KR20150128981A - Synthetic jet with non-metallic blade structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for lowering the resonant frequency of a composite jet device to reduce noise and reduce vibration is disclosed. The composite jetting device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate, a spacing component coupled to the first and second plates and positioned between the plates to form a chamber and including an orifice therein, And an actuator element coupled to at least one of the first and second plates to selectively bias the coupled plate, wherein the first and second plates are formed at least partially of a non-metallic material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a composite jet device having a non-metallic blade structure,

Cross reference of related application

This application is a pending application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 787,738, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and the United States claims priority to a patent application .

The present invention relates to a composite jet device having a non-metallic blade structure.

Synthetic jet actuators are widely used techniques for producing synthetic jets of fluids that affect fluid flow across a surface to distribute heat outwardly. Conventional composite jet actuators include a housing forming an inner chamber. An orifice is provided in the wall of the housing. The actuator includes a mechanism for periodically varying the volume in the inner chamber so that a series of fluid vortices are generated and released from the orifice of the housing to the exterior environment within or around the housing. An example of a volume change mechanism is a flexible diaphragm, such as a piston or wall of a housing, positioned within the jet housing to move fluid into or out of the orifice, for example, during reciprocating motion of the piston. The flexible diaphragm is typically activated by a piezoelectric actuator or other suitable means.

Typically, a control system is used to generate a time-harmonic motion of the volume changing mechanism. When the mechanism reduces the chamber volume, the fluid is discharged from the chamber through the orifice. As the fluid passes through the orifice, the sharp edges of the orifice separate the flow to form a vortex sheet that is rolled into the vortex. This vortex drifts away from the edge of the orifice at a self-induced rate. As the mechanism increases the chamber volume, ambient fluid is drawn into the chamber from a distance away from the orifice. Since the vortex has already moved away from the vortex of the orifice, it is not affected by the surrounding fluid entering the chamber. As the vortex moves away from the orifice, the vortex synthesizes the jet of fluid, or "synthetic jet ".

It is recognized that auditory noise is one negative aspect of synthetic jet operation, including dual cooling jets (DCJ) employing actuators (i.e., piezoelectric actuators) on each of the opposing sides of the device. The DCJ is typically excited in or near its resonant mechanical mode (s) to optimize electrical energy to mechanical energy conversion and to achieve maximum deflection with minimal mechanical energy input. DCJ operation is optimized when operating in or near its mechanical resonant mode (s), but operating the DCJ at a given frequency is not a significant amount of operation since the acoustic signature of the device is determined in part by the drive frequency of the device It is recognized that acoustic noise can be generated.

Several modified composite jets, including DCJ, are typically constructed using metallized piezoelectric actuators that are bonded to a metal plate or blade using an electrically conductive adhesive. The electrical connection to the piezoelectric actuator is achieved by connecting to the exposed piezoelectric side of the metallization and connecting to the plate material. Solder or conductive adhesive is commonly used. Thereafter, two of the plates are glued together along the perimeter, leaving an orifice opening to form a jet. Upon activation of the piezoelectric actuator, air is sucked in and out through the orifice, causing a net positive air flow.

One drawback to metal plates or blades is that they are expensive and their stiffness causes a higher resonant frequency that increases the DCJ operating noise. In addition, metal masses can increase vibration. Moreover, the resonant frequency of the DCJ can be increased due to the metal plate.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a synthetic jet, such as DCJ, with a plate made to have a much lower resonant frequency to reduce noise. It would also be desirable for the plate to have a reduced mass that could provide lower vibration.

According to an aspect of the invention, a composite jetting device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate, a first plate coupled to the first plate and a second plate positioned between the plates to form a chamber, And an actuator element coupled to at least one of the first plate and the second plate for selectively inducing deflection of the coupled plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise at least And is formed of a partly non-metallic material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a composite jet device includes constructing a first plate and a second plate at least partially from a nonmetallic material, attaching the actuator element to at least one of the first plate and the second plate , Selectively causing deflection of the attached plate, securing the first plate in a spaced-apart arrangement in the second plate to form a chamber, and the first plate to the second plate by a spatial component comprising an orifice therein And setting the position of the second switch. The method of manufacturing a composite jet device also includes attaching an electrical contact to each of the actuator element and the first and second plates, wherein an actuator element is attached to the electrical contact to selectively apply a voltage to the actuator element .

