Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Kenji Furuhashi

Mamoru Morikawa

Yoshinori Sekoguchi

Takashi Kohama

Naoyuki Shigemoto

In order to efficiently kill airborne fungi in a room, an ion generator includes an ion generator, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature, and a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity. The ion generator is controlled based on a temperature detection result detected by the temperature sensor and a humidity detection result detected by the humidity sensor. As ions are generated in accordance with the temperature and humidity, airborne fungi can efficiently be killed.

Ion generator and air conditioner

An air cleaner includes an ion generator arranged in a path from an inlet port to an outlet port, a humidifying filter arranged in the path at a position closer to the inlet port than the ion generator, a dust sensor and an odor sensor for detecting impureness of air, and a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. When impureness is detected by the dust sensor and the odor sensor and when the temperature and the humidity attain a specific state (YES at Sto S), a fan motor is driven such that water is supplied to the ion generator in an amount larger than when the specific state is not attained (S).

Air conditioning apparatus

A switching transformer applies an alternating high voltage across an internal electrode and an external electrode which face each other with a glass tube as a dielectric body between them. The anode side of a diode is connected to the external electrode which is not a voltage supply side electrode, while the cathode side is grounded. When a relay connected to both the terminals of the diode is turned on, substantially equal amounts of positive ions and negative ions are generated, and a bacteria removal/disinfection effect can be obtained by emitting these positive ions and negative ions into the air. When the relay is turned off, a relatively small amount of positive ions and a relatively large amount of negative ions are generated, and a relaxation effect given by negative ions can be obtained by emitting these positive ions and negative ions into the air.

Growing community of inventors

Hirakata, Japan

Kenji Furuhashi