An assembly for use in a liquid droplet apparatus comprises a vibrating element (201), an aperture plate (205) and a vibrating platform (203). The vibrating platform is positioned between the vibrating element and the aperture plate for conveying vibrations from the vibrating element to the aperture plate. The vibrating platform (203) is structured such that the aperture plate (205) is located within a cavity (202) formed in the vibrating platform.

An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween.

A nebulizer includes an aerosolizer, a controller, a power converter, a power source and a voltage detector. When the aerosolizer is requested to eject aerosolized liquid at a standard spraying speed, the controller sets a parameter value of a conversion parameter based on a stored standard value, transmits the parameter value to the power converter, and controls the power source to supply electric power. The power converter converts the electric power based on the parameter value to power the aerosolizer. Based on a stored expected value and a detected value generated by the voltage detector in response to operation of the aerosolizer, the controller controls the power source to adjust the voltage of the electric power supplied thereby.

A mist generator may include a reservoir storing a solution, an ultrasonic vibrator configured to apply ultrasonic vibration to the solution stored in the reservoir to generate mist of the solution in the reservoir, and a mist delivery path configured to deliver the mist from an inside of the reservoir to an outside of the reservoir. A relationship of dS.sup.0.5 may be satisfied, where d is a depth of the solution stored in the reservoir and S is an area of a liquid surface of the solution stored in the reservoir.

A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate includes ejecting atomized droplets from an array of micro-applicators while the array of micro-applicators cyclically moves about at least one axis. The atomized droplets from each of the plurality of micro-applicators overlap with atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators and a diffuse overlap of deposited atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators is provided on a surface of the substrate. The array of micro-applicators cyclically rotates back and forth around the at least one axis and/or moves back and forth parallel to the at least one axis. For example, the at least one axis can be a central axis of the array of micro-applicators, a length axis of the array of micro-applicators, a width axis of the array of micro-applicators, and the like. Also, the array of micro-applicators can be part of an ultrasonic material applicator used to paint vehicles.

A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate is provided. The method includes ejecting an ultraviolet (UV) curable material through a plurality of micro-applicators in the form of atomized droplets. At least one UV light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light by the at least one UV light source and curing of the atomized droplets is initiated. The atomized droplets are deposited onto a surface of the substrate and a UV cured coating on the surface is formed thereon. The UV curable material may include a photolatent base catalyst such that the atomized droplets deposited onto the surface continue to cure after being irradiated with the at least one UV light source. The at least one UV light source can include a UV light ring, a UV light emitting diode, and the like.

The invention provides a monolithic integrated mesh device for atomization or pumping of a fluid or liquid comprising a plurality of apertures and a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is bonded to the mesh device at an atomic scale. In one embodiment the monolithic micro-fabricated device of the invention includes piezoelectric material that eliminates the need for expensive assembly process and improves reliability. This also has advantage of requiring lower operating voltage and less complicated circuitry.

A miniature fluid control device is provided and includes a gas inlet plate, a resonance plate and a piezoelectric actuator. The resonance plate is assembled and combined with the gas inlet plate. The piezoelectric actuator is assembled and combined with the resonance plate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric plate. The suspension plate has a first surface and a second surface. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate and has an assembling surface. The piezoelectric plate is attached on the second surface. The at least one bracket is formed between the suspension plate and the outer frame as making the first surface of the suspension plate non-coplanar with the assembling surface of the outer frame, so that a specific chamber spacing is maintained between the first surface of the suspension plate and the resonance plate.

A film formation apparatus is configured to supply mist of a solution to a surface of a substrate so as to epitaxially grow a film on the surface of the substrate. The film formation apparatus may be provided with: a furnace configured to house and heat the substrate; a reservoir configured to store the solution; a heater configured to heat the solution in the reservoir; an ultrasonic transducer configured to apply ultrasound to the solution in the reservoir so as to generate the mist of the solution in the reservoir; and a mist supply path configured to carry the mist from the reservoir to the furnace.

A volatile material dispenser may include a housing adapted to hold a refill containing a volatile material and a nebulizer in communication with the refill and the volatile material within the refill, wherein the nebulizer is adapted to volatilize and emit the volatile material as nebulized particles. The nebulizer may include a piezoelectric element having a central aperture and first and second opposing surfaces and an orifice plate disposed adjacent the first surface of the piezoelectric element.