Patent
Ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus and method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state thereof
| العنوان: | Ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus and method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state thereof |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 7,673,812 |
| تاريخ النشر: | March 09, 2010 |
| Appl. No: | 11/626832 |
| Application Filed: | January 24, 2007 |
| مستخلص: | The present invention related to an ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus and a method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state of the ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a current detecting element for actively detecting an electrical current passed through it early. By detecting the current to determine a resonance frequency and whether deviated from a predetermined normal range, the nebulizer apparatus according to the present invention can check the operating state and operate at the resonance frequency for increasing efficiency and saving power. |
| Inventors: | Weng, Shih-Yi (Jinning Township, Kinmen County, TW); Huang, Yi-Hsin (Taipei, TW); Wu, Shu-Mei (Taipei, TW) |
| Assignees: | Taidoc Technology Corporation (Taipei, TW) |
| Claim: | 1. A portable ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus for automatically adjusting an operation frequency of the apparatus corresponding to a resonant frequency, comprising: a power supply for supplying power; a vibrating element to vibrate a liquid to form an aerosol of fine droplets; a variable oscillator for providing a plurality of frequencies to the vibrating element so as to let the vibrating element vibrates at the plurality of frequencies; a step-up converter electrically connected with the variable oscillator for converting an input voltage to a boosted voltage to the vibrating element; a current detecting element positioned between the power supply and the vibrating element for detecting a plurality of electrical current values passing before the vibrating element, the value being respectively related to each of the plurality of frequencies; and a microprocessor for receiving the plurality of electrical current values related to each of the plurality of frequencies so as to determine the resonant frequency at which the electrical current is a maximum value and adjusting the operation frequency of the vibrating element provided by the variable oscillator corresponding to the resonant frequency. |
| Claim: | 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step-up converter is a step-up DC-DC converter or a step-up DC-AC converter. |
| Claim: | 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a single-phase alternating current supply electrically connected with the step-up converter and the vibrating element for providing the single-phase alternating current to the vibrating element. |
| Claim: | 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vibrating element is a piezoelectric chip. |
| Claim: | 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current detecting element comprises a resistor for detecting a voltage difference between two sites between the resistor. |
| Claim: | 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the variable oscillator comprises a digital resistor for providing a plurality of frequencies. |
| Claim: | 7. An ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus for automatically detecting an operating state of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a power supply for supplying power; a vibrating element to vibrate a liquid to form an aerosol of fine droplets; a variable oscillator for providing an operation frequency to the vibrating element so as to let the vibrating element vibrates at the frequency; a current detecting element positioned between the power supply and the vibrating element for measuring a current passing before the vibrating element, the current being related to the frequency; and a microprocessor for receiving the current related to the frequency so as to determine whether the current is deviated from a predetermined normal range. |
| Claim: | 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a power switch positioned between the variable oscillator and the microprocessor for turning off the power supplied to the variable oscillator if the current is deviated from the predetermined normal range. |
| Claim: | 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a step-up converter positioned between the current detecting element and the vibrating element for providing a step-up power. |
| Claim: | 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the step-up converter is a step-up DC-DC converter. |
| Claim: | 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a single-phase alternating current supply positioned between the step-up converter and the vibrating element for supplying a single-phase alternating current to the vibrating element. |
| Claim: | 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the power switch is also positioned between the step-up converter and the microprocessor for turning off the power supplied to the step-up converter if the current is deviated from the predetermined normal range. |
| Claim: | 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the current detecting element comprises a resistor. |
| Claim: | 14. A portable ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus for automatically adjusting an operation frequency of the apparatus corresponding to a resonant frequency, comprising: a power supply for supplying power; a vibrating element to vibrate a liquid to form an aerosol of fine droplets; a variable oscillator for providing a plurality of frequencies to the vibrating element so as to let the vibrating element vibrates at the plurality of frequencies; a step-up converter electrically connected with the variable oscillator for converting an input voltage to a boosted voltage to the vibrating element; a microprocessor for controlling the plurality of frequencies of the variable oscillator; and a current detecting element positioned between the vibrating element and the microprocessor for detecting a plurality of electrical current values passing before the vibrating element, the values being respectively related to each of the plurality of frequencies; wherein the microprocessor receives the plurality of electrical current values related to each of the plurality of frequencies so as to determine the resonant frequency at which the electrical current is a maximum value and adjusting the operation frequency of the vibrating element provided by the variable oscillator corresponding to the resonant frequency. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 2391/022 |
| Patent References Cited: | 5216338 June 1993 Wilson 5551416 September 1996 Stimpson et al. 6402046 June 2002 Loser 2002/0129813 September 2002 Litherland et al. 2003/0164658 September 2003 Saraf 2003/0196660 October 2003 Haveri |
| Primary Examiner: | Gorman, Darren W |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Shih, Chun-Ming |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.07673812 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |