Abstract:
An improved lighting and ionic air purifying device for both lighting and improving the air quality of a room or space. The device includes a light source such as a compact fluorescent lamp and an anion generator with a metal fiber brush which reduces or eliminates ozone production. The improved device provides extended lamp life and increased dispersion of ions into the ambient air in the room or space. The device may also include a photocatalyst coating on the lamp to further purify the air.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/097,767, filed Apr. 2, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/617,826, filed Oct. 12, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an ionizer apparatus for generating anions and purifying air, and more particularly to an improved ionizer apparatus incorporated into a lighting device for preventing generation of ozone while generating anions and purifying air, in addition to lighting a room. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Negative ions or anions have the effects of purifying blood, activating cells, increasing immunity, controlling the autonomic nervous system, removing toxic materials generated by electromagnetic waves, eliminating dust and bacteria, adjusting humidity and removing odor. When a person inhales such anions, there occur the beneficial effects of promoting the metabolism of cells, purifying blood, tranquilizing nerves, relieving fatigue and stimulating appetite. Under fresh natural conditions, it is known that the number of anions per 1 cc of air is 800-2,000, for example, in forests, near hot springs or waterfalls, and in seashore areas. Indoor air, on the other hand, often contains various contaminants such as dust, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by building materials and furnishings, bacteria, viruses, mold and the like. These contaminants tend to be positively charged as cations which deplete the density of anions in the air and lead to uncomfortable breathing and health risks. Anion generators can restore the balance of positive and negative ions, but conventional anion generators suffer from a number of problems. For example, they produce ozone and emit electromagnetic radiation, both of which can be harmful and are undesirable, and they require relatively high electric energy to operate. 
         [0004]    A conventional anion generator includes an anion generating plate, a plurality of electron guns, an electronic plate having a plurality of holes and an anion collecting panel. The anion generator receives a high voltage from an amplifier and emits electrons to the electron guns mounted within the anion generator. The electrons discharged from the electron guns strike against the electron plate and the generate anions. The generated anions are discharged to the outside of the housing through the holes of the electronic plate. A problem with this type of anion generator is that it also produces ozone (O 3 ), which can be irritating in small quantities and lethal in larger concentrations. Other problems with conventional ion generators are that they generate electromagnetic radiation and require relatively high electric energy to operate. They also are often fairly large and inconvenient and they do not produce cluster ions which are the most desirable type. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an anion generator which produces beneficial anions but reduces or eliminates the generation of ozone, and may be conveniently incorporated into a lighting device such as a compact fluorescent light bulb (“CFL”). parent application Ser. No. 11/097,767 discloses a CFL with an ion generator. That device requires a wire to connect the metal fiber brush to the ion generator circuit. The wire not only adds cost to making the device, but also the electric field generated by the wire has been found to degrade the performance of the CFL and to shorten its lifespan. The position of the brush has been found to cause dust to build up on the portions of the bulb adjacent the brush. It is desirable to configure the device so that the performance and lifespan of the light bulb are not reduced. It is also desirable to improve airflow around the device to reduce dust accumulation on the CFL as well as to improve dispersion of ions into the ambient air. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a first embodiment of the invention there is provided an improved lighting apparatus for purifying the air without a UV lamp. The lighting apparatus uses a metal fiber brush which generates anions but reduces or eliminates the generation of ozone. The lighting apparatus also prevents anions generated from the anion generator from being removed by electromagnetic interference. The brush includes numerous metal fibers, each of the metal fibers being formed on an outer surface thereof with numerous tiny projections. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, an improved lighting apparatus includes an ion generator with a metal fiber brush which extends directly from the ion generator and is located in proximity to the housing of the apparatus. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, apertures are provided in the housing to improve air flow around the device and to assist with dispersion of ions. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a light bulb of the lighting apparatus may be coated with titanium dioxide, which acts as a photocatalyst when activated by light from the light bulb, to eliminate contaminants in the ambient air. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a lighting device for generating anions and purifying air according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a lighting device for generating anions and purifying air according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a lighting device for generating anions and purifying air according to the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of a lighting device for generating anions and purifying air according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a lighting and air purifying apparatus  10  according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical housing  12  consisting of an upper part  14  and a lower part  16 , an anion generator  18 , a lamp  20  mounted on upper part  14  of housing  12 ; and an anion electric power source  22  engaged with a socket  24  within lower part  16  of housing  12 . The anion electric power source  22  amplifies power to high voltages and applies the high voltages to the anion generator  18 . Further, the electric power source  22  is fixedly mounted within housing  12 . The anion electric power source  22  is preferably sealed within a case to prevent electromagnetic interference generated from the anion electric power source  22  from affecting a lamp electric power source  26  applying power to lamp  20 . The invention is not limited to the spiral lamp configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and other types of lamps and/or a plurality of lamps are contemplated by the present invention. For example,  FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate a plurality of lamps  20  on housing  12 . 
