Thermoacoustic device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a signal device;
a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure; and
the signal device transmits signals to the carbon nanotube structure;
wherein the carbon nanotube structure has a heat capacity per unit area less than 2×
10−
4 J/cm2·
K;
the carbon nanotube structure converts the signals into heat; and
the heat is transferred to a medium in contact with the sound wave generator causing a thermoacoustic effect.
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Abstract
A sound wave generator that includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure produces sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect.
25 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a signal device; a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure; and the signal device transmits signals to the carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure has a heat capacity per unit area less than 2×
10−
4 J/cm2·
K;
the carbon nanotube structure converts the signals into heat; and
the heat is transferred to a medium in contact with the sound wave generator causing a thermoacoustic effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a signal device; and a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure is in communication with the signal device and produces sound waves in response to signals from the signal device; wherein the sound wave generator heats a medium adjacent to the carbon nanotube structure to produce the sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect.
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20. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure;
the sound wave generator produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect.- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A sound producing system, the sound producing system comprises of:
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a signal device; a carbon nanotube structure; and a medium in contact with the carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure is capable of receiving a signal from the signal device;
the carbon nanotube structure converts the signal to heat and transfers the heat to the medium; and
the medium creates sound waves by thermal expansion. - View Dependent Claims (27, 29)
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28. The sound producing system 26, wherein the signal comprises a variation, and the variation is selected from the group consisting of digital signal, changes in intensity, changes in duration, changes in cycle, and combinations thereof.
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30. A sound producing apparatus, the sound producing apparatus comprising:
a carbon nanotube structure;
wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves in a medium by causing a thermoacoustic effect.- View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A sound producing apparatus, the sound producing apparatus comprising:
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a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprising a carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves without any significant vibration of the carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A sound producing apparatus, the sound producing apparatus comprising:
a carbon nanotube structure that is porous, wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A sound producing apparatus, the sound producing apparatus comprising:
a sound wave generator;
the sound wave generator comprises of a carbon nanotube structure and produces sound while moving, flexing, folding or a combination thereof;
wherein the moving, flexing, folding or a combination thereof, is completely independent of the sound produced wherein the sound wave generator is capable of converting a signal into heat, transferring the heat to a medium in contact with the sound wave generator, and causing a thermoacoustic effect.- View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A sound producing device, the sound producing device comprising:
a sound wave generator;
the sound wave generator comprises of a carbon nanotube structure, the carbon nanotube structure comprises of one or more drawn carbon films;
the carbon nanotube structure is capable of producing sound while being stretched along a direction or returned to the carbon nanotube structure'"'"'s original non-stretched size;
wherein the stretching or returning to the carbon nanotube structure'"'"'s original non-stretched size is completely independent of and has minimal effect on the sound produced wherein the sound wave generator is capable of converting a signal into heat, transferring the heat to a medium in contact with the sound wave generator, and causing a thermoacoustic effect.- View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a sound wave generator capable of producing sound waves, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure; wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves by repeated heating of a medium. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure;
wherein the carbon nanotube structure has transparency in the range of about 70% to about 95% and produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect.
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43. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a sound wave generator, the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure;
wherein the carbon nanotube structure is porous and initiates the production of sound waves;wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect.
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44. A sound producing apparatus, the sound producing apparatus comprising:
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a carbon nanotube structure, wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves that are audible to humans; wherein the carbon nanotube structure produces sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect.
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Specification