A small and inexpensive plasma actuator is capable of accelerating induced flow and increasing the effect of controlling flow. A plurality of electrode pairs are disposed on a dielectric layer upstream to downstream along a predetermined direction. Each electrode pair includes an upstream electrode disposed on one surface of the dielectric layer and a downstream electrode disposed on another surface of the dielectric layer to sandwich the dielectric layer between the upstream electrode. A lowest electrode is on the one surface of the dielectric layer displaced downstream from the downstream electrode in an the most downstream electrode pair to have the same potential as the downstream electrode. A voltage application device is configured to apply voltage including AC voltage or repeated pulse voltage to each electrode pair such that the potential of the applied voltage inverts at adjacent electrode pairs.

An apparatus configured to reduce drag is provided. The apparatus includes a plasma actuator including a hollow cylinder with two open bases, a first electrode disposed inside the cylinder, a second electrode disposed outside the cylinder, and a plasma layer disposed inside the cylinder next to the first electrode, a surface including the plasma actuator disposed on the surface, and a motion actuator configured to move the plasma actuator in a sweeping motion across a face of the surface.

A control circuit for generating a primary alternating current (AC) voltage signal provided to a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) disk of a three-dimensional printer includes a switching regulator receiving a direct current (DC) voltage signal. The switching regulator modulates the DC voltage signal based on a variable duty cycle to create a modulated DC signal. The control circuit also includes a modulation circuit in electrical communication with the switching regulator. The modulation circuit introduces a frequency component to the modulated DC signal, where the primary AC voltage signal includes a variable duty cycle and a set frequency, and the frequency component introduced into the modulated DC signal is representative of the set frequency of the primary AC voltage.

The present invention relates to a skin treatment apparatus using plasma. A plasma generator (400) comprises an electrode plate (420), an upper dielectric body (430), independent electrode portions (440) and a lower dielectric body (450). The independent electrode portion is an FPCB or a silver paste positioned a fixed distance away. According to the present invention, the electrode portions each independently work and thus prevent unevenness of plasma and enable the plasma to be generated evenly. According to the present invention, the plasma generator having such configuration is easily formed into a convex shape, and a convex plasma generator is suitable for a curved skin object such as the palm. The convex plasma generator can generate more even plasma and is particularly more effective for a long cylindrical object to be treated, such as the woman's vagina.

A measurement apparatus for alternating currents and voltages of a physical plasma ignited by applying an alternating high voltage from an alternating high voltage source to a plasma electrode via a high voltage line comprises a current transformer having a measurement winding on a ring core and a cable guide guiding the high voltage line through the ring core. A first measurement alternating voltage dropping over a measurement resistor connected between ends of the measurement winding is a first strictly monotonic increasing function of an amperage of the alternating currents flowing through the high voltage line. A second measurement voltage dropping over a measurement capacitance connected between a center tap of the measurement winding and a reference potential connector is a second strictly monotonic increasing function of an amplitude of the alternating high voltage applied to the plasma electrode with respect to a reference potential at the reference potential connector.

A plasma actuator includes: a dielectric layer; a first electrode provided on the obverse surface of the dielectric layer; a second electrode provided, on the reverse-surface side of the dielectric layer, in one direction from the first electrode; a floating conductor pair that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and that has an obverse-surface conductor provided on the obverse surface of the dielectric layer and a reverse-surface conductor provided on the reverse-surface side of the dielectric layer, the obverse-surface conductor and the reverse-surface conductor being electrically connected to each other, electrically insulated from the first electrode and the second electrode, and positioned in the order of the reverse-surface conductor and the obverse-surface conductor in the one direction from the first electrode in plan view; and a power source connected to the first electrode and the second electrode.

A plasma generator generates atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma (cold plasma), and includes a thin plate-like first electrode defining a planar bottom surface. A thin plate-like second electrode defines a planar top surface. The second electrode opposes the first electrode, such that the bottom surface of the first electrode faces the top surface of the second electrode. A first dielectric layer is disposed on the bottom surface of the first electrode, and a second dielectric layer is disposed on the top surface of the second electrode. A spacer supports the first and second electrodes to define a predetermined gap between the first and second dielectric layers. A power supply supplies electrical power to the first and second electrodes at a predetermined voltage and frequency, such that, based on the predetermined gap between the first and second dielectric layers, cold plasma is generated.

A microelectronic module for altering the electromagnetic signature of a surface. The microelectronic module includes at least one voltage converter for converting a first voltage provided into a higher, lower or identical second voltage. Furthermore, the microelectronic module includes at least one actuator. The actuator includes at least one generator for generating an electrical plasma from the second voltage provided by the voltage converter. At least the voltage converter and the actuator are arranged on a thin-layered planar substrate. The electrical plasma generated by the actuator interacts with an electromagnetic radiation impinging on the surface, as a result of which the electromagnetic signature is altered.

Methods and systems for decontaminating food products includes arranging a first electrode and second electrode in an asymmetric relationship on opposite sides of a dielectric layer, providing an insulating covering on the first electrode, and applying a power source to the first and second electrodes. A voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode in ambient atmosphere to create a cold plasma and a food product is decontaminated by the plasma.

The invention relates to a machine for the plasma treatment of various materials comprising a first cathode (1) and a second cathode (2) positioned opposite one to the other, each cathode comprising a plurality of first (3) and second (5) conductor electrodes embedded in portions of dielectrically insulating material (9) and a plurality of channels (7) placed between two adjacent portions of dielectrically insulating material (9) and passing through the second conductor electrodes (5); electrical means apt to generate a first transverse electric field (T) and a second longitudinal electric field (L) between the first cathode (1) and the second cathode (2); supply means (6) apt to supply a gaseous mixture (4) in a region of space traversed by the lines of force of the transverse (T) and longitudinal (L) electric fields, the gaseous mixture (4) being supplied in a uniform manner in said region and the electric fields being such as to trigger the breakdown of the gaseous mixture (4) and generate in this way a plasma in said region.

The invention also relates to the relative processes for the plasma treatment of various materials and a gaseous mixture (4) which can be used for the plasma treatment of various materials comprising chemicals and/or monomers.