Patent Description:
Limitations and disadvantages of conventional systems for an ionization device will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the present invention set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings.

<CIT> discloses an instantaneous balance control scheme for an ionizer. Positive and negative ion output are balanced in an electrical ionizer having positive and negative ion emitters, and positive and negative high voltage power supplies associated with the respective positive and negative ion emitters. At least one of the positive and negative high voltage power supplies switches between a high state and a low state. An ion balance sensor is located close to the ion emitters and outputs a voltage value. An ion balance sensor set point voltage value is stored. The voltage value is set to provide a balanced ion condition in the work space near the electrical ionizer. During operation of the electrical ionizer, the output voltage value of the ion balance sensor is compared with the set point voltage value. One of the switchable high voltage power supplies is switched to a high state when it is detected as a result of the comparison that the output voltage value of the ion balance sensor exceeds the set point voltage value in a first direction by a first predetermined amount, and the one of the switchable high voltage power supplies is switched to a low state when it is detected as a result of the comparison that the output voltage value of the ion balance sensor exceeds the set point voltage value in a second direction by a second predetermined amount, the second direction being opposite of the first direction.

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of some example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Where appropriate, similar or identical reference numbers are used to identify similar or identical elements.

Various aspects of the disclosure may provide for an ionized air blower that may be used to neutralize static charge on a target surface, or provide a charge on the target surface. Some objects, such as, for example, rolls of plastic sheets or newspaper sheets may have static charge on its surface neutralized. Other objects, such as, for example, plastic bags or pages of magazines may be statically charged to keep the bags or pages together. Other aspects of the disclosure may provide ionized air to, for example, filter particulates in the environment.

<FIG> provides various views of an example ionized air blower with the features of claim <NUM>. There is shown in a perspective view 100A an example ionized air blower <NUM> with an air intake area <NUM> and an air exit area <NUM>. The air may be drawn in by, for example, a fan. A fan <NUM> shown in <FIG> is used in the disclosure. Other aspects of the disclosure may disclose using other types of fans.

The air is ionized by ionizer <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The air exit area <NUM> may also have a sensor <NUM> that is configured to determine a net charge of the air flowing past the sensor <NUM>. The sensor may be a part of a grille or separate from the grille. While the sensor <NUM> is shown as one device, various aspects of the disclosure may provide for a separate grille and sensor. For example, the sensor <NUM> may be formed in the shape of a grille, a sensor and a grille may be permanently coupled together to form a single part, or a sensor and a grille may be overlaid on top of each other so they can be separated from each other. A sensor coupled/overlaid with a grille may be referred to as either a sensor or a sensor assembly.

The sensor <NUM> may be, for example, an electro-static voltmeter that is configured to determine the surface charge of a target object <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> may be, for example, an electro-static field meter that may be configured to determine a surface charge of the target object <NUM>. Additionally, any other device that is suitable for determining a surface charge of the target object <NUM> may be used.

There is also shown a top view 100B of the example ionized air blower <NUM>, a side view 100C of the example ionized air blower <NUM>, and a front view 100D of the example ionized air blower <NUM>.

The various components of the ionized air blower <NUM> are controlled by a blower control circuitry <NUM>. For example, the blower control circuitry <NUM> may control the speed of the fan <NUM> as well as ionization of air provided the ionized air blower <NUM>. The blower control circuitry <NUM> may comprise connectors on the connector panel 101A to connect to at least one cable to communicate information from the sensor <NUM> to external devices such as, for example, a control station <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The control station <NUM> may be used to control various devices as well as to display information about the control station <NUM> and the status of the devices connected to the control station <NUM>. The communication may be wired and/or wireless. The blower control circuitry <NUM> connectors may generally be used to communicate sensor information as well as other information.

