Patent ID: 9233838
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: B81B,B81C,F04B,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A micro-electromechanical (MEM) synthetic jet actuator comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a cavity extending therethrough such that a first opening is formed in a first surface of the semiconductor substrate and such that a second opening is formed in a second surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first flexible membrane formed on at least a portion of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and extending over the first opening, wherein the first flexible membrane comprises an orifice formed therein and aligned with the first opening; a second flexible membrane formed on at least a portion of the second surface of the semiconductor substrate and extending over the second opening; and a pair of actuator elements, each actuator element coupled to a respective flexible membrane to selectively cause displacement of the first and second flexible membranes; wherein vibration of the first and second flexible membranes causes a change in cavity volume such that an ambient fluid is drawn into the cavity through the orifice when the cavity volume is expanded and such that the ambient fluid is expelled from the orifice when the cavity volume is decreased, the expelled ambient fluid forming a synthetic jet stream; and wherein the first and second flexible membranes are formed on the front and back surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, respectively, so as to extend beyond edges of the cavity.