Handheld devices with high-voltage power electronics

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handheld device (1) having an electrically insulating housing (9) in which a power electronic device operating at high voltage is housed. The device (1) is particularly intended for handling articles, especially by means of plasma. The improved comfort and simplified manufacturing of the device (1) are achieved through a electrically separate and conductive potential balancing device (16) from the power electronic device, which at least partially forms the outer surface (17) of the device (1) in contact with the user's hand during use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a handheld device, particularly for handling articles, and the handheld device has power electronics operating at high voltage within a housing. Background Technology

[0002] Handheld devices offer the particular advantage of ease of use. They can be used, for example, to handle items. This type of handheld device has power electronics that provide power during operation, particularly for supplying the power required for handling. These power electronics are housed within the device's casing. During use, the handheld device is held and / or guided by at least one of the user's hands. The user's hand rests on the device's casing. To prevent unwanted electrical transfer to the user's hand, the casing is typically electrically insulated.

[0003] If the power electronic device operates at high voltage, energy may be transferred to the user's hand during use, despite the electrically insulated casing, resulting in discharge and / or so-called reverse discharge from the user's hand. If the power electronic device further operates at alternating voltage, especially high-frequency alternating voltage, the probability and frequency of such discharge and / or reverse discharge, collectively referred to below as discharge, increase.

[0004] The aforementioned discharge occurs particularly in handheld devices, for which the device is not completely insulated from external electricity at its destination.

[0005] Examples of such handheld devices include those that generate plasma via a plasma source powered by power electronics housed within a housing, wherein the plasma must exit the housing to process articles. Such handheld devices that generate plasma during operation are known, for example, by DE 10 2018 213 143 A1, DE10 2018 2013 144A1, CN 2 05 814 739U, and CN 1 08 771 767A.

[0006] Although such devices are designed in a way that makes the discharge harmless, they can still make users feel uncomfortable. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the task of this invention is to describe an improved or at least different implementation of the type of handheld device mentioned at the beginning, the outstanding feature of which is, in particular, improved user comfort while maintaining simplicity of manufacture.

[0008] According to the invention, this task is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of dependent claims.

[0009] This invention is based on the general concept that, for handheld devices housing power electronics operating at high voltage within an electrically insulating casing, the outer surface in contact with the user's hand during use is constructed in a manner that is at least partially conductive. As a result, the surface area available for potential balancing with the hand is increased. This results in energy transfer to the hand due to the high voltage, and consequently, a reduction in current density during discharge and / or so-called reverse discharge by the user's hand. This reduction in current density during energy transfer leads to reduced user perceptibility, particularly to the point that the user is unaware of such discharge and / or reverse discharge, collectively referred to as discharge. Therefore, user comfort is improved while the power electronics, especially the voltage supply, remains constant. Furthermore, this improvement in comfort can be easily and cost-effectively achieved.

[0010] According to the concept of the invention, the handheld device has a housing that is electrically insulating and houses the power electronics operating at high voltage within the housing. The handheld device is particularly used for handling articles. Here, the power electronics are used to supply power to generate and / or provide the energy required for handling. The device is constructed such that the user at least partially grips the housing during use. According to the invention, the device has a conductive potential balancing device that at least partially forms the outer surface of the device that comes into contact with the user's hand during use. The potential balancing device is electrically separated from the power electronics. Correspondingly, the potential balancing device causes an increase in the surface area present in the aforementioned discharge, the area below which is also referred to as the potential balancing plane. Therefore, by increasing the potential balancing plane through the outer surface using the potential balancing device, the current density generated for the user during discharge is reduced.

[0011] Here, handheld or portable devices refer to movable devices that are moved manually by the user, i.e., by means of one or both hands, during operation of the device to an item to be processed, particularly the surface of the item to be processed. Compared to fixed devices, such handheld devices are typically portable by the user, and are proportionate to the user in terms of weight and size. This achieves further improved comfort of the device.

[0012] "Electrically separated" here should specifically mean that there is no electrical connection and / or any possible mechanical connection is electrically insulated. This specifically means that there is no electrical connection between the potential balancing device and the power electronics. This also means that any possible mechanical connection between the potential balancing device and the power electronics is electrically insulated.

[0013] In principle, the power electronic device is capable of operating on DC voltage.

[0014] It is conceivable and preferred that the power electronic device operate with AC voltage, especially high-frequency AC voltage. That is, the power electronic device operates particularly with high-frequency high voltage.

[0015] Here, high voltage refers to a voltage value exceeding 1kV for DC voltage and exceeding 1.5kV for AC voltage.

[0016] High frequency should especially refer to voltage frequencies exceeding 1 kHz. Preferably, the power electronic device operates at frequencies of tens of kHz, especially 100 kHz.

[0017] In principle, the handheld device can be used to handle any item.

[0018] Plasma is used, particularly for treating articles, especially their surfaces. Correspondingly, the device has a plasma source housed within a housing and powered by power electronics to generate plasma. Preferably, the plasma source is configured to generate cold plasma during operation. Therefore, the device can be compact and / or implemented with reduced energy consumption. Furthermore, cold plasma can be used efficiently and with at least reduced thermal interaction to treat articles. In this way, the risk of heat-induced damage to the articles to be treated and / or heat-induced discomfort to the user is reduced. Thus, comfort is further improved. Advantageously, the plasma source and the potential balancing device are electrically separated.

[0019] Here, "article" refers to any biological or non-biological article that can be treated with the aforementioned device, preferably with plasma generated by a plasma source. During treatment, an interaction occurs between the plasma and the article and / or its components, particularly odor components, causing corresponding changes. "Article" specifically refers to fabric articles, such as clothing. "Article" also refers to articles with fabric surfaces treated with plasma, such as furniture and mattresses. Fabric materials are, for example, natural, plant-based, and animal-based natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, silk, linen, and felt. Fabric materials are also synthetic fabrics containing chemical fibers, such as nylon. Furthermore, the article can have at least on its surface ceramic, plastic, feather, leather, glass, wood, metal, or mixtures thereof.

[0020] When plasma interacts with objects, especially surfaces, odor components are inactivated—that is, destroyed and / or altered—causing the perceived odor to disappear and / or be changed. Odor components are typically organic compounds or compounds containing such compounds. Odor components include, for example, cell walls, bacteria, germs, viruses, fungi, etc. Upon interaction with plasma, odor components can become negatively charged due to bombardment by electrons present in the plasma. Due to electrostatic repulsion, this can lead to mechanical stress exceeding tensile strength and resulting in the associated destruction of odor molecules. Low-pressure plasma or cold plasma is particularly well-suited for inactivating odors on textiles and / or common household surfaces, as it does not cause or at least reduces thermal damage to such surfaces.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the plasma source has a circuit board. The plasma source is particularly based on at least one circuit board. Here, the circuit board can be a component of a power electronic device. In this design of the plasma source, the potential balancing device can be implemented simply and compactly. Therefore, comfort is improved through compactness. Furthermore, the simplified implementation enables easy manufacturing of the device.

[0022] The housing can be constructed such that plasma generated by the plasma source exits the device through the exit surface of the housing, particularly the exit opening, to interact with the article and thereby process the article.

[0023] The following embodiments are preferred, in which the housing and plasma source are constructed such that the plasma source generates plasma on the processing surface outside the housing. For this purpose, the plasma source can have a protruding, preferably slightly elongated electrode on the processing surface, which is surrounded by a ceramic plate. Advantageously, the potential balancing device is electrically separated from the processing surface.

[0024] Preferably, the potential balancing device is separated from the exit surface. This prevents, or at least reduces, the risk of changes in the generated plasma caused by the potential balancing device. Furthermore, it prevents electrical transfer from the plasma to the potential balancing device and thus prevents, or at least reduces, the corresponding risk of electrical transfer to the user via the potential balancing device. This achieves improved usability and enhanced comfort of the device. Preferably, the potential balancing device is electrically separated from the exit surface.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the potential balancing device has a conductor that surrounds and is spaced apart from the power electronic device. Thus, the conductor, also referred to below as a ring, surrounds the power electronic device and simultaneously forms at least partially the outer surface. This achieves a simple and effective increase in the potential balancing surface and thereby a simple and effective extension of the current density occurring during discharge.

[0026] The housing can have an upper part and a lower part, which can be configured as shells respectively. Here, the upper and lower parts define the internal space of the housing, in which the power electronic device is housed, and in particular, the plasma source.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the annular body is arranged between the upper and lower components and on the outer surface of the housing. This achieves a simple construction of the device while simultaneously increasing the potential equilibrium surface. Furthermore, the annular body can also function as a seal in this manner. Therefore, the manufacture of the device is further simplified.

[0028] Instead of a ring-shaped body, or as a supplement to a ring-shaped body, the potential balancing device can have at least one slightly elongated, conductive slat, which is spaced apart from the power electronics and partially forms the outer surface. In particular, it is conceivable to provide a potential balancing device having two such slats, wherein the slats are arranged opposite each other.

[0029] As an alternative or supplementary solution, the potential balancing device can have a conductive layer at least partially applied to the housing, wherein this layer at least partially forms the outer surface of the device. Therefore, the potential balancing device can be implemented simply and with a particularly large potential balancing surface. Furthermore, this method can reduce the weight of the device and allow for compact manufacturing. Consequently, comfort is further improved.

[0030] The layers of the potential balancing device can have any composition in principle, as long as the layers are conductive.

[0031] In particular, it is conceivable that the layer is made of conductive plastic. Specifically, the layer can be a conductive plastic layer that is applied to the outer surface of the housing.

[0032] As an alternative or supplementary option, the layer may have at least one metal and / or metal alloy. In particular, the layer may be a metal layer and / or metal alloy layer applied to the outer surface of the housing.

[0033] The device can have an operating element, such as a switch, for manual activation and deactivation, or on and off. The operating element is suitably mounted on a housing. Here, the potential balancing device can at least partially form at least one external surface of the operating element. That is, at least the external surface of the operating element can at least partially be a component of the potential balancing device. This achieves a simple implementation of the potential balancing device.

[0034] Preferably, the device is constructed such that it is activated only when the operating element is actively manipulated. That is, the user must continuously manipulate the operating element to use the device. This requires contact between the user's hand and the operating element. Therefore, by using the operating element at least partially as a potential balancing device, the potential balance surface is increased, thereby reducing the current density, in a simple and effective manner. Thus, comfort is improved in a simple and effective way.

[0035] Other important features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings, and the accompanying description with reference to the drawings.

[0036] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and explained below can be used not only in combinations described separately, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0038] The following are schematic representations:

[0039] Figure 1 An isometric view of the handheld device is shown.

[0040] Figure 2 An exploded view of the device is shown.

[0041] Figure 3 A cross-section of the equipment in use is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 A cross-section of the device in another embodiment is shown.

[0043] Figure 5 An isometric view of the device in another embodiment is shown;

[0044] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 Exploded view of the equipment in the diagram.

[0045] Figure 7 A top view of the equipment in use is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0046] For example in Figures 1 to 7 The handheld device 1 shown is specifically used for handling items 2 (see Figure 3 ).according to Figure 3 The device 1 for processing the article 2 is guided onto the surface 3 of the article 2 and thus moves. Here, as in... Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, in use, the handheld device 1 is guided onto the article 2, particularly the surface 3, using at least one hand 4. Therefore, the device 1 is arranged in terms of its weight and size so that it can be moved with one hand 4 or with two hands 4. Furthermore, if it can be... Figure 3 and Figure 7 It is understood that one can hold the device 1 with their hand 4.

[0047] To treat article 2, especially surface 3, plasma 5, especially cold plasma 6, is used in the illustrated embodiment. Figure 3 The plasma flow is depicted in section 7. (As shown by...) Figures 2 to 4 As can be seen, the device 1 has a plasma source 8 for this purpose, which is housed within the casing 9 of the device 1. In use, the plasma source 8 comes into contact with the article 2, particularly with the surface 3. Here, as... Figure 3 and 4 As the comparison shows, the plasma source 8, movably received within the housing 9, is compressed and pushed toward the housing 9. In the pushed-in state, the plasma source 8 generates plasma 5. The housing 1 is electrically insulating, for example, made of plastic. Figures 2 to 4 as well as Figure 6A visible power electronics device 10 supplies a power voltage to the plasma source 8 to generate a plasma flow 7. The power electronics device 10 is electrically connected to an energy storage device 11, such as a battery 12, of the device 1, wherein the energy storage device 11 and the power electronics device 10 are housed within a housing 9. The housing 9 has an upper side 13 and a lower side 14 opposite to the upper side 13, wherein the plasma source 8 generates plasma 5 on the lower side 14 of the housing 9 during operation, thereby generating a plasma flow 7, wherein the plasma 5 interacts with the article 2 or the surface 3.

