Zipping actuator fluid motivation

Abstract

A miniature blower is formed by cutting a plurality of patterns in a respective plurality of sheets of material, aligning the plurality of sheets of material so as to effect an operative alignment of the patterns and laminating the sheets of material to produce a zipping actuator assembly with a zipping membrane and integrated check valves. Cyclic activation of the zipping membrane within the assembly produces a flow of air through the check valves.

1 . A method of forming a cooling blower comprising:
 cutting a plurality of patterns in a respective plurality of sheets of material;   aligning said plurality of sheets of material so as to effect an operative alignment of said patterns; and   laminating said sheets of material to produce a zipping actuator assembly with a zipping membrane and integrated check valves such that, by cycling the zipping membrane within the assembly a flow of air is produced through the check valves.   
     
     
         2 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 1  further comprising coupling a plurality of electronic components to said zipping actuator assembly such that said actuator assembly serves as a printed circuit board supporting said plurality of electronic components. 
     
     
         3 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 2  further comprising coupling a heat exchanger to a region of said zipping actuator assembly and providing channels within said assembly such that a working fluid motivated through said channels by said cycling of said zipping membrane conveys heat from at least one component of said plurality of electronic components to said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 2  further comprising coupling a heat sink device to a region of said zipping actuator assembly and providing channels within said assembly such that a working fluid motivated through said channels by said cycling of said zipping membrane conveys heat from at least one component of said plurality of electronic components to said heat sink device. 
     
     
         5 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 3  wherein said heat sink device comprises a phase change material heat sink device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 2  further comprising providing channels within said assembly such that a working fluid motivated through said channels by said cycling of said zipping membrane conveys heat from at least one component of said plurality of electronic components to an exhaust port of an electronic device containing said at least one component. 
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 2  further comprising providing channels within said assembly such that relatively cool ambient air is drawn into an air inlet of an electronic device including said cooling blower and motivated through said channels by said cycling of said zipping membrane. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a cooling blower as defined in  claim 2  wherein at least one component of said plurality of electronic components serves to control said zipping membrane. 
     
     
         9 . A miniature blower comprising:
 a plurality of layers of material, said layers of material being substantially permanently adhered to one another, said layers of material defining pump chamber therewithin; and   a generally flexible membrane disposed within said pump chamber, said generally flexible membrane including an electrically conductive portion, said electrically conductive portion being adapted to receive an electric charge so as causing portion of said generally flexible membrane to traverse said pump chamber and thereby displace a working fluid within said pump chamber.   
     
     
         10 . A miniature blower as defined in claim nine wherein said generally flexible membrane includes a polymer membrane with a plated-on metallic electrically conductive portion. 
     
     
         11 . An acoustical transducer comprising:
 a first substantially rigid member having a first generally planar surface region; a second substantially rigid member having a second generally planar surface region, said second generally planar surface region being disposed in generally parallel spaced relation with respect to said first generally planar surface region; a third generally flexible member having third and fourth surface regions disposed on opposite sides of said generally flexible member and in substantially parallel spaced relation with respect to one another, said third generally flexible member having a first end substantially fixedly coupled adjacent to said first generally planar surface region and a second end substantially fixedly coupled adjacent to said second generally planar surface region such that said first generally planar surface region is disposed facing said third surface region and said second generally planar surface region is disposed facing said fourth surface region; whereby an intermediate portion of said generally flexible member between said first and second ends is adapted to traverse the space between said first generally planar surface region and said second generally planar surface region in response to respective electrical voltages applied to said first, second and third members so as to eject air from a region between said first and second generally planar surface regions and thereby produce an audible sound.   
     
     
         12 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a first substantially rigid member having a first generally planar surface region; a second substantially rigid member having a second generally planar surface region, said second generally planar surface region being disposed in generally parallel spaced relation with respect to said first generally planar surface region; a third generally flexible member having third and fourth surface regions disposed on opposite sides of said generally flexible member and in substantially parallel spaced relation with respect to one another, said third generally flexible member having a first end substantially fixedly coupled adjacent to said first generally planar surface region and a second end substantially fixedly coupled adjacent to said second generally planar surface region such that said first generally planar surface region is disposed facing said third surface region and said second generally planar surface region is disposed facing said fourth surface region; whereby an intermediate portion of said generally flexible member between said first and second ends is adapted to traverse the space between said first generally planar surface region and said second generally planar surface region in response to respective electrical voltages applied to said first, second and third members and, by so traversing, eject a fluid from between said first and second generally planar surface regions through a unidirectional valve so as to result in a mass transfer of said fluid.