Vehicle surface disinfection system and method

Abstract

To provide a vehicle surface disinfectant or cleaning system and method different from existing systems and methods.SOLUTION: A vehicle surface disinfectant system includes a lighting module 22 having at least one ultraviolet (UV) light element 26 and at least one visible light element 28. The UV light elements and the visible light elements may be at least partially separately electrically actuated to allow the visible light elements to emit visible light while the UV light elements are off. The lighting module may be inserted into a lighting receptacle in an interior of a vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 215,835 (filed June 28, 2021), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate to transport vehicles. Other embodiments relate to disinfecting interior surfaces of transport vehicles or other types of vehicles. [Background technology]

[0003] Transportation vehicles such as buses and rail cars are used to carry people from place to place. Other vehicles such as cars, vans, SUVs, etc. may carry a significant number of passengers, as may taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, etc. Considering the typically large number of people that routinely enter, exit, and travel within such vehicles, the interior surfaces of the vehicles may be exposed to microbial and viral contamination. Such contamination can be mitigated by nighttime cleaning crews using disinfectant sprays or liquids to clean the interior surfaces. However, even with minimal effectiveness, such cleaning can take a long time, may require many cleaning crews, and / or is costly. Also, during pandemic times, it is very difficult to staff such teams. The effectiveness of such processes, which require repetitive and demanding working conditions, is also problematic for train drivers.

[0004] Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a vehicle surface disinfection or cleaning system and method that differs from existing systems and methods. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one or more embodiments, a system (e.g., a vehicle surface disinfection system) includes a light emitting module having a housing, at least one ultraviolet (UV) light element disposed in the housing, at least one visible light element disposed in the housing, and a plurality of electrical connectors attached to the housing. The at least one UV light element and the at least one visible light element are electrically connected to receive power from the plurality of electrical connectors and to be individually and electrically activated to emit visible light when the at least one UV light element is off. The housing is configured to be inserted into a light emitting receptacle in the interior of the vehicle, and the plurality of electrical connectors are configured to mate with corresponding receptacle connectors in the light emitting receptacle when the housing is inserted into the light emitting receptacle. In one embodiment, little or no modification of existing lamps or light fixtures is required. Instead, the system may simply be replaced or replaced with an existing light emitting system.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, a system (e.g., a vehicle surface disinfection system) includes an exterior control unit having a controller and a communication device electrically connected to the controller. The control unit is configured to be operatively deployed at a location exterior to a plurality of vehicles. The control unit is configured to control the communication device to communicate control signals to the vehicles. The control signals are configured to control operation of a plurality of UV light elements within the vehicle, independent of operation of one or more visible light elements within the vehicle.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, a method (e.g., a method of disinfecting an interior vehicle surface) includes receiving a control signal from an external source mounted on the vehicle. The method further includes activating at least one UV light element of a light-emitting module mounted on the vehicle in response to receiving the control signal. The light-emitting module includes a UV light element and at least one visible light element both disposed within a common housing that is removable from a light-emitting receptacle in the interior of the vehicle. The UV light element is activated to emit UV light separately from the activation of the at least one visible light element to emit visible light.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, a method (e.g., a method of disinfecting interior vehicle surfaces) includes at least one controller located at a location exterior to a plurality of vehicles and communicating a control signal to the vehicles, the control signal configured to control operation of a plurality of UV light elements within the interior of the vehicle independent of operation of one or more visible light elements within the interior of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] The subject matter of the present invention can be understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system, in which a coordinate graph is shown in which the x-axis represents time "t" and the y-axis represents electronic operating activity (e.g., transceiver transmission power, processing activity, or light output in watts, etc.). [Figure 6]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a vehicle surface disinfection system including UV light sensing and related functionality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011]

[0003] Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate to systems and methods for disinfecting interior vehicle surfaces using ultraviolet (UV) light. For example, in one embodiment, the system includes a light emitting module having a housing, at least one UV light element disposed within the housing, at least one visible light element disposed within the housing, and a plurality of electrical connectors attached to the housing. The housing may be configured for insertion into a light emitting receptacle within a vehicle (e.g., a bus, a railroad car, an airplane, or other transportation vehicle, or more generally, other vehicles), and the plurality of electrical connectors are configured to mate with corresponding receptacle connectors within the light emitting receptacle when the housing is inserted into the light emitting receptacle.

