An ultraviolet disinfection device

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and specifically to a modular UV disinfection device configured to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at adhere to a lid of a container, such as a container for food storage.

Description

[0001] AN ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION DEVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and specifically to a modular UV disinfection device configured to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at adhere to a lid of a container, such as a container for food storage.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Many everyday objects can serve as transport mechanisms for disease-causing microorganisms. These objects, when handled or contaminated by various individuals or surfaces, can become potential sources of infection. If these contaminated objects come into contact with a person's mouth, nose, eyes, or any area of damaged skin, they can transmit diseases or cause infections.

[0006] This issue is particularly critical for objects used by infants, as they often put small items in their mouths or touch larger objects with their mouths. Items like bottle nipples, pacifiers, teething rings, and others, which are designed to be placed in an infant's mouth, are frequently dropped onto potentially contaminated surfaces such as the floor. It is crucial to have a quick and easy method to disinfect these objects before giving them back to the infant. Boiling water has traditionally been used to disinfect such items.

[0007] Similarly, objects used by both adults and children, such as toothbrushes, contact lenses, combs, hairbrushes, eating and drinking utensils, medical and dental devices, and more, may also require disinfection to minimize the risk of disease or infection. One method for sterilizing objects is by exposing them to ultraviolet (UV) light, specifically light mainly having its wavelength within the UV-C region.

[0008] The use of UV light has also shown to be promising in relation to extending the shelf-life of food by controlling microbial growth, effectively reducing food waste. Within the European Union it is estimated (2020) that approximately 70 kg / inhabitant is annually wasted within the household, which causes significant social, economic, and environmental issues.

[0009] UV radiation disrupts microorganisms' DNA and RNA, reducing spoilage and bacterial contamination. Implementing UV technology in food storage helps maintain food quality, reduce waste, and promote sustainability as well as addressing food waste, enhancing resource efficiency, significant cost savings and building a more resilient food system. However, present UV systems employing this approach are generally provided for use in an industrial environment which is not generally suitable for a household implementation. Furthermore, the present UV systems often rely on an external power source, such as a wall socket, to operate the UV light source for extended periods.

[0010] With the above in mind, there is thus a desire to provide further enhancements to such a disinfection system, specifically for improving flexibility of use of UV disinfection, while ensuring that the UV disinfection may be achieved in a cost-efficient manner.

[0011] SUMMARY

[0012] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the above is at least partly alleviated by a UV disinfection device provided for disinfection, wherein the UV disinfection device comprises at least one UV light source, a driver for operating the at least one UV light source, a battery, a control unit connected to the driver and the battery, and a housing adapted to receive the at least one UV light source, the driver, the battery, and the control unit within an internal space of the housing, wherein the at least one UV light source is arranged to emit UV light from a bottom side of the housing, the bottom side of the housing is arranged to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device, the control unit is configured to operate the at least one UV light source according to a disinfection cycle, and the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.

[0013] The present disclosure is based on the understanding that it would be desirable to reduce unwanted disease-causing microorganisms in e.g. a home environment. This is solved by the flexible UV disinfection device according to the present disclosure, where the present UV disinfection device is adapted to be portable and to be movable between different locations, where such locations have been provided with a connection segment that is provided separate from the UV disinfection device. The connection segment may for example be arranged at a lid of a container, at a shelf within a fridge, etc.

[0014] An advantage following the above is that the flexible UV disinfection device of the present disclosure may be used where it is presently most useful, rather than being provided as a dedicated device that is only useable in a fixed location. A user of the UV disinfection device of the present disclosure will thus be allowed a maximum return on investment since the UV disinfection device of the present disclosure may be used in far more places as compared to any form of similar prior-art solution. UV-light may be hazardous to humans. To ensure that the safety of operation of the UV disinfection device, even while ensuring the above discussed flexibility, the UV disinfection device is arranged to only allow UV light to be emitted when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing. Accordingly, the risk of being exposed to unwanted UV light is kept at a minimum, since the UV disinfection device must be correctly positioned in relation to the connection segment for operating properly.

[0015] Preferably, the at least one UV light source is arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match a UV transparent area of the connection segment. Accordingly, once the UV disinfection device is correctly positioned at the connection segment, the UV light will also be ensured to pass through the connection segment such that any objects present in conjunction with the connection segment will be receiving the emitted UV light.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure the UV disinfection device is arranged to further comprise a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the connection segment being received at the bottom side of the housing. Such a sensor may be provided in any form that allows the correct positioning of the connection segment to be ensured from a perspective of the control unit comprised with the UV disinfection device, including for example a micro-switch, a hall element sensor with a matching magnet comprised with the connection segment, etc. By ensuring that the UV light is only emitted when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing, it is possible to prevent any harmful UV light to reach the eyes or skin of e.g. a human or a pet.

[0017] However, in an advantageous embodiment the sensor is a first IR sensor configured to emit and receive IR light, wherein the first IR sensor is connected to the control unit and the first IR sensor is arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match IR reflective area provided at the connection segment. Such a configuration may allow for further increasing the safety of the UV disinfection device, since the risk of incorrect positioning of the UV disinfection device relative to the connection segment may be swiftly detected using the IR sensor and the control unit. Other technical solutions are equally possible and within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0018] Preferably, the UV disinfection additionally comprises a corresponding second IR sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the first and the second IR sensors are both receiving IR light reflected from respective IR reflective areas of the connection segment. Accordingly, an even further heighten safety level may be achieved, since the control unit only will activate the UV light source in case both IR sensors indicates that the UV disinfection device is correctly arranged relative to the connection segment.

[0019] In one embodiment the UV disinfection device further comprises a user interface connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate the disinfection cycle when a user is operating the user interface. Such a user interface may in the simplest implementation include a button or similar. However, it may as an alternative be possible to integrate a display element with the UV disinfection device, where the display element may be arranged to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for guiding the user to select one or possibly many different types of disinfection cycles.

[0020] Optionally, the UV disinfection device may be arranged to additionally comprise a tilt sensor or a movement sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is further configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the tilt sensor or the movement sensor indicates that the UV disinfection device is essentially stationary. Such an implementation may even further allow for a safe operation of the UV disinfection device, since the UV light will be turned off in case the UV disinfection device is e.g. lifted from a stationary position. Accordingly, in case e.g. the connection segment is provided in conjunction with e.g. a container, the UV light will be refrained from being emitted in case the container is lifted or tilted.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment a duration of the disinfection cycle is predefined to be from for example 10 seconds to 20 minutes. The exact time for the disinfection cycle may for example be set using the user interface as discussed above.

[0022] To reduce a number of active pathogens with a certain amount to a desired predetermined target (e.g. 99.9% or 99.9999%) the pathogens need to receive a certain dose, the dose further more varying for different pathogens. For example, to reduce the concentration of E.coli by 99.99% it is commonly known that a dose of 15-30mJ / cm2 is required.

[0023] The received dose may be calculated by:

[0024] D = I x t

[0025] Here, D is the dose, I is the intensity of the UV light received by the pathogens and t is the time during which the intensity is received.

[0026] Furthermore, the intensity I is strongly dependent on the distance between the UV light source and the pathogens. A simple but relevant relationship is: / (z) = k / z1

[0027] Here, z is the distance and k is a constant determined by specific light emitting angle etcetera. Therefore, it may be advantageous for a system to be adaptable to the distance z, which may vary for different locations, the different locations being enabled by the present invention.

[0028] That said, it may be preferred to further equip the UV disinfection device with an identification sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the identification sensor is configured to acquire an identity of the connection segment when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing. As such, the duration of the disinfection cycle may instead be allowed to be dependent on the identity of the connection segment. The UV disinfection device may as such be configured to hold information relation to different connection segment and where they are arranged, such as provided in relation to differently sized containers, at the above-mentioned shelf in a fridge, etc., thereby having predetermined information of the required dose (or information to calculate the required dose), which is turn determined by the level of disinfection needed (e.g. 99.9%), the most probable pathogen, and e.g. the geometrical distance. Other data may be added as well.

[0029] In one embodiment it may be possible to allow the UV disinfection device to further comprise a distance determining sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the distance determining sensor is configured to acquire a distance to an object for disinfection provided a distance away from the bottom side of the housing. Similar to the discussion above, the duration of the disinfection cycle may be allowed to be dependent on the determined distance to the object for disinfection.