         [0015]    Lamp electric power source  26  provides an appropriate voltage received from socket  24  to lamp  20 . Lamp electric power source  26  includes a transformer and other related electric components, as in a conventional ballast unit for a fluorescent lamp. Lamp electric power source  26  is fixedly supported by members formed on an inner wall of housing  50 . 
         [0016]    Anion generator  18  is centrally mounted on upper part  14  of housing  12 . Anion generator  18  includes a metal fiber (MF3) brush  28  for generating anions without generating ozone. Brush  28  has numerous tiny projections, and each of the projections has a sharp tip. Preferably, the metal fibers may be made of a conductive alloy, and more preferably the alloy is made up of eight different metals. Most preferably, the alloy comprises platinum, stainless steel, copper, silver, zinc, nickel, manganese and tungsten. The fibers may be bound together by rope-twisting them with a conductive resin and/or a semi conductive resin. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , brush  28  extends directly from anion generator  18  and thus is located just above the upper surface of upper part  14  of housing  12 . This location has been found to reduce interference with lamp  20  as compared with devices in which the brush is located farther from housing  12  toward the center or far end of lamp  20 . This arrangement also eliminates a wire extending from housing  12  to connect brush  28  to anion generator  18 , the wire being a source of electromagnetic interference. 
         [0018]    A non-conductive, perforated cap  30  may be provided to fit over brush  28  and anion generator  18  to protect brush  28  and prevent accidental contact by a user. The cap  30  may be, for example, of plastic and provided with holes, slots or other perforations to permit the anions to be discharged. 
         [0019]    Apertures  32  and  34  are provided in the side and upper surfaces, respectively, of upper part  14  of housing  12 . As a result of heat generated by anion power source  22  and lamp power source  26 , air flows into apertures  32 , through the interior of housing  12 , and out though apertures  34 . This serves to cool anion power source  22  and lamp power source  26 , resulting in longer lifespans of these components. Further, the air flowing out through apertures  34  passes brush  28 . Anions are discharged by brush  28  and moved by this airflow. The air flowing past brush  28  reacts with the generated anions and is converted into anions (i.e., the number of anions is increased). During the repeated performance of operation, numerous anions are generated in the air surrounding brush  28  and are dispersed into the ambient air. The airflow also carries away particles suspended in the air and tends to prevent the accumulation of dust on lamp  20  and housing  12 . Apertures  32 ,  34  may be round holes as illustrated, or may be in the form of slots or other perforations. 
         [0020]    As previously discussed, conventional anion generators using electronic guns generate ozone, which is undesirable, in addition to anions. In the lighting apparatus of the present invention, however, anion generator  18  comprises the metal fiber brush  28  generating anions without generating ozone. Thus, since the lighting apparatus of the present invention does not generate the air pollutant ozone and decomposes or dissolves organic substances in the air, it provides users with more purified air. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises a circuit  100  for receiving AC electric power, rectifying the AC electric power into DC electric power, applying the DC electric power to a ballast, and performing amplification of voltage and supply of constant voltage, thereby turning on the lamps. 
         [0022]    Further, the circuit includes an interference protection unit  110  and an ion generation voltage induction unit  120  which provides high voltage to the metal fiber brush  28 . The interference protection unit  110  receives AC electric power, and prevents the ballast  26  and the anion generator  18  from interfering with each other. The ion generation voltage induction unit  120  converts the AC electric power applied to the protection unit  110  into DC electric power of −5 kV, and generates pulses with a frequency multiplied by an integer ratio by a diode-capacitor multiplier. The metal fiber brush  28  receives current from the induction unit  120 . 
         [0023]    As is apparent in from the above description, the lighting apparatus of the present invention purifies the air without a UV lamp. Further, the lighting apparatus does not generate significant amounts of ozone because it uses the metal fiber brush. Further, the lighting apparatus prevents anions generated from the anion generator from being moved by electromagnetic interference. 
         [0024]    Preferably, a titanium dioxide coating layer serving as a photocatalyst is applied to the exterior of lamp  20 . The titanium dioxide is activated by light rays generated from the lamp  20 , so that it decomposes or dissolves organic or inorganic substances. That is, when the substances approach to or come in contact with the photocatalyst activated by the light rays, they are subjected to oxidation and/or reduction reactions, so that they are decomposed or dissolved by a photocatalyst effect. The use of the titanium dioxide coating provides disinfection and deodorization of the air in addition to the generation of desirable anions in the same compact, convenient lighting device. In another embodiment, a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) may replace the CFL. The LEDs may be monochromatic or polychromatic LEDs, as occasion demands, and the number of the LEDs may be varied and/or appropriately adjusted. 
         [0025]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed.