Function control for an electrohydrodynamic atomizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016649-A1
Application number	US-201917309725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for the function control of an electrohydrodynamic atomizer ( 20 ), wherein an electrohydrodynamically atomized fluid ( 23 ), originating from the atomizer ( 20 ), is applied to a body, e.g. a person, in order to coat this body at least in certain areas, wherein the atomizer ( 20 ) comprises a fluid tank for storing the fluid ( 23 ) and at least one high voltage source for making available a high voltage and at least one pump unit for transporting the fluid, wherein the fluid ( 23 ) is delivered to a nozzle arrangement of the atomizer ( 20 ) by means of the pump unit, and wherein the fluid ( 23 ) is atomized electrohydrodynamically at the nozzle arrangement by means of the effect of the high voltage from the high voltage source, wherein a voltage and/or a current at the high voltage source is evaluated in order to acquire a working point of the high voltage source via a current/voltage characteristic curve.

First claim

1 . A method for the function control of an electrohydrodynamic atomizer, wherein an electrohydrodynamically atomized fluid, originating from the atomizer, is applied to a body, e.g. a person, in order to coat this body at least in certain areas, wherein the atomizer comprises a fluid tank for storing the fluid and at least one high voltage source for making available a high voltage and at least one pump unit for transporting the fluid, wherein the fluid is delivered to a nozzle arrangement of the atomizer by means of the pump unit, and wherein the fluid is atomized electrohydrodynamically at the nozzle arrangement by means of the effect of the high voltage from the high voltage source, wherein
a voltage and/or a current at the high voltage source is evaluated in order to acquire a working point of the high voltage source via a current/voltage characteristic curve or a characteristic curve diagram.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluated voltage and/or the current is a reference voltage proportional to the actual voltage value and/or current value of the high voltage source and/or is a reference current.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the atomizer held in the hand of a user, and a flow of current from the high voltage source via the atomized fluid through the hand of the user and via manual contact elements on the atomizer and back to the high voltage source is acquired and evaluated.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of working points are defined on the current/voltage characteristic curve, wherein the acquired actual working point at the high voltage source is compared with a working point, or is acquired at least in a range on the current/voltage characteristic curve between two working points.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a setpoint working range is defined on the current/voltage characteristic curve, wherein a fault signals if the acquired actual working point lies outside the setpoint working range.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein regular acquiring of the working point is carried out, wherein an acquired working point is compared with at least one previously acquired working point in order to detect a change in the working point.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the acquired working point triggers a defined user information item and/or device reaction, e.g. a connection which is stored in a memory in accordance with the position of the working point on the current/voltage characteristic curve.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a switch-on curve of the high voltage source is acquired, wherein the switch-on curve ends at a working point.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluated voltage and/or the current is corrected by means of at least one correction parameter in such a way that a direct flow of current and/or a direct drop in voltage between the atomizer and the hand of the user which operates the atomizer can be acquired and preferably evaluated as an interference variable.

10 . A high voltage source for carrying out a method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a low voltage signal which is proportional to the high voltage which is output can be tapped as a reference voltage.

Assignees

• Wagner Gmbh J

Inventors

• Mangold Sebastian
• Fiesel Manuel
• Ulbrich Jens
• Jeltsch Thomas
• Göhring Alfred
• Barthelmes Jan

Classifications

• A45D34/04

  Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball · CPC title

• B05B5/1691 Primary

  Apparatus to be carried on or by a person or with a container fixed to the discharge device · CPC title

• B05B5/053 Primary

  Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power · CPC title

• B05B5/043

  using induction-charging · CPC title

• A45D2200/057

  Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid · CPC title