Disinfection system

Abstract

The present invention is entitled "Disinfection System." A disinfection system includes a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps and a control unit including one or more processors. The UV lamps are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of a vehicle. The UV lamps are configured to receive power from a power source on the vehicle and to emit UV light into the interior compartment during vehicle operation. The control unit is operatively connected to the UV lamps and is configured to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps located in the public area of ​​the interior compartment based on the occupancy of the public area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to systems and methods that can be used to disinfect structures and air within enclosed structures, such as vehicle cabins. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicles such as commercial aircraft are used to transport passengers between various locations. Systems are currently being developed for disinfecting or otherwise sterilizing surfaces to kill or neutralize a variety of harmful microorganisms or other pathogens. Typical methods for disinfecting surfaces inside an aircraft involve significant manual effort from one or more crew members. For example, some crew members may spray and wipe cleaning chemicals on surfaces within the aircraft's interior cabins. Other crew members may slowly wave a stick emitting ultraviolet (UV) radiation on surfaces near the interior cabins. If a certain proximity to the target surface is maintained for at least a specified amount of time, UV radiation can kill or neutralize some microorganisms or other pathogens.

[0003] In addition, many commercial vehicles, such as airplanes, have HEPA filters in their air conditioning systems that can trap microorganisms and pathogens. HEPA filters receive and clean air leaving or about to enter the cabin. Frequent cleaning of HEPA filters and the cabin between flights is one way to ensure the health of passengers and crew on board. Additional disinfection methods and chemical cleaning can be used to supplement HEPA filters. Summary of the Invention

[0004] There is a need for systems and methods to prevent the spread of pathogens between passengers on a vehicle during travel (such as between passengers in the interior compartments of an aircraft during flight) without the risk of harm to passengers.

[0005] In view of these needs, certain embodiments of this disclosure provide a disinfection system comprising a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps and a control unit including one or more processors. The UV lamps are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of a vehicle. The UV lamps are configured to receive power from a power source on the vehicle and to emit UV light into the interior compartment during vehicle operation. The control unit is operatively connected to the UV lamps and is configured to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps located in the public area of ​​the interior compartment based on the occupancy of the public area.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, a method for disinfecting a vehicle is provided. The method includes supplying power from a power source on the vehicle to a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, such that the UV lamps emit UV light into the interior compartment during vehicle operation. The method also includes modifying the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps located in the public area of ​​the interior compartment based on the occupancy of the public area.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, a disinfection system is provided, comprising a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps, one or more sensors, and a control unit including one or more processors. The UV lamps are configured to receive power from a power source on the vehicle and to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or narrow wavelength range safe for human tissue into the interior compartment during vehicle operation. The one or more sensors are mounted in the interior compartment and configured to monitor common areas of the interior compartment. The control unit is operatively connected to the UV lamps and the one or more sensors. The control unit is configured to determine occupancy of the common areas based on signals received from the one or more sensors and to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps located in the common areas based on the determined occupancy. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 The illustration shows a perspective front view of an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 2A The illustration shows a top plan view of the interior compartment of an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2B The illustration shows a top plan view of the interior compartment of an aircraft according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a disinfection system according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a disinfection system inside a vehicle cabin according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 The illustration shows a perspective interior view of the lavatory within the interior cabin of a vehicle.

[0014] Figure 6 The illustration shows a perspective view of the area adjacent to the lavatory outside the interior cabin of a vehicle.

[0015] Figure 7The illustration shows a perspective view of the galley inside the vehicle's interior cabin.

[0016] Figure 8 The illustration shows a side view of the passenger seating area in the interior cabin, which shows a group of passenger seats on one side of the aisle.

[0017] Figure 9 The illustration shows a side view of a UV lamp in a disinfection system according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 10 The illustration shows a side view of a UV lamp in a disinfection system according to another embodiment.

[0019] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a method for disinfecting and sterilizing the air and surfaces inside the interior cabins of a vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The foregoing summary and the following detailed description of certain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. As used herein, elements or steps stated in the singular or beginning with the words “a” or “an” should be understood to not necessarily exclude multiple elements or steps. Furthermore, references to “an embodiment” should not be construed as excluding the existence of other embodiments that also include the stated features. Moreover, unless expressly stated to the contrary, embodiments that “comprise” or “have” one or more elements having a particular condition may include additional elements that do not have that condition.

[0021] Certain embodiments of this disclosure provide a disinfection system and method for sterilizing the interior cabin of a vehicle, such as a commercial aircraft. The disinfection system includes a set of ultraviolet (UV) lamps arranged within the interior cabin. The UV lamps are positioned and controlled to emit UV light into the interior cabin during vehicle travel, such that the UV light disinfects the air and surfaces within the interior cabin. The UV lamps can be controlled to emit filtered UV light of a specified wavelength or a narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue. For example, the specified wavelength could be 222 nm. The UV lamps are positioned to disinfect the air and surfaces prior to cleaning via air filtration (e.g., with a HEPA filter) and manual application of chemical cleaning agents. At least some of the UV lamps can be operated to continuously emit UV light for an extended period of time. For example, at least some UV lamps can be turned on (e.g., activated) to continuously emit UV light throughout the entire duration of travel (from the time passengers board the vehicle to the time passengers disembark). The continuous UV emission kills or neutralizes pathogens to prevent the spread of pathogens in the air and on surfaces during vehicle travel, between cabin cleaning and air conditioning recirculation.

[0022] In the embodiments disclosed herein, at least some of the UV lamps are located in areas of the interior cabin that are available for use by more than one person (even if not simultaneously). Such areas are referred to herein as public areas. Public areas are shared among multiple passengers and / or crew members, unlike the areas around passenger seats that are available only to a single person. Public areas may include lavatories, aisles, vehicle entrance areas, vehicle exit areas (if different from entrance areas), galleys, areas outside lavatories, crew quarters, first-class passenger suites, etc. As used herein, public areas do not refer to general passenger seating areas, such as second-class seats, but may refer to aisles extending through general passenger seating areas, as aisles are used by multiple passengers and crew members. The UV lamps located in the public areas emit UV light to disinfect and sterilize the public areas. Public areas may be intermittently occupied. For example, during takeoff and landing, passengers and crew remain seated, so at least some public areas may be unoccupied.

