Single-diode disinfection

Abstract

Light-emitting device for inactivating microorganisms, the light-emitting device comprising: one or more light emitters configured to emit light of the same wavelength in the range between 380 nm and 420 nm;and at least two light-converting materials configured to convert a portion of the light emitted by the one or more light sources into at least two different wavelengths, different from the wavelength of the light emitted by the one or more light sources, and to enable the mixing of the light emitted by the one or more light sources and the light emitted by the at least two light-converting materials to form a combined light, wherein the combined light is white and has a color rendering index (CRI) of at least 70 and a spectral energy content, measured in a wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm, of more than 20%.

Description

Disclosure in the technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light-emitting device capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue, and in particular a light-emitting device capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue while simultaneously causing the inactivation of microorganisms. State of the art in disclosure

[0002] Light-emitting devices are a primary requirement in most indoor environments to provide illumination of the space, the tasks being performed within it, and the occupants and objects within it. Indoor lighting technologies range widely from incandescent and halogen lamps to fluorescent and LED lamps and devices, as well as many other technologies. The main purpose of these lighting technologies has thus far been to provide light that humans perceive as "white" light, effectively illuminating various colors, textures, and features of objects in a way that is comfortable for humans.

[0003] While many technologies are used commercially in lighting, LED lighting is growing as a technology for providing efficient, high-quality white light at an effective cost. Some common general lighting LEDs use a semiconductor junction excited to emit blue light, combined with a phosphor material such as cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce) to convert some of this blue light into other wavelengths, such as yellow. When properly balanced, the combined light emitted by the semiconductor junction and the phosphor material is perceived as white or a white hue.Blue-light-emitting semiconductors are currently used for many reasons, including relatively high efficiency, relatively low cost, and the relatively desirable color advantages of blue light's contribution to the overall light spectrum (compared to light-emitting semiconductors that emit light of other colors).

[0004] Some alternative LED technologies use semiconductor compounds that emit UV, near-UV, or violet light instead of blue light. A phosphor material is combined to convert some of the blue, violet, or UV light into other wavelengths, and the two components are appropriately balanced to provide white or a white hue. Violet LEDs are less commonly used due to their typically lower efficiency and cost-performance ratio; however, they have been demonstrated in the public sector to provide adequate visual light quality in some areas, such as color rendering index (CRI).

[0005] With these two LED technologies, achieving a relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted radiation is balanced against achieving desired color properties (CRI, correlated color temperature (CCT), gamut, etc.) of the emitted radiation. In other words, the wavelength of the combined light emitted by the lighting device is selected with respect to the spectral sensitivity of the human eye in such a way as to achieve high efficiency while minimizing the loss of desired color properties.

[0006] Alternative light sources with additional power factors were created that utilize emitted light in various ways. Luminaires and devices for horticulture, healthcare, heating, and disinfection were demonstrated. In addition to being optimized for the luminous efficacy of the radiation, these luminaires and devices are designed to provide increased output power in specific radiation ranges to achieve the additional power factor.

[0007] These lights and devices offer dual or multiple lighting functions by utilizing various alternative light functions, such as photochemical energy, photobiological energy, radiant energy, and others. Typically, attempts are made to optimize radiant energy output for specific areas that correspond to the absorption or activation spectra of the added function. For example, horticultural lights and devices are optimized to emit light-adapted absorption or activation spectra of chlorophyll and other plant-based photoactivated mechanisms. Similarly, circadian rhythm support lights and devices are optimized to emit light-adapted absorption or activation spectra of melatonin.

[0008] In these luminaires and devices that emit light for multiple functions, the light emissions can be balanced to achieve an acceptable level for each function. One of the functions may be general lighting (e.g., when the multi-functional luminaires and devices are used in rooms occupied by people). In this case, achieving a relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted light is balanced not only against achieving desirable color properties of the emitted light, but also against achieving one or more other functions at an acceptable or desired level. Brief description of the disclosure

[0009] Embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may include a device that inactivates microorganisms, wherein the device includes a light emitter and at least one light-converting material arranged to convert at least some of the light from the light emitter, wherein each light emitted by the light emitter and the at least some of the converted light emitted by the at least one light-converting material mix to form a combined light, wherein the combined light has a spectral energy fraction measured to be more than approximately 20% in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm.

