PIEZOELECTRIC TYPE COOLING DEVICE

Abstract

There is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0050315 filed on May 26, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric type cooling device using a piezoelectric actuator.

2. Description of the Related Art

When various electronic devices, including a computer, are continuously used, heat is generated therein and may deteriorate the performance thereof. Therefore, various electronic devices include at least one cooling unit.

According to the related art, a fan type cooling unit has mainly been used. However, a cooling device using a fan has excessive noise, excessive power consumption, difficulties in a manufacturing method thereof, and difficulties in miniaturization. Therefore, there is a need to provide a novel cooling device solving the defects according to the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a cooling device capable of having relatively low noise and low power consumption, being simply manufactured, and being easily miniaturized.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

The upper and lower housings may be symmetrical with regard to one another.

The openings may be provided in the upper and lower housings, respectively.

The openings provided in the upper housing may be provided in a side or a main surface thereof.

The openings provided in the lower housing may be provided in a side or a main surface thereof.

Each of the upper and lower housing may include an air channel groove formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof.

The air channel groove may be in communication with the opening at at least one point.

Inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower housings may have a dome shape corresponding to a shape in which the diaphragm moves vertically.

The diaphragm may be fitted between an upper edge and a lower edge at which the upper and lower housings are combined with each other.

The housing may have a cylindrical shape.

The housing may have a rectangular pillar shape.

A plurality of the piezoelectric actuators may be provided in a manner in which they are overlapped on at least one surface of the diaphragm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a plurality of diaphragms each provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into a plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms.

The openings may be provided so that each of the blower chambers is in communication with the atmosphere.

The openings provided in a blower chamber adjacent to a main surface of the upper or lower housing among the blower chambers may be provided in a side or the main surface of the upper or lower housing.

The openings provided in a blower chamber formed by the side of the upper or lower housing and the diaphragm, among the blower chambers, may be provided in the side of the upper or lower housing.

The blower chamber formed by the side of the upper or lower housing and the diaphragm, among the blower chambers, may further include a partition wall provided to traverse the internal space thereof.

The partition wall may be provided to have a through-hole formed therein, such that the air may be vertically introduced or discharged.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a lattice dividing partition wall dividing the internal space of the housing in a lattice form to form a plurality of individual spaces; diaphragms each provided to traverse the individual spaces of the housing to divide each of the individual spaces into a plurality of blower chambers; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the diaphragms each provided in the plurality of individual spaces to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragms provided in each of the individual spaces.

The diaphragms may be connected as one.

A plurality of the diaphragms may be provided to traverse the individual spaces of the housing to divide each of the individual spaces into the plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device formed by vertically multi-layering a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices, the piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device formed by vertically multi-layering a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices, the piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a plurality of diaphragms each provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into a plurality of blower chambers; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms.

The upper housing may include a coupling protrusion protruded upwardly from a main surface thereof, and the lower housing may include a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on an upper housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to a lower portion of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in a main surface thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices to each other on the same plane, the piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric type cooling device formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices to each other on the same plane, the piezoelectric type cooling device including: a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

The housing may include a coupling protrusion protruded laterally from one side thereof, and the lower housing may include a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on one side of a housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to the other side of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in the other side thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a piezoelectric type cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an upper housing or a lower housing, which is a component according to the embodiment of the present invention, when being viewed from an inner side thereof;

FIGS. 6A through 6C are cross-sectional views showing examples in which a diaphragm, a component according to the embodiment of the present invention, is coupled;

FIGS. 7A through 7E are cross-sectionals view showing various examples of openings provided according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A through 8E are plan views showing various examples of the opening shown in FIGS. 7A through 7E;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are reference views showing an operation of the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views and internal perspective views showing a shape in which a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible flat cable (FFC), and the like, supplying power to the piezoelectric actuator according to the embodiment of the present invention are coupled;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are plan views showing a diaphragm including the piezoelectric actuator used in FIGS. 10A and 10B; and

FIGS. 12A through 18B are views showing various examples in which a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices are provided according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention may be modified in many different forms and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like components.

