A discharge device includes a connector portion, an electrode portion, and a housing portion. A voltage is applied to the connector portion externally. The electrode portion discharges by boosting and supplying a voltage from the connector portion. The housing portion houses the connector portion and the electrode portion. The housing portion includes a step portion between the connector portion and the electrode portion. The step portion is, for example, a recess.

A discharge device includes a connector portion, an electrode portion, and a housing portion. A voltage is applied to the connector portion externally. The electrode portion discharges by boosting and supplying a voltage from the connector portion. The housing portion houses the connector portion and the electrode portion. The housing portion includes a step portion between the connector portion and the electrode portion. The step portion is, for example, a recess.

A device for receiving and harvesting energy from the earth and its atmosphere for providing a supply of electrical energy.

A discharge unit includes a discharge electrode, a counter electrode opposed to the discharge electrode, and an insulation member having a surface. The surface is continuous from the discharge electrode to the counter electrode. A wall portion is provided on one side with respect to a discharge region formed by the discharge electrode. The wall portion is configured to suppress a contaminant from adhering to the surface of the insulation member.

A discharge unit includes a discharge electrode, a counter electrode opposed to the discharge electrode, and an insulation member having a surface. The surface is continuous from the discharge electrode to the counter electrode. A wall portion is provided on one side with respect to a discharge region formed by the discharge electrode. The wall portion is configured to suppress a contaminant from adhering to the surface of the insulation member.

Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

Automatic emitter point cleaners are disclosed. An automatic emitter point cleaning system includes: a fan configured to direct a stream of air through an air path; a point emitter configured to produce at least one of positive ions or negative ions within or proximate to the air path; a brush; a first gear coupled to the brush and configured to move the brush into contact with the point emitter; a second gear to engage the first gear; and a motor to actuate the second gear such that the second gear actuates the first gear to move the brush past the point emitter.

The invention relates to an emission tip assembly (100) on high-voltage electrodes for charging or discharging substrates, comprising at least one emission tip (1) and a carrier body (7) comprised of an insulating material, which has at least one high-resistance series resistor (13), wherein the at least one emission tip (1) can be connected to a high-voltage connection (14) by means of the series resistor (13). In order to have available an assembly of emission tips which, despite protrusion from the carrier body (7) thereof to an extent in principle and despite the metal profiled element (10, 10a) provided with the insulating potting mass (6), causes no injuries in the event of unintentional and intentional contact and thus permits safe handling together with high efficiency of the assembly, the emission tip (1) is formed of a spring metal and forms an elastic spring element, and a free end of the emission tip (1) is freely spaced apart from the carrier body (7), the particular metal profiled element (10, 10a) and the insulating potting mass (6), as a corona tip (2). In addition the range effect of a discharge electrode is improved by the guiding of an auxiliary air quantity (15) directly to the corona tip (2).

The invention relates to an emission tip assembly (100) on high-voltage electrodes for charging or discharging substrates, comprising at least one emission tip (1) and a carrier body (7) comprised of an insulating material, which has at least one high-resistance series resistor (13), wherein the at least one emission tip (1) can be connected to a high-voltage connection (14) by means of the series resistor (13). In order to have available an assembly of emission tips which, despite protrusion from the carrier body (7) thereof to an extent in principle and despite the metal profiled element (10, 10a) provided with the insulating potting mass (6), causes no injuries in the event of unintentional and intentional contact and thus permits safe handling together with high efficiency of the assembly, the emission tip (1) is formed of a spring metal and forms an elastic spring element, and a free end of the emission tip (1) is freely spaced apart from the carrier body (7), the particular metal profiled element (10, 10a) and the insulating potting mass (6), as a corona tip (2). In addition the range effect of a discharge electrode is improved by the guiding of an auxiliary air quantity (15) directly to the corona tip (2).

A corona polarization (also denoted “poling”) process and associated apparatus polarizes a ferroelectric polymer thin film while monitoring and evaluating a substrate current whose magnitude, slope and noise profile (Barkhausen noise) varies in accordance with phase transformation processes of crystallites within the film and, thereby, provides an indication of the polarization status. The electric current flowing through the microstructures of the thin film can be modeled by an equivalent circuit, within which electrical charges stored in the respective microstructures are denoted by a plurality of discrete components (e.g., capacitors). Alternatively, the process can be modeled in terms of a hysteresis loop of polarization vs. electric field, corresponding to the availability of recombination sites on the thin-film surface. By comparing the measured substrate current to the result derived from the equivalent circuit, the major processing parameters such as poling current and voltage can be adjusted via an in-situ manner throughout the corona poling process and an accurate process endpoint can be established. As a consequence, a ferroelectric thin film is fabricated that has an enhanced piezoelectric effect yet minimized aging problems.