[0023] The disinfection system disclosed herein controls the operation of UV lamps within public areas based on the occupancy of those areas. For example, UV lamps can receive more power when an associated public area is occupied, or immediately after occupancy, than when the associated public area is unoccupied for an extended period. This greater power reception causes the UV lamps to emit UV light with greater intensity and / or range within the illumination field, which can kill or neutralize a larger quantity or percentage of pathogens per unit time compared to the lower intensity UV light caused by operating the UV lamps at a reduced power level. The high-intensity UV light at the greater power can be used for rapid disinfection of public areas. For example, public areas can be rapidly disinfected on an interval basis or on an occupancy basis, such that rapid disinfection occurs during or after each occupancy period in the public area. When a public area is unoccupied, the power supplied to the UV lamps in the public area can be reduced or even cut off to save energy relative to operating the UV lamps in the public area at a high power level or setting for the entire trip or at least an extended period. Therefore, the power supplied to the UV lamps in the public area can be selectively adjusted or modified based on occupancy to provide rapid disinfection when needed while limiting power consumption.

[0024] As used herein, occupancy refers to the presence of at least one person in a designated area, and is therefore typically referred to in a binary sense. A disinfection system can detect occupancy of an area without needing to determine additional information, such as the number of people present in the area or their identities. An occupant of a public area can refer to anyone, such as a passenger or crew member. In the embodiments described herein, the disinfection system controls UV lamps located in the public area in different modes or settings based on the occupancy status of the public area.

[0025] One or more technical effects of a disinfection system include reducing the spread of pathogens through the air and on surfaces between occupants of the vehicle (e.g., passengers and crew) during vehicle operation. For example, a disinfection system can rapidly disinfect the air and surfaces in public areas between occupants, killing or neutralizing pathogens emitted from previous occupants in the public area before or during the presence of subsequent occupants. Another technical effect is that the presence and operation of the disinfection system does not negatively impact passenger health or travel enjoyment because the filtered UV light emitted by the disinfection system does not distract or harm passengers. Furthermore, although operating the UV lamps requires energy from a power source, the disinfection system can adjust the UV lamp settings based on occupancy to reduce the total energy consumed (compared to permanent operation at medium or high power settings), which desirably limits power consumption without sacrificing passenger health and safety. The disinfection system can ensure compliance with regulations requiring a safe environment within the aircraft cabin during flight.

[0026] Figure 1 The illustration shows a perspective front view of an aircraft 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The aircraft 10 includes a propulsion system 12, which includes, for example, engines 14. Optionally, the propulsion system 12 may include more engines 14 than shown. The engines 14 are carried by wings 16 of the aircraft 10. In other embodiments, the engines 14 may be carried by a fuselage 18 and / or a tail 20. The tail 20 may also support a horizontal stabilizer 22 and a vertical stabilizer 24.

[0027] The fuselage 18 of the aircraft 10 defines internal compartments, including a flight deck or cockpit, one or more work areas (e.g., galley, carry-on baggage area, etc.), one or more passenger areas (e.g., first class, business class and second class areas), one or more lavatories, etc.

[0028] Alternatively, instead of airplanes, embodiments of this disclosure can be used with a variety of other modes of transportation, such as automobiles, buses, rail vehicles, ships, etc. For example, the disinfection systems disclosed herein can be implemented in the interior cabins of passenger trains, buses, passenger ships, etc. Embodiments of this disclosure can also be used with respect to enclosed areas within fixed structures, such as commercial and residential buildings. For example, the disinfection systems and methods disclosed herein can be installed and operated in theaters, concert venues, places of worship, office buildings, shops, etc., where continuous UV light of harmless wavelengths can provide continuous disinfection of air and surfaces.

[0029] Figure 2A The illustration shows a top plan view of an interior compartment 30 of an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior compartment 30 can be... Figure 1The interior of the fuselage 18 of the aircraft 10 shown. For example, one or more fuselage walls may define an interior compartment 30. The interior compartment 30 includes multiple sections, including a forward section 33, a first-class section 34, a business-class section 36, a forward galley station 38, an extended economy or second-class section 40, a standard economy or second-class section 42, and a rear section 44. The interior compartment 30 also includes multiple lavatories 45. It should be understood that the interior compartment 30 may include more or fewer sections than shown. For example, the interior compartment 30 may not include a first-class section and may include more or fewer galley stations than shown. Each section may be separated by a compartment transition area 46, which may include a compartment divider assembly 48.

[0030] like Figure 2A As shown, the interior compartment 30 includes two passageways 50 and 52, which extend a considerable length of the interior compartment 30 and lead to the rear section 44. Passageways 50 and 52 extend to an exit path or doorway 60. An exit door 62 is located at the end of the exit path 60. The exit path 60 may be perpendicular to passageways 250 and 252. The interior compartment 30 may include more exit paths 60 at locations different from those shown. Alternatively, the interior compartment 30 may have fewer or more passageways than shown. For example, the interior compartment 30 may include a single passageway extending through the center of the interior compartment 30 and leading to the rear section 44. The disinfection system described herein can be used to disinfect the air and various structures within the interior compartment 30.

[0031] Figure 2B The illustration shows a top plan view of an aircraft interior compartment 80 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The interior compartment 80 can be... Figure 1 The interior of the fuselage 18 of the aircraft 10 shown. For example, one or more fuselage walls may define an interior compartment 80. The interior compartment 80 includes multiple sections, including a main compartment 82 with passenger seats 83 and aisle 84, and a rear section 85 behind the main compartment 82. The interior compartment 80 also includes a lavatory 87. The interior compartment 80 may include more or fewer sections than shown.

[0032] The interior compartment 80 has a single aisle 84 that extends a considerable length of the interior compartment 80 and leads to the rear section 85. The aisle 84 may extend through the center of the interior compartment 80 such that the aisle 84 is coaxial with the central longitudinal plane 86 of the interior compartment 80. The aisle 84 extends to an exit path or doorway 90, which is the area adjacent to the aircraft entrance. An exit door 92 is located at the end of the exit path 90. The exit path 90 may be perpendicular to the aisle 84. The disinfection system described herein can be used to disinfect the air and various structures within the interior compartment 80.

[0033] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of a disinfection system 100 according to an embodiment. The disinfection system 100 includes components installed in the interior compartment of a vehicle (e.g., Figure 2A The shown compartment 30 or Figure 2B Multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps 120 are located within the cabin (shown as 80). The UV lamps 120 are controlled to generate and emit UV light into the interior cabin to disinfect and sterilize the air and surfaces within the cabin. The UV lamps 120 may include excimer bulbs. The UV lamps 120 may be located in various areas throughout the interior cabin. For example, some UV lamps 120 may be located near passenger seats and positioned to emit UV light in a corresponding illumination field surrounding a passenger seated in their seat. Other UV lamps 120 may be located in public areas such as lavatories, aisles, galleys, entrance and exit passageways, etc. The disinfection system 100 is configured to continuously operate at least some of the UV lamps 120 in an on, emitting state, even in the presence of passengers, such as during boarding, taxiing, flight, and disembarkation. Unlike current practices that only provide intermittent disinfection (such as chemically cleaning cabins between flights and filtering a given volume of air whenever a given volume of air is drawn through a return air conditioner of an environmental control system), the disinfection system 100 disinfects pathogens on surfaces and in the air on a continuous basis. The disinfection system 100 can also provide repeated and rapid disinfection of some highly frequented public areas based on the occupancy of public areas.

[0034] The disinfection system 100 includes a UV lamp 120, a control unit 170, a power supply 172, an input device 174, an output device 176, and a sensor 178. The disinfection system 100 is installed in vehicles (such as...) Figure 1 The UV lamp 120 is located on the aircraft 10 shown, or within an enclosed space of a fixed building or structure. A power source 172 supplies power to the UV lamp 120 to generate UV light. The power source 172 may be a generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Various conductive lines and cables can conduct power from the power source 172 to the UV lamp 120. For example, the UV lamp 120 may utilize the same power source 172 and conductive path to supply power to other components in the cabin, such as personal lights and personal blowers in the passenger service unit (PSU), cabin lighting, and appliances in the galley. For example, the UV lamp 120 may be plugged into the same electronic package that controls cabin lighting.

[0035] Control unit 170 is operatively connected to UV lamp 120, input device 174, output device 176, and sensor 178 via wired and / or wireless communication paths. Control unit 170 generates control signals to control the operation of UV lamp 120. The generated control signals may be based on signals (e.g., data) received from sensor 178. Control unit 170 represents hardware circuitry including one or more processors 182 (e.g., one or more microprocessors, integrated circuits, microcontrollers, field-programmable gate arrays, etc.) and / or connected to one or more processors 182. Control unit 170 includes and / or is connected to a tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory) 184. For example, memory 184 may store programming instructions (e.g., software) executed by one or more processors 182 to perform the operations of control unit 170 as described herein.

[0036] Control unit 170 can control the UV lamps 120 by controlling the presence and amount of power (e.g., voltage and current) supplied to each UV lamp 120. Optionally, control unit 170 is operatively connected to at least one switching device 180 along a circuit or bus between power supply 172 and the UV lamps 120. Switching device 180 is configured to selectively disconnect (or cut off) the circuit to block power conduction to one or more of the UV lamps 120, and to close (or establish) the circuit to allow power conduction to one or more UV lamps 120. Switching device 180 may represent or include solid-state relays, electromechanical relays, optical switches, DC-DC converters, etc. Although one switching device 180 is illustrated, disinfection system 100 may include multiple switching devices 180 independently controlled by control unit 170. For example, each UV lamp 120 may be electrically connected to a different switching device 180 to achieve independent control of each UV lamp 120. Alternatively, multiple UV lamps 120 located in the same general area can be electrically connected to the same switching device 180, which allows all multiple UV lamps 120 in the general area to be controlled by actuating a single switching device 180. In addition to simply turning on the lamps 120 (e.g., activating and emitting UV light) and turning off the lamps 120 (e.g., not activating and not emitting UV light), one or more of the switching devices 180 can implement variable control of the amount of power supplied to the associated UV lamps 120. For example, at least one switching device 180 can be controlled to supply full power and one or more reduced power levels to the associated UV lamps 120, such as a medium power level and a low non-zero power level.

[0037] In this embodiment, the UV light emitted by the UV lamp 120 is controlled to allow occupants (e.g., passengers and crew) to be exposed to the UV light for extended periods without harm. For example, the emitted UV light may have a specified wavelength or a narrow band of wavelengths that have been experimentally determined to be harmless to human tissue through prolonged exposure. Therefore, even if the UV lamp 120 continuously emits UV light throughout the flight, passengers will not be harmed. The UV lamp 120 is configured or constructed to produce only the specified wavelength or narrow band. Alternatively, filters that absorb or dissipate wavelengths outside the specified wavelength or narrow band may be used so that the emitted UV light in the irradiated field consists only of the specified wavelength or narrow band.

[0038] In a non-limiting example, the specified wavelength is 222 nm. It has been found that disinfecting UV light with a wavelength of 222 nm kills pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria) rather than inactivates them. In contrast, UVC light with a wavelength of 254 nm inactivates pathogens by interfering with their DNA, resulting in temporary inactivation but potentially not killing them. Instead, pathogens can be reactivated by exposure to ordinary white light at a reactivation rate of approximately 10% per hour. Therefore, UVC light with a wavelength of 254 nm may be ineffective in irradiated areas (such as the interior cabins of vehicles). Furthermore, 254 nm UVC light is not recommended for human exposure as it may be able to penetrate human cells. In contrast, disinfecting UV light with a wavelength of 222 nm is safe for human exposure and kills pathogens. Moreover, disinfecting UV light with a wavelength of 222 nm can be emitted at full power within one millisecond or less of the activation time of the UV lamp 120 (compared to UVC light with a wavelength of 254 nm, which may require several seconds or even minutes to reach full power).