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a piezoelectric type cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a piezoelectric type cooling device 1000 according to the present embodiment may include: a housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm 20 provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into upper and lower blower chambers 12 and 13; and a piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20 to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm 20.

According to the present embodiment, since the piezoelectric actuator is in charge of driving of the cooling device, power consumption may be relatively low, noise may not be generated, and the cooling device has a relatively very simple structure, such that the cooling device may be miniaturized.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the housing 12 may have a rectangular pillar shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, although not shown, the housing 10 may have a cylindrical shape. The housing 10 is not limited to having the above-mentioned shape, but may have various shapes. In a case in which the housing 10 has the rectangular pillar shape, since a unit combining the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be provided in a corner portion of the housing 10, utilization of the space may be improved.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be symmetrical with regard to one another. That is, the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 that have the same shape may be combined while vertically facing each other. In the case in which the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 have the same shape, since the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be simultaneously produced in a single manufacturing line, productivity may be improved and a manufacturing cost may be reduced. The upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may not also have the symmetrical shape according to formation positions of openings to be described below or a scheme of combining the upper and lower housings with each other, and may have various shapes according to an application of the cooling device.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the internal space 11 may be formed by combining the upper and lower housings 100 and 200. That is, in order to be utilized as a cooling device, the cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention needs to have a space into which air is introduced and from which air is discharged in a state in which the space is in communication with the atmosphere. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the internal space 11 may serve to perform the above-mentioned role. When the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 are fixedly combined with each other, the internal space 11 may be in communication with the atmosphere only through the openings and all of other portions thereof may be maintained in a sealed state.

The upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may respectively have main surfaces 110 and 210 and sides 130 and 230 defining a height of the housing. The upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may form the internal space 11 by combination therebetween, and the sides 130 and 230 may correspond to a height at which the internal space 11 is formed.

Inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may have a dome shape corresponding to a shape in which a diaphragm 20 to be described below moves vertically. In a case in which the inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 have the dome shape, since a space between the diaphragm 20 and the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 is significantly reduced when the diaphragm 20 compresses air, air staying in the internal space 11 may be applied with compression power, such that the air may be efficiency discharged, whereby utilization of the space may be improved.

Each of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may include an air channel groove 120 formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof. That is, when each of the air channel grooves 120 is formed in the inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 forming the internal space 11, a flow of the air may be induced, whereby the air may be efficiency discharged from the cooling device. In addition, the air channel groove 120 may be in communication with an opening to be described below at least one point, such that air flowing along the air channel groove 120 is concentratedly discharged, whereby the air may be relatively more efficiently discharged.

The housing 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the opening 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow the air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom. The openings 111 and 211 may correspond to an air passage allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow the air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom. The openings may have various shapes and be formed in various positions according to a provision position of the cooling device. That is, the openings may be formed in the main surface 110 or 210 and the side 130 or 230 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200, and be randomly or regularly formed in a case in which the openings are formed in the main surface 110 or 210. In a case in which the openings are regularly formed, a plurality of openings may be disposed concentrically to have a circular shape or be disposed to have at least two concentric circles therefor. Further, the openings may be formed in the main surface 110 in the upper housing 100, and be formed in the side 230 in the lower housing 200, or vice versa.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm 20 may be provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into upper and lower blower chambers 12 and 13. According to the embodiment of the present invention, in order to utilize both of upward and downward movements of the diaphragm 20 in the cooling device to increase cooling device efficiency, the internal space 11 may be divided into the upper and lower blower chambers 12 and 13, and both of the upper and lower blower chambers 12 and 13 may be utilized as spaces into and from which cooling air is introduced and discharged. That is, both of the upper and lower blower chambers 12 and 13 may be used as a cooling device by a mechanism in which in a case in which the diaphragm 20 moves upwardly, air in the upper blower chamber 12 is discharged and air is introduced into the lower blower chamber 13 and in a case in which the diaphragm 20 moves downwardly, air in the lower blower chamber 13 is discharged and air is introduced into the upper blower chamber 12. Through the above-mentioned scheme, the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention may have significantly high efficiency.