[0048] The surface 3 is, for example, a surface made of fabric. In particular, the article 2 is a fabric article 2. When the plasma 5 interacts with the article 2, especially the surface 3, it is preferable to inactivate the odor components.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the plasma source 8 has a circuit board 15, and in particular, is based on the circuit board 15, wherein the circuit board 15 can be a component of the power electronics device 10.

[0050] The power electronic device 10 operates at high voltage, preferably high frequency and high voltage. In particular, the power electronic device 10 operates at tens of kHz, especially 100 kHz. During operation, energy transfer occurs from the power electronic device 10 and / or the plasma source 8 to the hand 4, resulting in discharge and / or reverse discharge, which are collectively referred to below as discharge. Such discharge causes discomfort to the user. To eliminate or at least reduce this discomfort, the device 1 has a potential balancing device 16. The potential balancing device 16 is electrically separated from the power electronic device 10, especially from the power electronic device 10 and from the plasma source 8. Furthermore, the potential balancing device 16 is conductive and forms the outer surface 17 of the device 1, which the user at least partially contacts during use. This increases the area available for potential balancing during discharge, reducing the current density between the hand 4 and the device 1 during discharge. In this way, the user's awareness of the discharge is reduced, and therefore, the user's perception of the discharge is also reduced. In particular, the user no longer perceives the discharge.

[0051] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the potential balancing device 16 has a conductive annular body 18 that surrounds and is spaced apart from the power electronics device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular body 18 is configured in a closed manner. Here, the annular body 18 at least partially forms the outer surface 17 of the device 1 that is held by the hand 4 on its side facing away from the power electronics device 10, such as particularly by… Figure 3 As can be known.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 9 has a shell-shaped component 19 having an upper side 13, hereinafter referred to as the upper component 19, and a shell-shaped component 20 having a lower side 14, hereinafter referred to as the lower component 20. Here, the upper component 19 and the lower component 20 define an internal space 21 within the housing 9, in which the power electronic device 10 is housed. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the plasma source 8 and the energy storage device 11 are housed within the internal space 21. The plasma source 8 extends from the housing 9 on its lower side 14 and has a processing surface 25 on the side facing away from the internal space 21, on which the plasma 5 is generated.

[0053] exist Figures 1 to 3 In this embodiment, the annular body 18 is arranged between the upper component 19 and the lower component 20. Furthermore, the annular body 18 achieves a sealing function in this manner.

[0054] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, with Figures 1 to 3 Compared to the illustrated embodiment, the potential balancing device 16 does not have a ring body 18. In contrast, the potential balancing device 16 has a ring body 18. Figure 4 The conductive layer 22, shown in dashed lines, is at least partially applied to the outer surface of the housing 9. In the illustrated embodiment, layer 22 is, purely exemplary, applied to the lower component 20 and thus also to the lower surface 14 of the housing 9. The conductive layer 22 is made of conductive plastic and / or metal and / or metal alloy. In particular, layer 22 is a conductive plastic layer 23.

[0055] Figures 5 to 7 Another embodiment of the device 1 is shown. This embodiment is similar to... Figures 1 to 3 The difference in the illustrated embodiment is that the potential balancing device 16, instead of the annular body 18, has two spaced-apart, opposing, and conductive strips 26. These strips 26 are spaced apart from the power electronics 10 and each partially forms the outer surface 17 of the device 1 that is held by the hand 4, with its side facing away from the power electronics 10. Here, the respective strips 26 extend slightly elongated along the longitudinal side of the housing 9. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the respective strips 26 are arranged between the upper component 19 and the lower component 20. As particularly evident from... Figure 7 It is known that at least one, advantageously corresponding, of the slats 26 comes into contact with and is covered by the hand 4 during use. Therefore, in Figure 7 The slats 26 described herein are not visible.