[0010] Embodiments of the disclosure herein may include a device that inactivates microorganisms, wherein the device includes a light emitter and at least one light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of the first light. The light emitter is configured to emit a first light within a range of 380 nm to 420 nm, and the at least one light-converting material is configured to emit a second light in response to the first light striking the at least one light-converting material. The first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white. The at least one light-converting material includes at least one optical brightener that emits light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] These and other features of the disclosure will be more easily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which depict various aspects of the disclosure.

[0012] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0013] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0014] Fig. Figure 3 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0015] Fig. Figure 4 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0016] Fig. Figure 5 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0017] Fig. Figure 6 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0018] Fig. Figure 7 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0019] Fig. Figure 8 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0020] Fig. Figure 9 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0021] Fig. Figure 10 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0022] Fig. Figure 11 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0023] Fig. Figure 12 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0024] Fig. Figure 13 illustrates another light-emitting device according to different embodiments.

[0025] Fig. Figure 14 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0026] Fig. Figure 15 illustrates another light-emitting device according to various embodiments.

[0027] Fig. Figure 16 illustrates an ANSI C78.377A LED standard with accepted xy coordinates at selected CCTs, which are color coordinate ranges for light-emitting devices in some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0028] It should be noted that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings are intended to illustrate only typical aspects of the disclosure and should therefore not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, the same numbering represents identical elements across the drawings. The detailed description explains embodiments of the disclosure, along with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. Detailed description of the disclosure

[0029] According to various embodiments, a lighting device is disclosed that is capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white tint and simultaneously emitting specific light concentrations with specific wavelengths associated with the inactivation of at least some microorganisms. The light-emitting device consists of a light source (e.g., LEDs, lasers) and one or more light-converting materials (e.g., phosphors, optical brighteners) assembled such that the light emitted by the light source is directed into the light-converting material, and at least a portion of this light directed into the light-converting material(s) is converted by the light-converting material(s) into light with a different property (e.g., a different peak wavelength).Light can be converted by the light-converting material(s) by absorbing the light, which excites or activates the light-converting material(s) to emit light with a different property (e.g., a different peak wavelength). Combined light emitted by the light source and the light-converting material(s) has a spectral energy fraction measured in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm of more than approximately 20%.

[0030] The light emitter and the light-converting material(s) can be assembled in many different ways, such as, but not limited to, those described in Fig. 1 to Fig. 15 embodiments illustrated. Light emitted by the light emitter(s) and the light-converting material(s) can be modified by optics, reflectors, or other mounting components to allow the combined light emitted by the light-emitting device to be perceived as white or a white shade. With reference to Fig. 1. A light-emitting device will be used. 10 illustrates a pump LED 12 as a light emitter, a light-converting material 14 , an encapsulation 16 and a carrier 18 includes the light-converting material. 104 can in the encapsulation 106 be distributed. The pump LED 12 and the light-converting material 104 are on the carrier 108 supported.

[0031] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a light-emitting device 20 , which has a pump LED22 The housing acts as a light transmitter, using a light-converting material. 24 , a lens 26 , which is the light-converting material 24 contains, and a support or base 28 includes.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a light-emitting device 30 , which is an arrangement of pump LEDs 32 contains materials that are in a light-converting material 34 are contained in an encapsulation 36 is evenly distributed.

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a light-emitting device 40 , which is an arrangement of LEDs 42 with light-transforming materials 44 includes materials that convert light into red, green, blue, and yellow light. The light-converting materials 44 are in an encapsulation 46 LEDs are shown distributed or grouped. 42 and encapsulation 46 are on the carrier 48Supported representation.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a light-emitting device 50 , which is an LED 52 contains materials that are in a light-converting material 54 is contained in an encapsulation 56 It contains all of which are on one carrier 58 are supported.

