Manufacturing method of fluid control device

• US 10,343,404 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Original Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Inventors: Han, Yung-Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Musser, Barbara J
• Application Number:
  US15/641,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20180065368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/04 of plates or sheets B29C63/04 takes precedence; bending or folding paper B31F1/0003; folding films B65H45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/00 Combinations of shaping techniques not provided for in a single one of main groups B29C39/00 - B29C67/00, e.g. associations of moulding and joining techniques; Apparatus therefore B29C48/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7496 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/767 Printing equipment or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1618 Fixing the piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/003 driven by piezoelectric means F04B43/046 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/046 with piezoelectric drive
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/02 Forming enclosures or casings
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/03 Assembling devices that include piezoelectric or electrostrictive parts

Abstract

A manufacturing method of a fluid control device is provided. Firstly, a housing, a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate are provided. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The deformable substrate includes a flexible plate and a communication plate. A bulge is formed on the vibration plate. The flexible plate includes a movable part. Next, the flexible plate and the communication plate are stacked and coupled, and a preformed synchronous deformation process is implemented by applying at least one external force to outer portion of the deformable substrate to form a preformed synchronously-deformed structure. Then, the housing, the piezoelectric actuator and the deformable substrate are sequentially stacked and coupled. The preformed synchronously-deformed structure is aligned with the bulge of the vibration plate. Consequently, a specified depth is defined between the movable part of the flexible plate and the bulge of the vibration plate.

Claims

1. A manufacturing method of a fluid control device, comprising:

(a) providing a housing, a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate, and the deformable substrate comprises a flexible plate and a communication plate, wherein the vibration plate has a first surface and an opposing second surface, a bulge is formed on the second surface of the vibration plate, and the flexible plate comprises a movable part;

(b) stacking and coupling the flexible plate and the communication plate of the deformable substrate, and implementing a preformed synchronous deformation process by applying at least one external force to an outer portion of the deformable substrate to form a preformed synchronously-deformed structure defined by the flexible plate and the communication plate collaboratively; and

(c) coupling the housing, the piezoelectric actuator and the deformable substrate which are sequentially stacked, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure of the deformable substrate is aligned with the bulge of the vibration plate to define a specified depth between the movable part of the flexible plate and the bulge of the vibration plate.

2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronous deformation process is implemented by applying the at least one external force to at least one surface of the flexible plate of the deformable substrate.

3. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronous deformation process is implemented by applying the at least one external force to at least one surface of the communication plate of the deformable substrate.

4. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a curvy synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the curvy synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

5. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a conical synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the conical synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

6. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a convex synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the convex synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

7. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part and a region beyond the movable part of the flexible plate, and the specified depth is defined between the preformed synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

8. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part and a region beyond the movable part of the flexible plate, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a curvy synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the curvy synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part and a region beyond the movable part of the flexible plate, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a conical synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the conical synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a synchronously-deformed region of the flexible plate for defining the preformed synchronously-deformed structure includes the movable part and a region beyond the movable part of the flexible plate, the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a convex synchronously-deformed structure, and the specified depth is defined between the convex synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure composed of the communication plate and the flexible plate, the curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure comprises plural curvy surfaces with different curvatures, and the specified depth is defined between the curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure composed of the communication plate and the flexible plate, the curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure comprises plural curvy surfaces with an identical curvature, and the specified depth is defined between the curvy-surface synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is an irregular synchronously-deformed structure composed of the communication plate and the flexible plate, and the specified depth is defined between the irregular synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a bent synchronously-deformed structure that is bent in a direction toward the bulge of the vibration plate, and the specified depth is defined between the bent synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure is a bent synchronously-deformed structure that is bent in a direction away from the bulge of the vibration plate, and the specified depth is defined between the bent synchronously-deformed structure and the bulge of the vibration plate.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the vibration plate of the piezoelectric actuator has a square shape, and the piezoelectric actuator further comprises:

an outer frame arranged around the vibration plate; and

at least one bracket connected between the vibration plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the vibration plate.

17. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the preformed synchronously-deformed structure and the vibration plate are connected with each other through a medium, and the medium is an adhesive.

18. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein a temporary storage chamber is formed between the housing and the piezoelectric actuator, wherein the housing comprises at least one outlet, and the temporary storage chamber is in communication with an exterior of the housing through the at least one outlet.

19. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plate comprises a central aperture, wherein the central aperture is located at or located near a center of the movable part of the flexible plate for allowing a fluid to go through.

20. The manufacturing method according to claim 19, wherein the communication plate comprises at least one inlet, at least one convergence channel and a central cavity, wherein the at least one inlet runs through the communication plate and is in communication with a first end of the at least one convergence channel, and a second end of the at least one convergence channel is in communication with the central cavity, wherein the central cavity is aligned with the movable part of the flexible plate and in communication with the central aperture of the flexible plate.