Dyson has branched out from vacuum cleaners and bladeless fans for hand-driers with the launch of its first humidifier.
The gadget, which cost the company more than £37.5 million to develop, uses Dyson's patented Ultraviolet Cleanse technology to kill practically all bacteria in the water before it enters the air with a double dose of ultraviolet light.
The particles of water are drawn up through the machine's loop amplifier and projected through the air, with a form of the technology already used in Dyson's bladeless fans.
The company said 643 prototypes were developed during the humidifier's production, as well as more than 32 new test methods.
There are more than 275 patents and 130 patents pending on the Dyson humidifier, while the Ultraviolet Cleanse technology is protected by five patents.
Dyson is launching the machine in Japan today and it will go on sale in the UK from March for between £400 and £500.
Company founder Sir James Dyson, known for inventing bagless cleaners and bladeless fans, said: "Humidifiers are a way to create a more hygienic environment at home.
"Using patented UV light technology, our humidifier kills 99.9% of bacteria in the machine before projecting hydrated mist evenly throughout the room."
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