IMPROVING SAFETY FOR UV APPLICATIONS BY MONITORING CHANGES IN UV UNCOUPLING

Abstract

The invention provides a system (200) comprising (i) a light source (220) configured to provide radiation (221), wherein the radiation (221) at least comprises UV radiation; (ii) a waveguide element (1210) comprising a radiation exit window (230), wherein the waveguide element (1210) is configured to receive at least a portion of the radiation (221) and radiate at least a portion of the radiation (221) to the exterior of the waveguide element (1210) through the radiation exit window (230) and is configured to internally reflect a portion of the radiation (221) toward the radiation exit window (230); (iii) an optical sensor (310) configured to detect an internal reflection intensity (I) of the internally reflected radiation (221); and (iii) a control system (300),operatively coupled to the other sensor and configured to reduce the intensity of the radiation (221) as a function of reaching a predetermined first limit of reduction of the intensity of internal reflection (I) over time.,