UV lamp output adjustment

Abstract

One embodiment provides a method for controlling the output of a lamp in a lamp array, the method comprising: receiving sensor data corresponding to a lamp in a plurality of lamps in the array, wherein the sensor data comprises irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and from outside the lamp sleeve; determining a change in output of the lamp in the plurality of lamps based on the sensor data; sharing the sensor data with other lamps in the plurality of lamps in the array; and in response to the sharing, adjusting the output of at least one lamp in the other lamps in the plurality of lamps in the array to compensate for the change in output of the lamp in the plurality of lamps. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates generally to water treatment and, more particularly, to ultraviolet light treatment of aqueous fluids. Background Art

[0002] Proper disinfection of water is essential to ensure water quality. As the demand for cleaner water sources grows, water disinfection methods have been developed to meet the increasing challenges. Water sources may contain heavy metals, sediments, chemicals, pesticides, etc. Water sources may also contain pathogens, such as microorganisms, viruses, etc. In the untreated case, such water may be unhealthy or unsafe for human or animal use. Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment of water can be used to inactivate pathogens. Water can pass through a small chamber or a larger container, where the water is subjected to UV light. UV treatment can destroy the nucleic acid of the pathogen. The destruction of genetic material can make the pathogen unable to perform vital cellular functions, thereby rendering them harmless. Therefore, although the water source contains microorganisms, viruses, etc., this UV process can make the water drinkable.

[0003] UV treatment can be used in residential facilities, commercial facilities, industrial facilities, agricultural facilities, medical facilities, food processing facilities, etc. UV treatment can be used for water reuse, soil decontamination and wastewater treatment applications. UV can also be used to treat pollutants in water, such as trace amounts of pesticides, solvents or other organic molecules. In this case, UV wavelengths are used to directly affect the chemical bonds of pollutants (a process known as photolysis), or to generate free radical species by acting on the water itself, or by converting added chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide or ozone into free radical species, such as OH radicals, which react with pollutants to convert them into more desirable or less harmful compounds. Summary of the invention

[0004] In summary, one embodiment provides a method for controlling the output of lamps in a lamp array, the method comprising: receiving sensor data corresponding to one lamp among a plurality of lamps in the array, wherein the sensor data comprises irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and irradiance values ​​from outside the lamp sleeve; determining an output change of the one lamp among the plurality of lamps based on the sensor data; sharing the sensor data with other lamps among the plurality of lamps in the array; and in response to the sharing, adjusting the output of at least one lamp among the other lamps in the array to compensate for the output change of the one lamp among the plurality of lamps.

[0005] Another embodiment provides an ultraviolet lamp system for controlling the output of lamps within a lamp array, the ultraviolet lamp system comprising: at least one sensor; at least one ultraviolet radiation source operably connected to the at least one sensor; a processor operably connected to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source; and a memory device storing data and instructions executable by the processor for: receiving sensor data corresponding to one of a plurality of lamps within the array, wherein the sensor data comprises irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and from outside the lamp sleeve; determining an output change of the one of the plurality of lamps based on the sensor data; sharing the sensor data with other lamps within the plurality of lamps within the array; and in response to the sharing, adjusting the output of at least one of the plurality of lamps within the array to compensate for the output change of the one of the plurality of lamps.

[0006] Another embodiment provides a product for controlling the output of lamps within a lamp array, the product comprising: a storage device having code stored therein, the code being executable by the processor and comprising: code for receiving sensor data corresponding to one of a plurality of lamps within the array, wherein the sensor data comprises irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and from outside the lamp sleeve; code for determining a change in output of the one of the plurality of lamps based on the sensor data; code for sharing the sensor data with other lamps within the array; and code for adjusting the output of at least one of the plurality of lamps within the array in response to the sharing to compensate for the change in output of the one of the plurality of lamps.

[0007] The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

[0008] For a better understanding of the embodiments, as well as their other and further features and advantages, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.The scope of the invention will be indicated in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 A flow chart showing an exemplary lamp sensor adjustment of a power supply is shown.

[0010] Figure 2 An exemplary lamp with a sensor for regulating power is shown.

[0011] Figure 3 An example of a computer circuit system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] It will be readily understood that, in addition to the exemplary embodiments described, the components of the embodiments generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein may be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations. Therefore, the following more detailed description of the exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, but merely represents exemplary embodiments.

