# US 2010/0166232 A1 · Thermoacoustic module, thermoacoustic device, and method for making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166232 A1 - Document ID: US20100166232A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/655,415 - Filed: 2009-12-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Liang Liu; Li Qian; Chen Feng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166232A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles} - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - Y10T 29/49005: Acoustic transducer - Y10T 29/4908: Acoustic transducer - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A thermoacoustic module includes a substrate, a sound wave generator, at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. The substrate has a top surface, and the top surface defines at least one recess. The sound wave generator is located on the top surface of the substrate and includes at least one first region suspended above the at least one recess and at least one second region being in contact with the top surface of the substrate. The at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode are coupled to the sound wave generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoacoustic module, the thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate having a top surface, and the top surface defining at least one recess; a sound wave generator comprising at least one first region suspended above the at least one recess and at least one second region on the top surface of the substrate ; and at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode coupled to the sound wave generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the sound wave generator comprises a carbon nanotube structure, the carbon nanotube structure comprises at least one carbon nanotube film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermoacoustic module of claim 2, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of successive carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween, the plurality of carbon nanotubes in the at least one carbon nanotube film are substantially aligned along a single direction and substantially parallel to a surface of the at least one carbon nanotube film. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermoacoustic module of claim 3, wherein the carbon nanotubes are oriented along a direction from the at least one first electrode to the at least one second electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The thermoacoustic module of claim 2, wherein the at least one carbon nantoube film comprises a plurality of long, curved, disordered carbon nanotubes entangled with each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the sound wave generator comprises of a carbon nanotube composite structure, the carbon nanotube composite structure comprises of: at least one carbon nanotube film, the at least on carbon nanotube film comprises of a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and a conductive material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the heat capacity per unit area of the sound wave generator is less than 2×10 J/cm2*K. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is a though groove, a through hole, a blind groove, or a blind hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is a blind groove or a blind hole with a depth ranging from about 10 microns to about 10 millimeters from the top surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of recesses, the recesses are through grooves being parallel to each other and being equidistant apart. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrode comprises of a plurality of first electrodes and the at least one second electrode comprises of a plurality of second electrodes ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermoacoustic module of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are substantially parallel to each other and arranged in a staggered manner. ### Claim 13 A thermoacoustic device, the thermoacoustic device comprising: a thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate comprising a top surface, and the top surface defining at least one recess; a sound wave generator comprising at least one first region suspended above the at least one recess and at least one second region on the top surface of the substrate; and an signal input device capable of transmitting signals to the sound wave generator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermoacoustic module of claim 13, wherein the signal input device is an electrical signal input device connected to the sound wave generator through at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermoacoustic module of claim 13, wherein the signal input device is an electromagnetic wave device capable of sending electromagnetic waves to the sound wave generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The thermoacoustic module of claim 13, wherein the sound wave generator comprises at least one carbon nanotube film, the at least one carbon nanotube film comprises of a plurality of successive carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der Waals attractive force therebetween, the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film are substantially aligned along a single direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The thermoacoustic module of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic wave device is a laser-producing device, a light source, or an electromagnetic signal generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The thermoacoustic module of claim 13, wherein the recess is a though groove, a through hole, a blind groove, or a blind hole. ### Claim 19 A thermoacoustic device, the thermoacoustic device comprising: a thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate having a top surface and at least one recess; a sound wave generator comprising at least one first region suspended above the at least one recess and at least one second region on the top surface of the substrate; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode coupled to the sound wave generator; and a cover board; and two fixing frames, wherein the thermoacoustic module is located between the two fixing frames. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The thermoacoustic device of claim 19, wherein the heat capacity per unit area of the sound wave generator is less than 2×104 J/cm2*K.