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Auxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic dischargeAuxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic discharge description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090155090, Auxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic discharge. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
The present application claims priority to U.S. Prov. Appln. No. 61/014,694 filed Dec. 18, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The present invention relates to electrostatic pumping apparatuses and methods using ion generation, and more particularly, to enhanced corona discharge using novel electrode arrangements for establishing the ion generation zone without relying on small features of a corona electrode to concentrate the electric field. An electrostatic hydrodynamic (EHD) gas pump such as a corona discharge gas pump (i.e. corona wind) typically consists of one or more sharp (e.g. corona) and blunt (e.g. collecting or neutralizing) electrodes. An electric field is applied between the two electrodes causing a partial breakdown of the gas, referred to as a corona discharge, near the sharp electrode. The discharge produces ions which are attracted to the neutralizing, or collecting electrode. En route, the ions collide with neutral gas molecules creating pressure head and flow similar to that produced by a mechanical fan. Co-pending application Ser. Nos. 11/338,617, 12/017,986 and 12/011,219, commonly owned by the present assignee, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, have dramatically advanced the state of the art of EHD pumps and cooling apparatuses incorporating the same, including those that utilize corona wind techniques. Some attempts have been made to enhance corona discharge through various electrode arrangements. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,709, titled “Electrode arrangement for cheating [sic] corona.” This patent discloses an electrode arrangement for creation of a corona over an area. The arrangement includes a corona driving portion and a corona emitting portion in electrical contact with the corona driving portion. The corona driving portion is much larger in size than the corona emitting portion such that corona from the electrode arrangement is emitted from the corona emitting portion in a direction away from the corona driving portion. The corona emitting portion is comprised of a series of stepped, generally concentric, spaced corona emitting rings about a center emitting element. The locations of the rings and emitting element are such that a corona is produced over a circular area rather than an annular ring. This invention is a complex corona electrode that consists of multiple ionization regions. Another attempt is U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,565, titled “Electrostatic fluid accelerator for and a method of controlling fluid flow”. This patent discusses issues of “back flow” with regards to multi-stage electrostatic pumps. Their solution is to synchronize the waveforms on the corona electrodes. There also are a large number corona discharge publications and patents concerning a variety of two-electrode geometries and applications. There is also a large body of literature regarding Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD). However, none of this literature discusses utilizing the DBD to enhance a corona discharge current. Accordingly, a need remains in the art for improved electrostatic discharge current, including methods and apparatuses that do not rely on complex electrode geometries or waveform schemes, among other things. In general, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses that achieve high gas flow rates through the use of an electrostatic pump. According to some aspects, the present invention relates to additional, auxiliary electrodes that generate increased ion current at lower voltages, which leads to greater pumping power than a corona wind discharge. According to further aspects, the invention provides for a directional emission of the ions. This eliminates the back flow of ions and improves the electro-fluid power conversion efficiency and pumping performance. According to yet further aspects, the invention enables the electrodes to be fabricated directly on a dielectric substrate, making the system mechanically rugged and easily fabricated. In furtherance of these and other aspects, an electrostatic hydrodynamic apparatus according to embodiments of the invention includes one or more auxiliary electrodes disposed near a primary sharp electrode in a sharp/blunt electrode pair, wherein the electrode pair is configured such that when an electric field is applied between them, a partial breakdown of the gas between them occurs near the primary sharp electrode, which produces ions that are attracted to the blunt electrode, and wherein electric power applied to the one or more auxiliary electrodes is applied independently of the electric field applied to the electrode pair. In additional furtherance of these and other aspects, an electrostatic hydrodynamic apparatus according to embodiments of the invention includes a primary sharp electrode, a blunt electrode integrally formed in a fin of a heat sink, one or more auxiliary electrodes disposed near the primary sharp electrode, wherein the primary sharp and blunt electrodes are configured such that when an electric field is applied between them, a partial breakdown of the gas between them occurs near the primary sharp electrode, which produces ions that are attracted to the blunt electrode, and wherein the one or more auxiliary electrodes are configured to enhance the ion production. In yet additional furtherance of these and other aspects, a heat sink according to the invention includes a plurality of separated fins and an electrostatic hydrodynamic (EHD) apparatus comprising: a primary sharp electrode, a plurality of blunt electrodes integrally formed in respective ones of the fins, one or more auxiliary electrodes disposed near the primary sharp electrode, a voltage source coupled to the primary sharp and blunt electrodes for establishing an electric field between them, and an auxiliary voltage source coupled to the one or more auxiliary electrodes, wherein the auxiliary voltage source is controlled independently from the voltage source so as to enhance ions produced between the primary and blunt electrodes. These and other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein: Continue reading about Auxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic discharge... Full patent description for Auxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic discharge Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Auxiliary electrodes for enhanced electrostatic discharge patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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