Abstract: Static neutralization of a charged object is provided by applying an alternating voltage having a complex waveform, hereinafter referred to as a “multi-frequency voltage”, to an ionizing electrode in an ionizing cell. When the multi-frequency voltage, measured between the ionizing electrode and a reference electrode available from the ionizing cell, equals or exceeds the corona onset voltage threshold of the ionizing cell, the multi-frequency voltage generates a mix of positively and negatively charged ions, sometimes collectively referred to as a “bipolar ion cloud”. The bipolar ion cloud oscillates between the ionizing electrode and the reference electrode. The multi-frequency voltage also redistributes these ions into separate regions according to their negative or positive ion potential when the multi-frequency voltage creates a polarizing electrical field of sufficient strength.

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).

Abstract: A module for generating ions in a flowing air stream includes a support structure having a central region adapted to pass a flowing air stream therethrough, and including a plurality of supports for positioning a filamentary ion-generating electrode in a polygonal configuration within the central region. The supports and filament are relatively moveable to wipe the surface of the filament at each support for removing accumulated contaminants on the filament.

Abstract: A module for generating ions in a flowing air stream includes a support structure having a central region adapted to pass a flowing air stream therethrough, and including a plurality of supports for positioning a filamentary ion-generating electrode in a polygonal configuration within the central region. The supports and filament are relatively moveable to wipe the surface of the filament at each support for removing accumulated contaminants on the filament.

Abstract: Static neutralization of a charged object is provided by applying an alternating voltage having a complex waveform, hereinafter referred to as a “multi-frequency voltage”, to an ionizing electrode in an ionizing cell. When the multi-frequency voltage, measured between the ionizing electrode and a reference electrode available from the ionizing cell, equals or exceeds the corona onset voltage threshold of the ionizing cell, the multi-frequency voltage generates a mix of positively and negatively charged ions, sometimes collectively referred to as a “bipolar ion cloud”. The bipolar ion cloud oscillates between the ionizing electrode and the reference electrode. The multi-frequency voltage also redistributes these ions into separate regions according to their negative or positive ion potential when the multi-frequency voltage creates a polarizing electrical field of sufficient strength.

Abstract: An air ionizing module and method for generating ions of one and opposite polarities within a flowing stream of air or other gas includes a thin-filament electrode mounted within the flowing stream in regions thereof of maximum flow velocity. The thin-filament electrode is mounted in a multi-sided polygonal configuration to receive high ionizing voltage of alternating one and opposite polarities to form an intense stream of ions toward an electrically-isolated reference electrode positioned upstream of the filament electrode. Another reference electrode positioned within the flowing stream downstream of the filament electrode receives a bias voltage of selected polarity to control the quantities of generated ions of positive and negative polarities in an outlet stream of the ions and flowing gas.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating positive and negative ions include electrodes that are spaced apart by a gap and that are supplied alternating ionizing voltage at a frequency which causes the generated ions to move within the gap between electrodes and exhibit a resident time in transit that accumulates the ions substantially within the central region of the gap. An electrostatic field, or a flowing stream of air or other gas passing through the gap, transports the generated ions from within the gap. Self-balancing of generated positive and negative ions is accomplished using capacitive coupling of the ionizing voltage to at least one of the electrodes disposed about the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating and controlling flows of positive and negative air ions includes interposing isolated sets of electrodes in a flowing air stream to separately produce positive and negative ions. The rates of separated production of positive and negative ions are sensed to control ionizing voltages applied to electrodes that produce the ions. Variations from a balance condition of substantially equal amounts of positive and negative ions flowing in the air stream are also sensed to alter bias voltage applied to a grid electrode through which the air stream and ions flow.

Abstract: An ionizer bar includes upper and lower housings having aerodynamically-shaped exterior surfaces to support laminar air flow over the structure. The upper housing forms an upper interior chamber for electrical circuitry isolated from a lower chamber within the lower housing that confines fluid under pressure therein. Outlets spaced along the length of the structure include ionizing electrodes that are disposed within fluid conduits and that are connected to a source of ionizing voltage mounted in the upper chamber. Fluid passages at the outlets release fluid under pressure within the lower chamber around associated ionizing electrodes mounted at the outlets.

Abstract: An enclosure for transporting semiconductor wafers includes a pair of sensors that are responsive to electrostatic fields mounted on conductive grounded plates in facing orientations on opposite sides of a position within the enclosure at which a semiconductor wafer is to be located. Electronic circuitry within the enclosure in communication with the sensors supplies monitoring signals to remote circuitry external to the enclosure that isolates sources of contaminants and provides remote balance and gain adjustments. Calibration of the balance and gain adjustments uses a grounded plate for zero balance reference, and uses a plate of insulating material that is charged to a known potential for referencing gain adjustments to produce related outputs.

Abstract: Apparatus and method and system for measuring and controlling electrostatic charge on objects such as semiconductor substrates include a cassette having an inner structure with supporting slots and electrically conductive regions, and having isolated conductive outer walls for supporting objects in the slots, and include a charge monitor connected to the conductive regions and the conductive walls for sensing charge applicable to one or more objects carrying static charge positioned within the cassette. Charge neutralization is controlled in response to sensed charge attaining a selected level.

