# US 2010/0166233 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 2010/0166233 A1 - Document ID: US20100166233A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/658,552 - Filed: 2010-02-11 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Liang Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166233A1 ## 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, at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located on the substrate, a sound wave generator, and at least one spacer. The sound wave generator is electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The at least one spacer is located between the substrate and the sound wave generator. The at least one spacer supports the sound wave generator. An interval is defined between the sound wave generator and the substrate. The sound wave generator is embedded in the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoacoustic module, the thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located on the substrate; a sound wave generator electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and at least one spacer located between the substrate and the sound wave generator; wherein the at least one spacer supports the sound wave generator, an interval is defined between the sound wave generator and the substrate, the sound wave generator is partially embedded in the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is located on the substrate and between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one spacer is selected from the group consisting of dot, lamellar, rod, wire, block, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer comprises a plurality of spacers, the plurality spacers are the same distance apart. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The thermoacoustic module of claim 4, wherein a distance between every two adjacent spacers of the plurality of spacers is in a range from 10 microns to about 1 centimeter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is attached to the substrate via a binder or a screw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is integrated with the substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is conductive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the sound wave generator is partially embedded in the at least one spacer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein a distance from the sound wave generator to the substrate is in a range from about 10 microns to about 0.5 centimeters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrode comprises a plurality of first electrodes, the at least one second electrode comprises a plurality of second electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are located on the substrate in an staggered manner. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermoacoustic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are parallel to each other with a same distance between adjacent first electrode and the second electrode thereof. ### Claim 13 (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 14 (depends on 13) The thermoacoustic module of claim 13, 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 15 A thermoacoustic module, the thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate; at least one linear shaped first electrode and at least one linear shaped second electrode located on the substrate; a carbon nanotube structure electrically connected to the at least one linear shaped first electrode and the at least one linear shaped second electrode; and a plurality of spacers located between the substrate and the sound wave generator; wherein the plurality of spacers space the sound wave generator from the substrate, the carbon nanotube structure comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a direction from the at least one linear shaped first electrode to the at least one linear shaped second electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The thermoacoustic module of claim 15, wherein the plurality of spacers is insulated from the at least one linear shaped first electrode and the at least one linear shaped second electrode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The thermoacoustic module of claim 15, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes are substantially aligned along a direction perpendicular to the at least one linear shaped first electrode and the at least one linear shaped second electrode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The thermoacoustic module of claim 15, wherein the plurality of spacers are linear shaped and parallel to each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The thermoacoustic module of claim 15, wherein the plurality of spacers, the at least one linear shaped first electrode, and the at least one linear shaped second electrode are comprised of the same material. ### Claim 20 A thermoacoustic device, the thermoacoustic device comprising: a thermoacoustic module comprising: a substrate; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located on the substrate; a sound wave generator electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and at least one spacer located between the substrate and the sound wave generator; and two fixing frames to secure the thermoacoustic module, wherein the at least one spacer supports the sound wave generator, an interval is defined between the sound wave generator and the substrate, and the sound wave generator is partially embedded in the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.