The desiccant undergoes a reversible process whereby in the first part of the cycle, it absorbs or adsorbs moisture from air leaving a cold surface, releasing heat, and then in the second part of the cycle evaporates moisture, absorbing heat and returning the desiccant to its original state to complete the cycle again. The result of the Cromer cycle is that the process air leaving the cycle is dehumidified further (higher latent ratio) than it would be leaving the cold surface without the cycle. The Cromer cycle concept was originally patented in the mid-1980's. Those patents have expired and thus the cycle is free for anyone to use. The cycle was first publicized in 1997 by Popular Mechanics in its Tech Update section.