Actuating and sensing apparatus and casing using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10962514-B2
Application number	US-201816051978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2018
Priority date	Aug 21, 2017
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

An actuating and sensing apparatus includes a circuit board, a housing, an actuating device and a sensor. The housing is disposed on the circuit board and includes an entrance opening, an exit opening and a compartment. The compartment is in communication with an external environment of the housing through the entrance opening and the exit opening. The actuating device is disposed within the compartment and closing the exit opening. The sensor is disposed within the compartment and corresponding to the entrance opening. When the actuating device is enabled, a gas within the compartment is guided to the external environment outside the housing, and a pressure gradient is generated in the compartment so as to introduce a gas from the external environment outside the housing into the compartment through the entrance opening to make the gas detected by the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuating and sensing apparatus, comprising:
a circuit board;
a housing disposed on the circuit board and comprising an entrance opening, an exit opening and a compartment, wherein the compartment is in communication with an external environment of the housing through the entrance opening and the exit opening;
an actuating device disposed within the compartment and closing the exit opening correspondingly; and
a sensor disposed within the compartment and corresponding to the entrance opening;
wherein when the actuating device is enabled, a gas within the compartment is guided to an external environment outside the housing through the exit opening, and a pressure gradient is generated in the compartment so as to introduce a gas from the external environment outside the housing into the compartment through the entrance opening to make the gas monitored by the sensor.

2. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating and sensing apparatus further comprises a first protective film and a second protective film, the first protective film and the second protective film respectively closing the exit opening and the entrance opening, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film are waterproof and dustproof film structures, and the gas is allowed to pass through the first protective film and the second protective film.

3. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP64 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

4. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP68 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

5. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from at least one of an oxygen sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a temperature sensor, an ozone sensor, a particulate sensor, a sulfur dioxide sensor, a nitrogen dioxide sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor and combinations thereof.

6. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit board has the length of 19.7 mm, the width of 15.8 mm and the height of 0.8 mm, and the housing has the length of 17.8 mm, the width of 14.8 ram and the height of 2.6 mm.

7. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises:
a gas inlet plate having at least one inlet;
a resonance plate; and
a piezoelectric actuator,
wherein the gas inlet plate, the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator are stacked on each other sequentially, and a gap is formed between the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator to define a first chamber, wherein when the piezoelectric actuator is enabled, the gas is fed into the at least one inlet of the gas inlet plate and transferred to the first chamber through the resonance plate, so that the gas is inhaled from the entrance opening.

8. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the gas inlet plate further comprises at least one convergence channel and a central cavity, wherein the at least one convergence channel is aligned with the at least one inlet, and the gas fed into the at least one inlet is guided to the central cavity, wherein the resonance plate has a central aperture corresponding to the central cavity of the gas inlet plate, wherein the piezoelectric actuator has a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric ceramic plate, wherein the bracket is connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame, and the piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a surface of the suspension plate.

9. The actuating and sensing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the actuating device further comprises at least one insulation plate and a conducting plate, wherein the at least one insulation plate and the conducting plate are stacked on each other sequentially and located under the piezoelectric actuator.

10. A casing for using in an electronic device, the casing comprising:
an actuating and sensing apparatus including a circuit board, a housing, an actuating device and a sensor, wherein the housing is disposed on the circuit board and comprises an entrance opening, an exit opening and a compartment, the compartment is in communication with an external environment outside the housing through the entrance opening and the exit opening, the actuating device is disposed within the compartment and closes the exit opening, and the sensor is disposed within the compartment and corresponding to the entrance opening;
a plate including a bottom surface, a first opening and a second opening, wherein the housing of the actuating and sensing apparatus is attached on the bottom surface, the entrance opening is aligned and in communication with the second opening, and the exit opening is aligned and in communication with the first opening; and
a lateral wall connected to the plate;
wherein when the actuating device of the actuating and sensing apparatus is enabled, a gas within the compartment is guided to an external environment outside the casing through the exit opening and the first opening, and a pressure gradient is generated in the compartment so as to introduce a gas from the external environment outside the casing into the compartment, through the second opening and the entrance opening to make the gas monitored by the sensor.

11. The casing according to claim 10 , wherein the actuating and sensing apparatus further comprises a first protective film and a second protective film, the first protective film and the second protective film respectively close the exit opening and the entrance opening, wherein the first protective film and the second protective filth are waterproof and dustproof film structures, and the gas is allowed to pass through the first protective film and the second protective film.

12. An actuating and sensing apparatus, comprising:
at least one circuit board;
at least one housing disposed on the circuit board and comprising at least one entrance opening, at least one exit opening and at least one compartment, wherein the compartment is in communication with an external environment of the housing through the entrance opening and the exit opening;
at least one actuating device disposed within the compartment and closing the exit opening; and
at least one sensor disposed within the compartment and corresponding to the entrance opening;
wherein when the actuating device is enabled, a gas within the compartment is guided to an external environment outside the housing through the exit opening, and a pressure gradient is generated in the compartment so as to introduce a gas from the external environment outside the housing into the compartment through the entrance opening to make the gas monitored by the sensor.

Assignees

• Microjet Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mou Hao-Jan
• Chen Shou-Hung
• Chen Shih-Chang
• Liao jia-yu
• Chen Mei-Yen
• Huang Chi-Feng
• Lee Wei-Ming

Classifications

• G01N1/24

  Suction devices {(G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N33/0031 Primary

  comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array · CPC title

• G01N1/2273

  Atmospheric sampling · CPC title

• H05K5/065

  sealed by encapsulation, e.g. waterproof resin forming an integral casing, injection moulding · CPC title