Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Electric charge generating or conducting means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-13
2004-09-28
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Electric charge generating or conducting means
C361S231000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06798637
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to air ionizers and more particularly to an apparatus and method for producing time-varying quantities of positive and negative air ions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Individual molecules of the gases that constitute ambient air can acquire electrical charge and become positive or negative ions, depending upon whether a deficiency or an excess of electrons has been imparted to the molecule. Positive and negative ions are commonly present in the ambient air as a result of static electricity discharges and/or other natural causes.
High levels of air ionization can have the beneficial effects of removing particulate contaminants such as smoke particles or pollens from the air by transferring charge to such particles. The charged particles are electrostatically attracted to nearby surfaces that are electrically neutral or oppositely charged and are then deposited against such surfaces. Additionally, air with a high content of negative ions is believed to have beneficial physiological effects on persons who breathe the air.
Air inside buildings tends to become stale and unpleasant to breathe as a result of, in part, the depletion of the ion content in the air. Various conventional air ionizers have been developed to counteract the depletion of ions and also to purify air by causing the precipitation of particulate contaminants out of the air and onto nearby surfaces. Such conventional air ionizers typically include pointed electrodes that are connected to high voltage supplies to produce intense electrical fields adjacent the pointed electrodes. Neutral gas molecules in the vicinity of the intense electrical fields are transformed to positive or negative ions, depending upon the polarity of the high voltages on the electrodes. Electrostatic repulsion from the similarly charged electrodes and air blowers disperse the air ions throughout the room to cause precipitation of particulate contaminants from the air and to promote the beneficial physiological effects reported by some people who breathe the air. Such conventional air ionizers commonly produce predetermined ratios of positive to negative ions (for example, ratio in equal numbers), and such balancing can be maintained in a variety of ways that permit continued self-balancing of generated ions over a wide range of varying operating conditions. Air ionizers of this type are described in the literature. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,963).
However, such conventional air ionizers typically do not have the capability of generating time-varying quantities of positive and/or negative ions. It is believed that rapid variations in the concentration and polarity of ions in the air over time promote physiologically desirable effects in people who are exposed to such air with modulated ion content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention produce ions of positive and negative polarity in time-varying manner to promote more physiologically desirable effects in people who are exposed to air with such modulated ion content. In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention is particularly suited for room installations and includes electrodes that are spaced apart and are energized to high voltage levels to form intense electrical fields adjacent each of the electrodes. The electrical field adjacent each electrode promotes the generation of positive or negative ions, and in one embodiment of the invention, level controllers are used to vary the concentration of ions of one or other polarity over time.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the level controller provides control signals that control the voltage level at the electrodes to permit positive and negative ions to be generated in quantities that vary aperiodically, randomly, or pseudo-randomly over time intervals (such as one to a few seconds). As a result, the ion concentration may vary rapidly or fluctuate within a range of minimum and maximum levels for one or other polarities.
In another embodiment of the invention, a controller controls generation of positive ions or negative ions in quantities that vary in a manner simulating the ion signature of a selected geographical location.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3337784 (1967-08-01), Lueder
patent: 3417302 (1968-12-01), Lueder
patent: 3504227 (1970-03-01), Wooton et al.
patent: 3624448 (1971-11-01), Saurenman et al.
patent: 3711743 (1973-01-01), Bolasny
patent: 3873835 (1975-03-01), Ignatjev
patent: 4253852 (1981-03-01), Adams
patent: 4317661 (1982-03-01), Sasaoka et al.
patent: 4319302 (1982-03-01), Moulden
patent: 4333123 (1982-06-01), Moulden
patent: 4490806 (1984-12-01), Enke et al.
patent: 4517143 (1985-05-01), Kisler
patent: 4542434 (1985-09-01), Gehlke et al.
patent: 4633083 (1986-12-01), Knorr et al.
patent: 4729057 (1988-03-01), Halleck
patent: 4757422 (1988-07-01), Bossard et al.
patent: 4809127 (1989-02-01), Steinman et al.
patent: 4951172 (1990-08-01), Steinman et al.
patent: 5055963 (1991-10-01), Partridge
patent: 5057966 (1991-10-01), Sakata et al.
patent: 5153811 (1992-10-01), Rodrigo et al.
patent: 5710427 (1998-01-01), Schubert et al.
patent: 5930105 (1999-07-01), Pitel et al.
patent: 6002573 (1999-12-01), Patridge
patent: 6130815 (2000-10-01), Pitel et al.
patent: 6252233 (2001-06-01), Good
patent: 6459079 (2002-10-01), Machlinski et al.
patent: 6467426 (2002-10-01), Takaoka et al.
patent: 6643113 (2003-11-01), Richie et al.
patent: 0844 726 (1997-09-01), None
Baumann, John and Micki, “Metaphysical Home Page” [Online] [retrieved on Feb. 12, 2003]. Retrieved from the Internet <URL: http://www.lovesedona.com/01.htm, pp. 1-3, and 1-9.
3M 961 Ionized Art Blower instruction, 3M Corporation, ©1991 (A copy of this article was transmitted in an IDS filed on Feb. 22, 2001, with the parent case (Ser. No. 09/698,707).
Moeller, D.W., et al., “Laboratory and Field Tests of a Hassock Fan-Ion Generator Radon Decay Product Removal Unit,” Oct. 7, 1987.
ION Systems
Nguyen Danny
Sircus Brian
LandOfFree
Dynamic air ionizer and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dynamic air ionizer and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dynamic air ionizer and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3250055