<FIG> is a drawing illustrating the example ionized air blower of <FIG> with a control station <NUM> and an external sensor <NUM> as first sensor defined in claim <NUM>. The external sensor <NUM> may be connected via a cable <NUM> to the ionized air blower <NUM> at the connector panel 101A. The cable <NUM> may then be used to communicate the information from the external sensor <NUM> to the control station <NUM>. The cable <NUM> may also be used to communicate information from the sensor <NUM> at the exit area <NUM> to the control station <NUM>. The power plugs <NUM> and <NUM> may be used to provide power to the ionized air blower <NUM> and the control station <NUM>, respectively. However, various aspects of the disclosure may disclose only one of the power plugs <NUM>, <NUM>, and any necessary power may be provided from the ionized air blower <NUM> to the control station <NUM>, or vice versa. Cables may connect to the control station <NUM> via the connectors <NUM>.

Various aspects of the disclosure may provide for some of the functionality of the blower control circuitry <NUM> to be a part of the control station <NUM>.

<FIG> is another drawing illustrating the example ionized air blower of <FIG> with a control station and a sensor. Referring to <FIG>, there is shown the external sensor <NUM> connected directly to the control station <NUM> rather than via the ionized air blower <NUM>. Accordingly, control station <NUM> receives information from the sensor <NUM> via the cable <NUM> and information from the external sensor <NUM> via the cable <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing illustrating the example ionized air blower of <FIG> with a control station. Referring to <FIG>, the hub sensor <NUM> receives information from the sensor <NUM> via the cable <NUM>. There is no external sensor <NUM> in this configuration. This may be because, for example, the ionized air blower <NUM> is configured to provide a fixed ratio of negative ions to positive ions. Accordingly, there is no need to determine the surface charge of the target surface <NUM> (<FIG>) with the external sensor <NUM>.

Accordingly, the control station <NUM> may have a plurality of connectors to connect to the various cables carrying information from the sensors <NUM> and <NUM>.

While the control station <NUM> is shown as being separate from the ionizing blower <NUM>, various aspects of the disclosure may provide for the control station <NUM> to be integrated with the blower <NUM>. The control station <NUM> may then include the blower control circuitry <NUM>. The control station <NUM> may have some or all functionality of a control circuitry <NUM>, which is described in more detail with respect to <FIG>. Various aspects of the disclosure may also allow the blower control circuitry <NUM> to have some or all functionality of the control circuitry <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing of an example configuration of the example ionized air blower of <FIG> blowing air on to a target surface. Referring to <FIG>, there are shown a target surface <NUM> moving in the direction shown by the arrow <NUM>, the external sensor <NUM> that is configured to 'determine the surface charge of the target surface <NUM>, and the ionized air blower <NUM> that provides an airflow <NUM> of ionized air onto the target surface <NUM>. The ionization of the air blown onto the target surface <NUM> is adjusted based on feedback from the external sensor <NUM>. Various aspects of the disclosure may also take into account the information from the sensor <NUM> by correlating the present ionization of the airflow <NUM> with the surface charge of the target surface <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing of another example configuration of the example ionized air blower of <FIG> blowing air onto a target surface. The configuration of <FIG> is similar to the configuration of <FIG> except for the addition of another external sensor <NUM> that may be similar to the external sensor <NUM>. In this configuration, the external sensor <NUM> may provide an initial feedback of the surface charge of the target surface <NUM>. This information may be used for ionizing the airflow <NUM>. The external sensor <NUM> may then provide information on the surface charge after the ionized airflow <NUM> blew over the target surface <NUM>. The external sensor <NUM> enables additional correction to the ionization in the event that charge remains on the target surface <NUM> following ionization. Accordingly, the sensor <NUM> may be thought of as providing coarse correction and the external sensor <NUM> may be thought of as providing fine correction.

While information from the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is described as being transmitted via respective cables, the information from one or more of the sensors may also be transmitted to the control station <NUM> wirelessly.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an example control circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, there is shown an example control circuitry <NUM> that may be used with various embodiments of the disclosure. The control circuitry <NUM> may comprise, for example, a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a communication circuitry <NUM>, and an IO interface <NUM>. A power source <NUM> may also be considered to be a part of the control circuitry <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may comprise, for example, one or more processors and/or multiple cores per processor.

