Oscillating Planar Body Fan for Compact Electronics Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oscillation blade fans, including piezoelectric and electromagnetic types, are insufficient in generating airflow for effectively cooling compact electronic components that process large volumes of data, as they typically produce airflows of 10 liters/min with local velocities of about 1.5m/s, which is not sufficient for applications requiring efficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The design features a planar body with flexible flat sheets supported by rigid structures, such as elongated or curved beams, which diverge from each other, allowing for elastic deflection and increased airflow capture, potentially reaching peak velocities of 5m/s, and can be driven by piezoelectric or electromagnetic elements, mimicking the shape and efficiency of a fishtail to enhance air movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional oscillation blade fans are used, then the device is compact and reliable, but the airflow generation capability is insufficient for effective cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the planar body oscillate back and forth in response to external excitation. The planar body is capable of dynamic motion rather than being static, allowing it to actively move fluid. This oscillating motion enables the compact device to generate significantly higher airflow (5-10 times more than conventional fans) while maintaining its compact and reliable design, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of oscillation frequency and amplitude by using external excitation sources (piezoelectric or electromagnetic drivers) to vibrate the planar body at optimized frequencies. By adjusting these dynamic parameters, the device achieves peak velocities of 5m/s and airflow rates of 50-100 liters/min, transforming it from a low-performance conventional fan to a high-performance cooling device while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Device complexity
If the planar body uses only flexible material, then the structure is simple, but the structural integrity and support are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining flexible planar body material with rigid support structures. The planar body itself remains simple and flexible for ease of oscillation, while rigid beams or struts are integrated into the structure to provide necessary structural integrity and support. This composite approach allows the device to maintain simplicity in its core flexible component while achieving the required strength through the combined structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and structural integrity.
3Productivity
If rotary or radial fans are used, then high airflow is achieved, but the device occupies large volume and has short lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rotary or radial fan system with an oscillating planar body system driven by piezoelectric or electromagnetic elements. This substitution eliminates the need for complex rotating mechanical components, bearings, and motors that occupy large volume. The oscillating planar structure achieves comparable or superior airflow (50-100 liters/min) while occupying significantly less space, directly resolving the contradiction between airflow volume and device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
By using dynamic oscillation of the planar body instead of continuous rotation, the device achieves high airflow performance in a compact form. The oscillating motion concentrates fluid movement in a specific direction during each cycle, maximizing cooling efficiency in a small package. This dynamic approach enables the device to deliver high productivity without the large volume penalty of traditional rotary fans.
4Device complexity
If conventional oscillation blade fans are used, then the structure is simple, but the local velocity is insufficient for effective heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using external excitation to drive the planar body at optimized oscillation frequencies and amplitudes. This parameter optimization enables the device to achieve peak velocities of 5m/s, five times higher than conventional fans, while maintaining structural simplicity. The rigid support structures are designed to resonate at these optimized frequencies, amplifying the velocity output without adding complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic oscillation of the planar body creates concentrated high-velocity jets of fluid during each oscillation cycle. By controlling the oscillation amplitude and frequency, the device achieves peak velocities of 5m/s locally, providing sufficient cooling power for high-performance electronic components while keeping the overall structure simple and compact.
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
This configuration enhances air moving efficiency, allowing for improved airflow distribution and cooling performance, particularly in compact electronic systems, by increasing airflow velocities and volumes, thus addressing the limitations of conventional oscillation blade fans.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible flat sheet is capable of elastically deflecting during an oscillation of the planar body said elastic deflection being opposite to a direction of oscillation of the planer body and generating a concave shape on the surface of the planar body
Implementation Method 2
the driver comprises a piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 3
the driver comprises an electromagnetic element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4A
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a driver a driver connected to a planar body and configured to generate a motion in the planar body in response to an external excitation. The planar body comprises a flexible flat sheet with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the first lateral side and the second lateral side diverging from each other in a direction moving away from the planar body. The planar body further comprises a plurality of rigid structures. A first rigid structure is attached to the first lateral side of the flexible flat sheet and a second rigid structure is attached to the second lateral side of the flexible flat sheet and the rigid structures provide support for the flexible flat sheet.