Power Delivery to Diaphragms

1 . A method for forming tinsel on a synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

providing a synthetic jet actuator assembly comprising a coil, driver electronics, and a surround; and

completing an electrical circuit between the coil and the driver electronics by depositing a conductive ink across the surround.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink is a polymer thick film (PTF) conductive ink.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink comprises a fired high solids composition.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink comprises nanoparticles.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink comprises carbon nanotubes.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing a conductive ink across the surround is accomplished with inkjet material deposition.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive ink is deposited using a printhead equipped with piezoelectric crystals.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic jet actuator further comprises a first terminal which is in electrical contact with said coil, and a second terminal which is in electrical contact with said driver electronics.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said coil is disposed on a bobbin, and wherein said first terminal is a pin inserted into said bobbin.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the bobbin comprises a plastic.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic jet actuator assembly further comprises an actuator basket, and wherein said second terminal is a pin inserted into the actuator basket.

12 . A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

a coil;

driver electronics;

a surround; and

a conductive ink which extends across the surround and which forms an electrical circuit between the coil and the driver electronics.

13 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 12 , wherein said conductive ink is disposed on the surface of the surround.

14 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink is a polymer thick film (PTF) conductive ink.

15 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 1 , wherein the conductive ink comprises a fired high solids composition.

16 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic jet actuator further comprises a first terminal which is in electrical contact with said coil, and a second terminal which is in electrical contact with said driver electronics.

17 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 16 , wherein said coil is disposed on a bobbin, and wherein said first terminal is a pin inserted into said bobbin.

18 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 17 , wherein the bobbin comprises a plastic.

19 . The synthetic jet ejector of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic jet actuator assembly further comprises an actuator basket, and wherein said second terminal is a pin inserted into the actuator basket.

20 . A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

a diaphragm equipped with a surround;

a voice coil having first and second terminal portions;

a pot structure having first and second portions which are electrically isolated from each other;

a first portion of tinsel having a first end which is in electrical communication with said first terminal portion of said voice coil, and a second end which is in electrical communication with said first portion of said pot structure; and

a second portion of tinsel having a first end which is in electrical communication with said second terminal portion of said voice coil, and a second end which is in electrical communication with said second portion of said pot structure.

21 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 20 , wherein said first and second portions of said pot structure are spaced apart from each other.

22 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 20 , wherein said first and second portions of said pot structure have a dielectric material disposed between them.

23 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 20 , further comprising a magnet having first and second portions which are electrically isolated from each other.

24 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 23 , wherein said first and second portions of said magnet are spaced apart from each other.

25 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 23 , wherein said first and second portions of said magnet have a dielectric material disposed between them.

26 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 23 , wherein said magnet is disposed on, and in contact with, said pot structure.

27 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 23 , further comprising a top plate disposed on said magnet, said top plate having first and second portions which are electrically isolated from each other.

28 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 27 , wherein said first and second portions of said magnet are spaced apart from each other.

29 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 27 , wherein said first and second portions of said magnet have a dielectric material disposed between them.

30 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 20 , wherein said voice coil and said pot structure are spaced apart from said diaphragm.

31 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 20 , wherein said pot structure is annular in shape.

32 . A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

a diaphragm equipped with a surround;

a voice coil having first and second terminal portions;

a pot structure having first and second passageways defined therein;

a first conductive element which extends through said first passage way and which is in electrical communication with said first terminal portion of said voice coil; and

a second portion of tinsel which extends through said second passage way and which is in electrical communication with said second terminal portion of said voice coil.

33 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said voice coil and said pot structure are spaced apart from said diaphragm.

34 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said pot structure is annular in shape.

35 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein at least one of said first and second conductive elements is a portion of tinsel.

36 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein each of said first and second conductive elements is a portion of tinsel.

37 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said voice coil comprises a first wire, and wherein at least one of said first and second conductive elements comprises said first wire.

38 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said voice coil comprises a first wire, and wherein both of said first and second conductive elements comprises said first wire.

39 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said voice coil comprises a first wire, and wherein at least one of said first and second conductive elements comprises a second wire of larger caliper than said first wire.

40 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 32 , wherein said voice coil comprises a first wire, and wherein each of said first and second conductive elements comprises a second wire of larger caliper than said first wire.

41 . A synthetic jet actuator, comprising:

a diaphragm equipped with a surround; and

a plurality of electrically conductive elements integrated with said surround.

42 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 41 , wherein said conductive elements comprise tinsel leads embedded in said surround.

43 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 42 , wherein each of said tinsel leads extends in a non-linear manner across said surround.

44 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 42 , wherein each of said tinsel leads extends in a tortuous path across said surround.

45 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 42 , wherein each of said tinsel leads extends in a sinusoidal path across said surround.

46 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 41 , wherein said conductive elements comprise tinsel leads disposed on the surface of said surround.

47 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 41 , wherein said conductive elements comprise a conductive nanoparticle composition.

48 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 47 , wherein said conductive nanoparticle composition is disposed on the surface of said surround.

49 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 47 , wherein said conductive nanoparticle composition comprises carbon nanotubes.

50 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 41 , further comprising:

a voice coil having first and second terminal portions which are in electrical communication with said conductive elements.

51 . The synthetic jet actuator of claim 50 , further comprising:

a pot structure having first and second passageways defined therein.