Non-Propeller Fan

Abstract

A fan that moves a fluid that includes a flexible membrane with a length defining a long axis that includes at least two supported ends, a support structure that supports the supported ends of the flexible membrane 2 and provides a tension between the two supported ends of the flexible membrane, and a displacement device that vibrates the flexible membrane at a frequency to move the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the flexible membrane. The fan may be used with a MEMS device, with a larger circuit, a solidstate lighting device, or with a room within a house or any other suitable application or scale.

1 . A non-propeller fan that moves a fluid, comprising:
 a flexible membrane including two supported ends and a length between the two supported ends that defines a long axis;   a support structure that supports the two supported ends of the flexible membrane;   a first magnet that generates a first magnetic field; and   a second magnet that generates a second magnetic field that interacts with the first magnetic field and fluctuates relative to the first magnetic field to cause the membrane to vibrate at a frequency and to move the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the flexible membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane vibrates with a bending motion. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane vibrates with a torsional motion. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is asymmetric across the long axis. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane includes a weight coupled to the membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 6 , wherein the weight is arranged substantially to one side of the long axis. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is coupled to the flexible membrane and the second magnet is coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the first magnet is located substantially along the long axis. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the first magnet field also fluctuates relative to the second magnetic field. 
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 10 , wherein the first magnet includes a conductor that is coupled to the flexible membrane and a power source that supplies an alternating electric current to the conductor to form a fluctuating first magnetic field. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnet displacement device coupled to the second magnet, wherein the magnet displacement device moves the first magnet relative to the second magnet to fluctuate the second magnetic field relative to the first magnetic field. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein the magnet displacement device is a rotational motor that rotates the second magnet relative to the first magnet to fluctuate the second magnetic field relative to the first magnetic field. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein the magnet displacement device is a linear actuator that moves the second magnet relative to the first magnet to fluctuate the second magnetic field relative to the first magnetic field. 
     
     
         15 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the second magnet includes a conductor and a power source that supplies an alternating electric current to the conductor to form a fluctuating second magnetic field. 
     
     
         16 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane includes a main surface that defines a rest plane at rest and the fluid is moved in a direction substantially parallel to the rest plane of the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure provides a tension between the two supported ends of the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The fan of  claim 17 , further comprising a tensioning device that adjusts the tension of the flexible membrane between the two fixed points, wherein the tension determines the vibration frequency of the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure directs the flow generated by the vibration of the membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The fan of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation device that rotates the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         21 . The fan of  claim 20 , wherein the rotation device is coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         22 . The fan of  claim 20 , wherein the rotation device rotates the flexible membrane about an axis substantially collinear to the long axis of the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         23 . The fan of  claim 20 , wherein the rotation device rotates the flexible membrane about an axis substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         24 . A non-propeller fan that moves a fluid, comprising:
 a flexible membrane including two supported ends and a length between the two supported ends that defines a long axis, wherein at least a portion of the length of flexible membrane includes a shape changing material;   a support structure that supports the two supported ends of the flexible membrane;   a power source coupled to the shape changing material of the flexible membrane that provides power to change the shape of the shape changing material to vibrate the flexible membrane at a frequency and to move the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the flexible membrane.   
     
     
         25 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the support structure provides a tension to the flexible membrane between the two supported ends. 
     
     
         26 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein a second portion of the length of flexible membrane includes a second shape changing material, and wherein the shape changing material and the second shape changing material cooperate to vibrate the flexible membrane at a frequency. 
     
     
         27 . The fan of  claim 26 , wherein the shape changing material and the second shape changing material are of substantially different shape changing characteristics, and wherein the differences in shape changing characteristics cooperate to vibrate the flexible membrane at a frequency. 
     
     
         28 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the shape changing material is arranged along substantially the entire length of the flexible membrane between the two supported ends. 
     
     
         29 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the shape changing material is arranged substantially proximal to at least one of the supported ends. 
     
     
         30 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the shape changing material is mounted to the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         31 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the power source provides heat to the shape changing material to change the shape of the shape changing material. 
     
     
         32 . The fan of  claim 24 , wherein the power source provides a voltage to the shape changing material to change the shape of the shape changing material. 
     
     
         33 . The fan of  claim 32 , wherein the shape changing material is material selected from the group consisting of: electroactive polymer and piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         34 . A method for generating movement in a fluid, comprising:
 providing a flexible membrane including two supported ends and a length between the two supported ends that defines a long axis;   tensioning the flexible membrane between the two supported ends; and   vibrating the flexible membrane at a frequency to move the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the flexible membrane.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising rotating the membrane. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of rotating the membrane includes rotating the membrane about an axis substantially collinear to the long axis. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of rotating the membrane includes rotating the membrane about an axis substantially perpendicular to the long axis.