The memory <NUM> may include non-volatile memory <NUM> and volatile memory <NUM>. The storage described for holding local data may be part of the memory <NUM> or comprise separate memory. The operating system <NUM> and applications <NUM> may be stored in, for example, the non-volatile memory <NUM>, and may be copied to volatile memory <NUM> for execution by the processor <NUM>. Various aspects of the disclosure may use different memory architectures that are design and/or implementation dependent. For example, some aspects of the disclosure may have the operating system <NUM> and applications <NUM> in the non-volatile memory <NUM> executed at least in part from the non-volatile memory <NUM>.

The communication circuitry <NUM> may allow the control circuitry <NUM> to communicate with other devices via, for example, a wired protocol such as USB, Ethernet, Firewire, etc., or a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, etc. The wired or wireless protocol may also be, for example, a proprietary protocol. The various types of radios for communication may be referred to as a transceiver for the sake of simplicity. The communication may be, for example, with various sensors and/or devices that can relay sensor data. The communication circuitry <NUM> may also be used to communicate with other networks such as local networks, cellular networks, etc..

The control circuitry <NUM> may also comprise the IO interface <NUM> for communication with a user via the input devices <NUM> (user interface <NUM>) and output information to be displayed on output devices <NUM> that may comprise, for example, a display 244a. The input devices <NUM> may comprise, for example, switches, slide switches, buttons, potentiometers, touch sensitive screen, which may be a part of the display 244a, a microphone, etc. The touch sensitive screen may have soft buttons, switches, slide switches, etc. that emulate their physical counterparts. The input devices <NUM> may also comprise, for example, various sensors, cameras, etc. The output devices <NUM> may comprise, for example, the display, a speaker, LEDs, etc..

The processor <NUM> may operate using different architectures in different embodiments. For example, the processor <NUM> may use the memory <NUM> to store instructions to execute, and/or the processor <NUM> may have its own memory (not shown) and/or other storage device to store instructions.

Various embodiments may use other architectures where the different functionalities may be grouped differently. For example, a plurality of integrated circuit chips may be grouped into one integrated circuit chip. Additionally or alternatively, the grouping may combine different devices such as the IO interface <NUM> and the communication circuitry <NUM> together, etc. Additionally, the control circuitry <NUM> may refer logically to various physical devices. For example, one or more of the output devices <NUM> may be at a different location than one or more of the input devices <NUM>.

While various physical devices, including a touch panel, may be used to control various functions of the ionized air blower <NUM>, voice may also be used to give commands to control the various functions. The voice input may be received by, for example, a microphone that is a part of the input devices <NUM> of the control circuitry <NUM>. The digitized commands may be processed by, for example, the processor <NUM> to determine the specific command. The specific command may then be used to control the ionized air blower <NUM>. The software for voice recognition may be part of, for example, the operating system <NUM> and/or the applications <NUM> in the memory <NUM>.

Additionally, while power sources may generally be grouped separately from the control circuitry <NUM>, various aspects of the disclosure may group a power source with the control circuitry <NUM>. For example, power received wirelessly or via wire may be considered to be a function of the I/O interface <NUM> where the input devices <NUM> receive the power and manages the power. Alternatively, the power source <NUM> may be a separate module responsible for receiving power input to the ionized air blower <NUM> and providing power to various modules of the ionized air blower <NUM>.

<FIG> provides various views of an output section of an ionized air blower, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a perspective view 300A of an ionization assembly <NUM> comprising an ionizer <NUM> and the sensor <NUM>. As stated above, the sensor <NUM> may comprise a sensor and a grille. View 300B is a top view of the ionization assembly <NUM>. View 300C is a front view of the ionization assembly <NUM>. View 300D is a side view of the ionization assembly <NUM>.

The ionizer <NUM> may, for example, provide corona mode ionization to at least a portion of molecules that flow past the ionizer <NUM>. The ionized air molecules may be generated by providing appropriate ionization voltage to the ionizer <NUM>. The ionizer <NUM>, when providing corona mode ionization, may comprise ion emitters 302A. The ionization voltage to the ion emitters 302A may be, for example, in a range of <NUM> KV to <NUM> KV. However, it should be noted that the ionization voltage range may vary depending on particular ionizer <NUM> used.

As shown in view 300E, when the sensor <NUM> is separate from the grille, the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be overlaid on the grille <NUM>-<NUM> where both devices may have similar dimensions as the air exit area <NUM>. Some examples of the disclosure may have the grille <NUM>-<NUM> also be a sensor in addition to the sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. In such an example, the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may have a narrower range of adjustment than the sensor <NUM>-<NUM>.

The sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be used, for example, for ion balanced mode by the blower <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be used, for example, for ion imbalanced mode for static neutralization by the blower <NUM>. The sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and/or sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be smaller in at least one dimension than the air exit area <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and/or the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be rod-shaped extending in the horizontal direction across the air exit area <NUM>.

As a sensor is well-known to those skilled in the art, the specific details of the sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> will not be further described.

Various aspects of the disclosure may provide for a user to be able to replace the ionization assembly <NUM> in part or in whole. For example, depending on a particular implementation, the user may be able to replace one or more components of the ionization assembly <NUM>. When one or more parts of the ionization assembly <NUM> is disconnected in preparation for removal, the blower control circuitry <NUM> may disable the fan <NUM>, and the blower control circuitry <NUM> may also, for example, disable power to the ionizer <NUM>.

Information from the sensor <NUM> (or the sensor <NUM>-<NUM>) may be used, but at least the information from the external sensor <NUM> is used to control ionization of air passing through the air ionizer blower <NUM>. As the sensor <NUM> may have a wider sensing range (for example, voltage range) than the external sensor <NUM>, the information from the sensor <NUM> may be used as, for example, coarse granularity information, and the information from the external sensor <NUM> may be used as, for example, fine granularity information.

The invention provides for the air ionizer blower <NUM> with various modes of operation. A first mode is the ion imbalanced mode for static neutralization of the target surface <NUM>, and a second mode is the ion balanced mode. When in the ion imbalanced mode, the information from the external sensor <NUM> is used to determine the surface charge of the target surface <NUM>, which may be moving from left to right as shown in by the arrow <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>. The sensor external <NUM> may provide information to the air ionizer blower <NUM> via a cable <NUM> (and cable <NUM> in <FIG>). This information is used to adjust the ionization of air directed from the air ionizer blower <NUM> to the target surface <NUM> to neutralize the static charge that may be present on the target surface <NUM>. The ratio of positive ions to negative ions may be adjusted as needed to achieve neutral surface charge for the target surface <NUM>.

While this feedback mechanism uses the information from the external sensor <NUM> (and the external sensor <NUM> as disclosed by other aspects of the disclosure), the information from the external sensor <NUM> may also be used to further adjust the ion ratio in the airflow from the air ionizer blower <NUM>. That is, the information from the external sensor <NUM> provides the surface charge after the ionized air has flowed over the target surface <NUM> and the information from the sensor <NUM> provides the ion ratio of the air flowing to the target surface <NUM>.

Various aspects of the disclosure may provide for using statistical, mathematical, or other methods to monitor control signals for oscillation of control, and provide alert warning and restart as required.

When the information from the external sensor <NUM> indicates that the target surface charge is neutralized, the ion ratio may be maintained until the surface charge of the target surface <NUM> has varied beyond a threshold value. For example, when the surface charge is greater than a first threshold, the control circuitry <NUM> may control the ionizer <NUM> to increase a ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions. When the surface charge is less than a second threshold, the control circuitry <NUM> may control the ionizer <NUM> to decrease the ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions. When the surface charge is substantially neutral, the control circuitry <NUM> may control the ionizer to maintain a present ratio (last set ratio) of negative ions to positive ions. The first and second thresholds may have default values that may be changed dynamically.

The ion balanced mode is used to keep the ratio of positive ions to negative ions constant. While the ratio may typically be substantially <NUM>-<NUM>, various aspects of the disclosure may allow the ratio to be set to a different ratio. It should be understood that a resulting ratio of ions in the airflow may approximate the desired ratio. The ratio, or balance, of negative ions to positive ions may be entered via the input devices <NUM>. The entry may be made via, for example, a touch sensitive screen, a keyboard, a mouse, by turning a potentiometer, etc..

A range of the ratio may be, for example, software controlled to allow displaying of different ranges at different times. For example, when entry is made by turning the potentiometer, the range may be limited to a specific voltage range. That is, while an ionization voltage may range from, for example, <NUM> KV to <NUM> KV, calibration may determine that the actual voltage range may only need to be from, for example, <NUM> KV to <NUM> KV. Accordingly, the ionized air blower <NUM> may have an n-turn potentiometer that is effectively configured to provide a range of, for example, <NUM> KV to 8KV rather from <NUM> KV to <NUM> KV. Therefore, voltage selection can be more accurately selected when the potentiometer is adjusted. Since this is software controlled, each ionized air blower <NUM> is capable of individual configuration.

The ionizer <NUM> may receive ionization voltage from the power source <NUM> and also ionization current from the power source <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may comprise, for example, an output voltage sensor <NUM> and an output current sensor <NUM>. The output voltage sensor <NUM> may be able to detect positive polarity and/or negative polarity of the output voltage, and the output current sensor <NUM> may be able to detect positive polarity and/or negative polarity of the output current. Some examples of the disclosure may use multiple output voltage sensors <NUM> to detect positive and negative polarity of the output voltage, and multiple output current sensors <NUM> to detect positive and negative polarity of the output current.

Accordingly, the power source <NUM> may determine the ionization current and the ionization voltage provided to the ionizer <NUM>.

While an automated method was described for controlling the blower <NUM>, various aspects of the disclosure may allow manually controlling the blower <NUM>. For example, the blower <NUM> may comprise a display 244a as a part of the control circuitry <NUM>. The display <NUM> may display the target surface charge from the external sensor <NUM>. An operator may then adjust the ratio of positive ions to negative ions using, for example, the input devices <NUM>. The operator may also adjust the airflow by controlling the speed of the fan <NUM> (<FIG>).

Other aspects of the disclosure may have the processor <NUM> use the target surface charge, present ratio (last set ratio) of positive ions to negative ions, and/or speed of the fan <NUM> to display on, for example, the display 244a, the appropriate ratio and/or fan speed to set using one or more of the input devices <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing of an example configuration of an ionizer cleaning brush and an ionizer. Referring to <FIG>, the ionized air blower <NUM> may comprise an ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> that can be actuated to clean the ionizer <NUM>. In an aspect of the disclosure, the blower control circuitry <NUM> may actuate the ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> to clean the ion emitters 302A of the ionizer <NUM> with an input to a human-machine interface <NUM> for the ionized air blower <NUM>, via a control station <NUM>, via a programmable logic controller (PLC) <NUM>, or upon startup of the ionized air blower. The cleaning brush <NUM> may also be manually actuated via, for example, the input devices <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing of an example configuration of an ionizer. Referring to <FIG>, there is shown the ionized air blower <NUM>, a human-machine interface (HMI) <NUM>, a control station <NUM>, and the PLC <NUM>. The HMI <NUM> may be an input/output device connected to the ionized air blower <NUM> to input commands to the ionized air blower <NUM> and/or display status of the ionized air blower <NUM>. The HMI <NUM> may be, for example, part of the I/O interface <NUM>.

The control station <NUM> may be a device that controls one or more devices such as, for example, the ionized air blower <NUM>, the external sensor <NUM>, industrial devices used in an manufacturing line or a section of a factory, etc. The PLC <NUM> may be a similar control device overseeing equipment in a section of a factory, manufacturing line, etc. The control station <NUM> and/or the PLC <NUM> may each have a corresponding HMI to allow manual input.

Accordingly, any of the HMI <NUM>, the control station <NUM>, and the PLC <NUM> may be used to actuate the ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> to clean the ionizer <NUM>. Furthermore, the ionized air blower <NUM> may be configured to actuate the ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> upon startup of the ionized air blower <NUM> and/or periodically during operation of the ionized air blower <NUM>. Additionally, when the ionization current <NUM> drops below an ion current threshold, the blower control circuitry <NUM> may actuate the ionizer cleaning brush <NUM>. The ion current threshold may have a default value, but the threshold may be changed by the user, or, for example, by the type of ionizer <NUM> used.

Various aspects of the disclosure may provide for the ionized air blower <NUM> to cease generating ions during a cleaning phase by the ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> while other aspects of the disclosure allows the ionized air blower <NUM> to continue generating ions during the cleaning phase. The duration of the cleaning phase may have a default time. However, the default time may be changed by the user, or automatically by the control circuitry <NUM> depending on the type of ionizer <NUM> used.

The HMI <NUM>, the control station <NUM>, and/or the PLC <NUM> may control some or all functions of the ionized air blower <NUM> directly or indirectly. For example, the PLC <NUM> may communicate instructions to the HMI <NUM> or to the control station <NUM> to control the ionized air blower <NUM>. Similarly, the HMI <NUM> or the control station <NUM> may communicate instructions to the other devices to control the ionized air blower <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example fan of an ionized air blower, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. While a tangential style blower is shown for the fan <NUM>, any of various other types of fans/blowers may be used. A fan motor <NUM> may drive the fan <NUM>. The fan motor <NUM> may receive power from the power source <NUM>, and may be controlled by the control circuitry <NUM>. The HMI <NUM> may be able to detect whether power is available at the fan motor <NUM>. Upon detection of no power for the fan motor <NUM>, the HMI <NUM> can output an alert. The alert may be any of audible, visual, and/or tactile alert. In some examples of the disclosure, the fan motor <NUM> may use AC power, and may get the AC power directly from a source such as an AC outlet, or the AC power from the power source <NUM>.

Accordingly, it can be seen that various aspects of the disclosure provide for an ionized air blower <NUM> according to claim <NUM>. In particular, it comprises a fan <NUM> configured to generate an airflow toward a target surface <NUM>, an ionizer <NUM> configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow; and control circuitry <NUM> configured to control one or both of a speed of the airflow from the ionized air blower <NUM>, and ionization of the airflow. The ionization is performed by a selected one of ion imbalanced mode for static neutralization of the target surface or ion balanced mode.

The ionized air blower <NUM> comprises a first sensor <NUM> configured to detect a surface charge of the target surface <NUM>, where, when the ion imbalanced mode is selected, the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to control the ionizer <NUM> based on the detected surface charge from the first sensor <NUM>. The first sensor <NUM> may be, for example, an electro-static voltmeter, an electro-static field meter, or any other sensor or type of sensor that may be used to detect a surface charge, whether presently known or developed in the future.

The ionized air blower <NUM> may further comprise a second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> configured to detect a charge of the airflow generated by the ionized air blower <NUM>. The second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be at least a part of a grille <NUM>-<NUM> where the airflow exits the ionized air blower <NUM>. The second sensor <NUM> may have a wider sensing range than the first sensor <NUM>.

When the surface charge is greater than a first threshold, a ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions may be increased. When the surface charge is lesser than a second threshold, the ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions may be decreased. When the surface charge is substantially neutral, the control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to control the ionizer <NUM> to maintain a present ratio (last set ratio) of negative ions to positive ions.

The ionized air blower <NUM> may comprise a control station <NUM> configured to receive the detected surface charge via one of a wireless connection or a wired connection. The control station <NUM> may comprise a connector <NUM> to receive a signal cable <NUM> from the first sensor <NUM>.

The ionizer <NUM> may comprise a user replaceable corona ionizer <NUM> with at least one ion emitter 302A. The ionized air blower <NUM> may comprise an ionization assembly <NUM> comprising a sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, a grille <NUM>-<NUM>, and an ionizer <NUM>, where the ionization assembly <NUM> is user replaceable.

The control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to disable the fan <NUM> when the ionization assembly <NUM> is disconnected from the ionized air blower <NUM>. The fan <NUM> may be a tangential style blower.

The ionized air blower <NUM> may further comprise an ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> configured to clean the ionizer <NUM>. The ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> may be configured to be manually actuated via a human-machine interface <NUM> for the ionized air blower <NUM>, or automatically actuated via a programmable logic controller <NUM> or upon startup of the ionized air blower <NUM>.