[0013] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" (etc.) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment", etc., at various locations throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0014] In addition, the described features, structures or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, many specific details are provided to give a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments. However, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that various embodiments can be implemented without one or more specific details, or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, well-known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail. The following description is only for illustration, and only some exemplary embodiments are described.

[0015] UV water treatment system is a cost-effective and efficient method for treating water containing biological contaminants. One treatment includes UV disinfection. UV disinfection can protect against water-borne viruses, bacteria, and molds. In addition, UV disinfection can be effective for pathogenic microorganisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Proper control of the UV light delivered to a certain volume of water can be essential for the proper treatment of water. In other words, effective exposure of contaminated water to a UV source can be crucial for the proper disinfection of the water source. Although most of this discussion is directed to UV disinfection, it should be understood that the methods and systems described herein extend to any UV treatment, not just disinfection.

[0016] UV wavelengths can be in the range of 100 to 400 nanometers, which can be provided by various UV light sources, such as UV light emitting diodes (LEDs), arc lamps, mercury vapor lamps, etc. Conventional UV light source arrangements vary depending on the application. For example, residential UV light sources can be used to treat well water or other non-municipal water sources. A residential unit can have a chamber containing a UV light source embedded in a pipe between a water source such as a well and a household pipe. A residential system can have one or more UV lamps that expose water to UV light when the water passes through the UV purification chamber. Compared with larger industrial or commercial UV treatment systems, residential systems can be designed for relatively smaller volumes of water used by households. Larger UV treatment systems can be found in industrial or commercial facilities such as municipal water treatment facilities. Larger systems can handle large volumes of water, and therefore can have multiple UV lamps, for example, arranged in an array. These UV light sources can be arranged in or around a container of water to be treated with UV light. A commercial system can have multiple containers or pipes, through which water passes to be treated with UV.

[0017] For ease of reading, the present disclosure is primarily, but not exclusively, focused on the application of UV treatment of water for drinking water disinfection. However, other embodiments of the systems and methods described herein are feasible and are contemplated. For example, because UV light can be used to disinfect surfaces, the systems and methods can be used in such applications. These surfaces may include areas for preparing sensitive materials where biological or organic residues may contaminate the surfaces, such as bio-hoods, operating rooms, food preparation areas, clean rooms, etc. In addition, the systems and methods can be used for disinfection of pool water, disinfection of gases, contaminated soil (e.g., UV light can be used to purify air), advanced oxidation or environmental contaminant treatment (ECT) applications, ionization of organic molecules, etc. Therefore, the embodiments described herein regarding the disinfection of water are merely illustrative. Other uses are considered and disclosed.

[0018] Conventional UV disinfection systems do have some disadvantages. UV disinfection may rely on the ability of the appropriate amount of UV light to reach a certain volume of water to be treated, which is called the fluence rate. For example, a UV lamp must have an appropriate output of UV light to be effective. If the UV lamp or lamp sleeve wears or begins to fail or malfunction, the water may not be properly treated because the fluence rate is no longer sufficient for disinfection. In other words, the UV lamp or sleeve may deteriorate over time, thereby reducing the fluence rate. In addition, the UV lamp and sleeve may be installed in harsh environments, which may also cause or accelerate the degradation of the UV lamp or sleeve. For example, due to the nature of the application, the UV lamp and sleeve may be placed very close to a certain volume of water, or even placed in a certain volume of water. Operational and environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, vibration, UV radiation, etc. may deteriorate or destroy the UV lamp or sleeve. Degraded UV lamps or sleeves may cause microorganisms to still survive in the treated water.

[0019] In order to solve these UV lamp and sleeve degradation, conventional systems use power supplies that change power output over time, specifically, by increasing power output to increase the power of the UV lamp, the goal is to keep the injection rate consistent. The UV treatment system power level is programmed based on a predetermined curve of the UV lamp output as a function of time. In other words, the UV lamp is studied to determine when the UV lamp generally begins to degrade after, for example, a few hours of working life. These output curves are then used to program the UV system power level that determines the power supply level to solve this degradation. Unfortunately, this technology assumes that the degradation of all UV lamps is consistent, which may not be accurate. Therefore, in order to solve the fact that some UV lamps may degrade faster, the UV treatment system power level is usually programmed to overdrive the UV lamp. In other words, the power supply provides "extra" power, thereby making the UV lamp output greater than the UV lamp output required for effective treatment of water. The overdriving of this UV lamp results in additional electricity costs, makes the UV lamp fail faster, and causes longer downtime for replacing the UV lamp.