According to another aspect of the invention, a composite jetting device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate to form a chamber, and at least one of a first plate or a second plate to change the volume of the chamber To cause deflection of the coupled plate. Each of the first plate and the second plate comprises a first material comprising a non-metallic insulating material and an electrically conductive material, the filler material, the metallization layer and the first and second plates being provided on or in the first material, And a second material formed as one of the externally formed leads.

These and other advantages and features will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Illustrate embodiments currently contemplated for carrying out the invention.
Figures 1 and 2 are views of a composite jet assembly usable with embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the composite jet of Figures 1 and 2 showing the jet as the control system causes the diaphragm to move inward toward the orifice.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the composite jet of Figures 1 and 2 showing the jet as the control system causes the diaphragm to move outwardly away from the orifice.
5 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a composite jet comprising a non-metallic plate therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a composite jet comprising a non-metallic plate therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a nonmetallic plate of a synthetic jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a nonmetallic plate of a synthetic jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a double-folded non-metallic plate structure of a composite jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a double-folded non-metallic plate structure of a composite jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a diagram illustrating a build-up process for forming a nonmetallic plate of a synthetic jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to composite jet devices having non-metallic plates that provide a lower resonance frequency for less noise and less vibration.

Figures 1-4 illustrate the general structure of a composite jet assembly 10 that can be used with embodiments of the present invention to better understand the present invention, together with the operation of various components during operation of the composite jet assembly. do. Although specific synthetic jet assemblies 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, embodiments of the present invention may be included in a variety of configurations of synthetic jet assemblies, such that the composite jet device 10 is within the scope of the present invention And is not intended to be limiting. By way of example, synthetic jet assemblies that do not include mounting brackets for securing positioning of the composite jet are contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the composite jet assembly 10 is shown to include a cross-section of the composite jet 12 and the mounting bracket 14 illustrated in FIG. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket 14 is a U-shaped mounting bracket secured to the body 12 of the composite jet 12 or to the housing 12 at one or more locations, Such as a semicircular bracket configured to accommodate a different shape / profile. The circuit driver 18 can be disposed or fixed outside the mounting bracket 14. [ Alternatively, the circuit driver 18 may be disposed away from the composite jet assembly 10. [

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 together and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing 16 of the composite jet 12 includes an inner chamber or cavity 20 with gas or fluid 22 therein, Or partially enclose. The housing 16 and the inner chamber 20 may take any geometric configuration in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, but for purposes of explanation and understanding, the housing 16 may be configured such that the spacer elements 28 Sectional view is shown in Fig. 2 with a first plate 24 and a second plate 26 (alternatively referred to as a blade or foil) that is held in a spaced apart relationship. In one embodiment, the spacer element 28 maintains a distance of approximately 1 mm between the first plate 24 and the second plate 26. One or more orifices 30 may be positioned between the first plate 24 and the second plate 26 and the side walls of the spacer elements 28 to allow the inner chamber 20 to be in fluid communication with the environment, As shown in FIG. In a variant, the spacer element 28 comprises a front face (not shown) in which one or more orifices 30 are formed.