The diaphragm 20 may be a unimorph type diaphragm in which a piezoelectric element extended in a plane direction may be adhered to one surface of a resin plate or a metal plate, a bimorph type diaphragm in which piezoelectric elements extended in opposite directions may be adhered to both surfaces of a resin plate or a metal plate, and a bimorph type diaphragm in which a multilayered piezoelectric element bent and deformed in itself may be adhered to one surface of a resin plate or a metal plate. Furthermore, the entire diaphragm may be formed of a multilayered piezoelectric element. The diaphragm 20 may be any type diaphragm as long as it may be bent and vibrate in a thickness direction of a plate by applying alternate voltage (sinusoidal voltage or rectangular wave voltage) to a piezoelectric element.

The diaphragm 20 may be fitted between an upper edge 131 and a lower edge 231 at which the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 are combined with each other. That is, the diaphragm 20 may be fitted between portions at which the side 130 of the upper housing 100 and the side 230 of the lower housing 200 are combined with each other. As shown in FIG. 2, as an example, the diaphragm 20 may have a rectangular shape and include through-holes 21 to be described below formed at corner portions thereof so that fixing protrusions provided on the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 may penetrate therethrough. However, this case corresponds to the case in which the diaphragm 20 has a rectangular shape. In a case in which the diaphragm 20 has a circular shape, since it is sufficient for the diaphragm 20 to traverse the internal space 11, the diaphragm 20 is not extended up to the corner portions of the housings 100 and 200, such that separate through-holes are not required.

The diaphragm 20 may be fitted in various schemes, which will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric actuator 30 may be provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20 to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm 20. The piezoelectric actuator 30 may include a piezoelectric element and an electrode and use the principle that a length of the piezoelectric element is changed at the time of applying voltage.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric actuator 30 may be mounted on one surface or both surfaces of the diaphragm 20. In addition, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 30 may be overlappedly mounted on one surface or both surface of the diaphragm 20.

Further, the cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) 50 connected to the electrode included in the piezoelectric actuator 20 so as to supply power to the piezoelectric actuator 30. A structure related to this will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, in a case in which the housing 10 has a rectangular pillar shape, each of corner portions of the pillar may be provided with a fixing groove or hole 112 provided in the upper housing 100 and a fixing protrusion 212 provided on the lower housing 200 fixedly fitted into the fixing groove or hole 112 as units capable of combining the upper and lower housings 100 and 200. Further, the fixing grooves or holes may be provided in the lower housing, and the fixing protrusions each fixedly fitted into the fixing grooves or holes may be provided on the upper housing, or some of the fixing protrusions may be provided on the upper housing and the others thereof may be provided on the lower housing. Here, in a case in which the fixing hole is provided, the fixing hole may be formed to be stepped with regard to an inner portion thereof, such that the fixing protrusion may be fitted into the stepped portion.

Meanwhile, the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be symmetrical with regard to one another. In this case, the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may have the same shape. In this case, each of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be provided with the same fixing groove or hole, and a separate fixing device may be fitted from the outside into the fixing groove or groove to fixedly combine the upper and lower housings with each other.

In addition, these fixing grooves or holes 112 and fixing protrusions 212 may serve to accurately center the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 in a case in which the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 are combined with each other. That is, these fixing grooves or holes 112 and fixing protrusions 212 may also serve as a centering assembly.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an upper housing or a lower housing, which is a component according to the embodiment of the present invention, when being viewed from an inner side. Referring to FIG. 5, it may be appreciated that the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 may include the air channel groove 120 formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof, wherein the air channel groove 120 is in communication with the openings 111 and 211.