[0030] Preferably, the at least one UV light source is a field emission light source configured to emit UV light. The UV light source could however alternatively include an UVC Light Emitting Diode (LED) or an Excimer lamp. It is understood that the UV light source may comprise e.g. a plurality of LEDs and / or a combination of light sources based on different technologies to suit the application. That is, technologies, such as field emission light sources (FEL) and UVC Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), offer turn on times that are in the order of milliseconds, mainly governed by the electronic drive unit. In addition, both LED and FEL may be controlled to be dimmable, a characteristic that may further increase these advantages, e.g. in relation to compensating for the above mentioned difference between a desired UV light level and what is currently produced by the second UV light source.

[0031] An advantageous effect with using a field emission light source as the UV light source is that such a light source may be configured to emit UV light at a spectrum that is not a distinct peak around 254 nm but a more continuous spectrum in above mentioned range of 210 - 350nm. Field emission UVC lamps have demonstrated the capability to continue the disinfection process and do not exhibit any significant tailing effect.

[0032] The field emission light source may in one embodiment comprise a field emission cathode and an electrically conductive anode structure. The field emission cathode typically comprises a plurality of nanostructures formed on a substrate, whereas the electrically conductive anode structure comprises a light converting material arranged to receive electrons from the cathode and to emit UV light. The light converting material may for example be selected to be at least one of LaPO4:Pr3+, LuPO3:Pr3+, Lu2Si2O7:Pr3+, YBO3:Pr3+, YA103:Sc3+or YPO4:Bi3+or a similar light converting material. As an alternative, the light converting material may generally be seen as a phosphor (cathodoluminescent) material.

[0033] Preferably, the nanostructures preferably comprise at least one of ZnO nanostructures and carbon nanotubes. The plurality of ZnO nanostructures is adapted to have a length of at least 1 um. In another embodiment the nanostructures may advantageously have a length in the range of 3 - 50 pm and a diameter in the range of 5 - 300 nm.

[0034] Preferably, each the field emission light source is provided with a UV light permeable portion comprises at least one of Quartz, fused silica, sapphire, UV transparent borosilicate and UV transparent soft glass. Such materials are suitable due to their inherent transparency to UV light.

[0035] Generally, a material / structure is considered to be “transparent” to ultraviolet light of a particular wavelength when the material / structure allows a significant amount of the ultraviolet radiation to pass there through. In an embodiment, the ultraviolet transparent structure is formed of a material and has a thickness, which allows at least ten percent of the ultraviolet radiation to pass there through.

[0036] During operation of the field emission light source, an in comparison high voltage is applied between the cathode and the anode. The electron energy used for consumer applications should be less than 10 kV and preferably less than 9 kV or soft X-rays generated by Bremsstrahlung will be able to escape the light source (it is otherwise absorbed by the anode glass). However, these levels are to some extent depending on glass thickness, thus higher voltages can be allowed if a thicker glass is used.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment where the UV light source involves UVC LEDs, the UV light source may be arranged to comprise at least a first UV LED. In such an embodiment, it is preferred to arrange the first UV LED to emit light within a total wavelength range defined from cover a major portion of 250 to 320 nm for achieving the above desirable disinfection effect.

[0038] Alternatively, the UV light source may be arranged to additionally comprise a second UV LED. In such an embodiment the first UV LED is preferable adapted to emit light within a first wavelength range defined from 250 to 270 nm, and the second UV LED is adapted to emit light within a second wavelength range defined from 270 to 320 nm.

[0039] Advantageously, the UV disinfection device as discussed above forms part of a UV disinfection arrangement, further comprising the above-mentioned connection segment. Preferably, a side of the connection segment that is adapted to face away from the housing of the UV disinfection device is provided with an adhesive layer. The connection segment may as such be arranged to adhere to any form of partly UV transparent surface where it is desirable to operate the UV disinfection device.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the connection segment is arranged to adhere to a lid of a container, such as a food container. However, any type of suitable container where objects for disinfection are to be placed is possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the UV disinfection device according to the present disclosure is equally useful in relation to UV treatment of any type of objects.

[0041] When using the UV disinfection device with a food container, the food item is placed inside the bottom portion of the container, and the lid is arranged to cover the bottom portion of the container. The UV disinfection device is in turn arranged to align with the connection segment that is positioned at an outside facing surface of the lid.