[0020] When setting the power level, the variable losses generated in the power transmission from the power supply to the lamp can also be included. Conventional UV treatment systems including UV lamps can have a power distribution from a power supply including one or more connectors and cables to the UV lamp. The power distribution may introduce significant energy losses in the electrical path from the power supply to the UV lamp. Some conventional UV treatment systems have power supplies located at various distances from the UV lamp, resulting in installation distribution power losses to the UV lamp. In conventional UV systems, the power output can have a power level setting that is preset to compensate for the expected worst-case power loss in the distribution to the UV lamp. This conservative but necessary operating mode results in higher, early lamp failures and longer downtimes that waste power costs.

[0021] Conventional power supplies can monitor electrical characteristics at their output and adjust their operation to achieve the desired output power level. Adjustment includes, but is not necessarily limited to, controlling any characteristic of the power supply, such as current, voltage, power, frequency, etc. However, this local power measurement cannot determine the power at the UV lamp. Any losses in the power distribution cables and connectors cannot be easily detected by the power supply, resulting in non-optimal operation of the UV lamp.

[0022] Thus, the systems and methods described herein provide a technique for sensor outputs associated with lamps to adjust characteristics of lamps within an array. In other words, rather than a power supply driving a UV lamp based on a profile curve or predetermined overdrive regarding installed energy distribution losses, a lamp can measure its own output power, e.g., irradiance values ​​and transmittance values ​​within a plurality of lamps, and use this information to provide commands to adjust the output of the lamp itself or other lamps until the appropriate fluence rate required to achieve disinfection is determined, regardless of lamp age, lamp variability, connection losses, transmittance variations, etc. The lamp can be an arc lamp, a UV LED, etc. For ease of reading, the term "lamp" will be used throughout this document. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the ultraviolet radiation source can include any of the aforementioned devices (e.g., arc lamps, UV LEDs, etc.) or any other ultraviolet radiation source.

[0023] In one embodiment, the system and method can determine at least one underperforming UV lamp assembly in the array. The determination can be based on input received from at least one sensor of the UV lamp. The sensor can receive input about the lamp in terms of operating conditions, environment, etc. In one embodiment, the system and method can send a command or control signal from the UV lamp to the processor based on the sensed input change (e.g., decrease, increase, etc.). In one embodiment, the processor can be included in the control module. The control module can include components included on the lamp, components included on the power supply, and / or components independent of either or both of the lamp and the power supply. The command can control one or more characteristics of the power supply, such as adjusting the power output of at least one power supply to compensate for the reduction or increase of the output of the lamp. In addition, the command can control one or more characteristics of adjacent lamps in the array, for example, by adjusting the output of adjacent lamps to compensate for the output change of the lamp.

[0024] The illustrated exemplary embodiments will be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawings.The following description is for illustration only and describes only certain exemplary embodiments.

[0025] The fluence rate produced by the UV lamps and cannulae can be critical to proper disinfection within the system. For example, UV lamps and cannulae that do not function as expected may have low transmittance and therefore may not provide the fluence rate required for proper disinfection of sources such as water sources, gas sources, aqueous samples, etc. Therefore, the system ensures the proper operation of one or more UV lamps to ensure that the source is properly treated. In one embodiment, the UV lamps and cannulae can have expected fluence rate values. The UV lamps can be continuously monitored to ensure that the fluence rate from the UV lamp array remains unchanged, or is maintained at a level that provides proper disinfection.

[0026] UV lamps that produce low fluence rates may cause the system to produce incomplete treatment of fluids. The longer the UV lamp performs poorly, the larger the volume of untreated fluid is. In one embodiment, all UV lamps in the system can continuously monitor their own irradiance values ​​from within the casing and the irradiance values ​​of other lamps from outside the casing to help ensure that the system operates at a level that ensures proper disinfection. In one embodiment, a system containing UV lamps can provide information on the array to all other components present in the array, such as additional UV lamps. When it is determined that the fluence rate provided by the UV lamp is lower than the amount required for proper disinfection, the system can identify that the UV lamp is performing poorly, and the output power of other UV lamps present in the array can be adjusted to address the weak output of the poorly performing UV lamp. The data forwarded from the UV lamp in trouble to all other components in the array can include information about, but not limited to, the irradiance value currently generated by the UV lamp and the position of the UV lamp in the array. In one embodiment, the ability to adjust the output of the component to compensate for the lack of output from a single component (e.g., a poorly performing UV lamp) can allow the system to operate at a level that ensures proper disinfection of the water-containing source. Such a system reduces wasted power, early lamp failures, and downtime while ensuring proper disinfection. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that a lamp having a higher output than required may also be compensated for by adjusting the output of the component to compensate for the higher output.

[0027] Now refer to Figure 1, an embodiment may adjust the output of at least one lamp within the lamp array based on input received from at least one sensor of at least one UV lamp in the array. In one embodiment, sensor data related to the UV lamps in the array may be received. When receiving the sensor data, the sensor data may determine any one or both of the irradiance values ​​before and after the UV lamp sleeve from the UV lamp. The irradiance value provided by the UV lamp at a specific location (e.g., before the lamp sleeve, after the lamp sleeve, etc.) may be determined from the irradiance value provided by the UV lamp. In one embodiment, the sensor data provided to the UV lamp may include information describing, determining, or that may be used to determine the irradiance value associated with the UV lamp. The irradiance value determines the value of the radiation provided by the lamp. In other words, in layman's terms, the irradiance value is an identification of how much light the lamp provides or produces. The irradiance value of the UV lamp in the array may be determined and may be used to determine the output change of a specific UV lamp in the array. In addition, by using the sensor data, the transmittance value from one or more lamps may be determined. In other words, in layman's terms, the transmittance value is the gain of the path of the radiation from the lamp. In one embodiment, the transmittance value and irradiance value of the UV lamp and the sleeve can be used to adjust another UV lamp present in the array of multiple UV lamps. In one embodiment, the transmittance value and irradiance value of the UV lamp can be used by the same UV lamp, for example, as a form of self-monitoring.

[0028] Thus, at 101, in one embodiment, the system may receive sensor data associated with a lamp in a plurality of lamps. The sensor data may include transmittance values, power output, electrical properties (e.g., voltage, current, etc.), environmental properties (e.g., temperature, turbidity of fluid, etc.), or any other properties of the lamp or surrounding environment that may determine a change in the output of the lamp. The lamp may be included in an array of lamps for disinfecting a water source. Each lamp in a UV lamp may be a component. The UV lamp assembly may include one or more light sensors that generate and identify a signal measurement. For example, a UV lamp assembly may include a light sensor that may measure the irradiance value generated by the lamp. The light sensor may have a wavelength different from the wavelength of the treatment lamp. For example, the light sensor may have any wavelength from a visible to an infrared sensor, while the wavelength of the treatment lamp is within the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range. In addition, the light sensor wavelength may be a UV sensor.

[0029] The UV lamp assembly can include more than one light sensor, where each light sensor measures the output of the lamp at a different location (e.g., before the lamp sleeve and after the lamp sleeve). The lamp assembly can also include more than one lamp sensor that measures the output at the same location, for example, two lamp sensors before the lamp sleeve. This redundancy can help ensure that the readings from the sensors are accurate. For example, if the sensor readings do not match, the system can alert the user that one of the sensors may have failed.

[0030] Thus, in one embodiment, the sensor data may determine the UV lamp output before the lamp sleeve and after the lamp sleeve. Obtaining sensor data at two points, namely before and after the lamp sleeve, can help the system determine what problems may be causing the underperforming UV lamp. For example, if the sensor data determines that the UV lamp output before the lamp sleeve is as expected, but the UV lamp output after the lamp sleeve is lower than expected, the system can determine a possible problem with the lamp sleeve. In one embodiment, the sensor data associated with the UV lamp can be continuously monitored by the UV lamp itself and the processor or overall system. Not only can the data collection be used in real time, but this data collection can be stored and used over time to predict future problems with the UV lamp assembly. In other words, the system can use a machine learning algorithm to associate sensor data feature markers with possible failures or impending failures.

[0031] Additionally, in one embodiment, the sensor data provided by the UV lamp can include position data that determines the position of the lamp in the array. Determination of the position of the lamp can help determine neighboring lamps. As discussed in more detail below, neighboring lamps can be adjusted to address underperforming lamps. Thus, determining the position of the lamp within the assembly helps determine which other lamp should be adjusted to address the defect of the underperforming lamp.