FIGS. 6A through 6C are cross-sectional views showing examples in which a diaphragm, a component according to the embodiment of the present invention, is coupled. Referring to FIGS. 6A through 6C, the diaphragm 20 may be fitted between the upper and lower edges at which the upper and lower housings are combined with each other. Here, a distal end portion of the diaphragm 20 may be fitted into a portion between the edges (See FIG. 6A), be fitted into the entirety between the edges (See FIG. 6C), or be fitted into the fixing protrusions provided on the edges (See FIG. 6B). In addition to this, the diaphragm 20 may be fixed in various shapes as long as it may be fixed while traversing the internal space 11.

FIGS. 7A through 7E are cross-sectionals views showing various examples of openings provided according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 7A through 7E, each of the openings 111 and 211 may be provided in the main surfaces 110 and 210 or the sides 130 and 230 of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200. That is, the openings may be provided in one sides of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 to introduce and discharge air in one direction (See FIG. 7A). Alternatively, the openings may be provided in different structures in the upper and lower housings 100 and 200, such that the openings are disposed concentrically to have a circular shape in an upper surface of the upper housing 100, and inner communication paths 213 that are in communication with openings provided outwardly of the concentrically disposed openings of the upper housing 200, among the openings provided therein, are provided in the lower housing 200 to introduce air into and discharge air from the upper housing 100 (See FIG. 7B). Alternatively, the openings may be provided in the main surfaces 110 and 210 of the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 to introduce and discharge air so as to be symmetrical to each other (See. FIGS. 7C and 7D). The number of openings may be appropriately adjusted as needed. Furthermore, the openings may also be formed in the main surface 110 in the upper housing 100, and be formed in the side 230 in the lower housing 200 (See FIG. 7E).

The shape in which the openings are provided as described above is only an example. That is, the openings may be provided in various shapes at various positions according to an actual situation.

FIGS. 8A through 8E are plan views showing various examples of the opening shown in FIGS. 7A through 7E. In FIGS. 8A through 8E, in a case in which positions of the openings provided in the upper and lower housings are the same as each other, only one of the upper and lower housings is shown, and in a case in which positions of the openings provided in the upper and lower housings are different, each of the upper and lower housings is shown. In the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the openings 111 may be formed in various portions of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 as described above.

For example, the openings may only be provided in one side 130 or 230 of the housing 100 or 200 (See FIG. 8A), or the inner communication paths 213 that are in communication with the openings 111 provided in the upper housing 100 may be provided in the lower housing 200, such that the openings 111 may only be provided in the upper surface of the upper housing 100 (See FIG. 8B). In addition, the openings may be disposed to have a circular shape in the main surfaces 110 and 210 (See FIG. 8C), or be disposed concentrically to have a circular shape therein (See FIG. 8D). In addition, positions of the openings 111 each provided in the upper and lower housings 100 and 200 may be different. That is, the openings 111 may be formed in the main surface 110 in the upper housing 100 and be formed in the side 230 in the lower housing 200 (See FIG. 8E).

FIGS. 9A and 9B are reference views showing an operation of the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of the present invention, voltage may be applied to the piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on the diaphragm 20 to move the diaphragm 20 upwardly or downwardly, thereby operating the cooling device.

Through FIG. 9A showing a shape in which the diaphragm 20 moves upwardly, it may be appreciated that the diaphragm 20 moves so as to correspond to a shape of the inner peripheral surface of the upper housing 100 having a dome shape. In this case, air in the upper blower chamber 12 may be discharged to the outside through the openings 111, and air may be introduced into the lower blower chamber 13 through the openings 211.

To the contrary, through FIG. 9B showing a shape in which the diaphragm 20 moves downwardly, it may be appreciated that the diaphragm 20 moves so as to correspond to a shape of the inner peripheral surface of the lower housing 200 having a dome shape. In this case, air may be introduced into the upper blower chamber 12 through the openings 111, and air in the lower blower chamber 13 may be discharged into the outside through the openings 211.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views and internal perspective views showing a shape in which a PCB, a FFC, and the like, supplying power to the piezoelectric actuator according to the embodiment of the present invention is coupled. FIGS. 11A and 11B are plan views showing a diaphragm including the piezoelectric actuator used in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the piezoelectric actuator 30 provides power to the diaphragm 20 so as to move the diaphragm 20, the piezoelectric actuator 30 needs to be supplied with electric power. Therefore, as a unit capable of supplying the electric power to the piezoelectric actuator 30, the PCB, FFC 50, or the like, may be used, and a structure in which the PCB, FFC 50, or the like, may be mounted may be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 11A, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm 20 may be provided with a support 22 protruded therefrom and extended toward one side. In this case, one sides of the housings 100 and 200 may be provided with a through-hole through which the support 22 may be extended to the outside while penetrating therethrough. The PCB or FFC 50 may be fitted into the through-hole provided in one surfaces of the housings 100 and 200 while being mounted on an upper surface of the support 22 and be then electrically connected to the piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20, thereby supplying the electric power to the piezoelectric actuator 30. Here, the diaphragm 20 may be provided with a through-hole 21 capable of being coupled by the fixing groove or hole 112 or the fixing protrusion 212, which are the centering assemblies, such that the diaphragm 20 may be firmly fixed at the time of combining the housings 100 and 200. The through-hole 21 may not also be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm 20 may be provided to have a circular shape and insertedly fixed into the internal space 11 of the housings 100 and 200. In this case, one sides of the housings 100 and 200 may be provided with a fitting groove into which the PCB or FFC 50 is fitted, and the PCB or the FFC 50 may be insertedly fixed into the fitting groove and be then electrically connected to the piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20, thereby supplying the electric power to the piezoelectric actuator 30.

FIGS. 12A through 18B are views showing various examples in which a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices are provided according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A through 12C show a case in which a plurality of diaphragms 20 traversing the internal space 11 are provided in a single housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 12A through 12C, the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the present embodiment may include: the housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a plurality of diaphragms 20 each provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into a plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 30 each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms 20 to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms 20.

Here, the openings 111 and 211 may be provided so that each of the blower chambers is in communication with the atmosphere, openings provided in a blower chamber adjacent to a main surface 110 or 210 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 among the blower chambers may be provided in a side 130 or 230 or the main surface 110 or 210 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200. Further, openings provided in a blower chamber formed by the side 130 or 230 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 and the diaphragm 20 among the blower chambers may be provided in the side 130 or 230 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200.

FIG. 13A shows that in the embodiment in which the plurality of diaphragms are provided in FIGS. 12A through 13C, a blower chamber formed by the side 130 or 230 of the upper or lower housing 100 or 200 and the diaphragm 20 among the blower chambers may further include a partition wall 40 provided to traverse an internal space thereof, such that it may be utilized as a separate cooling space. In addition, the partition wall 40 may be provided to have a through-hole 41 formed therein, whereby a space may be flexibly utilized widely.

FIG. 14 shows a case in which a plurality of diaphragms 20 traversing an internal space 11 are provided in a single housing 10. As shown in FIG. 14, the piezoelectric type cooling device according to the present embodiment may include: the housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a lattice dividing partition wall 45 dividing the internal space 11 of the housing 10 horizontally in a lattice form to form a plurality of individual spaces 11a; diaphragms 20 each provided to traverse the individual spaces 11a of the housing 10 to divide each of the individual spaces 11a into a plurality of blower chambers; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 30 each provided on at least one surface of the diaphragms 20 each provided in the plurality of individual spaces 11a to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragms 20 provided in each of the individual spaces 11a.

Here, the diaphragms 20 may be connected as one. That is, regardless of each individual space 11a, a single large area diaphragm 20 may be used in common. The diaphragms 20 may also be individually provided in each individual space 11a.

