mathematical problem (such as "Is 13 prime?"). We are interested to various relations between these concepts. In a first chapter, we unify some arguments in the literature to show that a whole class of quantities of dynamical systems are uncomputable. For instance the topological entropy of tilings and Turing machines. Then we propose a precise meaning to the statement "This dynamical system is a computer", at least for symbolic systems, such as cellular automata. We also show, for instance, that a "computer" must be dynamically unstable, and can even be chaotic. In a third chapter, we compare how complicated it is to control a system according whether we can acquire information on it ("feedback") or not ("open loop"). We are specifically interested in finite-state systems. In last chapter we show how to control a scalar linear system when only a finite amount of information can be acquired at every step of time.