[0042] Once the UV disinfection device is operating, the at least one UV light source is used for irradiating the food within the food container, whereby no further interaction of e.g. the user’s hand is needed. The risk of re-contamination is thus reduced.

[0043] An advantage with using the UV disinfection device structured with a connection segment according to the present disclosure is that the UV disinfection device may be used with multiple food containers, even of different sizes. This makes the overall UV disinfection process inexpensive, since the UV disinfection device may be moved around between the different containers as needed. Accordingly, it will only be a prerequisite that the lid of the food container is provided with a connection segment in according to the discussion above.

[0044] Preferably, an outside surface of a bottom side of the container is selected to match a shape of the connection segment. Such a configuration allows for a plurality of corresponding containers to be stacked on top of each other.

[0045] In an optional embodiment the UV disinfection device further comprises a pump connected to the control unit, the connection segment comprises a one-way valve, the pump is arranged to be connected to the one-way valve, and the pump is configured to reduce an amount of air present in the container. Accordingly, the electrical components of the UV disinfection device (i.e. the battery, control unit, etc.) may be used for further providing the effect of acting as a vacuum source for typically a food container. Thereby, the combined effect of disinfection and vacuum sealing the food container may be performed simultaneously. This combined effect of disinfection and vacuum sealing will ensure a prolonged lifetime of the food stored in the food container.

[0046] Further features of, and advantages with, the present disclosure will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present disclosure may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0047] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The various aspects of the present disclosure, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0049] Fig. 1 conceptually illustrates an embodiment of a UV disinfection device arranged in conjunction with a connection segment according to currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure,

[0050] Figs. 2A and 2B shows a possible implementation of the UV disinfection device according to the present disclosure used in relation to a food storage container,

[0051] Figs. 3 A and 3B presents a plurality of stacked food storage containers for use with the UV disinfection device according to the present disclosure,

[0052] Figs. 4A - 4F illustrates different emission spectra resulting from different phosphor material as used in relation to the present disclosure and their corresponding germicidal de-activation curves, and Fig. 5 illustrates the results from a mathematical model with and without a reactivation process.

[0053] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0055] Referring now to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in particular, there is illustrated an embodiment of a UV disinfection device 100. The UV disinfection device 100 comprises at least one UV light source 102, an electronic driver 104 for operating the at least one UV light source 102, a battery 106 and a control unit 108 connected to the driver 104 and the battery 106. The components of the UV disinfection device 100 are all at least partly arranged within an interior of a housing 110. The driver 104 and the control unit 108 may in some embodiments be integrated into a single unit.

[0056] The at least one UV light source 102 is arranged at a bottom side / end of the housing 110, where the at least one UV light source 102 is arranged to emit UV light in a direction away from the bottom side of the housing 110. The bottom side of the housing 110 has been further selected to have a shape that is matching a shape of a connection segment 150, where the connection segment 150 is provided as a separate part from the UV disinfection device 100. The connection segment 150 is preferably provided with a UV transparent portion 152 that aligns with the position of the UV light source 102 once the UV disinfection device 100 is positioned together with the connection segment 150. The UV transparent portion 152 is preferably arranged from at least one of Quartz, fused silica, sapphire, UV transparent borosilicate and UV transparent soft glass.

[0057] The control unit 108 may be arranged to make use of more than a single processing unit, such as for example including FPGAs, ASICs, etc., running a software package that has been adapted for operating the UV disinfection device 100. During such an operation, which will be further elaborated below, the control unit 108 is configured to operate the at least one UV light source 102 according to a disinfection cycle. That said, the control unit 108 has been specifically configured to only allow the at least one UV light source 102 to emit UV light when the connection segment 150 is received at the bottom side of the housing 110.

[0058] Generally, the UV disinfection device 100 is further provided with a user interface 112, allowing a user to operate the UV disinfection device 100 according to one of possible many different predefined disinfection cycles. The UV disinfection device 100 is typically further configured to comprise sensor means 114 arranged to detect when the connection segment 150 is (correctly) received at the bottom side of the housing 110.

[0059] Turning now to Figs. 2A and 2B, which shows a possible implementation of the UV disinfection device 100 according to the present disclosure used in relation to a food storage container 200, where the food storage container comprises a lid 202 and an open vessel 204 having a shape matching the lid 202. In a preferred embodiment the lid 202 as well as the vessel 204 are arranged to be non-transparent to UVC light, thereby minimizing the risk of the UVC light reaching an eye or skin of a user in the close vicinity when the UV disinfection device 100 is in operation.

