Abstract: A plasma generating system is provided. The plasma generating system includes: a pair of electrodes having distal ends; an electrode holder holding the pair of electrodes; a gate having a surface on which the electrode holder is slidably mounted and adapted to be controlled by sliding the electrode holder on the surface; and a resilient member secured to the gate and adapted to generate a force to close the opening. The distal ends are adapted to move into an opening of the gate as the electrode holder slides along a direction on the surface and adapted to generate an electric arc to thereby ignite plasma in a gas.

Abstract: A plasma generating system is provided. The plasma generating system includes: a pair of electrodes having distal ends; an electrode holder holding the pair of electrodes; a gate having a surface on which the electrode holder is slidably mounted and adapted to be controlled by sliding the electrode holder on the surface; and a resilient member secured to the gate and adapted to generate a force to close the opening. The distal ends are adapted to move into an opening of the gate as the electrode holder slides along a direction on the surface and adapted to generate an electric arc to thereby ignite plasma in a gas.

Abstract: A plasma generating system is provided. The plasma generating system includes: a pair of electrodes having distal ends; an electrode holder holding the pair of electrodes; a gate having a surface on which the electrode holder is slidably mounted and adapted to be controlled by sliding the electrode holder on the surface; and a resilient member secured to the gate and adapted to generate a force to close the opening. The distal ends are adapted to move into an opening of the gate as the electrode holder slides along a direction on the surface and adapted to generate an electric arc to thereby ignite plasma in a gas.

Abstract: By focusing on the fact that nitrogen dioxide exhibits an increased sterilizing effect among other sterilant gases including nitrogen oxide, the present invention is made to provide a sterilization method which may be suitably used for sterilizing items to be sterilized such as medical instruments which require increased reliability by using a high concentration NO2 gas of 5,000 ppm or above, for example. An inside of a sterilizing chamber containing an item to be sterilized is humidified, and a concentration of NO2 in the sterilizing chamber is made to be from 9 to 100 mg/L by filling a high concentration NO2 gas.

Abstract: A high concentration NO2 gas generating system including a circulating path configured by connecting a chamber, a plasma generator, and a circulating means, wherein NO2 is generated by circulating a gas mixture including nitrogen and oxygen in the circulating path is provided. The high concentration NO2 gas generating system provides a high concentration NO2 generating system and the high concentration NO2 generating method using the generating system by which NO2 of high concentration (approximately 500 ppm or above) required for a high level of sterilization process in such as sterilization of medical instruments can be simply and selectively obtained. In addition, since indoor air is used as an ingredient, the management of ingredients is simple and highly safe, and the high concentration of NO2 can be simply and selectively prepared on demand.

Abstract: A high concentration NO2 gas generating system including a circulating path configured by connecting a chamber, a plasma generator, and a circulating means, wherein NO2 is generated by circulating a gas mixture including nitrogen and oxygen in the circulating path is provided. The high concentration NO2 gas generating system provides a high concentration NO2 generating system and the high concentration NO2 generating method using the generating system by which NO2 of high concentration (approximately 500 ppm or above) required for a high level of sterilization process in such as sterilization of medical instruments can be simply and selectively obtained. In addition, since indoor air is used as an ingredient, the management of ingredients is simple and highly safe, and the high concentration of NO2 can be simply and selectively prepared on demand.

Abstract: A plasma generating system is provided. The plasma generating system includes: a pair of electrodes having distal ends; an electrode holder holding the pair of electrodes; a gate having a surface on which the electrode holder is slidably mounted and adapted to be controlled by sliding the electrode holder on the surface; and a resilient member secured to the gate and adapted to generate a force to close the opening. The distal ends are adapted to move into an opening of the gate as the electrode holder slides along a direction on the surface and adapted to generate an electric arc to thereby ignite plasma in a gas.

Abstract: A high concentration NO2 gas generating system including a circulating path configured by connecting a chamber, a plasma generator, and a circulating means, wherein NO2 is generated by circulating a gas mixture including nitrogen and oxygen in the circulating path is provided. The high concentration NO2 gas generating system provides a high concentration NO2 generating system and the high concentration NO2 generating method using the generating system by which NO2 of high concentration (approximately 500 ppm or above) required for a high level of sterilization process in such as sterilization of medical instruments can be simply and selectively obtained. In addition, since indoor air is used as an ingredient, the management of ingredients is simple and highly safe, and the high concentration of NO2 can be simply and selectively prepared on demand.

