System and method for spatially-selective particulate deposition and enhanced deposition efficiency

1. A method of achieving uniform particulate depositions onto surfaces, comprising:

providing one or more units of particulate matter;

providing a deposition surface capable of (1) conducting an ion current; and (2) drawing said units of particulate matter to said deposition surface;

providing a tube;

providing an array of one or more corona electrodes capable of (1) creating an corona ion current; (2) creating a particulate charging zone having an ion charge density in the range of 0.001-0.01 Coulombs/meter 3 ; (3) charging greater than or equal to 99.5% of all units of particulate matter passing through said charging zone; (4) charging each unit of said 99.5% of all units of particulate matter to its saturation level in 500 microseconds or less; and (5) producing a spatially uniform charge density that reduces the negative effects of any corona wind generated;

providing one or more resistors associated with said corona electrodes and capable of being selectively set to one or more possible settings;

spatially configuring said array of corona electrodes about said deposition surface such that a uniform electric field is generated;

affixing said corona electrodes to said tube;

providing a means for creating an aerodynamic force;

applying said electric field and said aerodynamic force to said units of particulate matter; and

focusing said units of particulate matter onto said deposition surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distances between the corona electrodes is uniform.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one resistor is a ballast resistor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one resistor has a resistance of at least 100 mega-ohms but less than 2 giga-ohms.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one resistor has a breakdown voltage of at least 10 kilo-volts, but less than 30 kilo-volts.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one resistor setting is selected to a create uniform corona ion current.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, the number of resistors equals the number of corona electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aerodynamic force is generated by an aerodynamic fan.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aerodynamic force is generated by an aerodynamic blower.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said aerodynamic force is generated by an aerodynamic pump.

11. An apparatus for achieving uniform particulate depositions onto surfaces, comprising:

a deposition surface capable of (1) conducting an ion current; and (2) drawing units of particulate matter to said deposition surface;

a tube;

an array of one or more corona electrodes spatially configured relative to said deposition surface such that a uniform electric field is generated and wherein said array of corona electrodes is capable of (1) creating an corona ion current; (2) creating a particulate charging zone having an ion charge density in the range of 0.001-0.01 Coulombs/meter 3 ; (3) charging greater than or equal to 99.5% of all units of particulate matter passing through said charging zone; (4) charging each unit of said 99.5% of all units of particulate matter to its saturation level in 500 microseconds or less; and (5) producing a spatially uniform charge density that reduces the negative effects of any corona wind generated; said corona electrodes being fixed to said tube;

one or more resistors associated with said corona electrodes and capable of being selectively set to one or more possible settings; and

a means for creating an aerodynamic force.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the distances between the corona electrodes is uniform.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one resistor is a ballast resistor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one resistor has a resistance of at least 100 mega-ohms but less than 2 giga-ohms.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one resistor has a breakdown voltage of at least 10 kilo-volts, but less than 30 kilo-volts.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one resistor setting is selected to a create uniform corona ion current.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein, the number of resistors equals the number of corona electrodes.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said means for creating an aerodynamic force is an aerodynamic fan.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said means for creating an aerodynamic force is an aerodynamic blower.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said means for creating an aerodynamic force is an aerodynamic pump.