Abstract: A grounding monitoring device is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the grounding monitoring device comprises a wrist strap comprising a first conductive portion for providing a first discharge path between a human arm and a ground; and a second conductive portion electrically isolated from the first conductive portion for providing a different second discharge path between the human arm and the ground. The grounding monitoring device further comprises a bipolar control voltage generator for applying a first voltage at a frequency f0 to the first conductive portion and an opposite second voltage at the frequency f0 to the second conductive portion; and an electrical circuit for: receiving a first total signal from the first conductive portion; receiving a second total signal from the second conductive portion; and forming an output signal based on a differential and common mode gains of the electrical circuit.

Abstract: An ionizer, including: an ionizing electrode for ionizing air and having a longitudinal first direction; and a cleaning member including a plurality of spaced apart bundles of bristles for cleaning the ionizing electrode when the cleaning member comes into contact with the ionizing electrode, each bundle of bristles in the plurality of spaced apart bundles of bristles being offset relative to the other bundles of bristles in the plurality of spaced apart bundles of bristles along the first direction and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: In one example, this disclosure describes a circuit and techniques that may be used to measure the ion balance in an ionization balance device (10). The described circuit comprises a capacitor (22) that includes two conductors (23, 24), wherein a first one (23) of the conductors is exposed to the output of the ionization device, and the second one (24) of the conductors is shielded from the output of the ionization device. The first conductor may accumulate charge so as to quantify the output of the ionization balance device. A switch (29) may be used to discharge the first conductor at periodic intervals in order to measure the accumulated charge on the first conductor, and signal processing may be performed on this discharge measurement in order to generate feedback that can be used to control and adjust the output of an ion source.

Abstract: An air ionization monitoring device 200 and method is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the air ionization monitoring device 200 comprises an ion source 202 adapted to emit ions 204 and a capacitor 208 including a first conductor 210 arranged to be exposed to the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202, and a second conductor 212 arranged to be shielded from the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202. The monitoring device 200 further includes a commutation circuit 234 operable between a first configuration for charging the capacitor 208 to a first predefined voltage, and a second configuration for using the ions 204 emitted by the ion source 202 to discharge the capacitor 208 for a predefined time resulting in the capacitor 208 having a second voltage. The device 200 is configured to use the first and second voltages to determine an ionic current of the emitted ions.

Abstract: A replaceable electrical ionizer cartridge or module including a support platter having a central air passage opening therethrough and at least two emitter points supported by the support platter so as to extend into the opening. At least one electrical connector is supported by the support platter and is electrically connected to at least one of the emitter points. Two levers are pivotally attached to the platter at an end thereof. To install the module in the ionizer housing the platter is inserted in through a slot in the housing so that side edges of the platter engage in guide structure in the housing. The platter is then slid along the guide structure and when the platter is nearly fully inserted in the housing, the guide levers are pushed towards the housing. This causes the levers to bias against the housing, pushing the platter into the housing such that the connector(s) engages with one or more corresponding electrical connectors in the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector element of the banana plug type which includes an elongate metal body having a core and a base. The base is connected to a lead or wire, and the core has a nose thereon at the end thereof remote from the base. The base and the nose form shoulders at the regions thereof adjacent the core. The surface of the core between the shoulders is a surface of revolution about the axis of the core. The surface of revolution is relatively close to the axis at regions near the shoulders and relatively far from the axis at regions far from the shoulders. The connector element further includes an electrically conductive spring, such as a barrel spring, mounted coaxially on the core between the shoulders. The spring has a central region located outwardly of the regions of the surface of revolution that are far from the axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrostatically grounding a person working in an electronics factory or other area where static electricity in persons is a problem. There is an electrostatic drain to drain static electricity to ground from a predetermined region of the person's clothing, and an assembly to drain electricity from the person to the predetermined region for making of electrical connection to the drain means and for conduction of static electricity to it. The assembly comprises an electrically conductive tab, and a thin flexible synthetic resin substrate, and a conductive film on the substrate, and a discrete high-resistance resistor mounted on the film and having its terminal portions electrically connected to spaced and mutually electrically isolated regions of the film. An end of the tab is electrically connected to the conductive film, and a package formed of thin electrically-insulating water-resistant flexible sheet material is provided.

Abstract: A dual conductor wristband utilizing a two-wire tether having a greatly modified single snap design. The wristband includes a strap (band) and a connector case, the case having a male snap for receiving a dual connector female socket. The male snap incorporates a plunger and a conductive rubber washer that activates the plunger so there is always electrical contact in both electrical circuits. The invention may be used with dual line constant resistance, capacitance, impedance, and non-monitored systems.

Abstract: An antistatic metal-link bracelet in which the connector portion has no moving parts. An insulating cap snap-connects permanently to a metal channel. The snap connection is such as to facilitate manufacture at low cost, and to make a permanent low-resistance electrical connection through which static electricity may drain to a grounding cord.

Abstract: An adjustable metal antistatic bracelet having a metal-link expansion wristband. A metal connector channel connects the ends of said wristband together, there being an end flange at each channel end and which extends into a gap between lower links. At one wristband end, tangs hold down an endmost link so that the end flange remains in a gap. At the other end, different types of means operate selectively to hold the end flange in a gap. An insulating cover snaps onto the channel, and incorporates a grounding stud and means to electrically connect the stud to the channel.