Patent ID: 7120006

Claim:
An ion generator comprising: a first generator for generating positive ions and negative ions; a second generator for generating a relatively small amount of positive ions and a relatively large amount of negative ions; and a switch unit for selectively switching to either of the first generator and the second generator, whereby either of the first generator and the second generator to which the switch unit switches is operated, and wherein the first generator and the second generator comprise a dielectric body, a pair of electrodes facing each other with the dielectric body therebetween, and an applying unit for applying an alternating voltage across the pair of electrodes, the applying unit applies an alternating voltage across the pair of electrodes to generate negative ions and positive ions, and the switch unit includes a diode having an anode side connected to one of the pair of electrodes, which is not a voltage supply side electrode, and a cathode side to which a common fixed electric potential is applied, and a switch connected to both terminals of the diode.