[0039] Input device 174 may represent or include a selector knob, workstation computer, tablet computer, handheld computer (e.g., smartphone), keyboard, touchpad, joystick, etc., to enable a pilot or another operator to control the disinfection system 100. For example, an operator may input user input via input device 174 for turning the UV lamps 120 on and off and for selecting the power settings of one or more of the UV lamps 120. Output device 176 may be an integrated display on the aircraft and / or a display screen on a personal computer, tablet computer, or handheld computer (e.g., smartphone). Control unit 170 may generate control signals for controlling output device 176 to display notifications indicating the operating status of the disinfection system 100. Operating status may include whether the disinfection system 100 is on or off and the power setting or level of the UV lamps 120. Operating status indicates the state of different subgroups that can be operated at different power settings. For example, operating status may show that the UV lamps 120 in the lavatory are off, while the UV lamps 120 in the PSU above the passenger seat are on.

[0040] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a disinfection system 100 within the interior compartment 122 of a vehicle according to an embodiment. The interior compartment 122 has multiple public areas 126. Figure 4 A first public area 124 (“CA1”), a second public area 125 (“CA2”), and at least a third public area 126 (“CAn”) are shown, indicating that more than three public areas 124-126 may exist. Each of the public areas 124-126 may represent a lavatory, an area immediately adjacent to the exterior of a lavatory, a galley, a passageway, a crew quarters, a partition assembly between two different areas of interior compartment 122, or an area adjacent to the vehicle's entrance. Reference Figure 2A Public areas 124-126 may include lavatories 45, areas adjacent to lavatories 45, corridors 50 and 52, a galley 38, an exit path or doorway area 60 adjacent to the aircraft entrance, partition components 48 between areas, doors 62, etc. (See reference) Figure 2B Public areas 124-126 can be doors 92, doorway areas 90, corridors 84, washrooms 87, etc.

[0041] The disinfection system 100 includes a first subset 128 of one or more UV lamps 120 in a first public area 124, a second subset 130 of one or more UV lamps 120 in a second public area 125, and a third subset 132 of one or more UV lamps 120 in a third public area 126. Each of the subsets 128, 130, and 132 of UV lamps 120 emits UV light into the corresponding public area 124-126 to disinfect and sterilize the air and surfaces within that public area 124-126.

[0042] UV lamp 120 in subsets 128, 130, and 132 is electrically connected to common bus 134 and power supply 172. Figure 3 The UV lamp 120 (shown) is powered via a common bus 134. In the illustrated embodiment, switching devices 180 (e.g., 180A, 180B, 180C) are positioned between bus 134 and each of the different subsets 128, 130, 132 of the UV lamp 120. Control unit 170 ( Figure 3As shown, the operation of UV lamps 120 in different common areas 124-126 can be independently controlled via switching devices 180A, 180B, and 180C. For example, control unit 170 can turn off UV lamps 120 in the first common area 124 by generating a control signal to switching device 180A, which disconnects or blocks the conductive path from bus 134 to the first subset 128 of UV lamps 120. Control unit 170 can also use switching devices 180A, 180B, and 180C to change the power levels supplied to different subsets 128, 130, and 132 of UV lamps 120 at a given time, such that during a common time period, the first subset 128 can receive a higher power level, and the second subset 130 can receive a lower, reduced power level. Modifying the power level supplied to UV lamps 120 changes the intensity and / or range of UV light emitted from UV lamps 120, which affects the dose of UV radiation emitted per unit time. Dosage indicates the amount or percentage of pathogens that can be killed or neutralized by UV light.

[0043] The disinfection system 100 includes at least one sensor 178 associated with each of the public areas 124-126. The sensor 178 monitors the public areas 124-126, and signals generated by the sensor 178 are used to determine the occupancy of the public areas 124-126, such as whether anyone is present in each of the public areas 124-126 at any given time. The sensor 178 may be a pressure sensor, a distance sensor, a motion sensor, etc. For example, a pressure sensor may be installed under the floor in the public areas 124-126 to detect people walking in the public areas 124-126. In another example, a motion sensor may be installed on the door of a public area 124-126 (such as a restroom) to indicate when the door is opened and closed. Other motion sensors can detect movement of people in the public areas by tracking different positions of people over time. One or more motion sensors may be optical sensors that detect movement when a beam of light is interrupted (which may occur when a person enters and leaves a room). Distance sensors may utilize infrared and / or microwaves to determine when a person is within a specified proximity range of the sensor. Sensor 178 can periodically or irregularly generate signals transmitted to control unit 170 at regular intervals in response to detected monitoring changes (such as interruption of the light beam). The sensor signals can identify the source of the signals, such as the individual sensor that generated each signal.

[0044] Control unit 170 receives signals from sensor 178 and analyzes the signals to determine the occupancy of each of the public areas 124-126. For example, if a person is within a specified proximity of distance sensor 178 in the first public area 124, control unit 170 determines that the first public area 124 is occupied based on the sensor signal from distance sensor 178. Once no one is within the specified proximity, control unit 170 analyzes the signal generated by proximity sensor 178 to determine that public area 124 is unoccupied.

[0045] Figure 5 The illustration shows an interior perspective view of a lavatory 200 within an interior compartment of a vehicle (such as any interior compartment described herein). For example, the lavatory 200 could be... Figure 2A The washroom 45 shown is Figure 2B Any of the lavatories 87 shown. Lavatories 200 are examples of enclosed public areas within interior cabins available for use by passengers on the transport vehicle. Lavatories 200 may represent Figure 4 One of the public areas 124-126 is shown. The washroom 200 includes a floor 202, a toilet 204, a mirror 206, a sink 208, walls 210, a ceiling 212, and a door (not shown) for privacy. A UV lamp 120 of the disinfection system 100 is located within the washroom 200. The UV lamp 120 is configured to emit UV light into the washroom 200 to disinfect the air and surfaces. The UV light is transmitted in an illumination field 214, which refers to a three-dimensional volume within the space defined by the propagation of UV light waves (e.g., rays) emitted by the UV lamp 120. The width of the illumination field may depend on the mechanical characteristics of the UV lamp 120, such as reflectors, collimators, lenses, etc., and may optionally be configured to provide a predetermined width. Although Figure 5 Although not shown, one or more of the sensors 178 of the disinfection system 100 may be located within the washroom 200, for example, mounted to the wall 210, below the floor 202, on the ceiling 212, or on the door.

[0046] Figure 6 The illustration shows a perspective view of area 220 immediately outside the lavatory within an interior compartment of a vehicle (such as any interior compartment described herein). Area 220 is an example of a public area within an interior compartment available for use by passengers on the vehicle. Area 220 may represent... Figure 4One of the public areas 124-126 is shown. Area 220 includes a first wall 222 and a second wall 224, the second wall 224 extending from the first wall 222 at a lateral angle (such as orthogonal). A lavatory door 226 is mounted along the first wall 222. The second wall 224 extends along an aisle 228 leading to passenger seats (not shown). Optionally, area 220 may also represent an area adjacent to the entrance to the vehicle. For example, a vehicle door 230 is located on a fuselage wall 231 adjacent to the first wall 222. The first wall 222 may be between the vehicle door 230 and the second wall 224. Passengers may occupy and pass through area 220 when boarding the vehicle through the vehicle door 230, when entering the lavatory, when waiting to enter the lavatory, when leaving the lavatory, and / or when boarding the vehicle.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, two UV lamps 120 of the disinfection system 100 are located within region 220 and positioned to emit UV light into region 220. One of the UV lamps 120 is mounted along the ceiling 232 of region 220, and the other UV lamp 120 is mounted on the body wall 231 or the first wall 222. The illumination fields 214 of the two UV lamps 120 may partially overlap within region 220. Although not shown, one or more sensors 178 of the disinfection system 100 are provided within region 220, for example, mounted to the first wall 222, body wall 231, ceiling 232, etc., to monitor occupancy within region 220.

[0048] Figure 7 The illustration shows a perspective view of a galley 240 within an interior compartment of a vehicle (such as any interior compartment described herein). Galley 240 is an example of a public area within an interior compartment that is available for use by passengers on the vehicle. Galley 240 can represent... Figure 4 One of the public areas 124-126 shown. The galley 240 includes various cabinets 242 and appliances such as a coffee machine 244. The galley 240 also includes a galley trolley 246. The galley 240 may be occupied by crew members while preparing food and beverages for passengers, disposing of garbage, etc. Some crew members may be seated in the galley during takeoff and landing phases. Passengers walk through or pass through the galley during boarding and disembarkation.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, two UV lamps 120 of the disinfection system 100 are located within the kitchen 240 and positioned to emit UV light into the kitchen 240. The two UV lamps 120 are mounted along the ceiling 248 of the kitchen 240. The UV lamps 120 may be spaced apart such that the illumination fields 214 of the two UV lamps 120 partially overlap to provide substantial coverage of the kitchen 240. Although not shown, one or more of the sensors 178 of the disinfection system 100 are disposed within the kitchen 240, for example, mounted to the ceiling 248, along the floor of the kitchen 240, mounted to cabinets 242, etc., to monitor occupancy within the kitchen 240.

[0050] Figure 8 The illustration shows a side view of the passenger seating area 260 of an interior compartment, illustrating a set of 262 passenger seats 264 on one side of an aisle 266. The interior compartment is located within the vehicle and can be any interior compartment described herein. The aisle 266 in the passenger seating area 260 is an example of a public area available for use by passengers and crew on the vehicle. The aisle 266 can represent... Figure 4 One of the public areas 124-126 is shown. Passenger seating area 260 also includes storage compartments 268 for storing carry-on passenger luggage. Storage compartments 268 may be located above seats 264. Ceiling 270 is located above aisle 266. Passengers may occupy aisle 266 when walking to and away from their seats 264 (e.g., during boarding and disembarking and when proceeding to the lavatory).

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, three UV lamps 120 of the disinfection system 100 are located within the area of ​​corridor 266. For example, the UV lamps 120 are mounted to the ceiling 270 above corridor 266 and positioned to emit UV light toward corridor 266. The UV lamps 120 may be spaced apart along the length of corridor 266 at a specified interval, such that the illumination fields 214 of adjacent UV lamps 120 can partially overlap above corridor 266 to provide substantial disinfection coverage of the corridor area. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of sensors 178 of the disinfection system 100 are disposed within the corridor area and spaced apart along the length of corridor 266. For example, the sensors 178 may be mounted on or below the floor 272 of corridor 266 to monitor occupancy of corridor 266. The sensors 178 may be pressure sensors mounted below the floor 272 to detect occupants walking on the floor 272 based on the force of footsteps on the floor 272.

[0052] In one embodiment, sensor 178 can be aligned with different corresponding UV lamps 120 along the length of aisle 266, enabling the tracking of a person walking along aisle 266 based on the sequence of footsteps detected by sensor 178. Control unit 170 ( Figure 3(As shown) Optionally, the power supplied to different UV lamps 120 along aisle 266 can be varied at a given time based on the tracking movement of a person along aisle 266. As described in more detail below, control unit 170 can effectively divide aisle 266 into different sections 274 along its length. Once a person has passed through the first section 274A, control unit 170 can increase the power supplied to the UV lamps 120 in the first section 274 to increase the intensity and / or range of the UV light emitted by the UV lamps 120 to quickly disinfect the area just occupied by the person walking along aisle 266. Control unit 170 then increases the power supplied to adjacent UV lamps 120 in the direction of the person's movement after the person has passed through adjacent sections 274. After a specified amount of time, control unit 170 reduces the power supplied to the UV lamps 120 to conserve energy. Thus, sensor 178 enables control unit 170 to sequentially operate UV lamps 120 to track the movement of a person along aisle 266, thereby killing or neutralizing pathogens emitted by the person as they walk along aisle 266. The control unit 170 can also use the movement of the tracked person while the person is still in the segment 274 to initiate rapid (high-power level) disinfection, which can kill pathogens before they can be breathed or encountered by the person.