[0060] In the exemplary illustration as provided in Fig. 2A, the UV disinfection device 100 has been provided with two separate UV light source 102. The UV light source 102 may in a preferred embodiment be selected as employing field emission light technology and / or UV LED light technology. To ensure the safety of the UV light sources 102, it may be possible to provide a cover sheet that is transparent to UV light, such as for example a quartz sheet.

[0061] The UV light sources 102 are adapted to emit UV light within a predefined and possibly controlled wavelength range, where such a wavelength range preferably is between 210 - 350 nm. The UV light sources are preferably arranged so that the emitted UV light is directed so that optimum disinfection performance is reached.

[0062] As discussed above, the UV disinfection device 100 is arranged to only emit UV light when the connection segment 150 is received at the bottom side of the housing 110. The sensors 114 used for generating information as to the relation between the UV disinfection device 100 and the connection segment may for example include a microswitch or a hall switch (with a magnetic element in the connection segment). That said, the sensors 114 are preferably provided as IR sensors. Each of the IR sensors 114 are in such an embodiment configured to emit and receive IR light, where the IR light is arranged to be reflected by a reflective area 206 provided at the connection segment 150.

[0063] As illustrated in Fig. 2B, the connection segment 150 is arranged to adhere to the lid 202, for example by being glued to the lid 202. Other means for connecting the connection segment 150 to the lid 202 is course possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. To allow the UV light from the UV light sources 102 to penetrate the interior of the food container 200, the lid 202 is arranged in such a manner that the lid 202 is opened in positions corresponding to the positions of the UV light sources 202. The connection portion 150 will however be ensured to keep the food container 200 completely closed. That said, also the connection segment 150 should in such an embodiment be provided with the above discussed UV transparent portions 152. It should be understood that it may be possible to integrate the UV transparent portions 152 with the lid 202 (rather than the connection segment 150) and achieve a similar effect of operation.

[0064] During operation of the UV disinfection device 100, it my as discussed be possible for the user to select one or possibly many different types of disinfection cycles using the user interface 112. However, it may also or instead be possible to equip the UV disinfection device 100 with means for automatically selecting the most appropriate disinfection cycle.

[0065] For example, the UV disinfection device 100 may be provided with e.g. an image sensor, a radar element, or similar for measuring a distance to the objects arranged in the food container 200. Possibly, a short distance may be determined to relate to a full food container 200 comprising a substantial amount of food, whereas an in comparison longer distance may be determined to correspond to a minor amount of food within the food container 200. A duration of the disinfection cycle may in turn be allowed to at least partly depend on the estimated amount of food in the food container 200.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment, the UV disinfection device 100 may be provided with means to e.g. read information present at the connection segment 150, where such information may relate to the content within the food container 200. The information could for example be provided in the form of a machine-readable code, such as a bar code or a QR code.

[0067] The estimated and / or acquired information about the content (Conf) within the food container 200 may be combined with an estimated temperature (7) of the food within the food container 200, whereby the control unit 108 can be adapted to determine an estimated contamination (EC) of the food within the food container 200, possibly expressed as:

[0068] EC = f(Cont, T, t)

[0069] Where the function f estimates the possible contamination using data of the content Cont, the temperature, T, and the elapsed time, t. Not all temperatures are as problematic as seen from an estimated microorganism growth perspective. As an example, low temperatures (such as below 8°C) as well as high temperatures (such as above 80°C) will have an in comparison low impact on the estimated microorganism growth.

[0070] The estimated contamination, EC, within the food container 200 is then to be compensated by a suitable dosage of UV light, denoted below as UVuosage (e.g. in mJ / cm2), where UV light emitted within the food container 200 will reduce the estimated contamination, EC. As such, the dosage of the UV light is to be selected to reduce the estimated contamination, EC, to a level below a predefined threshold, thereby ensuring that the estimated contamination, EC, within the food container 200 is kept at a desired level.

[0071] In Figs. 3 A and 3B there are presented a plurality of stacked food storage containers 200 for use with the UV disinfection device 100 according to the present disclosure. As can be seen from Fig. 3 A, a bottom surface of the food storage container has been provided with a recess 302 matching the shape of the connection segment 150. Accordingly, when stacking a plurality of food storage containers 200 on top of each other the food storage containers 200 will be securely arranged, reducing the risk of the stack of food storage containers 200 being disturbed in an unwanted manner. Fig. 3B exemplifies a stack of such food storage containers 200. Other solutions are equally possible.

[0072] Turning now to Figs. 4A - 4F. Note that all measured de-activation curves show the relative reduction as function of UV dose in order to be comparable, thus the vertical axis shows the logarithm of the ratio between the remaining concentration of E.coli in Colony Forming Units per milliliter (CFU / ml) - denoted N - the initial concentration before irradiation, denoted No, thus denoted log(N / No).

[0073] As exemplified, Figs. 4A - 4F provide examples of results of use of the exemplary disinfection system shown in Figs. 1 A and IB for de-activation of Escherichia coli (E.coli) within the food container 200, where UV light is emitted within a wavelength range extending between at least 250 nm - 310 nm. Note that all measured de-activation curves show the relative reduction as function of UV dose in order to be comparable, thus the vertical axis shows the logarithm of the ratio between the remaining concentration of E.coli in Colony Forming Units per milliliter (CFU / ml) - denoted N - the initial concentration before irradiation, denoted No, thus denoted log(N / No).

[0074] In Fig. 4A, the emission spectra from an UVC field emission light source provided with a first phosphor material (light powder) for UV light emission is provided. In Fig. 4A, the phosphor material has been selected to be a LuPO4:Pr3+phosphor material (or equivalent). In Fig. 4B, the corresponding de-activation curve is shown, for disinfection of water, where no significant tailing is visible.

[0075] In Fig. 4C, a second phosphor material in the form of a Lu2Si2O?:Pr3+phosphor material is used, and Fig. 4D shows the corresponding de-activation curve. As may be seen, in Fig. 4D, a de-activation of almost 8 orders of magnitude has been achieved, i.e. 99.999999% of the bacteria have been de-activated.

[0076] Turning to Figs. 4E and 4F, where a third phosphor material in the form of a LaPO4:Pr3+phosphor material is used and the corresponding de-activation curve is shown, respectively. The further disclosed electron-excitable UV-emitting material YBO4:Pr3+and YPO4:Bi3+provides similar results as shown in Figs. 4A - 4F.

[0077] Turning to Fig. 5, which illustrates a mathematical model is used to describe the effect of inhibiting re-activation (and subsequent regrowth). In principle, the deactivation probability and the re-activation probability are set fixed. In this example the re-activation probability is 0.001 times the de-activation probability, an arbitrarily set number, but which gives results close to measured data. It is further postulated that the UV light can only deactivate non-de-activated organisms, and that the re-activation can only take place in deactivated organisms. As can be seen from Fig. 5 this will give a steady state situation, and a tailing effect will occur.

[0078] Looking back at the achieved test results (shown in Fig. 4B) it is evident that the behavior is well explained by this model. There may very well be a second effect, such as a portion of microorganisms being more resistant to UV and requiring a higher dose of UV, but from these tests this second effect is at least not dominating, in fact must be much smaller than the re-activation effect. In Fig. 5 the reference 502 illustrates a mathematical modelling of the de-activation behavior with and a re-activation process and the reference 504 illustrates the mathematical modelling of the de-activation behavior without the re-activation process.

[0079] In summary, the present disclosure relates to a UV disinfection device provided for disinfection, wherein the UV disinfection device comprises at least one UV light source, a driver for operating the at least one UV light source, a battery, a control unit connected to the driver and the battery, and a housing adapted to receive the at least one UV light source, the driver, the battery, and the control unit within an internal space of the housing, wherein the at least one UV light source is arranged to emit UV light from a bottom side of the housing, the bottom side of the housing is arranged to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device, the control unit is configured to operate the at least one UV light source according to a disinfection cycle, and the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.

[0080] The flexible UV disinfection device of the present disclosure may advantageously be used where it is presently most useful, rather than being provided as a dedicated device that is only useable in a fixed location. A user of the UV disinfection device of the present disclosure will thus be allowed a maximum return on investment since the UV disinfection device of the present disclosure may be used in far more places as compared to any form of similar prior-art solution.

[0081] Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. In addition, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.

