Method and apparatus for regulating air ionization

In a method of controlling the ion content of the atmosphere at a predetermined location, the sequence of steps comprising:

• generating ions of a first polarity in said atmosphere during a first limited time period by temporarily actuating a first ion generator that produces only ions of said first polarity,
• generating ions of the opposite polarity in said atmosphere during a relatively brief second time period that follows said first time period by briefly actuating a second ion generator that produces only ions of said opposite polarity,
• suppressing ion generation during a third time period that follows said second time period
• generating ions of said opposite polarity during a fourth time period that follows said third time period by temporarily actuating said second ion generator,
• generating ions of said first polarity during a relatively brief fifth time period that follows said fourth time period by briefly actuating said first ion generator,
• suppressing ion generation during a sixth time period that follows said fifth time period, and
• wherein said sequence of steps is performed repetitively.

Apparatus for maintaining the ion content of the atmosphere at a predetermined location within a desired range comprising:

• first and second spaced apart air ionzing electrodes,
• a positive high voltage generator coupled to said first electrode and a negative high voltage generator coupled to said second electrode,
• control means for cyclically actuating and deactuating said positive and negative high voltage generators with periods of actuation of said positive high voltage generator being alternated with periods of actuation of said negative high voltage generator and with each period of actuation of a high voltage generator being preceded by an interval during which both high voltage generators are deactuated,
• an ion sensor for detecting said ion content of said atmosphere and having means for producing a signal indicative of the magnitude and net polarity of said ion content,
• feedback means for varying the ion outputs of said high voltage generators during said ion generation periods in response to said signal to maintain said ion content within said desired range, and
• means for relatively briefly actuating said negative high voltage generator after each of said periods of actuation of said positive high voltage generator and for relatively briefly actuating said positive high voltage generator after each of said periods of actuation of said negative high voltage generator.

Apparatus for maintaining the ion content of the atmosphere at a predetermined location within a desired range comprising:

• a plurality of spaced apart air ionizing electrodes including at least a first electrode and a second separate spaced apart electrode,
• a plurality of high voltage generators including a positive high voltage generator coupled to said first electrode and a negative high voltage generator coupled to said second electrode,
• control means for cyclically actuating and deactuating said positive and negative high voltage generators with periods of actuation of said positive high voltage generator being alternated with periods of actuation of said negative high voltage generator and with each period of actuation of a high voltage generator being preceded by an interval during which both high voltage generators are deactuated,
• a sensor for detecting said ion content of said atmosphere and having means for producing a signal which has a magnitude and polarity that varies in accordance with variations of the magnitude and net polarity of said ion content of said atmosphere at said predetermined location,
• means for integrating said signal to produce an integrated signal that varies primarily in response to changes in said ion content at said predetermined location that persist through a plurality of actuations of said high voltage generators and in which the effect of relatively brief fluctuations in said ion content of said atmosphere is suppressed, and
• feedback means for varying the ion outputs at said high voltage generators and electrodes during said ion generation periods in response to the integrated signal to maintain said ion content at said predetermined location within said desired range.