Patent ID: 8641127

Claim:
A plasma spoiler mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle, comprising: a dielectric substrate formed of a dielectric material; a first electrode mounted on the dielectric substrate so as to be insulated from outside air; a second electrode mounted on the dielectric substrate so as to be exposed to outside air and disposed in a longitudinal position toward a front of the vehicle relative to the first electrode; a power source connected to the first and second electrodes, the power source supplying a voltage to the electrodes; a switch disposed between at least one of a connection between the power source and the first electrode and the power source and the second electrode; and a controller connected to the switch and a vehicle speed sensor, wherein said switch is selectively operable in an on position and an off position, wherein when said switch is in the on position, the voltage passes from the power source to the electrodes, and when the switch is in the off position, the voltage does not pass from the power source to the electrodes, the controller actuates the switch to the on position when a vehicle speed exceeds a trigger speed, and actuates the switch to the off position when the vehicle speed is below the trigger speed, and the on position of the switch allows a variable amount of voltage to pass to the electrodes, and wherein the controller actuates the switch to increase the amount of voltage passing through the switch to the electrodes as the speed increases over the trigger speed.