Abstract: Simultaneous neutralization and monitoring of charge on a moving dielectric material is achieved with ionizing devices that supply ions in proximity to the material to thereby substantially neutralize charge on the material, and with circuitry that senses the ion currents flowing from the ionizing devices to the material. A controller can be utilized to control the ionizing devices and/or calculate various parameters (such as charge densities on the web, efficiency, etc.) based on the sensed ion currents.

Abstract: A first stream of pressurized gas is directed at high toward a target area through an ionization chamber. As the high-speed, pressurized gas flows through the ionization chamber, a low-pressure region is used to draw a second stream of gas into the ionization chamber. The second stream of gas is drawn into the ionization chamber from the target area. Re-circulation of gas from the target area supplements the pressurized gas, thereby increasing the efficiency of ionization while reducing the volume of pressurized gas that must be consumed. This helps to prevent recombination while increasing the rate of flow of ionized gas to the target area. A cost-effective, safe, low-level radiation source is used to direct soft X-rays through a filtering window at the gas as it passes through the ionization chamber. Use of the filtering window physically separates the low-level radiation source from the ionization chamber and only allows soft X-rays to pass into the chamber.

Abstract: A signal translating circuit is operable on applied input signal through recurring cycles of conduction and non-conduction of a junction type transistor in response to current transfers between inductors in collector and base circuits through an internal conduction path of the collector-base junction. The inductor in the collector circuit is connected to receive the input signal, and bias circuitry connected between the base and emitter receives the input signal for powering cyclic operation at a frequency determined in part by the values of inductance in the base and collector circuits. Output utilization circuitry produces output voltages of opposite polarity from oscillator output pulses of predominantly one polarity.

Abstract: Ionizing apparatus includes a housing that supports a plurality of ionizing electrodes disposed within fluid apertures that are connected via tubing conduits to pass fluid therethrough about the electrodes. Gas to be ionized is supplied under pressure to the apertures transporting gas ions generated at the electrodes in response to high ionizing voltage supplied thereto. To clean the ionizing apparatus, cleaning liquid is supplied under pressure in one flow direction through the tubing conduits and apertures to remove particles from within the tubing conduits and apertures and from surfaces of the electrodes.

Abstract: A computer system for automatically converting a scrollable electronic document, including text, graphics, tables and combinations, from a scrollable format to a non-scrollable format, the system comprising a page-forming mechanism configured to operatively and automatically arrange the scrollable electronic information document into a plurality of non-scrollable pages, each having one or more columns wherein each of the columns has a width corresponding to a number of characters per line within a predetermined range of characters per line, a content formatter mechanism configured to be operatively responsive to embedded formatting commands, either common word-processing commands or html commands or both; a font-sizing mechanism configured to operatively permit a user to selectively alter the size of the characters comprising the non-scrollable pages; an image sizing mechanism configured either to automatically alter the widths of graphic images and tables in the electronic document to proportionately conform

Abstract: An ionizing bar assembly having a plastic housing with two individual ionizing electrode modules disposed on opposite sides. The ionizing electrode modules each include a plurality of printed circuit boards having signal traces thereon with ionizing electrodes or pins extending therefrom. The printed circuit boards are electrically coupled together by conductive rods or tubing positioned adjacent to the traces on the boards and soldered at various positions along the traces. The ionizing electrode modules are placed at opposing angles and are offset laterally from each other in such a way that the ionizing electrodes or pins extending from one module are located between the ionizing electrodes or pins extending from the opposite module, with the tips of each aligned along a common central linear axis.

Abstract: The total of the ion current leaving electrodes of one polarity and the ion current flowing to those electrodes, is measured as the current in the ground return path of the corresponding generator. For a brand-new ionizer, the value of that total ion current for electrodes of each polarity under normal operating conditions will substantially be the maximum ion current the positive and negative electrodes are capable of generating. The changes in the current in the ground return path reflect changes in the ionizing efficiency of the electrodes caused among other factors, by contamination. The values of the currents may be scaled up or down to the arbitrary unit. Using this scaling allows to have a signal that is normalized regardless of the length of the ionizer and number of the ionizing electrodes.

Abstract: The total of the ion current leaving electrodes of one polarity and the ion current flowing to those electrodes, is measured as the current in the ground return path of the corresponding generator. For a brand-new ionizer, the value of that total ion current for electrodes of each polarity under normal operating conditions will substantially be the maximum ion current the positive and negative electrodes are capable of generating. The changes in the current in the ground return path reflect changes in the ionizing efficiency of the electrodes caused among other factors, by contamination. The values of the currents may be scaled up or down to the arbitrary unit. Using this scaling allows to have a signal that is normalized regardless of the length of the ionizer and number of the ionizing electrodes.

Abstract: An air ionizing apparatus that produces both positive and negative ions has a housing with air inlet and outlet passages, a plurality of spaced apart air ionizing electrodes and a high voltage supply which applies positive and negative voltages to separate electrodes. A fan creates an airflow that carries the ions out of the housing, the fan preferably being between the electrodes and the outlet passages to promote intermixing of positive and negative ions.