SYNTHETIC JET DELIVERING CONTROLLED FLOW TO SENSOR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A sensing system, comprising:
- a flow channel;
a synthetic jet device comprising a vibrating membrane in a cavity with an orifice that outputs to the flow channel, the synthetic jet configured to entrain surrounding air/fluid into the flow channel to provide a jet flow; and
a sensor for receiving the jet flow from the flow channel and configured to detect a target feature included in the jet flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for using synthetic jet technology as an air delivery device for sensing applications. In particular, a synthetic jet device is used to deliver a controlled airflow or other fluidic flow to a sensor measurement area. Such a sensing system can be used to detect accurate concentration of target features present in the ambient surroundings, such as gases, particles, solutions, mixtures, and any other environmental features that can be sensed from a controlled airflow. An example application is air quality monitoring by using one or more synthetic jet devices to deliver a known or otherwise controlled airflow to a sensing area, thereby allowing for detection of harmful or otherwise unacceptable concentrations of particulate matter, gases, or air pollutants. In some embodiments, a synthetic jet device is operatively coupled with a sensor via a flow channel in a common housing, so as to provide a controlled flow sensing system.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sensing system, comprising:
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a flow channel; a synthetic jet device comprising a vibrating membrane in a cavity with an orifice that outputs to the flow channel, the synthetic jet configured to entrain surrounding air/fluid into the flow channel to provide a jet flow; and a sensor for receiving the jet flow from the flow channel and configured to detect a target feature included in the jet flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. At least one non-transient computer program product encoded with instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause a process to be carried out, the process comprising:
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receiving a detection signal associated with a target feature detected by a synthetic jet sensing system, the target feature being detected in ambient air around the synthetic jet sensing system; determining if the detection signal indicates a given threshold for the target feature has been exceeded; and in response to determining that the threshold has been exceeded, causing an alert to be issued. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A sensing device, comprising:
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a synthetic jet including a bottom conductor spaced from a membrane so as to provide a lower cavity, and a baffle having an orifice spaced from an opposing side of the membrane to provide an upper cavity, wherein the membrane vibrates in response to a bias applied across the membrane and bottom conductor so as to create a jet flow at the orifice output; a flow channel to receive the jet flow; and a sensor to receive the jet flow from the flow channel and to detect a target feature in the jet flow. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification