Synthetic jet delivering controlled flow to sensor system

• Main Authors: Eid, Feras, Cowan, Melissa A, Gullbrand, Jessica, Pawashe, Chytra
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.05.2019
• Subjects: ALARM SYSTEMS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOWOF GASES OR LIQUIDS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HEATING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PHYSICS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; TESTING; WEAPONS

Techniques are disclosed for using synthetic jet technology as an air delivery device for sensing applications. In particular, a synthetic jet device is used to deliver a controlled airflow or other fluidic flow to a sensor measurement area. Such a sensing system can be used to detect accurate concentration of target features present in the ambient surroundings, such as gases, particles, solutions, mixtures, and any other environmental features that can be sensed from a controlled airflow. An example application is air quality monitoring by using one or more synthetic jet devices to deliver a known or otherwise controlled airflow to a sensing area, thereby allowing for detection of harmful or otherwise unacceptable concentrations of particulate matter, gases, or air pollutants. In some embodiments, a synthetic jet device is operatively coupled with a sensor via a flow channel in a common housing, so as to provide a controlled flow sensing system.