[0032] At 102, the system may determine whether there is an output change of the UV lamp in the array. The output change may be an increase or decrease in output. For example, the UV lamp and / or sleeve may deteriorate over time, which may reduce the output of the lamp. Conversely, when the UV lamp and / or sleeve is replaced or cleaned, the output of the lamp may increase. The system may use sensor data to determine possible output changes of the lamps within the array. For example, the system may have a default value for any of the characteristics that can be measured or determined by any of the sensors provided in the system. When the system receives information from the sensor, the system may compare the information with the default value. If the difference between the received information and the default value is above a predetermined threshold, the system may determine it as an output change. As another example, the system may compare sensor information between different sensors in the system. The difference in sensor information between a group of sensors may indicate an output change of one or more lamps. For example, the system may determine that the difference in sensor information between adjacent or neighboring lamps above a predetermined threshold may indicate a power change of one or more lamps. Therefore, lamps that perform poorly or have reduced output may also result in sensor data identification. Similarly, lamps that provide an output greater than the previous output may also result in sensor data identification.

[0033] The reduced output may be attributed to one or more of a variety of problems that may occur within the UV lamp assembly. For example, the reduced output of the lamp may be the result of a problem with the lamp sleeve. The lamp sleeve may become dirty or stained, thereby reducing the output of the lamp. As another example, the reduced output of the lamp may be attributed to degradation of the lamp itself. As another example, the reduced output of the lamp may be caused by loose wiring, removal of connectors, etc. Therefore, the ability to receive multiple sensor outputs, signals, or measurements in different locations can help determine the cause of the output change. For example, if the sensor reading before the lamp sleeve indicates that the UV lamp provides the expected output, but the sensor reading after the lamp sleeve indicates that the UV lamp provides a lower output than expected, the cause may be attributed to a problem with the lamp sleeve. By determining the possible cause of the output change, the amount of downtime required to resolve the problem is reduced.

[0034] In one embodiment, determining possible output changes can be based on irradiance data. The irradiance data can include: a single UV lamp that can include multiple irradiance sensors, a UV lamp array that can also include multiple irradiance sensors, or irradiance data of other sensors that can provide information from which irradiance values ​​can be determined. In addition, an embodiment can use irradiance sensors and irradiance data collected in combination with other sensor data to determine whether there is an output change in the array. For example, the change can be determined by determining the ultraviolet irradiance value of a specific UV lamp and comparing it with the irradiance values ​​of other UV lamps present in the array. Each UV lamp used for comparison can be located at a different distance from the original UV lamp.

[0035] By using lamps at different distances, the system may be able to determine the exact lamp that has the output change, and may also be able to determine the cause of the change. Additionally, by using more than one comparison UV lamp, the system can determine which lamp has the output change. For example, if the target lamp is only compared to one other lamp, and both have different readings, it may be difficult to determine if the lamp with the lower reading has the output change, or if the lamp with the higher reading is malfunctioning. Therefore, if at least two UV lamps have similar readings, it is easier to determine if a lamp is experiencing an output change and which lamp is not operating as expected.

[0036] In one embodiment, when there is no output change, the system can continue to monitor the system for changes at 103 on a regular basis. In the event that there is an output change for a UV lamp, the system can share this information with other components present in the array at 104. For example, if a UV lamp with an output change is present in an array containing five additional UV lamps, data related to the output change of the original UV lamp can be shared with the five other UV lamps in the array. As another example, the output change information can be shared with a central controller or processor. As further discussed herein, different components of the system can utilize this information to compensate for output changes. The system can also share this information to find out where the output change occurs, how much output change occurs, etc. In one embodiment, all lamps in the array can communicate via an arbitration multicast method, which means that any lamp in the array can request data belonging to another lamp.