[0012] In this way, according to one aspect of the present invention, an existing vehicle light unit (having only a visible light element) can be replaced with a light emitting module, which can then be controllably activated to selectively irradiate interior surfaces of the vehicle with UV light for disinfection purposes, such as reducing microbial (e.g., bacterial and / or viral) contamination. This can eliminate or reduce the need for additional labor and / or expense when installing the light emitting module of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the light emitting module of the present invention may be installed using the same size hole or receptacle in which the original lamp was disposed, without changing the size of the hole or receptacle. The conductors (e.g., wires, cables, conductive buses, etc.) that provide power to the original lamp may also be connected to and provide power to the UV light element and / or the visible light element. Optionally, the UV light element may be sized (e.g., small enough size) to fit within the same housing as the original lamp. For example, the UV light element may be inserted into the same lens or cover in which the original visible light lamp is previously present.

[0013] The UV light element and the visible light element receive power from the plurality of electrical connectors and are electrically connected such that when the at least one UV light element is off, the at least one visible light element is individually and electrically activated to emit visible light. For example, the UV light element can be activated to emit UV light independently of the visible light element. (Visible light refers to white light, or the range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye. UV light refers to light in the wavelength range of 10-400 nm. A specific example of UV light that may be suitable for killing viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms is UV-C in the wavelength range of 100-280 nm. UV-A and UV-B, or a combination of different UV lights, may also be suitable).

[0014] The UV light element can generate and emit UV light while the visible light element is inactive and does not generate or emit visible light. Optionally, the UV light element can simultaneously generate and emit UV light while the visible light element is activated and generates or emits visible light. Optionally, a single light element can be provided that can selectively switch between different wavelengths of light or ranges of wavelengths of light generated. For example, in a first mode of operation (e.g., illumination without a disinfection mode), the light element can generate and emit visible light but not UV light. In a second mode of operation (e.g., disinfection without an illumination mode), the light element can generate and emit UV light but not visible light. In a third mode of operation (e.g., illumination and disinfection modes), the light element can generate both visible and UV light. Such a multi-purpose light element may have different lamps that can generate light of different wavelengths and can be individually controlled to generate light of different wavelengths.

[0015] In another embodiment, the light-emitting module further includes a control unit, a communication unit, and at least one switch. The communication unit and the switch are operably coupled to the control unit. The control unit is configured to actuate the switch to activate the UV light element to emit UV light in response to receiving a specified control signal via the communication unit from an external source, such as an off-vehicle source, another remote source, a source on-board the vehicle but external to the light-emitting module, or a source within the light-emitting module but external to the control unit. These sources can represent a sensor, another control unit, a distribution center or facility, etc.

[0016] For example, in another embodiment, the system may include an off-vehicle control unit having a controller and a communication device electrically connected to the controller. The off-vehicle control unit may be at a location external to the plurality of vehicles (i.e., the off-vehicle control unit is not mounted on any vehicle or is not mounted on the same vehicle as the light emitting module). The off-vehicle control unit may also control the communication device to communicate control signals to the vehicles. The control signals may control operation of the plurality of UV light elements within the interior of the vehicle independently or separately from operation of one or more visible light elements within the interior of the vehicle.

[0017] Thus, according to one embodiment, the UV light element may be remotely activated, allowing for the provision of precautions to prevent or limit activation other than under specified conditions.

[0018] For example, in one embodiment, the system may be configured such that the UV light elements are activated only for separate designated periods, with successive activation during each period depending on receipt of a different designated control signal. The UV light elements may be activated for a designated period in response to receipt of a first designated control signal, and then deactivated. Subsequent activations, such as additional, consecutive and / or spaced designated periods, are dependent on receipt of respective additional designated control signals that activate the UV light elements during each period. The amount of UV light generated by the UV light elements during a single designated period may be below a threshold for human safety. However, if the UV light elements are activated for multiple of the designated periods in response to receiving multiple respective designated control signals (from a remote source), the total amount of UV light applied to surfaces within the vehicle is sufficient to kill microorganisms over a time horizon (e.g., a day). Because activation is limited to one designated period for each control signal, and the amount of UV light during each period is below a safety threshold, activation under fault conditions will not be harmful to vehicle occupants, while controlled and intended activation is sufficient for at least partial disinfection of interior vehicle surfaces.

