Abstract: A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, including a housing and active cooling cells is described. The active cooling cells are in the housing. The cooling cells utilize vibrational motion to drive a fluid such that the mobile phone has a coefficient of thermal spreading (CTS) greater than 0.5 for a steady-state power generated by the mobile phone of at least five watts.

Abstract: A system including a cooling element and an egress passageway is described. The cooling element is configured to provide a stream of hot air having been heated by a heat from a heat-generating structure. The hot air passes through the egress passageway toward an egress. The egress passageway includes at least one inlet through which cool air is drawn to be mixed with the hot air.

Abstract: A method for providing a cooling system is described. The method includes providing a plurality of sheets. Each sheet includes at least one structure for a level in each cooling cell of a plurality of cooling cells. A particular level of each cooling cell includes a cooling element having a first side and a second side. The cooling element is configured to undergo vibrational motion to drive fluid from the first side to the second side. The method also includes aligning the sheets, attaching the sheets to form a laminate that includes the cooling cells, and separating the laminate into sections. Each section includes at least one cooling cell.

Abstract: An actuator usable in a cooling system is described. The actuator includes an anchored region and a cantilevered arm. The cantilevered arm extends outward from the anchored region. The cantilevered arm includes a step region, an extension region and an outer region. The step region extends outward from the anchored region and has a step thickness. The extension region extends outward from the step region and has an extension thickness less than the step thickness. The outer region extends outward from the extension region and has an outer thickness greater than the extension thickness.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of cooling cells is described. Each of the cooling cells includes a support structure and a cooling element. The cooling element has a central region having an axis and a perimeter. The cooling element IS supported by the support structure at the central region and along the axis. At least a portion of the perimeter being unpinned. The cooling element is configured to undergo vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid toward a heat-generating structure. A portion of the cooling cells aligned along the axis are physically connected such that the cooling cells form an integrated cooling cell tile.

Abstract: A cooling system for a computing device is described. The cooling system includes a heat transfer structure. The heat transfer structure includes a heat spreader, a fin structure, and a differential pressure device. The fin structure transfers heat from the heat spreader to a fluid. The differential pressure device generates a low pressure region that draws the fluid from an ingress in the computing device through the fin structure. The heat transfer structure is enclosed in a chamber of the computing device. The chamber includes the ingress and an egress.

Abstract: A flow chamber having an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and an actuator is described. The upper chamber includes a top wall. The actuator is located distally from the top wall. The lower chamber includes a bottom wall and a sidewall. The lower chamber receives a fluid from the upper chamber when the actuator is activated. The bottom wall has orifices and at least one cavity therein. The orifices are vertically aligned with a portion of the actuator and allow the fluid to exit the lower chamber. The at least one cavity is proximate to the sidewall and distally located from the orifices.

Abstract: An active cooling system includes at least one cooling element that has a vent therein. The active cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element(s) are actuated to vibrate to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure and to alternately open and close at least one virtual valve corresponding to the vent. The virtual valve is open for a low flow resistance and closed for a high flow resistance. The vent remains physically open when the virtual valve is closed.

Abstract: A system including a cooling element and a support structure is described. The cooling element has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The cooling element is configured to undergo vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid from the first side to the second side. The support structure thermally couples the cooling element to a heat-generating structure via thermal conduction.

Abstract: A system including a module and an egress passageway is described. The module includes a cooling cells, a heat spreader, and a cover including vents therein. The cooling cells are between the heat spreader and the cover. Each of the cooling cells includes a cooling element configured to draw air in through the plurality of vents and drive air out of an aperture between the heat spreader and the cover at a first flow rate. A stream of hot air having been heated by a heat from a heat-generating structure thermally coupled to the heat spreader is thus provided. The hot air passes through the egress passageway toward an egress. The egress passageway includes at least one inlet through which cool air is drawn at a second flow rate to be mixed with the hot air. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A cooling system is described. The cooling system includes a cooling element having a central region and a perimeter. The cooling element is anchored at the central region. At least a portion of the perimeter is unpinned. The cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element is actuated to induce vibrational motion to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure.