The ionized air blower <NUM> may further comprise an ionizer <NUM> and a power source <NUM> to provide ion current for the ionizer <NUM>. The ionized air blower may further comprise an ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> configured to be actuated to clean the ionizer <NUM>. The ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> may be configured to be actuated when the ion current is below an ion current threshold.

The ionizer cleaning brush <NUM> may be configured to clean the ionizer <NUM> for a time interval, where the time interval has a default time interval. The time interval may be variable.

The ionized air blower of claim <NUM>, wherein the ionized air blower <NUM> may be configured to be controlled by one or both of a human-machine interface <NUM> for the ionized air blower <NUM> and a programmable logic controller <NUM>.

The ionized air blower <NUM> is configured to be controlled by a human-machine interface <NUM> for the ionized air blower <NUM> via instructions from a programmable logic controller <NUM> to the human-machine interface <NUM>.

The control circuitry <NUM> comprises an input device <NUM> for balance adjustment of the ionization of the air, where a range of the input device <NUM> is variable using software mapping. The input device <NUM> comprises a potentiometer.

The ionized air blower <NUM> may comprise a blower motor <NUM> to drive the fan <NUM>, and a human-machine interface <NUM>, where the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to provide information to the human-machine interface <NUM> regarding whether power is available at the blower motor <NUM>.

Other aspects of the disclosure may provide for an ionized air blower <NUM> according to claim <NUM>. In particular, it comprises a fan <NUM> configured to generate an airflow toward a target surface <NUM>, an ionizer <NUM> configured to produce a ratio of positive ions to negative ions within the airflow where the ratio can be adjusted, a sensor <NUM> configured to determine a surface charge present on the target surface <NUM>, and control circuitry <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to control a speed of the airflow from the fan <NUM>, and control the ionizer <NUM> to generate the ratio of positive ions to the negative ions based on the surface charge detected by the sensor <NUM>.

When the surface charge is positive, the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to control the ionizer <NUM> to decrease the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions. When the surface charge is negative, the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to control the ionizer <NUM> to increase the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions. When the surface charge is substantially neutral, the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to control the ionizer <NUM> to maintain a present ratio (last set ratio) of the positive ions to the negative ions.

Still other aspects of the disclosure may provide for an ionized air blower <NUM> according to claim <NUM>. In particular, it comprises a fan <NUM> configured to generate airflow toward a target surface <NUM>, an ionizer <NUM> configured to produce a ratio of positive ions to negative ions within the airflow, where the ratio can be adjusted, a sensor <NUM> configured to determine a surface charge present on the target surface <NUM>, a display 244a for displaying the surface charge, and a user interface <NUM> configured to receive user input. The user interface <NUM> may be configured to accept input to control a speed of the airflow from the fan <NUM> and control the ionizer to adjust the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions.

As utilized herein, the terms "circuits" and "circuitry" refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware ("code") that may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As utilized herein, "and/or" means any one or more of the items in the list joined by "and/or. " As an example, "x and/or y" means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As utilized herein, the terms "e.g." and "for example" set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is "configured" or "operable" to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurable setting, factory trim, etc.).

Claim 1:
An ionized air blower (<NUM>) comprising:
a fan (<NUM>) configured to generate airflow toward a target surface (<NUM>);
an ionizer (<NUM>) configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow;
a human-machine interface (<NUM>);
a first sensor configured (<NUM>) to detect a surface charge of the target surface (<NUM>);
a blower motor to drive the fan; and
control circuitry (<NUM>) configured to control ionization of the airflow in response to inputs received through the human-machine interface (<NUM>), wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide information to the human-machine interface (<NUM>) regarding whether power is available at the blower motor, and wherein the control circuitry (<NUM>) is configured to control the ionization according to a selected one of:
an ion imbalanced mode for static neutralization of the target surface (<NUM>) in which the ratio of positive ions to negative ions in the airflow is adjusted by the control circuitry (<NUM>) based on the detected surface charge from the first sensor (<NUM>); and
an ion balanced mode in which the ratio of positive ions to negative ions in the airflow is constant.