[0037] After some or all of the components in the array receive data about output changes at the UV lamps, the system can adjust at least one characteristic of the array at 105 to compensate for the output changes. Specifically, when one of the UV lamps experiences an output change, the output of at least one other UV lamp output in the array can be adjusted. Adjusting the output of the other UV lamps can include adjusting the output of UV lamps adjacent to the changing output lamp or the target lamp. The output of these lamps can be increased or decreased based on the changes experienced to maintain the desired fluence rate in the fluid area served by the target lamp and the adjacent lamps. Because the lamps do not have an infinite amount of output that can be changed, the output of multiple adjacent UV lamps can be changed to compensate for the output change of the target lamp. Adjusting the output of the UV lamps can include adjusting the output of non-adjacent UV lamps. For example, the output of the lamp upstream or downstream of the target lamp can be adjusted. Therefore, because the target lamp does not produce an output sufficient to properly disinfect the fluid, or produces an output that exceeds the output required for proper disinfection of the fluid, the upstream or downstream lamps can be adjusted to compensate for the reduction / increase in disinfection of the target lamp.

[0038] In one embodiment, the system can employ a multicast method using arbitration to change single or multiple UV lamp power levels in an array. In addition, the method can be used to sample and report individual sensor readings from adjusted lamps. One embodiment may include an encoded timing reference for the time when the light is sampled and adjusted within the data transmission, or may also include additional synchronous communications on different electrical signal lines between components present in the array. In one embodiment, the lamps can be pre-programmed or arranged using position and lamp spacing data. In one embodiment, the lamps can be pre-programmed using array information via data communications on the same or another physical communication bus.

[0039] In one embodiment, a table of sensor readings can be established over time to describe multiple light paths present in the UV lamp array. UV lamps can use multiple light paths affected by individual UV lamps to control other UV lamp outputs, including turning the lamp on and off, dimming the lamp, etc. In addition, the lamp can control its own output. The lamp and associated sensors can sample light from different directions, paths, and distances through a processing system to determine output changes. In addition, because all lamps obtain the measurement results and position data of all other lamps, the system can determine the lamps with output changes and the possible root causes of the output changes. In one embodiment, a predetermined model of UV light transmission through a given system on each ultraviolet transmission path of an optical path, a processed fluid, a lamp, and a sleeve, together with the irradiance of each lamp from inside and outside the sleeve, can determine output changes and causes.

[0040] Reference Figure 2 , shows an exemplary embodiment of a lamp assembly. Although in this exemplary embodiment, a gas discharge lamp having a filament at each end of the lamp is used, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that an assembly combining a lamp, one or more sensors, and one or more circuit assemblies can be used with any type of UV light source in an application, whether a gas discharge lamp, UV LED, or any other type of UV light source, and such an assembly can be implemented using a single such UV light source, or any type or combination of types of UV light sources in one or more UV light sources in an array or cluster. Figure 2 The exemplary embodiment in includes a UV lamp 201, a lamp holder 203 with feet, and a lamp holder 202. This assembly includes a sensor opening 206 in the lamp holder 203 and a circuit assembly 207 that is covered by the lamp holder 203 with feet when fully assembled.

[0041] The sensor opening 206 can be used to expose the sensor associated with the UV lamp 201 to the UV lamp and the environment around the lamp. In this exemplary embodiment, the circuit assembly 207 is constructed by soldering components on a printed circuit substrate 211 and includes a microcontroller unit 210, a UV sensor 208, a humidity sensor 209, and an accelerometer 212. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any sensor for electrical, optical, or physical conditions of the environment and the UV lamp 201 can be integrated into the assembly.

[0042] In this embodiment, the circuit assembly 207 includes a data plug 213 that is inserted into the footed lamp holder 203 when fully assembled. In this case, the circuit assembly 207 has two terminals 214 into which the filament 204 is pressed when fully assembled. Therefore, in this embodiment, the circuit assembly 207 can electrically sense electrical signals on the filament 204, while using one or both of the filaments 204 along with the data plug 213 to provide power, and communicate commands to any combination of an external control module or external power source that powers the lamp. In this exemplary embodiment, the footed lamp holder 203 has the filament 204 connected to the foot along with a long filament 205. The long filament 205 is connected only to the foot in the footed lamp holder 203. Those skilled in the art will understand that the circuit assembly 207 can have access to the long filament 205.

[0043] It should be clear to those skilled in the art that wired communication and lamp power interfaces such as this embodiment can have one or more external control modules and / or processors connected thereto, along with a power source that powers the lamp. It should also be apparent that the circuit assembly 207 can be powered by one or more external control modules and / or one or more processors, an external power source that powers the lamp, or any combination thereof. As an example, the external control module can power the circuit assembly 207 and be controlled by the circuit assembly 207 to adjust the lamp output. In another example, this embodiment can be connected to an external power source that powers this lamp 201 and can be directly adjusted by commands sent from the circuit assembly 207 via the data plug 213 and one or more of the filaments 204 or 205.