[0035] Fig. Figure 6 illustrates a light-emitting device 60 , which is an LED 62 contained in the housing, which is in a light-converting material 64 is contained in a lens 66 is included. The LED 62 , the light-converting material 64 and the lens 66 are of a base or support 68 supported.

[0036] Fig. Figure 7 illustrates a light-emitting device 70 , which is an LED 72 contained in the housing, which is coated with conformally coated light-converting material 74is contained in a lens 76 Included is an LED. 72 , light-converting material 74 and lens 76 are on a base or carrier 78 supported.

[0037] Fig. Figure 8 illustrates a light-emitting device 80 , which is an arrangement of LEDs 82 contains materials that are in a light-converting material 84 are contained within an encapsulation 86 It is included. The LEDs 82 , the light-converting material 84 and the encapsulation 86 are on a carrier 88 supported.

[0038] Fig. Figure 9 illustrates a light-emitting device 90 , which is a light bulb, which is an LED 92 , an external light conversion filter 94 , a base 97 and a base 98 contains. The base 97 and the base 98 support the LED 92.

[0039] Fig. Figure 10 illustrates a light-emitting device 100 , which is a light bulb, which is an LED 102 , a light conversion filter 104 , which is in an outer light bulb 106 It contains a base 107 and a base 108 It contains the light conversion filter. 104 can the outer light bulb 106 Contact us directly.

[0040] Fig. Figure 11 illustrates a light-emitting device 110 , which is a light bulb, which is an LED 112 , a light conversion filter 114 on the top of the pump LED 112 , an external light bulb 116 , a base 117 and a base 118 It contains the light conversion filter. 114 can be directly on the pump LED 112 be.

[0041] Fig. Figure 12 illustrates a light-emitting device 120, which is a light bulb, which is an LED 122 , a light conversion filter 124 , that the pump LED 122 surrounds an external light bulb 126 , a base 127 and a base 128 It contains the light conversion filter. 124 can directly access the pump LED 122 contact.

[0042] Fig. Figure 13 illustrates a light-emitting device 130 , which is a spotlight, which is an LED 132 , a light conversion filter 134 at the pump LED 132 , a reflector 135 , a lens 136 and a base 137 It contains the light conversion filter. 134 can be directly on the pump LED 132 be.

[0043] Fig. Figure 14 illustrates a light-emitting device 140 , which is a spotlight, which is an LED 142 , a light conversion filter 144 , a reflector 145 , a lens146 on the light conversion filter 144 and a base 147 contains. The lens 146 can be applied directly to the light conversion filter 144 be.

[0044] Fig. Figure 15 illustrates a light-emitting device 150 , which is a spotlight, which is an LED 152 , a light conversion filter 154 , a reflector 155 and a base 157 contains.

[0045] Although in Fig. 1– Fig. In Figure 15, where the light emitter is represented as an LED, it can be any known emitter, including but not limited to a carrier and an LED (e.g., a pump LED), an LED in a housing, an array of LEDs, a spotlight, a laser, and traditional incandescent bulbs, either with an LED replacement or other incandescent bulbs. The light emitter can have a peak wavelength / most of its light emission in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm. In embodiments with multiple light emitters (e.g., an array of LEDs), the light emitters can all emit light of approximately the same wavelength. For example, the array of LEDs 32 , which in Fig. 3 is shown, and the arrangement of LEDs 42 The LEDs shown in Figure 4 all emit light within the range of 380 to 420 nm. In some embodiments, the arrangement of LEDs can 32 , 42all emit light within the wavelength range of 390 to 415 nm, and in other embodiments from 400 nm to 410 nm.