[0019] In another embodiment, the light emitting module (for deployment on multiple vehicles) may additionally include a respective UV sensor. The UV sensor is configured to detect UV light emitted by the UV light element and generate a sensor signal indicative of the detected UV light. Information of the sensor signal (e.g., the sensor signal itself or information obtained from the sensor signal) is communicated to a device, e.g., an external control unit, which may be configured to control a display screen to display or otherwise communicate information to a user. This may include, for example, displaying which UV light elements are emitting UV light above a threshold and which are not, for the vehicle in question, allowing personal maintenance to quickly and easily identify which UV light elements are malfunctioning or subject to possible failure and should be replaced.

[0020] The subject matter described herein provides a solution to problems or issues associated with disinfecting vehicles that are used for extended periods of time and / or that are used to transport large numbers of people. These types of vehicles may be difficult to disinfect due to little time available to disinfect many surfaces within the vehicle, the number of people aboard the vehicle, etc. Additionally, these types of vehicles may not be easily taken out of service or out of operation for the installation of new light-emitting modules, which may require space reduction for the modules, rewiring new wires to power the modules, or running new wires, etc. The subject matter described herein provides a solution to some or all of these problems or issues by describing UV light-emitting modules that may be controlled to generate UV light during relatively short periods when no passengers are aboard the area illuminated by the modules, may use existing wiring for previous non-UV light-emitting modules, can be quickly and easily retrofitted into existing receptacles, etc. At least one technical effect of the subject matter described herein is to destroy or eliminate pathogens, viruses, bacteria, etc. in vehicles that are used heavily or repeatedly during short periods when no passengers are aboard, without modifying the structure or wiring of the vehicle in which the modules are installed.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a vehicle surface disinfection system 20 includes a light emitting module 22 having a housing 24, at least one UV light element 26 (also referred to as a disinfection light element), at least one visible light element 28, and a number of electrical connectors 30a, 30b. (Two connectors are shown in the drawings as an example, but there could be three or more). The light elements and electrical connectors are at least partially disposed within the housing. In general, the light elements are positioned relative to the housing such that when the light elements are electrically activated, the light elements emit light outwardly away from the housing. To this end, the housing may include a transparent or translucent side panel 32 (or multiple such panels) disposed in the path of the light emitted by the light elements. Alternatively, the housing may include one or more openings disposed in the path of the light emitted by the light elements. Such openings may be occupied by the side light emitting surfaces of the light elements themselves, for example, when the light elements are LEDs (light emitting diodes). Alternatively, the light elements may be disposed and attached on the exterior surface of the housing (eg, as in the case of surface mounted LEDs), with electrical leads of the light elements extending into the housing.

[0022] The UV light element and the visible light element are electrically connected to receive power from a plurality of electrical connectors. For example, the electrical connectors may be configured to accept a positive voltage (+V) and a negative voltage or ground (-V) portion of a power signal as part of an electrical circuit that includes the light elements. (If there are multiple visible light elements, they may be connected in parallel with each other to receive power. Also, if there are multiple UV light elements, they may be connected in parallel with each other to receive power). The UV light element and the visible light element are also electrically connected such that they may be at least partially individually electrically activated to emit visible light 31 when the UV light element is off and thereby not emitting UV light 33. That is, activation of the visible light element does not require simultaneous activation of the UV light element.

[0023] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting module 22 may include one or more switches 34 electrically interconnected between the UV light element 26 and the electrical connectors 30a, 30b. The switches are configured to be actuated in response to a control input 36 (discussed in more detail below or elsewhere herein) to close an electrical circuit for providing power to the UV light element. The switches may be solid-state switches (e.g., transistor circuits), relays, contactors, or the like. In one embodiment, the switches are configured to remain in an open state (no power is provided to the UV light element) or transition to an open state, such as by a spring or other resilient return element, in the absence of the control input 36 or in the event of loss of power. In this illustrated embodiment, the visible light element is directly connected to the electrical connector. Here, when power is present at the connector (e.g., by the vehicle's interior lighting being generally activated), the visible light element is activated (on) to emit visible light. At the same time, whether the UV light element is activated (to emit UV light) depends on the state of the switch. Thus, when power is present at the connector, the visible light element is always on and the UV light may or may not be on, whereby the two are partially independent or individually controllable, e.g., the UV light element can only be activated when the visible light element is activated, but the visible light element can be activated when the UV light element is off. (In this example, the three operating states are thus either (i) all off when no power is present at the connector, and (ii) UV and visible light, or (iii) only visible light, when power is present at the connector.)