According to various embodiments, the first plate 24 and the second plate 26 may be formed of metal, plastic, glass, and / or ceramic. Similarly, the spacer element 28 may be formed of metal, plastic, glass, and / or ceramic. Suitable metals include nickel, aluminum, copper, molybdenum or alloys such as stainless steel, brass and bronze. Suitable polymers and plastics include thermoplastics such as polyolefin, polycarbonate, thermosetting resins, epoxy, urethane, acrylic, silicone, polyimide and photoresist-capable materials and other resilient plastics. Suitable ceramics include, for example, titanates (such as lanthanum titanate, bismuth titanate and lead zirconate titanate), and molybdate. Moreover, the various other components of the composite jet 12 may also be formed of metal.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the actuators 34,36 are coupled to the first plate 24 and the second plate 26, respectively, and coupled to the controller 18, via the controller assembly or control unit system 42, To form controlled first and second composite structures or flexible diaphragms 38,40. The composite jet 12 is thus constructed as a DCJ. The diaphragms 38 and 40 may be provided with a metal layer on each of the flexible diaphragms 38 and 40 so as to control the diaphragms 38 and 40, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > bias < / RTI > The controller assembly 42 is electrically coupled to the driver 18 and the driver is coupled directly to the mounting bracket 14 of the composite jet 12, as shown in FIG. In a variant, the control unit system 42 is included in a driver 18 disposed away from the composite jet 12. Moreover, the control unit system 42 may be configured to generate an electrical bias by any suitable device, e.g., a computer, logic processor, or signal generator, or the like.

In one embodiment, the actuators 34,36 are piezoelectric piezomitive devices, which can be activated by application of a harmonic alternating voltage which causes the piezoelectric actuating device to rapidly expand and contract. In operation, the control system 42 transfers charge to the piezoelectric actuators 34, 36 via the driver 18, which undergoes stress and / or deformation in response to the charge. The stresses / deformations of the piezoelectric actuators 34,36 cause the deflection of each of the first and second plates 24,26 to change the volume of the inner chamber 20 between the plates 24,26 Time high frequency or periodic operation is achieved. According to one embodiment, the spacer element 28 can also be flexibly formed and can be modified to change the volume of the inner chamber 20. The resulting volume change in the inner chamber 20 causes interchange of gas or other fluid between the inner chamber 20 and the outer volume 32, as described in detail with respect to Figures 3 and 4.

Piezoelectric actuators 34 and 36 may be monomorphic or bimorph devices, according to various embodiments of the present invention. In the mono-morph embodiment, the piezo-motion actuators 34, 36 may be coupled to plates 24, 26 formed of a material comprising metal, plastic, glass or ceramic. In the bimorph embodiment, either or both of the piezoelectric actuating actuators 34, 36 may be a bimorph actuator coupled to plates 24, 26 formed of a piezoelectric material. In a variant, the bimorph may comprise a single actuator 34, 36 and the plates 24, 26 are second actuators.

The components of the composite jet 12 may be adhered together or may be adhered to each other using adhesives, solder, or the like. In one embodiment, a thermosetting adhesive or an electrically conductive adhesive is employed to bond the actuators 34, 36 to the first and second plates 24, 26 to form the first and second composite structures 38, do. In the case of an electrically conductive adhesive, in order to attach a lead wire (not shown) to the composite jet 12, the adhesive may be filled with an electrically conductive filler such as silver, gold, or the like. Suitable adhesives can have a hardness in the Shore A hardness range of 100 or less and can include, for example, silicone, polyurethane, thermoplastic rubber, etc., and an operating temperature of 120 ° C or higher can be achieved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the actuators 34, 36 may include, in addition to the piezoelectric actuating device, a device such as a hydraulic component, a pneumatic component, a magnetic component, an electrostatic component, and an ultrasonic component. Thus, in such an embodiment, the control system 42 is configured to activate each of the actuators 34,36 in a corresponding manner. For example, when an electrostatic component is used, the control system 42 may provide a rapidly alternating electrostatic voltage to the actuators 34, 36 to activate and warp each of the first and second plates 24, Lt; / RTI >

The operation of the composite jet 12 is described with reference to Figs. 3, when the actuators 34, 36 are controlled to move the first and second plates 24, 26 outwardly relative to the inner chamber 20 as indicated by arrow 44 Synthetic jet 12 is illustrated. First and second plates (24, 26) when the wheel outwardly, increasing the internal volume of the chamber 20, around the fluid or gas (46) within the chamber (20 as shown by arrow 48 set ). The actuators 34 and 36 are controlled by the control system 42 such that vortices are already separated from the edges of the orifices 30 when the first and second plates 24 and 26 are moved outwardly from the inner chamber 20 So that it does not affect the ambient fluid 46 being drawn into the inner chamber 20. On the other hand, the jets of ambient fluid 46 are synthesized by vortexes, resulting in strong entrainment of the ambient fluid 46 being drawn away from the orifice 30.

