High-voltage inverter, dielectric-barrier discharge evice and cation apparatus

A dielectric-barrier discharge generation device, comprising:

• an inverter that switches an input voltage to flow an excitation current to an excitation winding of a transformer, and outputs an alternating voltage from a secondary output winding of the transformer, wherein in an output circuit that flows a current to a load by the alternating voltage output from the output winding of the transformer, a voltage-responsive connector is connected in series with the output winding to interrupt or connect the output circuit according to a voltage applied to between opposed electrodes by the alternating voltage, and the voltage-responsive connector has characteristics of keeping the electrodes in an insulated state until an instantaneous value of the alternating voltage reaches a predetermined value, and holding the electrodes in a conduction state while the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has reached the predetermined value and continues to exceed the predetermined value, and quickly returning the electrodes to the insulated state when the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has fallen below the predetermined value;
• and a discharger as a load to which the alternating voltage output from the output winding of the transformer in the inverter is applied, wherein the discharger has a discharge electrode and a counter electrode across a dielectric, the alternating voltage is applied to between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode to generate creeping discharge or silent discharge, or dielectric-barrier discharge by a composite discharge of creeping discharge and silent discharge.

A sheet material modification apparatus, comprising:

• a dielectric-barrier discharge generation device comprising an inverter that switches an input voltage to flow an excitation current to an excitation winding of a transformer, and outputs an alternating voltage from a secondary output winding of the transformer, wherein in an output circuit that flows a current to a load by the alternating voltage output from the output winding of the transformer, a voltage-responsive connector is connected in series with the output winding to interrupt or connect the output circuit according to a voltage applied to between opposed electrodes by the alternating voltage, and the voltage-responsive connector has characteristics of keeping the electrodes in an insulated state until an instantaneous value of the alternating voltage reaches a predetermined value, and holding the electrodes in a conduction state while the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has reached the predetermined value and continues to exceed the predetermined value, and quickly returning the electrodes to the insulated state when the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has fallen below the predetermined value;
• and a discharger as a load to which the alternating voltage output from the output winding of the transformer in the inverter is applied, wherein the discharger has a discharge electrode and a counter electrode across a dielectric, the alternating voltage is applied to between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode to generate creeping discharge or silent discharge, or dielectric-barrier discharge by a composite discharge of creeping discharge and silent discharge;
• wherein
• a sheet material is carried between the discharge electrode and the dielectric in the dielectric-barrier discharge generation device to modify the sheet material by the dielectric-barrier discharge.