[0056] As an alternative or supplementary solution, a corresponding potential balancing device 16 can be implemented on the operating element 24 of the device 1, which is particularly suitable for… Figure 1 and5 As can be seen, the operating element 24 is used to activate and deactivate the device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the operating element 24 is disposed on the upper side 13 of the device 1. Here, the potential balancing device 16 at least partially forms the surface of the operating element 24 that comes into contact with the hand 4 for manipulating the operating element 24. That is, the operating element 24 can be a component of the potential balancing device 16 at least partially forming the outer surface 17 of the device 1. Preferably, the device 1 is activated only at the operating element 1 manipulated by the hand 4, i.e., when the operating element 24 is manipulated. Thus, the discharge can only occur when the hand 4 contacts the operating element 24. Because the potential balancing device 16 is implemented on the operating element 24, an increase in the potential balancing surface is necessarily achieved.

[0057] List of reference numerals

[0058] 1. Handheld device

[0059] 2 items

[0060] 3 Surface

[0061] 4 hands

[0062] 5. Plasma

[0063] 6. Cold plasma

[0064] 7. Plasma Flow

[0065] 8 Plasma Source

[0066] 9. Shell

[0067] 10 Power Electronic Devices

[0068] 11 accumulators

[0069] 12 batteries

[0070] 13 Upper side

[0071] 14 Lower side

[0072] 15 circuit boards

[0073] 16 Potential Balancing Device

[0074] 17 Outer Surface

[0075] 18-ring body

[0076] 19 upper components

[0077] 20 Lower Parts

[0078] 21 Interior Space

[0079] 22nd floor

[0080] 23 plastic layers

[0081] 24 Operating elements

[0082] 25 Processing surfaces

[0083] 26. Slats.

Claims

1. A handheld device (1), the handheld device: having an electrically insulating housing (9), the housing being held by a user's hand (4) during use of the device (1); having a power electronic device (10) operated at high voltage and housed within the housing (9), characterized in that, The device (1) has an electrically separate and conductive potential balancing device (16) from the power electronics (10), which at least partially forms the outer surface (17) of the device (1) that comes into contact with the user's hand (4) during use of the device (1).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (9) houses a plasma source (8) supplied by the power electronics (10), which generates plasma (5) during operation, such that the plasma (5) interacts with the article (2) to process the article (2).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plasma source (8) has a circuit board (15).

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The plasma source (8) generates plasma (5) during operation to process the article (2) on the external processing surface (25); and the potential balancing device (16) is separated from the processing surface (25).

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The potential balancing device (16) has an annular body (18) surrounding the power electronic device (10), the annular body partially forming the outer surface (17).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing (9) has an upper part (19) and a lower part (20) that define an internal space (21) of the housing (9) in which the power electronic device (10) is received; and the annular body (18) is arranged between the upper part (19) and the lower part (20).

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The potential balancing device (16) has a layer (22) applied to the housing (9), the layer at least partially forming the outer surface (17).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The layer (22) is made of conductive plastic.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The layer (22) has at least one metal and / or metal alloy.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The device (1) has an operating element (24) for activating and / or deactivating the device; and the potential balancing device (16) forms at least partially on at least one surface of the operating element (24).

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handheld device (1) is used to handle items (2).

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handheld device (1) is used to process fabric articles (2).

13. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plasma (5) is a cold plasma (6).

14. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plasma source (8) is based on a circuit board (15).

15. A handheld device (1): having a plasma source (8) housed in a housing, wherein a power electronic device operating at high voltage supplies power to the plasma source; having an electrically insulating housing (9), characterized in that, The outer surface (17) of the device (1) that comes into contact with the user's hand (4) during use of the device (1) is at least partially electrically conductive, thereby increasing the possible surface area for potential balancing with the hand.

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The plasma source (8) has a circuit board (15).

17. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The plasma source (8) is based on a circuit board (15).

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