[0024] According to one embodiment, the housing 24 of the light emitting module 22 may be configured to be inserted into a light emitting receptacle 38 inside a vehicle 40. The plurality of electrical connectors 30a, 30b are configured to make electrical contact (e.g., mate) with corresponding receptacle connectors 42a, 42b in the light emitting receptacle when the housing is inserted into the light emitting receptacle, as indicated by arrow 44, for example. In other words, the light emitting module is configured to be plugged into the light emitting receptacle for operation of the light elements. (As shown, the receptacle connectors may be electrically connected to a vehicle light control and power supply system 46 that controllably provides power to light emitters mounted on the vehicle.)

[0025] The light-emitting module 22 may be a "drop-in" replacement for an existing lighting unit installed in a vehicle or vehicles. That is, the housing 24 may have the same shape as the housing of an existing lighting unit in a vehicle (or a class or group of vehicles) so that the housing 24 fits into the vehicle's existing lighting receptacle. Also, the pin-out configuration of the electrical connectors 30a, 30b may be the same as that of the existing lighting unit, e.g., the same number, arrangement, and voltage configuration (e.g., positive and negative voltages or ground) of electrical connectors. Also, the light-emitting module 22 may be configured to operate at the same voltage / power level (e.g., 12V DC) already installed and provided in the vehicle to power the interior light emitters. Thus, a vehicle can be provided with UV light for surface disinfection by replacing an existing lighting unit having only a visible light element with a light-emitting module described herein that incorporates both a UV light element and a visible light element. The light-emitting modules still provide visible illumination to the interior of the vehicle and can be configured to provide the same or similar amount of visible light (in terms of total wattage output of visible light) as the lighting units they replace.

[0026] In other embodiments, the visible light element and the UV light element may be completely independently controllable such that the UV light element may be activated when the visible light element is deactivated, the visible light element may be activated when the UV light element is deactivated, and / or both may be activated or deactivated (on or off) simultaneously. This can be done, for example, by having a second, separately controlled switch element associated with the visible light element. 2, the light elements 26, 28 may be configured to be electrically connected to separate circuits, for example, by being electrically connected to different sets of electrical connectors 30a, 30b, and 30c, 30d, which in turn are connectable to different sets of receptacle connectors 42a, 42b, and 42c, 42d, which in turn are electrically connected to different vehicle lighting circuits 48, 50. The light elements may then be individually operated by separate controls (e.g., respective switches) of the circuits 48, 50.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, the light-emitting module 22 may further include a control unit 52 (e.g., a circuit having a microprocessor) and a communication unit 54. The communication unit and the switch 34 are operably coupled (e.g., electrically connected) to the control unit. The communication unit may include a wireless transceiver or wireless receiver configured to wirelessly communicate using a radio frequency signal at a specified frequency or within a specified frequency band. The control unit is configured to actuate the switch to activate the UV light element 26 to emit UV light 33 in response to receiving a specified control signal 56 via the communication unit from an off-vehicle source 58 or another remote source (see FIG. 4 and related discussion below).

[0028] 3, the control unit 52 (and / or the communication unit 54) may be electrically connected to the circuitry of the connectors 30a, 30b to receive power via the connectors when the light emitting module is received in the receptacle 38 and power is present at the receptacle connectors 42a, 42b. Also, in embodiments in which the light emitting module includes multiple switches, one of which is electrically connected between the visible light element and the connectors 30a, 30b, the control unit 52 may also be configured to control the activation and deactivation of the visible light element based on an additional specified control signal.

