초록

A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a disk; an annulus positioned above and coaxial with the disk; a plurality of ribs extending up from the disk to the annulus; each rib corresponding to a respective radius of the disk, the ribs defining passages that run from a space above a central r

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a disk; an annulus positioned above and coaxial with the disk; a plurality of ribs extending up from the disk to the annulus; each rib corresponding to a respective radius of the disk, the ribs defining passages that run from a space above a central region of the disk to a periphery of the disk; and a piezoelectric element on which the disk is mounted. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element vibrates to cause a gas to flow through the passages. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gas flows through the passages to cool an electronic component. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within a computer. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is a microprocessor. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within a cellular phone. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within a PDA. 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within a server. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus is incorporated into the layout of a backplane of a server. 10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within aAC adapter. 11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein electronic component is within a circuit breaker. 12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gas is air. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas is ambient air. 14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gas is air. 15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gas is air. 16. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gas is air. 17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gas is air. 18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the gas is air. 19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gas is air. 20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the gas is air.