[0044] The commands generated by the lamp and sent from the lamp to the control module, processor and / or power supply can then be used to adjust the power supply of lamp 201 and / or other lamps in the array. In other words, the lamp can provide a command, which is then sent to the processor, control module, or directly to the power supply to adjust the power supply, resulting in a corrective action in response to input received from at least one sensor associated with at least one lamp. For example, the control module can forward the command received from the lamp to the power supply, the control module can process the command, and then send an output to the power supply based on the processed command, etc. For example, a sensor can collect information about the number of hours the lamp has been turned on. The system can have a predetermined threshold of the number of hours of useful life that the lamp can have. If the lamp is nearing the end of its useful life, the lamp can determine that the lamp is approaching the hour limit and send a command to the processor or power supply to turn off the lamp approaching the hour limit, reduce its power, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the system can send a command to the processor or power supply of the lamp whose UV light output is reduced, commanding it to increase the power of the lamp. Hour usage is an illustrative example, and other sensors with other related lamp characteristics are disclosed.

[0045] In one embodiment, adjustment of the power supply can return the lamp to desired functional parameters. The lamp can provide instructions to the power supply so that the lamp can achieve maximum useful life. Adjustment of the power supply can include adjusting power output, adjusting current output, adjusting voltage output, adjusting power cycles or cycle times, output pulse width or duty cycle, or adjusting any other characteristic of the power supply.

[0046] In one embodiment, there can be communication between multiple sensors, lamps, control modules, processors, and power supplies. For example, if at least one sensor associated with a lamp indicates that the lamp is outside the desired characteristics, one or more systems associated with another lamp or multiple lamps can receive commands to compensate for the loss of function of the lamp. In other words, the UV treatment system can be designed to have redundancy using more lamps or multiple systems, which can compensate for the failure or reduced performance of one or more lamps. In this way, input from a sensor of a lamp outside the normal characteristics can result in the adjustment of the power supply to the lamp that is properly functioning. The communication between components can be at the processor, control module, or power supply level.

[0047] The system may be connected to a communications network. The system may generate an alert to a user or network. This alert may occur whether or not power regulation is occurring. The alert may be audible, visual, data, storage of data to a memory device, output sent via a connected system or wireless system, printout, etc. The system may log information such as sensor output values, location, corrective actions, time, date, number of cycles, etc. The alert or log may be automated, meaning the system may automatically output whether correction is required. The system may also have associated alarms, limits, or predetermined thresholds. The alert or log may be analyzed in real time, stored for later use, or any combination thereof.

[0048] Although various other circuits, circuit systems or components may be used in the information processing device, with respect to the apparatus for water treatment according to any one of the embodiments described herein, Figure 3An example is shown in FIG. The device circuit system 300 may include a measurement system based on a chip design foundation, for example, a specific computing platform (e.g., mobile computing, desktop computing, etc.). Software and one or more processors are combined in a single chip 301. It is well known in the art that a processor includes an internal arithmetic unit, registers, cache memory, bus, I / O port, etc. The internal bus, etc. depend on different devices that vary according to the chip manufacturer, but basically all peripheral devices (302) can be connected to a single chip 301. The circuit system 300 combines the processor, memory control, and I / O controller hub into a single chip 301. In addition, this type of system 300 generally does not use SATA or PCI or LPC. For example, common interfaces include SDIO and I2C.

[0049] There are one or more power management chips 303, such as a battery management unit (BMU), which manages power supplied, for example, by a rechargeable battery 304 (which can be recharged by connecting to a power source (not shown)). In at least one design, a single chip such as 301 is used to provide BIOS-like functions and DRAM memory.

[0050] The system 300 generally includes one or more of a WWAN transceiver 305 and a WLAN transceiver 306 for connecting to various networks such as a radio communication network and a wireless Internet device (e.g., an access point). In addition, it generally includes devices 302, such as transmitting and receiving antennas, oscillators, RF amplifiers, PLLs, etc. The system 300 includes input / output devices 307 for data input and display / rendering (e.g., a computing location away from the lamp or lamp array arrangement). The system 300 generally also includes various memory devices, such as flash memory 308 and SDRAM 309.