Abstract: A cooling system including a support structure and a cooling element is described. The cooling element has a thickness and includes an anchored region and a cantilevered arm. The anchored region is coupled to and supported by the support structure. The cantilevered arm extends outward from the anchored region. The cantilevered arm includes at least one cavity therein. The at least one cavity has a depth of at least one-third and not more than three-fourths of the thickness of the cooling element. The cooling element is configured to undergo vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid for cooling a heat-generating structure.

Abstract: A system including a tile and a hood is described. The tile includes a plurality of cooling cells. Each of the cooling cells includes a support structure and a cooling element. The cooling element is supported by the support structure and is configured to undergo vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid toward a heat-generating structure. The hood is coupled to the tile and directs the fluid around the plurality of cooling cells.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes fluid transfer cells that vibrationally move a fluid and a thermally conductive cover that conducts heat from the cells while avoiding transfer of mechanical energy between the cells. A fluid transfer module includes outer and inner walls, a support member, and a membrane. The outer wall has an outer opening. The inner wall has an inner opening. The support member is disposed laterally on the inner wall such that a flow chamber is defined between the outer and inner walls. The membrane is supported by the support member along the outer wall. A fluid transfer module includes an inlet port and an actuator. The actuator undergoes vibrational motion and has first and second vibrational modes. The first vibrational mode causes fluid to enter the inlet port. The second vibrational mode expels fluid from the inlet port, which reduces clogging of the inlet port.

Abstract: A cooling system including a heat spreader and a cooling element is described. The heat spreader is thermally coupled with a heat-generating structure. The cooling element is in fluid communication heat spreader. The heat-generating structure is offset from the cooling element. The cooling element undergoes vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid toward the heat spreader while not directing the fluid directly at the heat-generating structure.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of cooling cells and a switching and control module is described. The cooling cells including cooling elements configured to be actuated to induce vibrational motion to drive a fluid toward a heat-generating structure. The switching and control module is coupled to the cooling elements and provides drive signals to the cooling elements based on at least one drive signal input. Each of the drive signals has a frequency corresponding to a cooling element. The frequency of the drive signal corresponds to a resonant state of the cooling element.

Abstract: A cooling system including a heat spreader, an active cooling element, and a base is described. The heat spreader is in thermal communication with a heat-generating structure mounted on a substrate. The heat spreader over hangs the heat-generating structure. The active cooling element is in thermal communication with the heat spreader. The base supports the heat spreader and transfers a load from the heat spreader to the substrate such that a bending of the heat spreader does not exceed ten degrees.

Abstract: A method for providing a piezoelectric device is described. The method includes providing a first electrode layer on a substrate and coating at least one layer of piezoelectric material. The coating using at least one of slot-die coating, dip coating, aerosol coating and R2R coating such that a layer of the at least one layer of piezoelectric material has a variation in thickness of not more than ten percent. The layer(s) of piezoelectric materials are also heat treated. Multiple layers of piezoelectric material may be slot-die coated and heat treated to provide a multilayer having the desired thickness. A second electrode layer is provided on the layer(s) of piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A system including at least one heat-generating structure and a cooling system is described. The cooling system includes a cooling element and an exhaust system. The cooling element is in communication with a fluid and is configured to direct the fluid toward the heat-generating structure(s) using vibrational motion. The exhaust system is configured to direct fluid away from the heat-generating structure to extract the heat and/or to draw the fluid toward the cooling element.

Abstract: A system including an active cooling system is described. The active cooling system includes a cooling element in communication with a fluid and configured to use vibrational motion to direct a fluid toward a surface of heat-generating structure(s). Heat is transferred from the heat-generating structure to the fluid. The system is configured such that the fluid follows a path from the surface of the heat-generating structure(s) past a structure having a lower temperature than the surface of the heat-generating structure. The structure absorbs heat from the fluid. The structure is within the system and distal from the active cooling system.