Patent ID: 6450773
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A piezoelectric vacuum pump comprising:a base comprising a fiberglass board a diaphragm having an upper diaphragm member comprising a thin metal sheet plated with a noble metal on at least a lower surface thereof and a lower diaphragm member comprising a layer of copper on which a layer of a noble metal is deposited and including an input port and an output port; a plurality of piezoelectric bimorph elements, mounted to an upper surface of the upper diaphragm member, each of said piezoelectric bimorph elements causing a portion of the upper diaphragm member to flex when electrically activated, thereby creating an change in volume in a portion of the diaphragm proximate to that piezoelectric bimorph element; and a sequencing circuit, to provide a patterned switching sequence that may be used to control electrical activation of selected piezoelectric bimorph elements such that a volume of gas is drawn into the input port, moved through the diaphragm, and exhausted out of the output port.