Chamber architecture for cooling devices

A piezoelectric cooling chamber comprising:

• a piezoelectric cooling element wherein a vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element causes an increase or decrease in a chamber volume as the piezoelectric cooling element is deformed, the piezoelectric cooling element having cooling element edges coupled to spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at cooling element edges;
• an array of orifices distributed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric cooling chamber, the array of orifices allowing escape of a fluid from within the piezoelectric cooling chamber during the decrease in the chamber volume in response to the vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element;
• and
• a valve configured to admit the fluid into the piezoelectric cooling chamber when the chamber volume increases and to substantially prevent the fluid from exiting the piezoelectric cooling chamber through the valve when the chamber volume decreases, the valve having valve edges, the valve being coupled to the spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at the valve edges;
• and
• wherein the valve has at least a first aperture, the piezoelectric cooling element has at least a second aperture, and each of the at least the first aperture is offset from each of the at least the second aperture such that the fluid is restricted from flowing through the at least the first aperture and through the at least the second aperture for the valve being in proximity to the piezoelectric cooling element;
• wherein for the valve allowing the fluid to flow through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture, the valve remains attached to the spacers at the valve edges and the cooling element remains attached to the spacers at the cooling element edges;
• and
• wherein the valve includes a piezoelectric valve element having the at least the first aperture therein, the piezoelectric valve element being in contact with the piezoelectric cooling element during the decrease in the chamber volume such that a fluid flow through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture is substantially prevented and distal from the piezoelectric cooling element during the increase in the chamber volume such that the fluid flows through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture.

A piezoelectric cooling chamber, comprising:

• a piezoelectric cooling element wherein a vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element causes an increase or decrease in a chamber volume as the piezoelectric cooling element is deformed, the piezoelectric cooling element having cooling element edges coupled to spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at cooling element edges;
• an array of orifices distributed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric cooling chamber, the array of orifices allowing escape of a fluid from within the piezoelectric cooling chamber during the decrease in the chamber volume in response to the vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element;
• and
• a valve configured to admit the fluid into the piezoelectric cooling chamber when the chamber volume increases and to substantially prevent the fluid from exiting the piezoelectric cooling chamber through the valve when the chamber volume decreases, the valve having valve edges, the valve being coupled to the spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at the valve edges;
• wherein the valve has at least a first aperture, the piezoelectric cooling element has at least a second aperture, and each of the at least the first aperture is offset from each of the at least the second aperture such that the fluid is restricted from flowing through the at least the first aperture and through the at least the second aperture for the valve being in proximity to the piezoelectric cooling element;
• wherein for the valve allowing the fluid to flow through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture, the valve remains attached to the spacers at the valve edges and the cooling element remains attached to the spacers at the cooling element edges;
• and
• an additional valve between the array of orifices and the piezoelectric cooling element, and wherein the piezoelectric cooling element is between the additional valve and the valve, the chamber volume being defined by the valve and the additional valve.

A piezoelectric cooling system, comprising:

• a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells including a chamber having a piezoelectric cooling element, a plurality of orifices and a valve, the valve being an active valve, a vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element causing an increase or decrease in a chamber volume of the chamber as the piezoelectric cooling element is deformed, the plurality of orifices being distributed on at least one surface of the chamber, the orifices allowing escape of a fluid from within the chamber during the decrease in the chamber volume in response to the vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element, the valve admitting the fluid into the chamber during an increase in the chamber volume and substantially preventing the fluid from exiting the chamber through the valve during a decrease in the chamber volume, the valve having at least a first aperture, the piezoelectric cooling element having at least a second aperture, each of the at least the first aperture being offset from each of the at least the second aperture such that the fluid is restricted from flowing through the at least the first aperture and through the at least the second aperture for the valve being in proximity to the piezoelectric cooling element, the piezoelectric cooling element having cooling element edges coupled to spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at cooling element edges, the valve having valve edges, the valve being coupled to the spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at the valve edges;
• and
• a plurality of exhaust chimneys interposed between the plurality of cells, allowing fluid exiting the chamber from the plurality of orifices to be transported away from the plurality of orifices;
• wherein for the valve allowing the fluid to flow through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture, the valve remains attached to the spacers at the valve edges and the cooling element remains attached to the spacers at the cooling element edges.

A method of providing a piezoelectric cooling chamber comprising:

• providing a piezoelectric cooling element wherein a vibration of the piezoelectric cooling element causes an increase or decrease in a chamber volume of the piezoelectric cooling chamber as the piezoelectric cooling element is deformed, the piezoelectric cooling element having cooling element edges coupled to spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at cooling element edges;
• providing an array of orifices distributed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric cooling chamber, the array of orifices allowing escape of a fluid from within the piezoelectric cooling chamber during the decrease in the chamber volume in response to the vibration of the piezoelectric cooling element;
• and
• providing a valve configured to admit the fluid into the piezoelectric cooling chamber when the chamber volume increases and to substantially prevent the fluid from exiting the piezoelectric cooling chamber through the valve when the chamber volume decreases, the valve having valve edges, the valve being coupled to the spacers of the piezoelectric cooling chamber at the valve edges, the valve being an active valve;
• wherein the valve has at least a first aperture, the piezoelectric cooling element has at least a second aperture, and each of the at least the first aperture is offset from each of the at least the second aperture such that the fluid is restricted from flowing through the at least the first aperture and through the at least the second aperture for the valve being in proximity to the piezoelectric cooling element;
• and
• wherein for the valve allowing the fluid to flow through the at least the first aperture and the at least the second aperture, the valve remains attached to the spacers at the valve edges and the cooling element remains attached to the spacers at the cooling element edges.