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: 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: Ion delivery manifolds with a gas transport channel, for receiving an ionized gas stream, and plural outlets that divide the gas stream into plural neutralization gas streams that are directed toward respective plural target regions are disclosed. At least generally equal ion distribution across the target regions is achieved by using different ion flow rates through the plural outlets. Methods of delivering plural neutralization streams to respective plural target regions include steps for receiving an ionized gas stream, for dividing the ionized gas stream into plural neutralization streams, and for directing the neutralization streams toward respective target regions. At least generally equal ion distribution across the target regions is achieved by differing the ion flow rates of the neutralization streams.

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 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: 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: 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: Clean corona ionization bars separate contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions by establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and directed toward an attractive non-ionizing electric field of a charge neutralization target, by 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 byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream. The ionization bar(s) may be located sufficiently close to the charged neutralization target that a non-ionizing electric field of the target induces at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream and to the neutralization target as a clean ionized gas stream.

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: Clean corona ionization bars separate contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions by establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and directed toward an attractive non-ionizing electric field of a charge neutralization target, by 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 byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream. The ionization bar(s) may be located sufficiently close to the charged neutralization target that a non-ionizing electric field of the target induces at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream and to the neutralization target as a clean ionized gas stream.

Abstract: Ion delivery manifolds with a gas transport channel, for receiving an ionized gas stream, and plural outlets that divide the gas stream into plural neutralization gas streams that are directed toward respective plural target regions are disclosed. At least generally equal ion distribution across the target regions is achieved by using different ion flow rates through the plural outlets. Methods of delivering plural neutralization streams to respective plural target regions include steps for receiving an ionized gas stream, for dividing the ionized gas stream into plural neutralization streams, and for directing the neutralization streams toward respective target regions. At least generally equal ion distribution across the target regions is achieved by differing the ion flow rates of the neutralization streams.

Abstract: Self-balancing, corona discharge for the stable production of electrically balanced and ultra-clean ionized gas streams is disclosed. This result is achieved by promoting the electronic conversion of free electrons into negative ions without adding oxygen or another electronegative gas to the gas stream. The invention may be used with electronegative and/or electropositive or noble gas streams and may include the use of a closed loop corona discharge control system.

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: 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: An apparatus and method for minimizing contamination buildup on corona emitters that are employed in an ionizer. Contamination buildup control is accomplished with solely electronic means. High voltage is applied to the emitters with waveforms that serve to push contaminants away from the emitter, rather than attracting contaminants toward the emitters. The results are fewer cleaning cycles, more time between cleaning cycles, and more stable ionizer operation.

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.

Abstract: At least one orifice is added to an AC ionizer with nozzles and ionizing electrodes that are used to remove static charge. The orifice is placed in a location where electrostatic forces are weak and where gas ions can be easily extracted from the ionizer. Ionizer effectiveness is enhanced by recovering gas ions that are normally trapped between the nozzles and under a portion of the ionizer from which the nozzles project. Without the orifice properly positioned, the trapped gas ions are lost by recombination or grounding. With the orifice positioned in an area of weak electrostatic forces, more gas ions are available for discharging the charged object. The combined air consumption of nozzles plus at least one orifice is the same or less than nozzles alone would consume for a given discharge time.

Abstract: Efficient static neutralization of an electrostatically charged object that has a varying distance from an ion generating source, a varying velocity, a large dimension or any these is achieved by using an ionizing cell or bar having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode for receiving a multi-frequency voltage that has a waveform, and the second electrode separated from the first electrode by a first distance and for use as a reference electrode. The waveform is adjusted during neutralization of a moving object based on at least one attribute of the object.

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.