A diaphragm compressor includes first structure having a first pressing part, a first diaphragm, and a first substrate partially separated from the first diaphragm and partially joined to the first diaphragm, a second structure having a second pressing part, a second diaphragm, and a second substrate partially separated from the second diaphragm and partially joined to the second diaphragm, the first structure and the second structure being stacked in a stacking direction in which the first diaphragm and the first substrate are stacked, wherein the first pressing part is placed at sides of the first diaphragm opposite to the first substrate, and a first separation portion between the first diaphragm and the first substrate is part of a first channel in which a fluid flows, the second pressing part is placed at sides of the second diaphragm opposite to the second substrate, and a second separation portion between the second diaphragm and the second substrate is part of a second channel in which a fluid flows, the first channel and the second channel are placed in series, as seen from the stacking direction, the first pressing part overlaps the second pressing part, and a buffer chamber holding the fluid is provided between the first channel and the second channel.

A pump unit includes a piezoelectric pump and a housing accommodating the piezoelectric pump. The piezoelectric pump includes a piezoelectric device having a through-hole, a first elastic plate covering an end of the through-hole, and a second elastic plate covering another end of the through-hole. The first elastic plate has a communication hole communicating with the through-hole of the piezoelectric device.

A pneumatic exomuscle system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The pneumatic exomuscle system includes a pneumatic module; a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user; and a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators.

Described is a human-ear-wearable apparatus having a housing, which contains electronic and auditory components for conveying sound into a human hear. An inflatable mounting system is configured to secure the housing to the human ear. The mounting system includes an elastomeric bladder configured to inflate into a customizable counterpart shape of portions of the user's Concha and Meatus areas of a particular user's ear. A pump, coupled to the housing, is configured to pass air through an opening in the housing to the elastomeric bladder. Inflation of the bladder, via the pump, is controllable by a user to form a customized fit of the mounting system's bladder to the Concha and Meatus areas of the user's ear. One or more speakers may be encased in the elastomeric bladder. For example, a dual-hybrid speaker arrangement is described with a cone speaker and a balanced-armature driver embedded in the bladder.

A pump cassette comprising an outer flexible membrane covering flowpaths, valve chambers and pump chambers of the cassette is designed to be actuated by a control gasket on a base unit arranged to move designated valve and pump portions of the cassette membrane. The performance of a cassette valve may improved by optimizing the configuration of the valve control region of the control gasket overlying the cassette valve. This may improve both fluid flow through the valve and reduce the amount of vibratory noise associated with opening the valve. The gasket valve control or actuation region is at least partially bounded by a vacuum channel facing the outside of the gasket so that a constant vacuum can be applied between the gasket valve control or actuation region and the adjacent portion of the cassette membrane. An improved version of the vacuum channel comprises a flexible inner wall (contiguous with the valve control region) so that the inner wall flexes or partially collapses away from the cassette valve seat, while still maintaining patency of the vacuum channel during the application of negative pressure on the gasket valve actuation region to open the cassette valve.

The micropump including a pump chamber which can be fluidly filled or emptied both by means of a passage opening and an inlet, the pump chamber being covered with a disk-shaped actuator so that the volume of the pump chamber can be changed by deflecting the actuator, the passage opening being arranged in a side of the pumping chamber opposite the actuator, and the inlet has a smaller or similar flow resistance compared to the through opening. An entrance to the passage opening can be closed by means of the deflected actuator, so that a valve is formed in the basic state, or closed by means of the undeflected actuator, so that a valve is formed in the basic state. The micropump can have a second pump chamber with an actuator and inlet, the passage opening of which is connected to that of the first pump chamber.

[Object] To provide a fluid control apparatus having a diaphragm structure and small flow path resistance.

[Solving Means] A fluid control apparatus according to the present technology includes a first space, two flat plate members, a drive mechanism, a second space, a first check valve, and a second check valve. The first space has an inlet and an outlet. The two flat plate members face each other via the first space, and at least one of the flat plate members is an elastic body having flexibility. The drive mechanism bends the elastic body. The second space adjoins the first space, communicates with the first space via the inlet, and has a suction port. The first check valve allows fluid to flow from the suction port to the first space via the inlet. The third space adjoins the first space, communicates with the first space via the outlet, and has a discharge port. The second check valve allows the fluid to flow from the first space to the discharge port via the outlet. At least one of the suction port and the discharge port is positioned on an extension surface of at least one of the two flat plate members.

A pump includes a first pump chamber defined by a first plate-shaped body and a second plate-shaped body, a second pump chamber defined by the first plate-shaped body and a third plate-shaped body, and a driving body. The driving body causes a pressure fluctuation, by causing the first plate-shaped body to undergo bending vibration, in both the first pump chamber and the second pump chamber. The first plate-shaped body is provided with a plurality of first hole portions that does not overlap with an axis orthogonal to the central portion of the first plate-shaped body, and a check valve is attached to each of the plurality of first hole portions. The second plate-shaped body and the third plate-shaped body are respectively provided with second hole portions and third hole portions, and no check valve is attached to the second hole portions and the third hole portions.

A pump includes a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm, and a circumferential wall, which define a pump chamber, and a driver. The driver vibrates the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm in a flexural mode to cause pressure fluctuation in the pump chamber. The first diaphragm has a first hole to which no check valve is attached. At least one of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm has a second hole to which a check valve is attached. The first hole is located at a portion that coincides with an axis orthogonal to a center of the first diaphragm and a center of the second diaphragm. The second hole is located at a portion that does not coincide with the first hole when viewed in a direction in which the axis extends.

The present disclosure includes: a vibrating plate having a piezoelectric body connected to a main surface thereof; a cover including a top plate that faces another main surface of the vibrating plate and that has an opening part, and a side wall connected to an outer peripheral portion of the top plate so as to surround a space between the top plate and the vibrating plate; a support portion connected to the side wall and supports an outer periphery of the vibrating plate; an opening between the side wall and the vibrating plate; and a protrusion on any one out of the top plate, the side wall, and the vibrating plate so as to protrude into the space. The protrusion is provided between the opening part of the top plate and the side wall in a cross section.