In addition, a plurality of diaphragms 20 may be provided to traverse the individual spaces of the housing 10 to divide each of the individual spaces into the plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a piezoelectric type cooling device suggested according to a scheme of FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, the cooling device having various shapes and sizes according to a shape of a housing may be provided.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a piezoelectric type cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention formed by vertically multi-layering the individually manufactured piezoelectric type cooling devices.

As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the piezoelectric type cooling device 1000 formed by vertically multi-layering a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices 1000 may include: a housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm 20 provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20 to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm 20.

Here, the individual cooling devices 1000 may be vertically coupled to each other using an adhesive (See FIG. 16A). Alternately, a coupling protrusion 150 protruded upwardly from the main surface 110 of the upper housing 100 of one piezoelectric type cooling device may be provided, and a coupling groove 250 into which a coupling protrusion 150 provided on an upper housing 100 of another piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to a lower portion of one piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed may be provided in the main surface 210 of the lower housing 200 so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion 150, such that the individual cooling devices 1000 may be vertically coupled to each other in a fitting scheme of the protrusion (See FIG. 16B).

FIGS. 17A and 17B show a piezoelectric type cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention formed by vertically multi-layering the individually manufactured piezoelectric type cooling devices. According to the present embodiment, a plurality of diaphragms 20 traversing each blower chamber provided in the individual cooling devices 1000 may be provided.

That is, the piezoelectric type cooling device 1000 according to the present embodiment may include: a housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a plurality of diaphragms 20 each provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into a plurality of blower chambers; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 30 each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms 20 to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms 20.

Here, the individual cooling devices 1000 may be vertically coupled to each other using an adhesive (See FIG. 17A). Alternately, a coupling protrusion 150 protruded upwardly from the main surface 110 of the upper housing 100 of one piezoelectric type cooling device may be provided, and a coupling groove 250 into which a coupling protrusion 150 provided on an upper housing 100 of another piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to a lower portion of one piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed may be provided in the main surface 210 of the lower housing 200 so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion 150, such that the individual cooling devices 1000 may be vertically coupled to each other in a fitting scheme of the protrusion (See FIG. 17B).

FIGS. 18A and 18B show a piezoelectric type cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of individually manufactured piezoelectric type cooling devices to each other on the same plane.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the piezoelectric type cooling device 1000 formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices 1000 to each other on the same plane may include: a housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a diaphragm 20 provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into upper and lower blower chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator 30 provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm 20 to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm 20.

In addition, according to the embodiment of FIG. 18B, a plurality of diaphragms 20 traversing each blower chamber provided in the individual cooling devices 1000 may be provided.

That is, the piezoelectric type cooling device 1000 according to the present embodiment may include: a housing 10 having an internal space 11 formed by combining an upper housing 100 and a lower housing 200 and having openings 111 and 211 allowing the internal space 11 to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom; a plurality of diaphragms 20 each provided to traverse the internal space 11 of the housing 10 to divide the internal space 11 into a plurality of blower chambers; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 30 each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms 20 to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms 20.

Here, a coupling protrusion 161 protruded laterally from one side of the housing 10 of one piezoelectric type cooling device may be provided, and a coupling groove 163 into which a coupling protrusion 161 provided on one side of a housing of another piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to the other side of one piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed may be provided in the other side of the housing 10 so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion 161, such that the individual cooling devices 1000 may be coupled to each other.

In addition, a reference numeral 51 that is not described may indicate an electric power cable supplying electric power to the piezoelectric actuator 30.

As set forth above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the piezoelectric actuator may be used, whereby the cooling device may be operated at relatively low power, have a relatively simple structure to thereby be miniaturized, and may be simply manufactured.

In addition, only when the diaphragm may move vertically by the piezoelectric actuator, the cooling device may operate, whereby noise hardly occurs in the cooling device.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and

a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

2. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower housings are symmetrical with regard to one another.

3. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the openings are provided in the upper and lower housings, respectively.

4. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the openings provided in the upper housing are provided in a side or a main surface thereof.

5. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the openings provided in the lower housing are provided in a side or a main surface thereof.

6. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein each of the upper and lower housing includes an air channel groove formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof.

7. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 6, wherein the air channel groove is in communication with the opening at at least one point.

8. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower housings have a dome shape corresponding to a shape in which the diaphragm moves vertically.

9. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is fitted between an upper edge and a lower edge at which the upper and lower housings are combined with each other.

10. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape.

11. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a rectangular pillar shape.

12. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the piezoelectric actuators are provided in a manner in which they are overlapped on at least one surface of the diaphragm.

13. A piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a plurality of diaphragms each provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into a plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape; and

a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms.

14. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 13, wherein the openings are provided so that each of the blower chambers is in communication with the atmosphere.

15. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 13, wherein the openings provided in a blower chamber adjacent to a main surface of the upper or lower housing among the blower chambers are provided in a side or the main surface of the upper or lower housing.

16. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 13, wherein the openings provided in a blower chamber formed by the side of the upper or lower housing and the diaphragm, among the blower chambers, are provided in the side of the upper or lower housing.

17. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 13, wherein the blower chamber formed by the side of the upper or lower housing and the diaphragm, among the blower chambers, further includes a partition wall provided to traverse the internal space thereof.

18. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 17, wherein the partition wall is provided to have a through-hole formed therein, such that the air is vertically introduced or discharged.

19. A piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a lattice dividing partition wall dividing the internal space of the housing in a lattice form to form a plurality of individual spaces;

diaphragms each provided to traverse the individual spaces of the housing to divide each of the individual spaces into a plurality of blower chambers; and

a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the diaphragms each provided in the plurality of individual spaces to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragms provided in each of the individual spaces.

20. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 19, wherein the diaphragms are connected as one.

21. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 19, wherein a plurality of the diaphragms are provided to traverse the individual spaces of the housing to divide each of the individual spaces into the plurality of blower chambers having a vertically multilayered shape.

22. A piezoelectric type cooling device formed by vertically multi-layering a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices, the piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and

a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

23. A piezoelectric type cooling device formed by vertically multi-layering a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices, the piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a plurality of diaphragms each provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into a plurality of blower chambers; and

a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms.

24. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 22, wherein the upper housing includes a coupling protrusion protruded upwardly from a main surface thereof, and

the lower housing includes a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on an upper housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to a lower portion of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in a main surface thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.

25. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 23, wherein the upper housing includes a coupling protrusion protruded upwardly from a main surface thereof, and

the lower housing includes a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on an upper housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to a lower portion of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in a main surface thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.

26. A piezoelectric type cooling device formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices to each other on the same plane, the piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a diaphragm provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into upper and lower blower chambers; and

a piezoelectric actuator provided on at least one surface of the diaphragm to provide vertical driving force to the diaphragm.

27. A piezoelectric type cooling device formed by adjacently coupling a plurality of piezoelectric type cooling devices to each other on the same plane, the piezoelectric type cooling device comprising:

a housing having an internal space formed by combining an upper housing and a lower housing and having openings allowing the internal space to be in communication with the atmosphere to allow air to be introduced thereinto and discharged therefrom;

a plurality of diaphragms each provided to traverse the internal space of the housing to divide the internal space into a plurality of blower chambers; and

a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each provided on at least one surface of the plurality of diaphragms to provide vertical driving force to the plurality of diaphragms.

28. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 26, wherein the housing includes a coupling protrusion protruded laterally from one side thereof, and

the lower housing includes a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on one side of a housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to the other side of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in the other side thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.

29. The piezoelectric type cooling device of claim 27, wherein the housing includes a coupling protrusion protruded laterally from one side thereof, and

the lower housing includes a coupling groove into which a coupling protrusion provided on one side of a housing of one piezoelectric type cooling device adjacent to the other side of another piezoelectric type cooling device is insertedly fixed, the coupling groove being provided in the other side thereof so as to correspond to the coupling protrusion.