[0046] The light-converting material used here represents a broad category of materials, substances, or structures that have the ability to absorb a specific wavelength of light and re-emit it as a different wavelength. Light-converting materials should be distinguished from light-emitting materials and light-transmitting / filtering materials. Light-emitting materials can be broadly classified as materials, substances, or structures / devices that convert a non-UV-VIS-IR form of energy into UV-VIS-IR light emission. Non-ultraviolet visible-infrared (UV-VIS-IR) forms of energy can include, but are not limited to, electricity, chemical reactions / potentials, microwaves, electron beams, and radioactive decay. The light-converting materials can be contained within or deposited on a medium, thereby creating a light-converting medium.It should be understood that light-converting materials, light-converting media, light-converting filters, phosphors, and all other terms relating to the conversion of light are intended as examples of the disclosed light-converting material. In some embodiments, the light-converting material may be a phosphor, an optical brightener, a combination of phosphors, a combination of optical brighteners, or a combination of phosphor(s) and optical brightener(s). Optical brighteners are light-converting materials (e.g., chemical compounds) that absorb light in the ultraviolet and / or violet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and re-emit light in the blue region.Light-converting materials can be capable of absorbing several different wavelengths of light and emitting several different wavelengths of light in both scaled and unscaled ways.

[0047] The phosphor or other light-converting material can be deposited directly onto the light source, as is the case at least in Fig. 1– Fig. 7 shown, or it may be located remotely or additionally further away from the light source, as at least in Fig. 9– Fig. 10 and Fig. 14– Fig. Figure 15 shows a light-conversion filter spaced away from the light source. The remote phosphor configuration reduces the flux density through the light-conversion filter by increasing the flux surface area. The physical separation of the light source and the light-conversion filter, and the reduced flux, can lower the operating temperature of the light-conversion filter by reducing the heat conducted from the light source. The lower temperature of the light-conversion filter reduces thermal quenching of the light output and other undesirable effects of elevated operating temperature. The light-converting materials can be, for example, conformal coatings, doped encapsulators or binders, and remote phosphors.The at least one light-converting material can be completely homogenized in different or identical proportions and used as a mass mixture, or the at least one light-converting material can have some or all parts positioned or layered separately, affecting the absorption and emission of different materials that may be incompatible when mixed or may absorb too much underlying light.

[0048] In some embodiments, the CRI value of the combined light output or the combined emitted light from the light-emitting device (e.g., light emitted by the light source mixed with light emitted by the light-converting material) can have a CRI value of at least 55, 60, 65, or 70. In other embodiments, the CRI value can be at least 80, 85, 90, or 95, plus or minus approximately 5.

[0049] In some embodiments, the combined light output or combined emitted light from the light-emitting device can be white light. White light can be defined as light with a correlated color temperature (CCT) value of approximately 1000 Kelvin (K) to approximately 8000 K, in some embodiments from approximately 2000 K to approximately 6000 K, and in some embodiments from approximately 2500 K to approximately 5000 K, where "approximately" can include plus or minus approximately 200 K.

[0050] In some embodiments, the light-emitting device can have a spectral content of at least 20% of the emitted light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm. The spectral content of the emitted light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm is defined as the proportion of the absolute irradiance of light with wavelengths in the range of 380 to 420 nm relative to the absolute irradiance of light with wavelengths in the range of 380 to 720 nm. Dividing the former value by the latter value yields the spectral fraction of the emitted light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm. The spectral output is defined as the radiometric energy. The absolute irradiance values ​​can be measured with any instrument known today or subsequently developed. In some embodiments, the absolute irradiance values ​​are measured in mW of radiometric energy.

[0051] The spectral content in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm can be used to inactivate bacterial pathogens. A peak wavelength of 405 nm and a wavelength range above and below 405 nm (380–420 nm) have proven effective for inactivating bacterial pathogens. As an example, the device can be assembled similarly to a "blue fluorescent" LED device. A blue fluorescent LED device is an electronic device in a single package that can emit light. The embodiment of the device, which is described in Fig. Figure 2, as well as some of the other figures, could, for example, be architecturally similar to a "blue fluorescent" LED device. Typically, in a "blue fluorescent" LED device, a semiconductor LED capable of emitting blue light is covered, surrounded, or otherwise positioned within a fluorescent material so that light emitted by the diode passes through the fluorescent material. The "blue fluorescent" LED device emits a portion of the original blue light from the LED and a portion of the light from the fluorescent material that has been converted from blue light. The "blue fluorescent" LED device has a combined light emission ratio of the blue light and the light emitted by the fluorescent material to emit a light that is perceived overall as white.