Abstract: Systems for generating microwave plasma from a combustion flame. The present invention provides a microwave plasma nozzle that includes a hollow cylindrical housing through which combustible material flows, and a rod-shaped conductor disposed in the housing. A portion of the rod-shaped conductor extends into a microwave cavity to receive microwaves passing in the cavity. The rod-shaped conductor transmits microwaves along the surface thereof, and has a distal end disposed in proximity to and surrounded by a proximal end portion of the housing. During operation, a combustion flame is formed in proximity to the proximal end portion of the housing, and the microwaves transmitted along the surface heat up the flame to generate plasma in proximity to the distal end of the rod-shaped conductor.

Abstract: Keyboard systems for interfacing with a touchscreen. The keyboard includes: a plurality of contact members formed of electrically conducting material, each of the contact members having first and second sides; and a plurality of keys. Each key has an electrically conducting key-pad unit and a resilient member, where the resilient member is adapted to maintain the key-pad unit in a spaced part relationship relative to a corresponding one of the contact members. The first side of each contact member is in constant contact with a particular portion of the touchscreen. The key-pad unit is adapted to contact the second side of a corresponding one of the contact members when pressed by a foreign object, to thereby form an electrically conducting path between the foreign object and the particular portion of the touchscreen.

Abstract: A high concentration NO2 gas generating system including a circulating path configured by connecting a chamber, a plasma generator, and a circulating means, wherein NO2 is generated by circulating a gas mixture including nitrogen and oxygen in the circulating path is provided. The high concentration NO2 gas generating system provides a high concentration NO2 generating system and the high concentration NO2 generating method using the generating system by which NO2 of high concentration (approximately 500 ppm or above) required for a high level of sterilization process in such as sterilization of medical instruments can be simply and selectively obtained. In addition, since indoor air is used as an ingredient, the management of ingredients is simple and highly safe, and the high concentration of NO2 can be simply and selectively prepared on demand.

Abstract: By focusing on the fact that nitrogen dioxide exhibits an increased sterilizing effect among other sterilant gases including nitrogen oxide, the present invention is made to provide a sterilization method which may be suitably used for sterilizing items to be sterilized such as medical instruments which require increased reliability by using a high concentration NO2 gas of 5,000 ppm or above, for example. An inside of a sterilizing chamber containing an item to be sterilized is humidified, and a concentration of NO2 in the sterilizing chamber is made to be from 9 to 100 mg/L by filling a high concentration NO2 gas.

Abstract: A sterilizing apparatus and method provide a sterilizing system having a sterilization chamber and a method for sterilizing an item in the sterilization chamber. The method includes the steps of: loading the item into the sterilization chamber; evacuating gas from the sterilization chamber; preparing sterilant gas by use of plasma; and filling the sterilization chamber with the sterilant gas to a preset pressure. The method further includes the steps of waiting a preset time interval to thereby accomplish an intended sterilization and evacuating the sterilant gas from the sterilization chamber.

Abstract: A sterilant gas generating system includes a chamber for containing gas; a gas converting device having a gas inlet and a gas outlet connected to the chamber and adapted to convert gas received through the gas inlet into a sterilant gas and to eject the sterilant gas into the chamber through the gas outlet; and a gas recirculating mechanism coupled to the chamber and the gas inlet of the converting means and operative to move the gas contained in the chamber to the gas inlet of the gas converting device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling an ultraviolet (UV) sterilization system that has one or more UV sources to achieve proper sterilization with minimal time and usage of power for the UV sterilization system. The UV sources are operated according to a set of control parameters including intensity of the UV light energy and an exposure time. The device may include: one or more sensors that are configured to measure UV light energy emitted by the UV sources and develop one or more signals; and a microcontroller that has an access to information of UV energy doses for various types of microorganisms. The microcontroller is configured to receive the signals from the sensors, determine a set of optimum values corresponding to the set of control parameters using the signals and the information, and send the set of optimum values to the UV sources to control the UV sources.