[0029] As described above, the control unit 52 activates the UV light element in response to receiving a designated control signal 56. The control unit may be configured to only activate the UV light element upon receiving the correct signal, i.e., receiving the designated signal is a prerequisite for activating the UV light element, and if the designated signal is not received, the UV light element cannot be activated. If the system is configured such that the control signal originates from outside the vehicle or other remote source, this may function as a fail-safe, whereby the UV light element cannot be locally activated or only locally activated. That is, in one embodiment, the UV light element is activated only in response to the control unit receiving a designated control signal from outside the vehicle or other remote source. In another embodiment, the UV light element is activated only in response to both the control unit receiving a designated control signal from outside the vehicle or other remote source and the control unit receiving another, second designated control signal, e.g., a local activation signal initiated by vehicle maintenance personnel. In either case, as discussed in more detail below, the off-vehicle or other remote source 58 may be configured to generate a designated control signal 56 based on safety information and / or other information the off-vehicle or other remote source 58 receives about the vehicle, such as the location of the vehicle, the vehicle speed, the vehicle schedule, the presence or absence of people inside the vehicle, the time of day, sound or image data inside or outside the vehicle, etc. For example, the off-vehicle or remote source may generate a control signal in response to the vehicle being in a location where passengers typically do not ride in the vehicle (e.g., a storage facility, a parking facility, a maintenance facility, etc.). The off-vehicle or remote source may generate a control signal in response to a vehicle that is not moving or is stationary for a specified period of time (and / or the control signal may be generated after a specified delay to provide passengers with an opportunity to disembark). The off-vehicle or remote source may generate a control signal in response to a vehicle schedule that indicates the vehicle is not scheduled to transport passengers.The off-vehicle or remote source may generate the control signal in response to the presence or absence of a person inside the vehicle (e.g., based on output from a sensor that detects the presence of a person inside the vehicle, such as a camera, motion sensor, etc.). The off-vehicle or remote source may generate the control signal in response to a time within an associated specified time range during which no passengers are aboard the vehicle (e.g., 1:00 AM-4:00 AM). The off-vehicle or remote source may generate the control signal in response to sounds detected inside the vehicle being quieter than a specified decibel level (e.g., indicating that no passengers are likely aboard). The off-vehicle or remote source may generate the control signal in response to an image or video of the interior of the vehicle that indicates or represents that no one is aboard the vehicle in which the light emitting module is located. The off-vehicle or remote source may generate the control signal in response to an image or video of the exterior of the vehicle that indicates that no one is aboard the vehicle (e.g., by looking through a vehicle window). Additionally or alternatively, one or more of these control signals may be generated by one or more components aboard the vehicle, such as one or more of the sensors 98 described herein.

[0030] In one embodiment, the remote source 58 includes an off-vehicle control unit 60 having a controller 62 (e.g., a circuit having one or more microprocessors) and a communication device 64 (e.g., a radio or other wireless communication device) electrically connected to the controller. The control unit 60 is configured to be operatively deployed at a location off-vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, e.g., when the control unit is not on-board any vehicle. For example, the control unit may be located at a distribution center, a maintenance depot, or the like. Such operative deployment at a location may include being configured to operate with power available at the location and having access to a suitable communication infrastructure (e.g., the Internet and / or public communications) for the communication device 64 to communicate with an on-vehicle communication unit, e.g., unit 54. The off-vehicle control unit 60 is configured to control the communication device 64 to communicate control signals 56 to the vehicle 40. As discussed above, the control signals may control the operation of the UV light elements in the interior of the vehicle at least partially independently of the operation of the visible light elements in the interior of the vehicle.

[0031] In a transportation network, a plurality of vehicles (e.g., buses, airplanes, automobiles, etc.) or vehicle systems (e.g., passenger trains, convoys of individual vehicles, articulated buses formed from interconnected sections, etc.) may be equipped with on-board portions of the system (e.g., light emitting modules) as described herein. In such cases, an off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to communicate respective control signals to all vehicles so equipped to activate UV light elements mounted on the vehicles under specified and controlled conditions. Optionally, a control unit may be mounted on the vehicles or vehicle systems and may control the activation of the UV light elements.

[0032] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the remote source 58 may include a vehicle control unit 66 having a vehicle control unit controller 68 (e.g., a circuit with a microprocessor) and a vehicle control unit communication device 70 electrically connected to the controller. The vehicle control unit is mounted and positioned on the vehicle 40, but is not housed within the lighting module. Instead, the vehicle control unit may be located, for example, in a central control cabinet that houses all or part of the vehicle lighting control and power supply system 46 and / or other vehicle electronics (e.g., HVAC control). The vehicle control unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the off-vehicle control unit 60 and to communicate with a number of lighting modules 22 mounted on the vehicle 40. In one embodiment, the communication with the lighting modules is wireless. In other embodiments, the communication may alternatively or additionally be via a wired connection, for example, a number of cables extending between the location of the vehicle control unit and the lighting receptacle. The vehicle control unit may receive wireless signals from one or more sources. The vehicle control unit is configured to evaluate the received signals against specified criteria. The vehicle control unit is configured to generate and communicate a control signal 56 (to activate the UV light element) in response to whether any received signal meets a specified criterion. For example, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may communicate a first control signal 72 to the vehicle control unit 66. The signal 72 may be a coded signal generated and communicated by the off-vehicle control unit that authorizes activation of the UV light element mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle control unit determines that the signal 72 is valid to authorize / control activation of the UV light element, for example, by comparing the code / information of the signal 72 with information about valid codes (i.e., the specified criterion) stored in a data unit (memory) of the vehicle control unit.

