Patent ID: 6857580
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: B05B,G10K

Abstract:
1. A plug-in liquid atomizer comprising: a housing having a generally flat vertical surface; a pair of prongs extending out from said vertical surface for plugging into a wall outlet; a drive assembly mounted in said housing, said drive assembly comprising a piezoelectric actuator which expands and contracts in response to applied alternating electrical fields applied across opposite sides thereof and an atomizing plate coupled to and vibrated by the expansion and contraction of said actuator; a first electrical interconnection between one of said prongs and one side of said piezoelectric actuator and a second electrical interconnection between the other of said prongs and an opposite side of said piezoelectric actuator, said first and second electrical interconnections being configured to apply alternating voltages from said prongs across said piezoelectric actuator at frequencies insufficient to produce atomization from said plate; an electronic switch arranged in association with at least one of said first and second electrical interconnections to control the application of voltages from said prongs to said piezoelectric actuator; and an oscillator connected to said electronic switch to open and close said switch at a rapid rate sufficient to cause said plate to atomize liquid applied thereto.