Patent ID: 8164183

Claim:
An integrated circuit chip comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising at least one transistor; and a pump in fluid communication with a ventilating duct and configured to provide pressure sufficient to set a fluid in motion through the ventilating duct so as to cool the integrated circuit chip, the pump comprising: a cavity disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a conductive layer covering at least a portion of an interior of the cavity; a flexible membrane, including a conductive material, placed above the cavity; a dielectric layer that provides insulation between portions of the conductive layer and the conductive material of the flexible membrane which are close to each other; a pumping volume defined between the conductive layer and the flexible membrane; a first opening and a second opening, each opening disposed on the same side of the flexible membrane and providing fluid communication to the pumping volume through the conductive layer; terminals to receive and apply voltage between the conductive layer and the flexible membrane to cause the flexible membrane to move; and wherein the flexible membrane is constructed and arranged to cover at least one of the first opening and the second opening and produce the pressure sufficient to set a fluid in motion through the ventilating duct so as to cool the integrated chip upon application of the voltage.