Abstract: An example apparatus for charge neutralization includes: a first emitter nozzle; a power supply configured to supply a high frequency alternating current (AC) signal to the first emitter nozzle; control circuitry configured to: provide a polarity signal to the power supply to generate a DC offset signal, wherein a combination of the high frequency AC signal and the DC offset signal causes the power supply to output a positive ion generation pulse or a negative ion generation pulse; control the polarity signal to cause the power supply to provide a period of positive ion generation and a period of negative ion generation; determine a balance voltage at an output of the first emitter nozzle; and control the polarity signal to adjust a relative durations of the period of positive ion generation and the period of negative ion generation based on the balance voltage.

Abstract: Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Abstract: Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Abstract: An example apparatus for charge neutralization includes: a first emitter nozzle; a power supply configured to supply a high frequency alternating current (AC) signal to the first emitter nozzle; control circuitry configured to: provide a polarity signal to the power supply to generate a DC offset signal, wherein a combination of the high frequency AC signal and the DC offset signal causes the power supply to output a positive ion generation pulse or a negative ion generation pulse; control the polarity signal to cause the power supply to provide a period of positive ion generation and a period of negative ion generation; determine a balance voltage at an output of the first emitter nozzle; and control the polarity signal to adjust a relative durations of the period of positive ion generation and the period of negative ion generation based on the balance voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilization using nonthermal plasma (NTP) ionization are disclosed. An example method for inactivation of viable microorganisms includes: inactivating viable microorganisms in a predetermined volume by: installing a plurality of ceiling mounted direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), bipolar or steady-state, ion emitter modules based on a geometry of the predetermined volume; and producing, using the plurality of ceiling mounted ion emitter modules, a DC or AC, bipolar or steady-state, nonthermal plasma (NTP), each of the ceiling mounted ion emitter modules comprising a high voltage power supply (HVPS).

Abstract: Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilization using nonthermal plasma (NTP) ionization are disclosed. An example method for inactivation of viable microorganisms includes: inactivating viable microorganisms in a predetermined volume by: installing a plurality of ceiling mounted direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), bipolar or steady-state, ion emitter modules based on a geometry of the predetermined volume; and producing, using the plurality of ceiling mounted ion emitter modules, a DC or AC, bipolar or steady-state, nonthermal plasma (NTP), each of the ceiling mounted ion emitter modules comprising a high voltage power supply (HVPS).

Abstract: Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilization using nonthermal plasma (NTP) ionization are disclosed. An example method for inactivation of viable microorganisms includes: inactivating viable microorganisms in a predetermined volume by: installing a plurality of ceiling mounted direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), bipolar or steady-state, ion emitter modules based on a geometry of the predetermined volume; and producing, using the plurality of ceiling mounted ion emitter modules, a DC or AC, bipolar or steady-state, nonthermal plasma (NTP), each of the ceiling mounted ion emitter modules comprising a high voltage power supply (HVPS).

Abstract: Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for static charge neutralization in variable pressure environments are disclosed. In particular, barrier discharge ionization apparatus may include a hollow dielectric channel disposed within a variable pressure environment and may have at least one open end, a reference emitter disposed on the outer surface of the channel, and a high voltage electrode disposed within the channel. The high voltage electrode may present a high intensity electric field to the reference emitter through the dielectric channel in response to the provision of a variable-waveform signal dictated by conditions in the variable pressure environment. This results in the generation of a plasma region with electrically balanced charge carriers within the variable pressure environment due to barrier discharge occurring at the interface of the reference emitter and the outer surface of the dielectric channel. The disclosed apparatus are compatible with either radio frequency or micro-pulse voltage power supplies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for static charge neutralization in variable pressure environments are disclosed. In particular, barrier discharge ionization apparatus may include a hollow dielectric channel disposed within a variable pressure environment and may have at least one open end, a reference emitter disposed on the outer surface of the channel, and a high voltage electrode disposed within the channel. The high voltage electrode may present a high intensity electric field to the reference emitter through the dielectric channel in response to the provision of a variable-waveform signal dictated by conditions in the variable pressure environment. This results in the generation of a plasma region with electrically balanced charge carriers within the variable pressure environment due to barrier discharge occurring at the interface of the reference emitter and the outer surface of the dielectric channel. The disclosed apparatus are compatible with either radio frequency or micro-pulse voltage power supplies.