[0052] The LED device according to the embodiments disclosed is assembled similarly to a "blue fluorescent" LED device, but contains a semiconductor LED that emits most of the light / the peak of the light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm instead of wavelengths within the conventional range of approximately 450 to 495 nm, which would be perceived as blue. Light with a wavelength of 380–420 nm can kill or deactivate microorganisms such as Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, bacterial endospores, yeast, and filamentous fungi. Some Gram-positive bacteria that can be killed or deactivated include Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Mycobacterium terrae.Some Gram-negative bacteria include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella sonnei, and Serratia spp. Some bacterial endospores include Bacillus cereus and Clostridium difficile. Some yeasts and filamentous fungi include Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm was effective against every type of bacteria tested, although the time or dosage required varies depending on the species. Based on known results, it is expected to be effective to some extent over a period of time against all Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. It may also be effective against many types of fungi, although these take longer to show an effect.According to embodiments of the disclosure, the LED is surrounded by a phosphor material that can absorb and convert a portion of the antimicrobial light (380–420 nm) emitted by the LED to an alternative wavelength or wavelengths. This LED device may incorporate a combination of selected phosphors, such as, but not limited to, lutetium aluminum gamete and nitride, which, when combined in suitable proportions, can emit light perceived as white or a white tint. This exemplary LED device may have a CRI of 70 or greater. In some embodiments, this exemplary LED device may have a CRI of 80 or greater. A percentage of the spectral content of light emitted by the exemplary LED device with a wavelength of approximately 380 to 420 nm may be 20% or greater.In some embodiments, light with wavelengths in the range of approximately 380 to 420 nm can comprise at least approximately 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% of the total combined light emitted by the exemplary LED device.

[0053] In some embodiments, the light-emitting device may be a surface-mountable LED device that includes an LED and a light-converting material. The surface-mountable LED device may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) or otherwise configured to supply power to the light-emitting device and the LED. The LED may be connected to the PCB via bond wires or leads, providing an electrical connection from the LED to the outside of the device. The device may include a lens, encapsulation, or other protective cover. The [details of the] Fig. 1– Fig. The embodiments shown in Figure 8 can be implemented as surface-mountable LED devices by providing them with wires or leads connected to the respective LEDs and configured to be connected to a PCB.

[0054] In further embodiments, the light-emitting device can be an LED through-hole device similar to a surface-mount package, but designed to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) or otherwise configured to transfer power to the device and the light emitter via conductive legs that align with appropriate holes or vias on the PCB or similar structure. The legs are connected to the PCB or similar structure by solder or another conductive medium.

[0055] In some embodiments, the light-emitting device can be a chip-on-board LED array, which is a housing with one or more light sources and a light-converting material. The one or more light sources can be mounted directly onto a substrate, and the light-converting material can be arranged such that a desired proportion of the emitted light is converted by the light-converting material.

[0056] In contrast to previous attempts with devices for generating acceptable light spectra that required multiple different light sources to be incorporated into a single device to achieve white light with acceptable properties, embodiments disclosed do not require multiple different light sources, each of which would have to combine its emitted light through optics or housing structures, which in turn would require increased electronics, controls, optics, and housing structures. The additional features and increased cost metrics associated with multi-light-emitting devices make color mixing procedures for these devices inherently cumbersome compared to single-light-emitting devices that can generate a combined light spectrum from a single arrangement.

[0057] In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes a unit using only violet LEDs (approximately 405 nm) to generate white light while maintaining the disinfection capabilities of the desired spectrum. Color temperatures of 2700 K, 3500 K, and 4100 K with a CRI above 80 are achievable with a single light source (e.g., LED) according to embodiments of the disclosure. In general, a CCT range of 2700 to 5000 K with a minimum CRI of 70 and a violet spectral content of over 20% is possible. In some embodiments, the use of two or more light-converting materials can achieve these values. In some embodiments, phosphors can be used that convert light into each of the red (620–750 nm), green (495–570 nm) and blue (450–495 nm) wavelengths, such as nitride, lutetium aluminum gamete or Ca2PO4Cl: Eu 2+ .