[0082] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed present disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Furthermore, in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A UV disinfection device provided for disinfection, wherein the UV disinfection device comprises:- at least one UV light source,- a driver for operating the at least one UV light source,- a battery,- a control unit connected to the driver and the battery, and- a housing adapted to receive the at least one UV light source, the driver, the battery, and the control unit within an internal space of the housing, wherein:- the at least one UV light source is arranged to emit UV light from a bottom side of the housing,- the bottom side of the housing is arranged to match a shape of a connection segment separate from the UV disinfection device,- the control unit is configured to operate the at least one UV light source according to a disinfection cycle, and- the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.

2. The UV disinfection device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one UV light source is arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match a UV transparent area of the connection segment.

3. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising:- a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the connection segment being received at the bottom side of the housing.

4. The UV disinfection device according to claim 3, wherein:- the sensor is a first IR sensor configured to emit and receive IR light,- the first IR sensor is connected to the control unit,- the first IR sensor arranged at a position of the bottom side of the housing that is selected to match IR reflective area provided at the connection segment.

5. The UV disinfection device according to claim 4, further comprising a corresponding second IR sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the first and the second IR sensors are both receiving IR light reflected from respective IR reflective areas of the connection segment.

6. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:- a user interface connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate the disinfection cycle when a user is operating the user interface.

7. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tilt sensor or a movement sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is further configured to only allow the at least one UV light source to emit UV light when the tilt sensor or the movement sensor indicates that the UV disinfection device is essentially stationary.

8. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a duration of the disinfection cycle is predefined to be from 10 seconds to 20 minutes.

9. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:- an identification sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the identification sensor is configured to acquire an identity of the connection segment when the connection segment is received at the bottom side of the housing.

10. The UV disinfection device according to claim 9, wherein a duration of the disinfection cycle is dependent on the identity of the connection segment.

11. The UV disinfection device according to any one the preceding claims, further comprising:- a distance determining sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the distance determining sensor is configured to acquire a distance to an object for disinfection provided a distance away from the bottom side of the housing.

12. The UV disinfection device according to claim 11, wherein the duration of the disinfection cycle is further dependent on the determined distance to the object for disinfection.

13. The UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one UV light source is a field emission light source configured to emit UV light.

14. The UV disinfection device according to claim 13, wherein a driver comprised with the UV disinfection device is arranged to generate a drive signal for the field emission light source having a voltage amplitude from 4500 V to 9000 V.

15. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the field emission light source is adapted to emit UV light within a major portion of a wavelength range defined between 210 - 350 nm.

16. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 13 - 15, wherein a plurality of field emission light source comprises a light converting material arranged to receive electrons and to emit UV light.

17. The UV disinfection device according to claim 16, wherein the light converting material is selected to be at least one of LaPO4:Pr3+, LuPO3:Pr3+, Lu2Si2O7:Pr3+, YBO3:Pr3+, YA103:Sc3+or YPO4:Bi3+or a similar light converting material.

18. The UV disinfection device according to claim 16, wherein the light converting material is a phosphor material.

19. The UV disinfection device according to any one of claims 1 - 11, wherein the UV light source comprises at least a first UV LED.

20. The UV disinfection device according to claim 19, further comprising a second UV LED, wherein:- the first UV LED is adapted to emit light within a first wavelength range defined from 250 to 270 nm,- the second UV LED is adapted to emit light within a second wavelength range defined from 270 to 320 nm.

21. A UV disinfection arrangement, comprising:- a UV disinfection device according to any one of the preceding claims, and- a connection segment.

22. The UV disinfection arrangement according to claim 21, wherein a side of the connection segment that is adapted to face away from the housing of the UV disinfection device is provided with an adhesive layer.

23. The UV disinfection arrangement according to any one of claims 21 and 22, wherein the connection segment adhere to a lid of a container.

24. The UV disinfection arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the disinfection cycle is dependent on a size of the container.

25. The UV disinfection arrangement according to any one of claims 23 and 24, wherein an outside surface of a bottom side of the container is selected to match a shape of the connection segment.

26. The UV disinfection arrangement according to any one of claims 23 - 25, wherein:- the UV disinfection device further comprises a pump connected to the control unit,- the connection segment comprises a one-way valve,- the pump is arranged to be connected to the one-way valve, and- the pump is configured to reduce an amount of air present in the container.

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