4 shows the composite jet 12 when the actuators 34 and 36 are controlled to deflect the first and second plates 24 and 26 inwardly into the inner chamber 20 as shown by arrows 50. [ Lt; / RTI > The inner volume of the inner chamber 20 is reduced and the fluid 22 is ejected when the cooling jet is directed to the device 54, e.g., the light emitting diode side, to be cooled through the orifice 30 in the direction indicated by arrow 52 set. As the fluid 22 exits the inner chamber 20 through the orifice 30, the flow separates from the sharp edge of the orifice 30 and is rolled into a vortex and begins to move away from the edge of the orifice 30 To form an eddy current sheet.

It is also contemplated that the composite jets of Figures 1-4 are shown and described as having a single orifice therein, although embodiments of the present invention may include multiple orifice composite jet actuators. In addition, although the composite jet actuator of Figs. 1-4 is shown and described as including an actuator element in each of the first and second plates, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to any of a plurality of It is also contemplated that one actuator element may be included. It is further contemplated that the composite jet plate may be provided in a configuration having a circular, rectangular or alternative shape rather than a square configuration as illustrated herein.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a composite jetting device comprising a plate or blade, which is formed partly or wholly of a nonmetallic material and is hereinafter referred to generally as a "nonmetallic plate ". The plate can be formed of any of a number of suitable nonmetallic materials that can be selected and matched to set the stiffness and thus the resonant frequency of the composite jet. By selecting certain non-metallic materials that form the plate, partly or wholly, the plate can be made to have a much lower resonant frequency for less noise and a reduced mass that can cause less vibration.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the nonmetallic material forming the plate partially or wholly includes, but is not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride, including combinations of various thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins and fillers. (PET), polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene PP), polystyrene (PS), impact resistant polystyrene (HIPS), polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polycarbonate / acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Polyurethane (PU), epoxy and combinations thereof, or a plurality of suitable non-metallic materials such as thermosetting resins Lt; / RTI >

In some embodiments of the present invention, a metal coating is applied to a plate formed from a non-metallic material. In another embodiment of the invention, the plate may be formed with sufficient electrical conductivity (through the use of a filler) such that a metal coating is not required.

5, there is shown a build-up process for producing a non-metallic plate 60 (and a composite jet 12) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the first stage of the process, the thermoplastic Metal substrate 62 is provided with a catalyst as shown at 64 , such as a platinum catalyst (e. G., A platinum catalyst < RTI ID = 0.0 > ) To activate the surface / backing protection for the plate. Next, an electrically conductive metal material, such as copper or nickel, as shown at 66 is applied through electroless plating in the next step, The piezoelectric actuators 34 and 36 are fixed to the plate 60 by using a conductive epoxy (for example, silver epoxy) at the time of plating. Finally, an electrical conduit, such as a wire or a flexible circuit material, is attached to the piezocomputer actuators 34, 36 and the plate 60. Thereafter, an adhesive such as silicon is used to form two plates 60 , Where the silicon forms a spacer element 28 between the two plates of the composite jet 12 to be formed.

With regard to the process illustrated and described in FIG. 5, alternative processing of electroless plating, such as evaporation or sputtering techniques, can be used to deposit the metal. Thereafter, electroplating may follow if a thicker metal is desired. Typical metallization schemes may include palladium activated electroless copper or nickel, sputtered or evaporated Ti, Cr, TiW, Cu, Ni, Au, Al, and a thin Au (if necessary to prevent oxidation) A thinner plating of Cu or Ni surrounded by the layer may follow. The sputtering or evaporation process will typically begin with the deposition of Ti, Cr or TiW to promote metal adhesion. If desired, shadow masking or a common lithographic pattern and etch step can be used to pattern the finished metal. In another embodiment, the plate is cast into a piezo-polymer material, metallized on both sides, and polarized to form an integral actuator plate.

