Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner devices with special detectors and indicators

• US 20030209420A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Acquisition, LLC (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles E., Parker, Andrew J, Snyder, Gregory S., Lau, Shek Fai, Christianson, Tristan M., McKinney, Edward C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/164
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/14 the gas being moved electro-kinetically
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/12 characterised by separation of ionising and collecting stations
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/743 by using friction, e.g. by brushes or sliding elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0071 Electrically conditioning the air, e.g. by ionizing
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/115 characterised by the electrical circuits producing the electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/12 Plate-type dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/20 Electrodes used for obtaining electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/40 by ozonisation for sterilisation F24F8/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 23/00 Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere

Abstract

An air-transporter conditioner device includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. An electro-kinetic system is disposed in the housing to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet. A timer measures a time period corresponding to the electro-kinetic system and causes an indicator light to illuminate when the measured period reaches a threshold. An arc sensing circuit detects arcing between the first and second electrode arrays of the electro-kinetic system. The electro-kinetic system is turned off in response to arcing being detected by the arc sensing circuit. An indicator light can also specify that arcing has been detected.

Claims

1. An air-transporter conditioner device, comprising:

a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;

an electro-kinetic system, disposed in the housing, to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet;

an indicator light; and

a timer adapted to measure a time period corresponding to the electro-kinetic system;

wherein the timer is adapted to cause the indicator light to illuminate when the measured period reaches a threshold.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold is approximately two weeks.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a main body with a base and a top, the indicated light being located on the top.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electro-kinetic system includes a first electrode array, a second electrode array, and a voltage generator to provide a potential difference between the first and second arrays.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

an arc sensing circuit adapted to detect arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a second indicator light that illuminates to indicate that the arc sensing circuit detected arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the indicator light is capable of illuminating a first color and a second color, the first color indicating that the measured period reached the threshold, the second color indicating that the arc sensing circuit has detected arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein at least the electro-kinetic system is turned offin response to arcing being detected by the arc sensing circuit.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

a second indicator light that illuminates to indicate that the electro-kinetic system has been turned off in response to the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the indicator light is capable of illuminating a first color and a second color, the first color indicating that the measured period reached the threshold, the second color indicating that the electro-kinetic system has been turned offin response to the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the second electrode array is removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode array is removable for cleaning, and wherein after being turned off as a result of the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays, the electro-kinetic system will not turn back on until there is a detection that the second electrode array has been removed from and returned to the housing.

12. An air-transporter conditioner device, comprising:

a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;

an electro-kinetic system, disposed in the housing, to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet, the electro-kinetic system including a first electrode array, a second electrode array, and a voltage generator to provide a potential difference between the first and second electrode arrays; and

an arc sensing circuit adapted to detect arcing between the first and second electrode arrays;

wherein the electro-kinetic system is turned offin response to arcing being detected by the arc sensing circuit; and

wherein the second electrode array is removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode array is removable for cleaning, and wherein after being turned off as a result of the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays, the electro-kinetic system will not turn back on until there is a detection that the second electrode array has been removed from and returned to the housing.

13. An air-transporter conditioner device, comprising:

a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;

an electro-kinetic system adapted to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet, the electro-kinetic system within the housing and including a first electrode array, a second electrode array, and a voltage generator to provide a potential difference between the first and second electrode arrays; and

an arc sensing circuit adapted to detect arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an indicator light that illuminates to indicate that the arc sensing circuit has detected arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein at least the electro-kinetic system is turned off in response to arcing being detected by the arc sensing circuit.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

an indicator light that illuminates to indicate that the electro-kinetic system has been turned offin response to the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the second electrode array is removably mounted in said housing so that the second electrode array is removable for cleaning, and wherein after being turned off as a result of the arc sensing circuit detecting arcing between the first and second electrode arrays, the electro-kinetic system will not turn back on until there is a detection that the second electrode array has been removed from and returned to the housing.

18. An air-transporter conditioner device, comprising:

a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;

an electro-kinetic system, disposed in the housing, to create an airflow moving from the inlet to the outlet;

a first indicator to specify that a time period has been reached; and

a second indicator to specify that arcing, associated with the electro-kinetic system, has been detected.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a main body with a base and a top, and wherein the first and second indicators are located on the top.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the first and second indicators comprises a light that can illuminate two different colors.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the first indicator comprises a light that can illuminate a first color.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the second indicator comprises a light that can illuminate a second color.