Flat-Coil Magnet Actuator for Low-Voltage Vibrational Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric actuators are expensive and require high voltage, while magnetic thin-film actuators have limited vibrational force generation and increased cost with improved manufacturing complexity, making them uneconomical for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design utilizing flat coils and small, powerful magnets with flexible substrates, where the coils and magnets interact to generate vibrational forces, allowing for efficient airflow control and fluid propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If piezoelectric actuators are used to generate vibrational forces, then the vibrational amplitude can be controlled, but the cost increases due to expensive piezoelectric crystals and high voltage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive piezoelectric crystals with inexpensive flat coils and magnets that can be manufactured at low cost using standard PCB and magnet assembly processes, eliminating the need for costly piezoelectric materials while achieving the same vibrational force generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the piezoelectric mechanical deformation system with an electromagnetic system using flat coils and magnets, where electrical current through the coils generates magnetic fields that interact with the magnets to produce vibrational forces, replacing the piezoelectric effect with electromagnetic interaction
2Use of energy by moving object
If magnetic thin-film actuators are used to generate vibrational forces, then the device can operate at lower voltages, but the vibrational force generation is limited due to lower magnetic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flat coils with high-strength magnets and flexible substrates to create a composite structure that generates stronger magnetic fields and higher vibrational forces compared to conventional magnetic thin-film actuators, while maintaining low operating voltage through the efficient electromagnetic interaction of the composite components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from thin-film magnetic actuators to a three-dimensional structure using flat coils wound around flexible substrates with magnets positioned at strategic locations, adding spatial dimensionality to the magnetic field generation and significantly enhancing the vibrational force output
3Force
If manufacturing precision is improved to enhance magnetic thin-film actuator performance, then the vibrational force increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the actuator into modular segments including flat coils, flexible substrates, and discrete magnets that can be manufactured and assembled separately using standard industrial processes, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high vibrational force output through optimized assembly configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes performance by adjusting parameters such as coil winding patterns, magnet positioning, and substrate flexibility rather than requiring extreme manufacturing precision, allowing for tolerance-friendly manufacturing processes that reduce complexity and cost while achieving high vibrational forces
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The actuator achieves efficient airflow control and fluid propulsion with a simple, cost-effective design that is compact, lightweight, and easy to integrate into various devices, reducing production time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic thin-film actuators use the interaction between coils and magnetic thin films to achieve chamber expansion or contraction, thus generating vibrational forces. When current flows through a coil, a magnetic field is produced, which interacts with a magnetic thin film, generating mechanical motion.
Implementation Method 2
a force produced by the interaction between the coil film and the magnet is directed toward the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator is provided. The actuator includes a chamber, a coil film and a first magnet. The chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The coil film is disposed in the chamber and includes a plurality of flat coils and a plurality of stacked substrates. The flat coils are interconnected and respectively formed on the substrates. The first magnet is disposed on a common central axis of the plurality of flat coils and is located between the coil film and a first side frame of the chamber.