Referring now to FIG. 6, another example of a nonmetallic plate (s) 70 (and a build-up process for manufacturing the composite jet 12) is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The non-metallic plate 70 of Figure 6 is formed as a thin film copper-coated glass-reinforced epoxy laminate sheet (e.g., FR4 PCB blank), alternatively referred to hereinafter as a copper coated PCB blank. In the manufacture of the composite jet 12, a copper-coated PCB blank 70 is provided, followed by a conductive epoxy (e.g., Ag epoxy) and piezoelectric actuators 34,36 to provide the piezoelectric actuators 34,36 with a non- Is affixed to the blank using an epoxy that fixes to the copper coating of the plate 70. Next, an opening or orifice is left in the interior while sealing together the silicon (28) -plates 70, which are applied along the periphery of the plate 70 and used to bond the two plates of the composite jet 12 together An electrical conduit 68, such as a urethane coating wire, is attached (e.g., soldered, conductive epoxidized, or mechanically attached) to the piezoelectric element and the copper-coated PCB blank 70 using an adhesive such as -

In another embodiment of the present invention, the nonmetallic plate of the composite jet 12 may be formed of Kapton (R) or other suitable dielectric material. One embodiment in which a Capton plate is utilized to form a nonmetallic plate is shown in Fig. 7, in which a build-up process for the manufacture of the plate (s) is illustrated. As shown in the build-up process of Fig. 7, in the case of each non-metallic plate, a non-coated capton plate 72 is firstly provided, and then a conductive lead 74 is sputtered on the upper surface 76 thereof. , A capone connector, a wire, or a conductive epoxy line. In the next step of the build-up process, the piezoelectric actuators 34, 36 are placed on each capton plate 72 so as to be electrically coupled to the conductive leads 74. Finally, an electrical connecting portion 68 for connecting the piezoelectric actuators 34, 36 and the conductive leads 68 is provided. The two plates of the composite jet can then be joined together using an adhesive such as silicone, wherein the silicon forms a spacer element between the two plates of the composite jet.

In another embodiment where a capton plate is utilized and as shown by the build-up process of Figure 8, there is provided a nonmetallic plate 78, which is configured as a capton circuit, respectively, wherein the thicker layer of capton includes a piezoactuator 34 , 36 are provided. The internal wiring 80 may be completely covered by the capton and may be locally exposed or completely exposed at the lead contacts (for connection of the electrical conduit 68) to the piezoelectric actuators 34,36.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, in another embodiment of the present invention, the nonmetallic plate of the composite jet is formed as a single piece of nonmetallic material that can be doubly folded in the cross-section to form a pair of plates. Referring to the buildup process of FIG. 9, the double-folding plate may be a single member of a nonmetallic material that is doubly folded at the bridge portion 84 to form a pair of plate portions 86, 88 ) ≪ / RTI > As shown in Figure 9, the bridging portion 84 is formed as a thin strip of material centered along the width of the plates 86, 88. However, the bridging portion 84 may instead be configured to extend the entire width of the plates 86, 88, but may be configured to provide a folding of the plate to form separate first and second plates 86, Can be understood. According to an exemplary embodiment, the double folding plate 82 includes an internal electrical contact or lead that is covered and locally exposed in the piezoelectric actuator and lead contact and formed therein.

In the embodiment of Figure 9 the internal wiring is a continuous lead extending between two piezoelectric actuators 34,36 positioned on each plate 86,88 and connected to each of the piezoelectric actuators 34,36. (90), the number of internal leads formed in the double folding plate is reduced. Since only the electrical connection 68 is required for the continuous conductive lead 90 in which the electrical contact 68 extends across each of the two piezoelectric actuators 34,36 and across the bridge portion 84. [ The number of electrical connections 68 provided for connection to the composite jet is also reduced, providing a total of three electrical connections 68 for the composite jet.

