MULTI-FUNCTION SYNTHETIC JET AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME
First Claim
1. A synthetic jet assembly comprising:
- a synthetic jet comprising;
a body having a cavity and an opening formed therein;
an actuator element coupled to a second surface of the body to selectively cause displacement of the second surface; and
a control unit electrically coupled to the actuator element, the control unit configured to transmit a multi-frequency drive signal to the actuator element, the multi-frequency drive signal comprising a cooling frequency component and an acoustic frequency component superimposed on the cooling frequency component;
wherein the cooling frequency component causes a cooling jet to eject from the opening of the body; and
wherein the acoustic frequency component produces a desired audible output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A synthetic jet assembly includes a synthetic jet having a cavity and an opening formed therein. The synthetic jet assembly also includes an actuator element coupled to a second surface of the body to selectively cause displacement of the second surface, and a control unit electrically coupled to the actuator element. The control unit is configured to transmit a multi-frequency drive signal to the actuator element, the multi-frequency drive signal comprising a cooling frequency component and an acoustic frequency component superimposed on the cooling frequency component. The cooling frequency component causes a cooling jet to eject from the opening of the body. The acoustic frequency component produces a desired audible output.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A synthetic jet assembly comprising:
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a synthetic jet comprising; a body having a cavity and an opening formed therein; an actuator element coupled to a second surface of the body to selectively cause displacement of the second surface; and a control unit electrically coupled to the actuator element, the control unit configured to transmit a multi-frequency drive signal to the actuator element, the multi-frequency drive signal comprising a cooling frequency component and an acoustic frequency component superimposed on the cooling frequency component; wherein the cooling frequency component causes a cooling jet to eject from the opening of the body; and wherein the acoustic frequency component produces a desired audible output. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. The synthetic jet assembly of claim l wherein the cooling frequency component comprises a frequency that is undetectable by a human ear.
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11. A method of manufacturing a synthetic jet assembly comprising:
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providing a synthetic jet body that encircles a volume; forming an orifice in the synthetic jet body to fluidically couple the volume to a gas outside the volume; coupling an actuator element to a flexible surface of the synthetic jet body; and electronically coupling a controller assembly to the actuator element, wherein the controller assembly is programmed to; generate a first drive signal comprising an inaudible frequency component that causes a cooling jet to expel from the orifice; generate a second drive signal comprising an audible frequency component that generates a desired acoustic output; combine the first and second drive signals to form a combined drive signal; and transmit the combined drive signal to the actuator element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electronic apparatus comprising:
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a synthetic jet comprising; a housing having an orifice formed therein for introducing a fluid from outside the housing into a cavity of the housing and expelling a cooling jet therefrom; and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the housing; a drive unit configured to drive the piezoelectric actuator; a control unit configured to transmit a multi-frequency drive signal to the drive unit; an electronic component configured to be cooled by the cooling jet; and wherein the multi-frequency drive signal comprises a cooling frequency component selected to generate the cooling jet and an acoustic frequency component selected to generate an audible acoustic output. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification