Sharp offers USB-powered ion generator air purifier

USB-powered gadgets tend to run the gamut from the mundane to the truly bizarre. We've seen plenty of USB-powered air purifiers over the years that aim to remove odors and pollutants from your room or office. We've also seen a number of USB devices and that remove pollen and other items from the air you breathe as well.

A new USB air purifier has turned up from Sharp called the Sharp IG-DK1A Humidified Plasmacluster Ion Generator. That is a long name for device that has a pretty simple function, this device is designed to humidify the air you breathe and create lots of ions. Negatively charged ions are used by a lot of air purifying devices to attract dirt particles and other tiny particles floating in the air.

Once those particles of dirt, pollen, and dander are attracted to these negative ions they clump together and then fall to the ground. The particles might not be physically filtered from the air you breathe, but my removing them from floating around in the air you're much less likely to breathe them in. One of the biggest upsides to this sort of air purifying technology is that there are no filters to be replaced.

This particular air purifier is able to create quite a few negatively charged ions to the tune of 25,000 ions/cm3. The air purifier measures 124 mm x 182 mm x 166 mm and weighs 820 g. The device also has a small 300 mL water reservoir that consumes water at 30 mL an hour. That small reservoir is used to humidify the air. The internal fan of this device can also be powered using a normal AC adapter if you don't want to plug in near your computer. The air purifier sells for $220.

[via EverythingUSB]