[0053] Figure 9 The illustration shows a side view of one of the UV lamps 120 in a disinfection system 100 according to an embodiment. The UV lamp 120 includes a housing 150, a bulb 152, a cover plate 154 or lens, and a reflector 156. The bulb 152 and the reflector 156 are held within a cavity 158 defined by the housing 150 and the cover plate 154. The bulb 152 emits UV light that penetrates through the transparent or at least translucent cover plate 154 and enters an illumination field 214. The bulb 152 may be an excimer bulb. The reflector 156 is reflective and arranged such that the bulb 152 is located between the reflector 156 and the cover plate 154. The reflector 156 is shaped and positioned to reflect light incident on its surface toward the cover plate 154. The reflector 156 may be at least partially bent around the bulb 152. The walls of housing 150 may be opaque and optionally reflective to prevent light from passing through the walls, thereby ensuring that the illumination field 214 is defined by light transmitted through cover 154. UV lamp 120 may include additional components such as convex or concave lenses, hardware for mounting bulb 152 to housing 150, and circuitry for supplying power to bulb 152.

[0054] In this embodiment, the illumination field 214 is static and uniform during operation of the UV lamp 120. For example, the reflector 156 may be mounted in a fixed position within the housing 150. In an alternative embodiment, the reflector 156 may be able to rotate or swivel to change the size of the illumination field 214.

[0055] Figure 10 The illustration shows a side view of one of the UV lamps 120 in a disinfection system 100 according to another embodiment. A reflector 156 is coupled to an actuator controlled to rotate and / or translate the reflector 156 to change the angle of the reflector 156 relative to the bulb 152 and the cover plate 154. In the illustrated position, the reflector 156 is deflected to the right, and the illumination field 214 (shown in solid lines) is deflected to the left. As the reflector 156 gradually moves to the left-deflected position, the illumination field 214 (not shown) shifts to the right. Thus, after multiple cycles, UV light is transmitted to a position greater than... Figure 9 The static lamp 120 shown has a wider illumination coverage area 160. Illumination coverage area 160 represents the outermost edge of the illumination field 214 through the entire loop of the moving reflector 156, such that the dashed line represents the edge when the reflector 156 is deflected to the left. In another embodiment, a wider illumination coverage area 160 can be provided by rotating or turning the entire housing 150 or the lens within the housing instead of moving the reflector 156.

[0056] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of method 300 for disinfecting and sterilizing the air and surfaces inside the interior cabins of a vehicle. Method 300 is particularly suitable for disinfecting public areas that may be traversed by multiple passengers and / or crew members. Method 300 can be found in the above reference. Figure 1-10 The disinfection system 100 described is executed. Certain steps of method 300 can be performed by... Figure 3 The control unit 170 shown executes based on programmed logic or instructions. Method 300 may optionally include additional steps besides those described, fewer steps than described, and / or steps different from those described.

[0057] At 302, power is supplied to UV lamps 120 located at various positions within the interior compartment 122 of the vehicle. Power may be supplied by an onboard power source 172, such as a generator. At 304, the UV lamps 120 are controlled to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or narrow wavelength range safe for human tissue into the interior compartment 122 during vehicle operation. The specified wavelength may be 222 nm. At 306, occupancy monitoring is performed on the public area 126 of the interior compartment 122. The public area 126 may be a lavatory, an area immediately adjacent to the lavatory, a galley, a passageway, a crew quarters, a partition area between two different areas of the interior compartment, or an area adjacent to the vehicle's entrance. Occupancy may be monitored using one or more sensors 178 installed to detect the presence of a person in the public area 126.

[0058] At point 308, it is determined whether the occupant of public area 126 has left public area 126. For example, signals from sensor 178 can be analyzed to determine when the occupied public area 126 is no longer occupied, at least temporarily. This may happen, for example, when a person in the restroom leaves through the door. If it is determined that the occupant has left public area 126, the process proceeds to point 310. At point 310, the power supply to one or more UV lamps 120 in public area 126 is increased, causing one or more UV lamps 120 in public area 126 to operate at a high power level for a specified period of time. High power level is a relative term, but refers to the power level at which the UV lamps 120 emit UV light of intensity and / or range to provide rapid disinfection of public area 126. High power level may represent 80%, 90%, 95%, 100%, etc., of the rated power of the UV lamps 120. When an occupant is within public area 126, UV lamps 120 may operate at a lower power level unless the occupant enters public area 126 within a specified time period following the departure of a previous occupant, as described below. The specified time period is application-specific and generally refers to the minimum amount of time required to deliver a desired dose of UV radiation to public area 126 to rapidly kill or neutralize pathogens in the air and on surfaces. The specified time period may be based on the size of public area 126, the number of UV lamps 120 in public area 126, and the power output of the UV lamps 120 at high power levels. In a non-limiting example, the specified time period may be 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, or 1 minute. Alternatively, if the occupant has not yet left public area 126, method 300 returns to 306 to continue monitoring public area 126.

[0059] At 312, upon the expiration of the designated time period, if the UV lamps 120 in public area 126 are operating at a high power level, another determination is made as to whether public area 126 is occupied. If public area 126 is occupied by another person upon the expiration of the time period, the process proceeds to 314. At 315, the power supplied to one or more UV lamps 120 in public area 126 is modified to operate the UV lamps 120 at a first reduced power level below the high power level. The first reduced power level can be classified as a medium power level or a low power level. The UV lamps 120 continue to emit UV light, but the UV light has a lower intensity and / or range than the UV light emitted during the designated time period. Therefore, the UV lamps 120 can continue to disinfect public area 126 even if it is occupied by another person.

[0060] On the other hand, if the public area 126 is not occupied when the time period expires, method 300 proceeds to 316. At 316, the power supplied to one or more UV lamps 120 in the public area 126 is modified to disable the UV lamps 120 in the public area 126 or to operate the UV lamps 120 at a second reduced power level. For example, the UV lamps 120 can be turned off to stop emitting UV light into the public area 126 until another occupant of the public area 126 leaves. Alternatively, the UV lamps 120 can remain on and emit UV light at a second reduced power level, which can be lower than both the high power level and the first reduced power level. For example, the second reduced power level can be a low power level, also known as a maintenance level (and the first reduced power level can be a medium power level). After step 314 or 316, method 300 returns to 306 to continue monitoring the public area 126 for occupancy. Regulating the power supplied to the UV lamps 120 (e.g., consumed by them) in the common area 126 of the interior compartment 122 to provide short bursts of high-intensity UV light based on occupancy can be used to kill pathogens in an energy-efficient manner.

