Patent ID: 8681470
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: H01T

Abstract:
1. A method for optimizing performance of a static neutralizing power supply coupled to a controller and configured to provide an output to at least one ionizer, the power supply having a first operating state such that one or more properties of the output are set to fixed non-zero baseline levels, and a second operating state such that the one or more properties of the output are set to neutralizing levels, the fixed non-zero baseline level for at least one of the one or more properties being different than the neutralizing level for the at least one of the one or more properties, the controller being configured to switch the power supply between the first and second operating states during a sequence of a plurality of alternating first and second time periods, the method comprising: (a) during the first time period, sensing a current flow to the at least one ionizer with the power supply set to the first operating state; (b) comparing, in the controller, an expected current flow in the first operating state to the sensed current flow, wherein a difference between the expected and sensed current flows is proportional to a charge on an object to be neutralized proximate the at least one ionizer; (c) based on the comparison, adjusting, by the controller, at least one of the neutralizing levels for the one or more properties of the output of the power supply in the second operating state, wherein adjustments are made only in response to comparisons with current flows sensed in the first time period: (d) applying, during the immediately succeeding second time period, the adjusted neutralizing levels for the one or more properties of the output of the power supply in the second operating state to neutralize the charge on the object; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) for successive pairs of the first and second time periods.