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: 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: Methods and apparatus for static charge neutralization in variable pressure environments are disclosed. In particular, barrier discharge ionization apparatus may include a hollow dielectric channel disposed within a variable pressure environment and may have at least one open end, a reference emitter disposed on the outer surface of the channel, and a high voltage electrode disposed within the channel. The high voltage electrode may present a high intensity electric field to the reference emitter through the dielectric channel in response to the provision of a variable-waveform signal dictated by conditions in the variable pressure environment. This results in the generation of a plasma region with electrically balanced charge carriers within the variable pressure environment due to barrier discharge occurring at the interface of the reference emitter and the outer surface of the dielectric channel. The disclosed apparatus are compatible with either radio frequency or micro-pulse voltage power supplies.

Abstract: A multi-sectional linear ionizing bar with at least four elements is disclosed. First, disclosed bars may include at least one ionization cell with at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud along the length thereof. Second, disclosed bars may include at least one reference electrode. Third, disclosed bars may include a manifold for receiving gas or air from a source and for delivering same past the linear emitter(s) such that substantially none of the gas/air flows into the ion cloud. Fourth, disclosed bars may include means for receiving the ionizing voltage and for delivering same to the linear emitter(s) to thereby establish the ion cloud. In this way, disclosed ionizing bars may transport ions from the plasma region toward a charge neutralization target without inducing substantial vibration of the linear emitter and without substantial contaminants from the gas/air flow reaching the linear emitter.

Abstract: A multi-sectional linear ionizing bar with at least four elements is disclosed. First, disclosed bars may include at least one ionization cell with at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud along the length thereof. Second, disclosed bars may include at least one reference electrode. Third, disclosed bars may include a manifold for receiving gas or air from a source and for delivering same past the linear emitter(s) such that substantially none of the gas/air flows into the ion cloud. Fourth, disclosed bars may include means for receiving the ionizing voltage and for delivering same to the linear emitter(s) to thereby establish the ion cloud. In this way, disclosed ionizing bars may transport ions from the plasma region toward a charge neutralization target without inducing substantial vibration of the linear emitter and without substantial contaminants from the gas/air flow reaching the linear emitter.

Abstract: A multi-sectional linear ionizing bar with at least four elements is disclosed. First, disclosed bars may include at least one ionization cell with at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud along the length thereof. Second, disclosed bars may include at least one reference electrode. Third, disclosed bars may include a manifold for receiving gas or air from a source and for delivering same past the linear emitter(s) such that substantially none of the gas/air flows into the ion cloud. Fourth, disclosed bars may include means for receiving the ionizing voltage and for delivering same to the linear emitter(s) to thereby establish the ion cloud. In this way, disclosed ionizing bars may transportions from the plasma region toward a charge neutralization target without inducing substantial vibration of the linear emitter and without substantial contaminants from the gas/air flow reaching the linear emitter.

Abstract: A multi-sectional linear ionizing bar with at least four elements is disclosed. First, disclosed bars may include at least one ionization cell with at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud along the length thereof. Second, disclosed bars may include at least one reference electrode. Third, disclosed bars may include a manifold for receiving gas or air from a source and for delivering same past the linear emitter(s) such that substantially none of the gas/air flows into the ion cloud. Fourth, disclosed bars may include means for receiving the ionizing voltage and for delivering same to the linear emitter(s) to thereby establish the ion cloud. In this way, disclosed ionizing bars may transport ions from the plasma region toward a charge neutralization target without inducing substantial vibration of the linear emitter and without substantial contaminants from the gas/air flow reaching the linear emitter.