[0061] In an alternative embodiment of method 300, when the specified time period after step 310 expires, method 300 essentially jumps directly to step 316. For example, regardless of whether the public area 126 is occupied, after the specified time period ends, the UV lamps 120 in the public area 120 are deactivated or operated at a reduced (e.g., low) power level, and the process returns to 306. The UV lamps 120 remain off or at a reduced power level until it is determined at 308 that a subsequent occupant has left the public area 126, causing the method to return to 310.

[0062] In addition, this disclosure includes examples pursuant to the following terms:

[0063] Clause 1. A disinfection system (100), comprising:

[0064] A plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of a vehicle, wherein the UV lamps (120) are configured to receive power from a power source (172) on the vehicle and to emit UV light into the interior compartment during vehicle operation; and

[0065] A control unit (170) including one or more processors (182) and operatively connected to the UV lamps (120) is configured to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps (120) located in the public area of ​​the interior compartment based on the occupancy of the public area.

[0066] Clause 2. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 1, wherein, in response to detecting that an occupant of the public area has left the public area, the control unit (170) is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area at a high power level for a specified time period to provide rapid disinfection of the public area.

[0067] Clause 3. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 2, wherein, in response to detecting that the public area is occupied at the end of the specified time period, the control unit (170) is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area at a reduced power level below the high power level.

[0068] Clause 4. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 3, wherein the reduced power level is a medium power level that is lower than the high power level and higher than the low non-zero power level.

[0069] Clause 5. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 2, 3 or 4, wherein, in response to the detection that the public area is unoccupied at the end of the specified time period, the control unit (170) is configured to: (i) turn off the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area to stop emitting UV light, or (ii) operate the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area at a reduced power level below the high power level.

[0070] Clause 6. The disinfection system (100) as described in Clause 5, wherein the reduced power level is a low non-zero power level.

[0071] Clause 7. The disinfection system (100) according to any one of Clauses 1-6, wherein the public area is one of the following: a lavatory, an area immediately outside the lavatory, a kitchen, a passageway, a crew quarters, a partition assembly between two different areas of the interior compartment, or an area adjacent to the entrance to the vehicle.

[0072] Clause 8. The disinfection system (100) according to any one of Clauses 1-7 further includes one or more sensors (178) installed in the interior compartment and operatively connected to the control unit (170), the one or more sensors (178) being configured to monitor the public area, and the control unit (170) being configured to determine the occupancy of the public area based on signals received from the one or more sensors (178).

[0073] Clause 9. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 8, wherein the one or more sensors (178) include at least one of a pressure sensor, a distance sensor or a motion sensor.

[0074] Clause 10. The disinfection system (100) according to any one of Clauses 1-9, wherein the one or more sensors (178) comprises a plurality of sensors (178), and at least a subset of the sensors (178) is a pressure sensor (178) disposed below the floor of the interior compartment to monitor occupants walking on the floor.

[0075] Clause 11. The disinfection system (100) according to any one of Clauses 1-10, wherein the UV lamp (120) is configured to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or a narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue.

[0076] Clause 12. The disinfection system (100) according to Clause 11, wherein the specified wavelength is 222 nm.

[0077] Clause 13. The disinfection system (100) according to any one of Clauses 1-12, wherein the means of transport is an airplane.

[0078] Clause 14. A method comprising:

[0079] Power is supplied from a power source (172) on the vehicle to a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, so that the UV lamps (120) emit UV light into the interior compartment during the operation of the vehicle; and

[0080] Based on the occupancy of the public area, modify the power supplied to one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area of ​​the internal compartment.

[0081] Clause 15. The method described in Clause 14 further includes monitoring the occupancy of the public area via one or more sensors (178), and

[0082] In response to the detection that an occupant of the public area has left the public area, the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area includes operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a high power level for a specified period of time to provide rapid disinfection of the public area.

[0083] Clause 16. The method according to Clause 15, wherein, in response to the detection that the public area is occupied at the end of the specified time period, the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area comprises operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a first reduced power level below the high power level.

[0084] Clause 17. The method according to Clause 16, wherein, in response to the detection that the public area is unoccupied at the end of the specified time period, the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area includes one of: (i) turning off the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area to stop emitting UV light, or (ii) operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a second reduced power level lower than the first reduced power level.

[0085] Clause 18. The method according to any one of Clauses 14-17 further includes controlling the UV lamp (120) to emit UV light at a specified wavelength or a narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue under prolonged exposure.

[0086] Clause 19. The method according to any one of Clauses 14-18, wherein the public area is one of a lavatory, an area immediately outside the lavatory, a galley, a passageway, a crew quarters, a partition area between two different areas of the interior compartment, or an area adjacent to the entrance of the vehicle.

[0087] Clause 20. A disinfection system (100), comprising:

[0088] Multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, wherein the UV lamps (120) are configured to receive power from a power source (172) on the vehicle and to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue into the interior compartment during the operation of the vehicle.

[0089] One or more sensors (178) are installed inside the interior compartment and configured to monitor the common areas of the interior compartment; and

[0090] A control unit (170) includes one or more processors (182) and is operatively connected to the UV lamps (120) and the one or more sensors (178). The control unit (170) is configured to determine the occupancy of the common area based on signals received from the one or more sensors (178) and to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps (120) located in the common area based on the determined occupancy of the common area.

[0091] As described herein, embodiments of this disclosure provide systems and methods for disinfecting and sterilizing surfaces, air, and people in the interior cabins of vehicles (particularly in high-traffic public areas) without harming those exposed to UV light. Additionally, embodiments of this disclosure provide built-in, easy-to-use, and safe systems and methods for disinfecting air and surfaces in the interior cabins of vehicles using UV light and for adjusting the power consumption of the UV light to save energy.

[0092] While various spatial and directional terms (such as top, bottom, lower, middle, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front, etc.) may be used to describe embodiments of this disclosure, it should be understood that such terms are used only with respect to the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings. The orientation may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed such that the upper part is the lower part, and vice versa, the horizontal becomes the vertical, etc.