In a variant of the double folding plate of Figure 9 (and the continuous lead shown in the figure extending internally across the bridging portion), Figure 10 shows a discrete < RTI ID = 0.0 > Showing a double folding plate 82 having leads. A separate lead 92 is connected to two piezoelectric actuators 34 and 36 positioned on each plate 86 and 88 wherein the electrical contact 68 is connected to two piezoelectric actuators 35 and 36 And for connection to the conductive leads 92. [0042] Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, a total of four electrical connections 68 for the composite jet are provided.

Referring now to FIG. 11, another example of a non-metallic plate 94 (and a build-up process for its manufacture) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A plate 94, such as Capton, formed of a non-conductive material made of a non-metallic material is provided. Each of the provided plates 94 is positioned under each of the piezoelectric actuators 34 and 36 positioned on the plate 94 as shown on the front surface 98 and the back surface 100 of the plate in Fig. And has a metal hole 96 disposed in the inside of the plate so as to be positioned. The holes 96 may be filled with a metal insert or conductive epoxy to form electrical connections to the back side of the piezoelectric actuators 36 positioned on the front surface 98 of each plate 94. On the back side 100 of the plate 94 there is an electrical flex circuit or sputtered line contact 102 to provide an electrical signal at a location where a wire or flexible circuit lead 68 can be attached to the composite jet 12. [ Is formed.

Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention thus provide a composite jet assembly comprising a base metal plate for lowering the level of audible noise during operation of the composite jet. A non-metallic plate is fabricated to have a lower stiffness than a metal plate to provide a lower resonant frequency that produces less noise, wherein the plate also has a reduced mass that causes lower vibration during operation. The nonmetallic plate can be formed of a low cost material so that its cost is reduced compared to the metal plate.

Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, the composite jet is coupled to a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate, a first plate and a first plate, and positioned between these plates to form a chamber And an actuator element coupled to and coupled to at least one of the first or second plate to selectively bias the coupled plate, wherein the first and second plates are at least partially And is formed of a nonmetal material.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a composite jet device includes the steps of: constructing a first plate and a second plate at least partially from a nonmetallic material; attaching the actuator element to at least one of the first plate and the second plate; Thereby causing the deflection of the selectively attached plate, and positioning the first plate relative to the second plate by the spacing component, wherein the spacing component is configured to bias the first plate in a spaced arrangement 2 plate to form a chamber and an orifice inside. The method also includes attaching the electrical contact to the actuator element and the first and second plates, respectively, to enable selective voltage application to the actuator element.

According to another aspect of the invention, a composite jetting device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate to form a chamber, and a second plate coupled to at least one of the first or second plate to change the volume of the chamber. And an actuator element that selectively causes deflection of the coupled and coupled plate. Wherein each of the first and second plates comprises a first material comprising an electrically insulating nonmetallic material and an electrically conductive material and wherein the filler material, the metallization layer and the first and second plates are provided internally or < RTI ID = And a second material formed as one of the externally formed leads.

Although the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention may be modified to include any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or additions that do not previously described, but which correspond to the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims (22)