[0058] A more difficult aspect to overcome is the lack of blue light emission compared to conventional white LED lamps. While violet light can be combined with other colors to create white, it has been found that there are differences in the perception of violet light from person to person. This means that different people see a combined light differently; some see too much violet, while others may not see enough, causing a general misrepresentation of the color of white light. Furthermore, without sufficient blue light, it is more difficult to achieve a high CRI (Color Rendering Index). Previous attempts have used blue LEDs mixed with the other colors to boost the CRI and balance the color of the mixed light output.Even with this approach, some people still perceive the light differently depending on their sensitivity, but it has shown a reduced differentiation in the observed overall color values ​​of the combined spectra. Some embodiments here instead add blue light by using phosphors, optical brighteners, or other blue-emitting materials. These materials can absorb violet light and emit blue light without the need for a discrete blue LED. Some phosphor material compositions include yttrium aluminum garnet, lutetium aluminum garnet, nitride, oxynitride, calcium sulfide, and Ca₂PO₄Cl:Eu. 2+ and silicate. Some optical brighteners are chemical derivatives of stilbene, coumarin, 1,3-phenylpyrazoin, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, heterocyclic dicarboxylic acid, and cinnamic acid.

[0059] Fig.Figure 16 serves as an example of color coordinates and color coordinate ranges that could be achieved in practice in some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be understood that these are examples of some existing standards of color coordinates that can be achieved; other standards that exist or may be developed for white light in the future may be used. Additionally, the disclosed device may approximate CIE standard illuminants and / or standard illuminant families in color coordinates; it should be noted that the disclosed device may not match all defined characteristics of a standard illuminant, but in some embodiments it will approximate the xy color coordinates. Some of these additional CIE standard illuminants include, but are not limited to, A, B, C, D50, D55, D65, D75, E, FI, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, and F12.

[0060] The foregoing description of various aspects of the disclosure has been presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the exact form disclosed, and naturally, many modifications and variations are possible. Such variations and modifications, which are apparent to a person skilled in the art, are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] Device for inactivating microorganisms, the device comprising: a light emitter; and at least one light-converting material configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source, wherein each light emitted by the light source and the at least portion of the converted light emitted by the at least one light-converting material mix to form a combined light, wherein the combined light has a spectral energy fraction measured in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm of more than approximately 20%. [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). [3] Device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter comprises a laser. [4] Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light-converting material includes at least one phosphor. [5] Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light-converting material includes at least one optical brightener. [6] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm. [7] Device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits light with a peak wavelength of approximately 405 nm. [8] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a CRI of at least 70. [9] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a CRI of at least 80. [10] Device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter includes an arrangement of light emitters and the at least one light-converting material is uniformly distributed over each light emitter of the arrangement. [11] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light is white light. [12] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature between approximately 2,500 K and 5,000 K. [13] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy which is measured to be more than approximately 30% in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm. [14] Device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy which is measured to be more than approximately 40% in a wavelength range from approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm. [15] Device according to claim 1, wherein at least a second part of the light emitted by the light emitter leaves the device without being converted by the at least one light-converting material. [16] Device for inactivating microorganisms, the device comprising: a light emitter configured to emit an initial light in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm; and at least one light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of the first light, wherein the at least one light-converting material is configured to emit a second light in response to the first light striking the at least one light-converting material, wherein the first light leaving the device and the second light leaving the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white, wherein the at least one light-converting material includes at least one optical brightener emitting light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm. [17] Device according to claim 16, wherein the combined light has a proportion of spectral energy which is measured to be more than approximately 20% in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm. [18] Device according to claim 16, wherein the light emitter comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). [19] Device according to claim 16, wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm. [20] Device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one light-converting material includes a first phosphor emitting light in the wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm and a second phosphor emitting light in the wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm.