Emitter electrode having a strip shape

1. An electro-kinetic airflow producing device comprising:

a strip-type emitter electrode and plural collector electrodes operatively and respectively coupled to a voltage source to generate a corona discharge and thereby produce the airflow,

the strip-type emitter electrode having a length, a width, a thickness, and at least one emission edge which extends along the length of the emitter electrode, wherein the thickness of the emitter electrode is less than about 0.15 mm and wherein the emission edge thereof is subject to erosion based on the corona discharge during operation of the electro-kinetic airflow producing device, the erosion progressing in the width dimension of the emitter electrode, the width substantially exceeding the thickness and thereby extending the operative lifetime of the emitter electrode as compared with a wire-type emitter electrode design having substantially identical width and thickness.

2. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , wherein the strip-type emitter electrode has a flexible characteristic, a first end, and a second end, the first end and the second being configured to be held in place by at least one holder.

3. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , wherein the strip-type emitter electrode is fabricated using a cutting or rolling device selected from the group consisting of: (a) a laser; (b) a mechanical cutter; (c) any combination of a laser and a mechanical cutter; and (d) a roller.

4. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , configured as an ionic air treatment apparatus.

5. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , configured as an electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner.

6. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , wherein the strip-type emitter electrode has a structure selected from the group consisting of: a ribbon; a foil; a tape; a belt; and a band.

7. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 6 , wherein the strip-type emitter electrode is flexible along its length.

8. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an additional electrode positioned generally between a respective pair of the collector electrodes and downstream of the strip-type emitter electrode, the additional electrode operatively coupled to the voltage source as a driver electrode.

9. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 8 ,

wherein the driver electrode is insulated.

10. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one additional strip-type emitter electrode coupled to the voltage source to generate a corona discharge and thereby contribute to the produced airflow.

11. An electro-kinetic airflow producing device comprising:

a voltage supply;

two or more collector electrodes; and

at least one strip-type emitter electrode, the strip-type emitter electrode and collector electrodes coupled to the voltage supply and positioned to generate a corona discharge proximate an emission edge of the strip-type emitter electrode and thereby contribute to the produced airflow, the emission edge of the strip-type emitter electrode exhibiting a generally downstream facing cross-sectional thickness of less than about 0.15 mm and tolerating erosion of the emission edge in a generally upstream-oriented width dimension of the strip-type emitter electrode, a ratio of erosion-tolerating width to cross-sectional thickness being at least 10:1.

12. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 11 ,

wherein the thickness is greater than about 0.01 mm.

13. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 12 ,

wherein the thickness is approximately 0.02 mm.

14. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 11 ,

wherein the strip-type emitter electrode is composed of molybdenum.

15. The electro-kinetic airflow producing device of claim 11 ,

wherein the tolerated erosion of material in the width dimension of the strip-type emitter electrode exceeds the thickness thereof.

16. A method of extending an operational lifetime of an emitter electrode in an electro-kinetic airflow producing device, while generating a desirable level of corona discharge and limiting ozone production, the method comprising:

providing a strip-type emitter electrode that exhibits a length, a width and a thickness;

sizing the thickness of the strip-type emitter electrode in accord with emitter electrode material and operative emitter currents to generate a desired level of corona discharge with no more than an acceptable level of ozone production;

sizing the width of the strip-type emitter electrode to tolerate erosion of material thereof throughout a desired operative lifetime of the emitter electrode, wherein the desired operative lifetime exceeds that during which operation of the electro-kinetic airflow producing device would be expected to erode, in the width dimension, an amount of material of the emitter electrode that exceeds the thickness thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 ,

providing plural collector electrodes positioned generally downstream of the strip-type emitter electrode.

18. The method of claim 16 ,

wherein the strip-type emitter electrode is composed of Molybdenum.

19. The method of claim 16 ,

based on the thickness sizing, providing the strip-type emitter electrode with a thickness in a range from 0.01 mm to 0.15 mm.

20. The method of claim 16 ,

based on the width sizing, providing the strip-type emitter electrode with a width that exceeds at least 0.1 mm.

21. The method of claim 16 ,

based on the thickness and width sizing, providing the strip-type emitter electrode with a ratio of width to thickness of at least 10:1.

22. The method of claim 16 ,

providing one or more additional strip-type emitter electrodes.