Ionic discharge loudspeakers
The principle of using ionic discharge for high frequency loudspeakers is not new.
The British firm Fane introduced the most famous example in 1965, the Ionophane, and there were others.
http://www.roger-russell.com/ionovac/ionovac.htm#ionofane
The attraction is that it is the only way so far devised to make a speaker with no moving parts.
The principle of the ionic discharge loudspeaker is that it is the reverse of a lightning rod.
When there is high static charge around a lightning rod them is a wind created as part of the brush discharge.
An ionic loudspeaker modulates the signal at VERY VERY HIGH VOLTAGES.
This voltage is brought to a point conductor at the mouth of a horn. The voltage is so high that ionic wind is produced, that is a replica of the signal, so sound is produced.
The biggest problem with ionic discharge loudspeakers is that they generate very large quantities of ozone. As a physician I can assure you that they generate concentrations in the room that are highly injurious to health. I personally would not go near one.
The other problem with them has been, that the voltages required are so high, that the devices have been prone to sudden catastrophic and dangerous failure.
In my view they are no where near worth the risk and trouble.