[0051] As can be understood from the foregoing, the electronic components of one or more systems or devices may include, but are not limited to: at least one processing unit, memory, and a communication bus or communication device connecting each component (including memory) to one or more processors. The system or device may include or access various device-readable media. The system memory may include device-readable storage media in the form of volatile and / or non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory (ROM) and / or random access memory (RAM)). By way of example (but not limitation), the system memory may also include an operating system, application programs, other program modules, and program data.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various aspects may be implemented as systems, methods, or device program products. Thus, various aspects may take the form of a complete hardware implementation or an implementation including software, which may all be collectively referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." Additionally, various aspects may take the form of a device program product that is contained in one or more device-readable media that include device-readable program code.

[0053] It should be noted that the various functions described herein can be implemented using instructions stored on a device-readable storage medium (such as a non-signal storage device), where the instructions are executed by a processor. In the context of this article, a storage device is not a signal, and "non-transient" includes all media except signal media.

[0054] The program code for operation can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code can be executed completely on a single device, partially on a single device, as an independent software package, partially on a single device and partially on another device or completely on other devices. In some cases, the device can be connected by any type of connection or network (including local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)), or the connection can be connected by other devices (for example, by using the Internet of an Internet service provider), by wireless connection (for example, near field communication) or by hard line connection (such as by serial connection, such as USB or RS485 connection).

[0055] Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary methods, devices, and products according to various exemplary embodiments. It is to be understood that actions and functions may be implemented at least in part by program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor of a device or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine so that the instructions executed by the processor of the device implement specified functions / actions.

[0056] It should be noted that the values ​​provided herein should be interpreted to include equivalent values ​​as indicated by the use of the term “about.” Equivalent values ​​will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, but at least include values ​​obtained by ordinary rounding of the last significant digit.

[0057] The present disclosure has been provided for illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Various modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The exemplary embodiments are chosen and described to explain principles and practical applications, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure of multiple embodiments with various modifications that are suitable for the specific use contemplated.

[0058] Thus, although the illustrated exemplary embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be implemented therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the output of lamps in a lamp array, wherein each lamp in the array comprises a control module and at least one sensor providing sensor data, the control module comprising a processor, the method comprising: receiving, at the processor, sensor data corresponding to a lamp among a plurality of lamps in the array, wherein the sensor data comprises an irradiance value from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and outside the lamp sleeve; determining a change in output of the one of the plurality of lamps based on the sensor data; determining a cause of the change in output of the one of the plurality of lamps, wherein the cause is selected from the group consisting of: a problem with a lamp sleeve, a problem with a fluid surrounding the one of the plurality of lamps, and a problem with the one of the plurality of lamps, wherein determining the cause comprises comparing a lamp output before the lamp sleeve to a lamp output after the lamp sleeve; sharing the sensor data with other lights of the plurality of lights in the array via the processor; as well as In response to the shared sensor data, adjusting the output of at least one of the other lamps in the array to compensate for the output variation of the one of the plurality of lamps, Wherein the plurality of lamps within the array communicate via a multicast method using arbitration, wherein the adjusting comprises sending a request to adjust an output to the at least one of the other lamps in the plurality of lamps via the multicast method.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving additional sensor data regarding other lamps in the plurality of lamps within the array, wherein for corresponding lamps in the array, the additional sensor data comprises lamp irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within a lamp sleeve, and outside the lamp sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined cause comprises a problem with the lamp sleeve; and The method also includes providing an output for cleaning or replacing the lamp sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the output change comprises comparing the sensor value to irradiance data received from a dedicated irradiance sensor within the array.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data further comprises position data that determines a position of the one of the plurality of lights within the array.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the change includes determining a UV transmittance value of a path from one of the plurality of lamps in the array by comparing irradiance data from at least two of the plurality of lamps in the array, the at least two lamps being located at different distances from the one of the plurality of lamps in the array.

7. An ultraviolet lamp system for controlling the output of lamps in an array of lamps, each lamp in the array comprising: at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data, the sensor data comprising irradiance values ​​from at least one of: within the lamp sleeve, and outside the lamp sleeve; at least one ultraviolet radiation source operably connected to the at least one sensor; a processor operably connected to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source; as well as A memory device storing data and instructions executable by the processor for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

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