Cooling systems and synthetic jets configured to harvest energy and vehicles including the same
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsSongtao Wu, Shailesh Joshi, Debasish Banerjee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling system includes a diaphragm, at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm, at least one dielectric film layer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the cooling system in a contact mode and in a non-contact mode. In the contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the conductor layer contacts the dielectric film layer. In the non-contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the conductor layer does not contact the dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates.
Claims20
A cooling system comprising:
- a diaphragm;
- at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm;
- at least one dielectric film layer;
- and
- a controller programmed to:
- operate the cooling system in a contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer contacts the at least one dielectric film layer, and
- operate the cooling system in a non-contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer does not contact the at least one dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates.
A synthetic jet device comprising:
- a diaphragm;
- at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm;
- at least one dielectric film layer;
- and
- a controller programmed to:
- operate the synthetic jet device in a contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer contacts the at least one dielectric film layer, and
- operate the synthetic jet device in a non-contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer does not contact the at least one dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates;
- wherein the oscillation of the diaphragm generates a fluid jet.
A vehicle comprising:
- an electric motor;
- and
- a synthetic jet device electrically coupled to the electric motor, the synthetic jet device comprising:
- a diaphragm;
- at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm;
- at least one dielectric film layer;
- and
- a controller programmed to:
- operate the synthetic jet device in a contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer contacts the at least one dielectric film layer, and
- operate the synthetic jet device in a non-contact mode, wherein the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the at least one conductor layer does not contact the at least one dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.