Patent ID: 6504702
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: H01T

Abstract:
An ionizer which creates a corona current distribution having a balanced flow of positive and negative ions in a variable ion mobility gaseous environment, the balanced flow of positive and negative ions being directed toward a workspace or target located in the gaseous environment and downstream from the ionizer, the ionizer comprising:(a) a counterelectrode having at least two spatially isolated ion collecting surfaces; (b) a positive ion emitter which directs positive ions towards only a first ion collecting surface of the counterelectrode; (c) a negative ion emitter which directs negative ions towards only a second ion collecting surface of the counterelectrode, the positive and negative ion emitters being spatially isolated from each other so that outputs of each of the emitters do not reach the other emitter; and (d) a control circuit which controls the output of at least one of the positive and negative emitters so as to cause a balanced flow of positive and negative ions to be emitted from the ionizer and directed towards the workspace or target, thereby creating a static-free environment at the workspace or target.