Piezoelectric fan

Abstract

A piezoelectric fan comprising two or more prongs and a bulk flow portion.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a piezoelectric fan assembly comprising;
 at least one piezoelectric actuator capable of causing vibration in a flexible blade; and 
 the flexible blade coupled to the piezoelectric actuator at a first end, the blade comprising;
 a bulk flow portion capable of generating a bulk media flow, the bulk flow portion positioned between the first end and a second end of the blade; and 
 
 two or more prongs coupled to the bulk flow portion and positioned at the second end. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one prong comprises: holes, scalloped edges, notches, or rounded edges, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink comprising a base portion and at least one projection extending from the base portion, wherein at least a portion of one or more prongs is positioned over the base portion and adjacent to the at least one projection. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the piezoelectric fan assembly is contained within an enclosure. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more prongs are positioned at an angle which is transverse to a plane of the base portion of the heat sink. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is coupled to the heat sink. 
   
   
       7 . A method, comprising:
 dissipating heat from a heat source to a heat dissipating device;   forming a thermal boundary layer of air and a thermal ambient layer of air proximate to a surface of the heat dissipating device;   generating a bulk airflow with a piezoelectric fan capable of displacing at least a portion of the thermal ambient layer; and   generating a local turbulent airflow with a piezoelectric fan capable of breaking up the thermal boundary layer.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising interweaving a portion of the piezoelectric fan with projections protruding from the heat dissipating device.