Plasma Actuator Cooling for Directed Electronic Component Airflow

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices for electronic components inefficiently apply airflow due to diffusion into the shield case, leading to suboptimal cooling performance.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device utilizing a plasma actuator with a dielectric, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode to generate and direct an induced airflow efficiently towards electronic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If airflow is applied to the wall plate to change direction, then the airflow direction is altered towards the substrate, but the airflow diffuses into the shield case and cannot be applied efficiently to the electronic components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidcooling performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical fan-based airflow generation system with a plasma actuator that uses electrohydrodynamic effects to generate induced flow. The plasma actuator creates body forces within the fluid through ionization and electric field interactions, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts and enabling more precise airflow control directly at the component level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The plasma actuator is positioned to generate airflow locally and directly over the electronic components that require cooling, rather than directing airflow generally towards the substrate. This localized airflow generation ensures that the cooling effect is concentrated where it is most needed, improving thermal management efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 plasma actuator effectively concentrates and directs airflow to electronic components, enhancing cooling performance and maintaining device efficiency over time by removing dust and organic substances.

Implementation Method 1

a plasma actuator including a dielectric, a first electrode arranged on one surface of the dielectric to generate an induced flow, and a second electrode arranged on the other surface of the dielectric

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma actuator induced flow: Electrohydrodynamics

Implementation Method 2

a voltage applied to the third electrode is a voltage that generates a potential difference, which is capable of attracting the induced flow, between the first electrode and the third electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS12207434B2Cooling device

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A cooling device cools an electronic component using a plasma actuator provided with a dielectric, a first electrode arranged on one surface of the dielectric to generate an induced flow, and a second electrode arranged on the other surface of the dielectric, in which the electronic component and a third electrode are arranged in a flow direction of the induced flow, and a voltage applied to the third electrode is a voltage that generates a potential difference, which is capable of attracting the induced flow, between the first electrode and the third electrode.