As a composite jet device,
A first plate;
A second plate spaced from the first plate;
A spacing component coupled to the first and second plates and positioned between the plates to form a chamber and comprising an orifice therein; And
An actuator element coupled to at least one of the first or second plate to selectively bias the coupled plate,
Wherein the first and second plates are formed at least partially of a non-metallic material. The composite jet device of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic material comprises an electrically non-conductive material. The composite jet device of claim 2, wherein the non-metallic material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, and a filler material. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second plates comprises an electrically conductive metal material, wherein the electrically conductive metal material comprises any one of a filler material, a metallized layer, and an internally or externally formed lead Lt; / RTI > 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second plates
Non-conductive non-metallic substrates; And
An electrically conductive metallization layer applied onto a non-electrically conductive non-
Wherein the composite jet device comprises: 5. The composite jetting device of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second plates comprises a copper-plated printed circuit board (PCB) blank. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second plates
Flexible dielectric layer; And
An electrically conductive lead formed on the outer surface of the flexible dielectric layer or formed in the flexible dielectric layer
Wherein the composite jet device comprises: The composite jetting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second plates are composed of a single member of a nonmetallic material folded along the bridging portion to form a first plate and a second plate. 9. The composite jetting device of claim 8, wherein the continuous electrically conductive leads are formed within a single member of the nonmetallic material, extend through the bridge and into the actuator elements on each of the first and second plates. 9. The composite jetting device of claim 8, wherein the discontinuous electrically conductive leads are formed within a single member of the nonmetallic material, extend through the bridge and into the actuator elements on the first and second plates. A method of manufacturing a composite jet device,
Constructing the first plate and the second plate at least partially from a non-metallic material;
Attaching the actuator element to at least one of the first plate and the second plate to selectively cause deflection of the attached plate;
Securing the first plate to the second plate in a spaced apart arrangement to form a chamber and positioning the first plate relative to the second plate by a spacing component comprising an orifice therein; And
Attaching an electrical contact attached to the actuator element to each of the first and second plates to enable selective application of voltage to the actuator element,
Wherein the method comprises the steps of: The method of claim 11, wherein the step of configuring each of the first plate and the second plate includes setting the rigidity of the first plate and the second plate to a desired value in order to adjust the resonance frequency of the composite jet device to a desired level And selecting a material composition of the first plate and the second plate. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring each of the first plate and the second plate comprises:
Providing a non-conductive non-metallic substrate; And
Applying an electrically conductive metallization layer on a non-electrically conductive non-metallic substrate
≪ / RTI > 12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring each of the first and second plates comprises providing a copper-plated printed circuit board (PCB) blank. 12. The method of manufacturing a composite jet according to claim 11, wherein the step of forming each of the first plate and the second plate includes providing an electrically non-conductive non-metallic material in which an electrically conductive filler material is mixed. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring each of the first plate and the second plate comprises providing a flexible dielectric layer having an electrically conductive lead formed on or in the outer surface thereof, wherein the electrically conductive lead And providing an electrical coupling of the electrical contact to the electrical connector. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the first plate and the second plate comprises:
Providing a single member of an electrically non-conductive non-metallic material comprising a first plate portion, a second plate portion and a cross-linking portion; And
The first plate and the second plate are formed by folding a single member of non-electrically conductive non-metallic material in the cross-linked portion such that the first plate portion is oriented in an arrangement substantially parallel to the second plate portion
Wherein a single member of a non-electrically conductive nonmetallic material extends through the cross-linking portion and into an actuator element on at least one of the first plate and the second plate and comprises a lead formed therein, A method of manufacturing a jet device. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the leads formed within a single member of the electrically non-conductive, non-metallic material comprise either a continuous lead or a discontinuous lead. As a composite jet device,
A first plate;
A second plate spaced from the first plate to form a chamber; And
An actuator element coupled to at least one of the first or second plate to selectively cause deflection of the coupled plate to change the volume of the chamber;
Wherein each of the first and second plates comprises:
A first material comprising an electrically insulating nonmetallic material; And
And a second material formed as either a filler material, a metallization layer, a lid formed internally or externally on the first material or in the first material,
Wherein the composite jet device comprises: 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: a spacing component coupled to and positioned between the first and second plates to maintain the first and second plates in spaced relationship, The second plate and the spacing component are gathered to form a chamber, wherein the spacing component comprises an orifice therein. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise foldable plate structures formed from a single member of non-metallic non-metallic material,
A first plate portion;
A second plate portion;
A bridging portion connecting the first plate portion to the second plate portion; And
A lead extending through the cross-linking portion and into an actuator element on at least one of the first plate and the second plate,
Wherein the foldable plate structure is folded at the cross-linked portion such that the first plate portion is oriented in an arrangement substantially parallel to the second plate portion to form the first plate and the second plate. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the components of the first material and the second material in each of the first plate and the second plate are selected such that the stiffness of the first plate and the second plate to set the resonant frequency of the composite jet device to a desired level To a predetermined value.

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