Plasma Applicator Electrode Stack for Touch-Safe EMC Shielding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma applicators require complex enclosures for contact protection and vertical integration, which complicates production and limits their versatility.
Innovation Solution
An electrotechnical core designed to be safe to touch, incorporating a third electrode structure for contact protection and EMC shielding, allowing for a simpler enclosure and versatile integration into various designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing plasma applicators use complex enclosures for contact protection and vertical integration, then contact protection is ensured, but device complexity and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contact protection function with the enclosure structure by integrating a conductive shielding layer into the enclosure walls. This combination eliminates the need for separate contact protection components while maintaining safety, thereby reducing device complexity and simplifying production.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection, electromagnetic shielding, and contact protection through the integrated conductive layer. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying both the device structure and manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If existing plasma applicators use complex vertical integration, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing precision and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma applicator is divided into modular segments including the electrotechnical core, enclosure, and shielding layer that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation reduces the manufacturing precision requirements for each individual component while maintaining overall functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conductive shielding layer as an additional dimensional element within the enclosure structure. This layered approach allows functional requirements to be met through material properties and layer configuration rather than through complex vertical integration of mechanical components, thereby reducing manufacturing precision demands.
3Reliability
If plasma applicators incorporate EMC shielding and contact protection features, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive shielding layer is integrated directly into the enclosure structure, merging the EMC shielding function with the mechanical enclosure. This integration ensures reliability for both contact protection and electromagnetic shielding while avoiding the addition of separate complex components.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive shielding layer serves multiple protective functions simultaneously - it provides contact protection, EMC shielding, and structural support. This self-service capability of a single integrated component improves reliability across multiple functions while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates a plasma applicator with reduced vertical integration needs, ensuring contact protection and EMC shielding, enabling flexible and efficient plasma treatment of human, animal, and technical surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
By means of a voltage applied to the second electrode structure in the form of a voltage signal, a supplied gas or gas mixture, such as air, is ionized and converted into a reactive state in the sealed gas space formed between the plasma applicator and the surface to be treated. Thus, a physical plasma is generated.
Data Source
AI summary
A plasma applicator comprising an electrotechnical core for generating a cold atmospheric pressure or low-pressure plasma for the treatment of human and/or animal and/or technical surfaces, wherein the electrotechnical core has a side facing the surface to be treated and a side facing away from the surface to be treated and comprises the following layers, arranged above one another, starting from the side facing the surface to be treated, a first insulation layer, a first electrode structure which is provided with a first contact for establishing electrical contact between the first electrode structure and a power supply unit and which is grounded during operation, a second insulation layer, which is embodied to galvanically isolate the first electrode structure and a second electrode structure from one another, a second electrode structure which is provided with a second contact for establishing electrical contact between the second electrode structure and a power supply unit and which is driven during operation by a voltage signal that is supplied by a power supply unit and that is sufficient to ignite a plasma, a third insulation layer, which is embodied to galvanically isolate the second electrode structure and a third electrode structure from one another, and a third electrode structure which is provided with a third contact in order to ground the third electrode structure during operation, the plasma applicator further comprising an enclosure, wherein the plasma applicator is affixed to a bag, said bag being configured to enclose a body or body segment and to thus form a sealed gas space around the body or body segment.