Abstract:
Ionizing bars for delivering charged carriers to charge neutralization target objects may include an ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud of charge carriers in response to application of an ionizing voltage. Disclosed bars may also include a reference electrode that presents a non-ionizing electric field to urge ions to move away from the ion emitter. The disclosed bars may also include a manifold. The manifold may receive and divide gas into plural gas streams directed past the ion emitter in a pattern to thereby urge charge carriers toward the target. The manifold may have plural apertures with nozzled inserts received therein. At least some of the inserts may have at least one aperture through which gas may flow and the nozzle inserts may collectively direct the divided gas streams away from the manifold and toward the target in one or more predetermined patterns.
Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for generating ions within a space separating an emitter and a reference electrode, the method comprising: generating a variable number of small sharp pulses and rate of the pulses depending on the distance of the target from the emitter.
Abstract:
Clean corona gas ionization by separating contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions includes establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and flowing in a downstream direction, establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent at least a substantial portion of the byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream, and applying an electric field to the plasma region sufficient to induce at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream.
Abstract:
A method of creating low-particle ionizers by combining silicon-containing emitters and a high frequency AC voltage. The high frequency AC voltage provides voltage and current to the corona emitters of the ionizer. Within the scope of this invention, emitters or emitter surfaces contain 47% by weight (or more) of silicon. The combination of silicon-containing emitters and a high frequency AC voltage produces ionizers that are cleaner than prior art ionizers, based on particles greater than 10 nanometers. This improvement in cleanliness has been experimentally determined.
Abstract:
A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s). The first region may include the second region.
Abstract:
An air ion collimator is added to ionizers with integrated fans that are used to remove static charge. Three mechanisms minimize air ion losses through recombination. Hence, the collimator increases the air ions that are available for charge removal. First, reducing turbulence slows air ion mixing. Second, air entrainment into fast moving air ion zones further slows the rate of air ion losses by dilution. The rate of recombination reaction slows with decreasing ion density. Third, vanes within the collimator delay mixing. In addition to conserving air ions, the collimator directs more ions to the target. Air ions lost to grounding are reduced. Again, more air ions are available to remove static charge from the target.
Abstract:
An improved ionizer for providing an enhanced ion balance of negative and positive ions is disclosed. The ionizer may include a first ion emitter and a second ion emitter; at least one reference electrode coupled to ground; and a power supply for providing an AC voltage to the first and second ion emitter. This power supply is DC isolated from ground. In addition, the present invention includes a first rectifier coupled in series between the first ion emitter and the power supply, a second rectifier coupled in series between the second ion emitter and the power supply. The first and second rectifiers cause a DC bipolar voltage to be created from the first and second ion emitters during operation of the ionizer.
Abstract:
A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s). The first region may include the second region.
Abstract:
A high voltage power supply for a static neutralizer is disclosed. The high voltage power supply includes a resonant converter and a load with an emitter module having an emitter, reference electrode, and a capacitance value. The resonant converter is disposed to have a resonant frequency and an output coupled to the load. The resonant converter generates an output waveform with an amplitude sufficient for generating to ions by corona discharge when the load receives the output waveform. The load is predominantly capacitive when the resonant converter is operating at the resonant frequency.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for monitoring the output of an ionizing blower. A measuring channel captures a portion of the air ion stream, and measures balance plus air ion current. Since the measurement channel is isolated from extraneous electrostatic fields, measurements contain less analytical noise. Air flow through the measurement chamber is created by the inherent pressure difference between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an air mover. Two electrodes inside the measurement chamber are combined with a power supply, a low current amplifier, and a controller. The controller also makes adjustments to the ionizing blower.