[0093] As used herein, structures, constraints, or elements “configured to” perform tasks or operations are specifically formed, constructed, or adapted structurally in a manner corresponding to any or any operation. For clarity and to avoid ambiguity, objects that can only be changed to perform tasks or operations are not “configured to” perform tasks or operations as used herein.

[0094] As used herein, value modifiers such as “about,” “basically,” and “approximately” inserted before a numerical value indicate that the value may represent other values ​​within a specified threshold range that are higher and / or lower than the specified value, such as values ​​within 5%, 10%, or 15% of the specified value.

[0095] It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. For example, the embodiments (and / or aspects thereof) described above may be used in combination with each other. Furthermore, many modifications may be made without departing from its scope to adapt a particular situation or material to the doctrine of the various embodiments of this disclosure. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define parameters of the various embodiments of this disclosure, the embodiments are by no means limiting but exemplary. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the scope of equivalents conferred by such claims. In the appended claims, the terms “comprising” and “therein” are used as common English equivalents of “including” and “wherein”, respectively. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used only for classification and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the appended claims and detailed descriptions herein are not written in a method plus function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on paragraph 112(f) of 35 U.S.S.C., unless and until such claims are limited to the use of the phrase “means for…” after the function of stating further structures is invalidated.

[0096] This written description discloses various embodiments of this disclosure, including optimal modes, using examples, and also enables those skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments of this disclosure, including making and using any device or system and performing any of the included methods. The patent scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that will occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the claims if the examples have structural elements that are not different from the literal language of the claims, or if the examples include equivalent structural elements that are not significantly different from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A disinfection system (100), comprising: Multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, wherein the UV lamps (120) are configured to receive power from a power source (172) on the vehicle and to emit UV light into the interior compartment during vehicle operation. as well as A control unit (170) including one or more processors (182) and operatively connected to the UV lamps (120) is configured to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) of the interior compartment based on the occupancy of the public area (126). In response to the detection that an occupant of the public area (126) has left the public area (126), the control unit (170) is configured to operate one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) at a high power level for a specified time period to provide rapid disinfection of the public area (126); and The control unit (170) is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps (120) at a lower power level when the occupant is in the public area (126), unless the occupant enters the public area (126) within a specified period of time after a previous occupant has left the public area (126).

2. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, In response to detecting that the common area (126) is occupied when the specified time period expires, the control unit (170) is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the common area (126) at a first reduced power level below the high power level.

3. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first reduced power level is a medium power level that is lower than the high power level and higher than the low non-zero power level.

4. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In response to detecting that the public area (126) is not occupied when the specified time period expires, the control unit (170) is configured to: (i) turn off the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) to stop emitting UV light, or (ii) operate the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) at a second reduced power level below the high power level.

5. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the second reduced power level is a low non-zero power level.

6. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the public area (126) is one of a lavatory, an area adjacent to the outside of the lavatory, a kitchen, a passageway, a crew cabin, a partition assembly between two different areas of the interior cabin, or an area adjacent to the entrance of the vehicle.

7. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors (178) installed in the interior compartment and operatively connected to the control unit (170), the one or more sensors (178) being configured to monitor the public area (126), the control unit (170) being configured to determine the occupancy of the public area (126) based on signals received from the one or more sensors (178).

8. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors (178) include at least one of a pressure sensor, a distance sensor or a motion sensor.

9. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (178) comprises a plurality of sensors (178), and at least a subset of the sensors (178) is a pressure sensor (178) disposed under the floor of the interior compartment to monitor occupants walking on the floor.

10. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the UV lamp (120) is configured to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or a narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue.

11. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the specified wavelength is 222nm.

12. The disinfection system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the means of transportation is an airplane.

13. A method comprising: Power is supplied from a power source (172) on the vehicle to a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, so that the UV lamps (120) emit UV light into the interior compartment while the vehicle is in motion; as well as The occupancy of the public area (126) is monitored by one or more sensors (178); Based on the occupancy of the public area (126), modify the power supplied to one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area (126) located in the internal compartment; in In response to the detection that an occupant of the public area (126) has left the public area (126), the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area (126) includes operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a high power level for a specified period of time to provide rapid disinfection of the public area (126); The UV lamp (120) is operated at a lower power level when the occupant is in the public area (126), unless the occupant enters the public area (126) within a specified period of time after the previous occupant has left the public area (126).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, In response to the detection that the public area is occupied at the end of the specified time period, the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area includes operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a first reduced power level below the high power level.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, In response to the detection that the public area is unoccupied at the end of the specified time period, the modification of the power supplied to the one or more UV lamps (120) in the public area (126) includes one of the following: (i) turning off the one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) to stop emitting UV light, or (ii) operating the one or more UV lamps (120) at a second reduced power level lower than the first reduced power level.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the UV lamp (120) to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue during prolonged exposure.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The public area (126) is one of the following: a lavatory, an area adjacent to the outside of the lavatory, a kitchen, a passageway, a crew quarters, a partition area between two different areas of the interior compartment, or an area adjacent to the entrance of the vehicle.

18. A disinfection system (100), comprising: Multiple ultraviolet (UV) lamps (120) are installed at various locations within the interior compartment of the vehicle, wherein the UV lamps (120) are configured to receive power from a power source (172) on the vehicle and to emit UV light of a specified wavelength or narrow wavelength range that is safe for human tissue into the interior compartment during the operation of the vehicle. One or more sensors (178) are installed inside the interior compartment and configured to monitor the common areas (126) of the interior compartment; as well as A control unit (170) includes one or more processors (182) and is operatively connected to the UV lamps (120) and the one or more sensors (178). The control unit (170) is configured to determine the occupancy of the common area (126) based on signals received from the one or more sensors (178), and to modify the power supplied to one or more of the UV lamps (120) located in the common area (126) based on the determined occupancy of the common area (126). In response to the detection that an occupant of the public area (126) has left the public area (126), the control unit (170) is configured to operate one or more UV lamps (120) located in the public area (126) at a high power level for a specified time period to provide rapid disinfection of the public area (126); and The control unit (170) is configured to operate the one or more UV lamps (120) at a lower power level when the occupant is in the public area (126), unless the occupant enters the public area (126) within a specified period of time after a previous occupant has left the public area (126).

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