To provide a minus ion generation apparatus having improved usability, provided with an assured life of an ultraviolet lamp, and preventing a user from getting accustomed to it and provide an air conditioner using the minus ion generation apparatus.
The minus ion generation apparatus comprises an ultraviolet lamp 2, a photoelectron emitting material 3, and a control means 4 for controlling the operation of the ultraviolet lamp 2 and is capable of generating minus ions by irradiating the photoelectron emitting material 3 with ultraviolet rays by intermittently turning on and off the ultraviolet lamp 2 and simultaneously making the on-time or off-time of the ultraviolet lamp 2 in any cycle differing from the on-time or off-time in other cycles among the on/off cycles, so that the life of the ultraviolet lamp 2 can be assured and also a user is prevented from getting accustomed.
UENO SEIICHI
HAYASHI NOBUHIRO
YOSHIDA TOSHIYUKI
