An illustrative example embodiment of a compressor assembly includes a compressor housing having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet. A flow restricting valve allows unrestricted fluid flow in a first direction into the housing through the suction inlet and out of the discharge outlet during a first operating condition. The flow restricting valve allows a restricted fluid flow in a second, opposite direction into the housing through the discharge outlet in a second operating condition.

A valve includes a first plate (10) having a first through hole (100), a second plate (20) having a second through hole (210) that does not face the first through hole (100), a valve chamber (55) formed by being surrounded by the first plate (10) and the second plate (20), and a valve body (30) disposed in the valve chamber (55) and having a third through hole (300) that does not face the first through hole (100) and that faces the second through hole (200), the valve body (30) being movable up and down between the first plate (10) and the second plate (20). In addition, a second opening area of the second through hole (210) is smaller than a third opening area of the third through hole (300), and the second through hole (210) is located in the third through hole (300) when viewed from a front.

A fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The piezoelectric element is attached on a first surface of the vibration plate and is subjected to deformation in response to an applied voltage. The vibration plate is subjected to a curvy vibration in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric element. A bulge is formed on a second surface of the vibration plate. The deformable substrate includes a flexible plate and a communication plate stacked on each other. A synchronously-deformed structure is defined by the flexible plate and the communication plate. The deformable substrate is bent in the direction away from the vibration plate. There is a specified depth maintained between the flexible plate and the bulge of the vibration plate. The flexible plate includes a movable part corresponding to the bulge of vibration plate.

A valve includes a first plate (10) having a first through hole (100), a second plate (20) having a second through hole (210) that does not face the first through hole (100), a valve chamber (55) formed by being surrounded by the first plate (10) and the second plate (20), and a valve body (30) disposed in the valve chamber (55) and having a third through hole (300) that does not face the first through hole (100) and that faces the second through hole (200), the valve body (30) being movable up and down between the first plate (10) and the second plate (20). In addition, a second opening area of the second through hole (210) is smaller than a third opening area of the third through hole (300), and the second through hole (210) is located in the third through hole (300) when viewed from a front.

A fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The piezoelectric element is attached on a first surface of the vibration plate and is subjected to deformation in response to an applied voltage. The vibration plate is subjected to a curvy vibration in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric element. A bulge is formed on a second surface of the vibration plate. The deformable substrate includes a flexible plate and a communication plate stacked on each other. A synchronously-deformed structure is defined by the flexible plate and the communication plate. The deformable substrate is bent in the direction away from the vibration plate. There is a specified depth maintained between the flexible plate and the bulge of the vibration plate. The flexible plate includes a movable part corresponding to the bulge of vibration plate.

An active cooling system includes at least one cooling element that has a vent therein. The active cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element(s) are actuated to vibrate to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure and to alternately open and close at least one virtual valve corresponding to the vent. The virtual valve is open for a low flow resistance and closed for a high flow resistance. The vent remains physically open when the virtual valve is closed.

An active cooling system is described. The active cooling system includes at least one cooling element that has a vent therein and is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element(s) are actuated to vibrate to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure and to alternately open and close at least one virtual valve corresponding to the vent. The virtual valve is open for a low flow resistance and closed for a high flow resistance. The vent remains physically open for the virtual valve being closed.

An illustrative example embodiment of a compressor assembly includes a compressor housing having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet. A flow restricting valve allows unrestricted fluid flow in a first direction into the housing through the suction inlet and out of the discharge outlet during a first operating condition. The flow restricting valve allows a restricted fluid flow in a second, opposite direction into the housing through the discharge outlet in a second operating condition.