[0033] The embodiment of FIG. 4 may allow for centralizing or partially centralizing certain processor or transceiver intensive operations, as opposed to equipping each light-emitting module with the appropriate equipment for such operations. For example, the vehicle control unit communication device 70 may have a relatively large transceiver power output for communicating with off-vehicle sources, thereby eliminating the need for each light-emitting module to have such a transceiver. Instead, the light-emitting module may have a lower power transceiver for on-vehicle communication only. As another example, the vehicle control unit communication device may have a transceiver with specific circuitry for communicating over long distances, e.g., a cellular communication transceiver for communicating over a public wireless network, while the light-emitting module may have a different type of transceiver for on-vehicle or short-range communication only, e.g., Wi-Fi. In either case, or both, the light-emitting module may thereby be physically smaller and / or more cost-effective to implement and power.

[0034] As another example, the vehicle control unit controller 68 may have greater processing power than the lighting module control units 52 individually. Again, this may allow the lighting modules to be physically smaller and / or more cost-effective to implement and power. For example, signals 72 communicated from the off-vehicle control unit 60 may have a higher degree of coding or complexity than signals 56 communicated between the vehicle control unit 66 and the lighting module control units 52, or there may be signals 72 that are communicated more frequently. By having greater processing power, the vehicle control unit controller may process such signals in a timely manner, while the lighting module control units may not need as much processing power to process in-vehicle signals 56 in a timely manner.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a system in which UV light element 74 (box 74 in FIG. 5 generally represents UV light element 26) is configured to be activated only for distinct designated periods 76 (individually shown as 76a, 76b, 76c, etc.), with successive activation in each period dependent on receipt of a respective different designated control signal 78 (individually shown as 78a, 78b, 78c, etc.). In other words, for a given vehicle, the UV light element is activated for the designated period 76a in response to receipt of a first designated control signal 78a, and then deactivated. Subsequent activation of additional, successive and spaced apart designated periods 76b, 76c, etc., is dependent on receipt of respective additional designated control signals 78b, 78c, etc., receiving which activates the UV light element for each period 76. This prevents the UV light element from being activated for more than a relatively short portion of the designated periods 76, as a safety measure, in the event of a failure mode or condition (e.g., receipt of an erroneous signal).

[0036] More specifically, according to one embodiment, the off-vehicle control unit 60 is programmed with a process or algorithm 80 (e.g., stored in a memory unit) that causes the off-vehicle control unit to generate and transmit a control signal 78 under specified circumstances or criteria. Specifically, the off-vehicle control unit receives or is otherwise provided with information 82 regarding a vehicle equipped with a UV light element 74. The information may include sensor information on or from the vehicle (as described elsewhere herein), vehicle scheduling information, time and calendar date, control input from a user operating a user interface of the off-vehicle control unit, etc. In response to the information being compared to the specified criteria of the algorithm 80, the off-vehicle control unit may generate the control signal 78. For example, the off-vehicle control unit may be programmed or otherwise configured to generate a control signal in response to information indicating that the vehicle is parked in a maintenance garage / depot or other location where the vehicle is not meant to carry passengers. Such information may include the sensed location of the vehicle (e.g., via GPS or camera), a time corresponding to when the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at a maintenance garage / depot, sensed movement conditions indicating the vehicle is stationary, etc. As another example, the information may be sensor information indicating that the interior of the vehicle is currently unoccupied, e.g., information from sensors such as cameras, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, door sensors, etc.

[0037] When the off-board control unit generates a first one of the control signals 78a, it communicates it to an on-board controller, e.g., the light emitting module control unit 52 or the vehicle control unit controller 68. The on-board controller receives the signal. The on-board controller is programmed by a process or algorithm 84 (stored in a memory unit) that causes the on-board controller to evaluate the received signal against criteria stored in the memory at 86a to determine whether the received signal is a designated control signal that allows or controls activation of the UV light element 74. For example, the signal may include a code, and the on-board controller may have information of the code stored in memory. If the code of the received signal matches the information in the memory, the on-board controller determines that the signal is a designated control signal. The on-board controller then generates an electrical signal at 88a to actuate a switch, i.e., switch 34. The switch is turned on for a period 90a corresponding to the designated period 76a, and the UV light element is activated for the designated period 76a, resulting in emission of UV light. The on-board controller is configured to generate the electrical signal 88a for a specified period of time, and then deactivate the electrical signal to turn off the switch and deactivate the UV light element. The on-board controller is configured such that subsequent activation of the UV light element requires receipt of a subsequent specified control signal, which may be different from the first specified control signal, for example. For example, the off-board control unit 60 may generate and communicate subsequent control signals 78 (e.g., 78b, 78c, etc.), each of which is received by the on-board controller and evaluated in sequence at 86 (e.g., 86b, 86c, etc., representing processing cycles / times), for example, the on-board controller may be configured to compare the code contained in the signal with the respective information of the code stored in a memory accessible to the on-board controller. Each time there is a match, the on-board controller applies the subsequent electrical signal 88 to the switch 34, which is turned on for subsequent successive periods of time 90, which results in activation of the UV light element for subsequent successive, specified periods of time 76. During the time between each period 76, the UV light element is deactivated (off) and therefore does not emit UV light.

[0038] If the on-board controller (e.g., 52 or 68) receives a signal 92 (from whatever source) that does not match specified criteria (e.g., stored in memory) for evaluating whether the signal is a designated control signal for activating the UV light element, the on-board controller is configured to not generate a signal to activate the switch to activate the UV light element. That is, the on-board controller is configured to leave the switch de-activated, thereby turning off the UV light element, in response to determining that the received signal is not a designated control signal (based on a comparison with stored in memory and other specified criteria), as shown by the circled "X" in FIG. 5, 86d.

[0039] In one embodiment, the signal generation algorithm 80 of the exterior control unit 60 may include a cyclic code generator, e.g., a mathematical formula that can generate many secure codes in relatively rapid succession. The signal evaluation algorithm 84 of the on-board controller (e.g., 52 or 68) includes a corresponding cyclic code generator that is synchronized (e.g., via a handshake or other initialization signal) with that of the exterior control unit. This ensures that each time the exterior control unit generates and communicates a new code, the on-board controller generates the same code, which is used as a specified criterion for evaluating receipt of an authorized command to activate the UV light element.

[0040] In another embodiment, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to generate a set number of control signals 78, each with a different specified signal content, with the control signals being reused periodically over time. For example, the off-vehicle controller may have a list (e.g., stored in memory) of 16 or more codes, and the on-vehicle controller (e.g., 52 or 68) has the same list stored in memory. To continuously activate (pulse) the UV light elements, the off-vehicle control unit may sequentially transmit the control signals in the stored list at intervals over time. Once at the end of the list, the off-vehicle control unit retransmits the control signals at intervals over time, starting again at the beginning of the list, to additionally pulse the UV light elements. The on-vehicle controller similarly evaluates the received signals against the order of the list and against the specified criteria for each signal in the list.

[0041] In another embodiment, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to generate multiple control signals 78, each of the multiple control signals 78 having the same code, other coded content, or other designated signal content, i.e., the same designated signal content transmitted over time in multiple spaced repetitions. Here, the on-vehicle controller (e.g., 52 or 68), upon receiving a signal, may evaluate the signal against a designated criterion indicative of the designated signal content. If the received signal matches the designated criterion, it may indicate that the received signal was a designated control signal to activate the UV light element for a single designated period 76. If not, the on-vehicle controller may not activate the UV light element. Because the on-vehicle controller is configured to activate the UV light element for only a single period for each received designated signal, in the event of a fault or error condition, e.g., a mis-evaluated signal, or receipt of an erroneous signal, the UV light element is unintentionally activated for only one period below a designated threshold for safety.

[0042] In addition to evaluating the signals 78, 92 (received wirelessly or otherwise) that may be designated control signals (to activate the UV light elements), the on-board controller (e.g., 52 or 68) may be further configured to generate an electrical signal 88 to actuate the switch only in response to one or more other signals 94, 96 (e.g., received via other communication channels, such as other wireless connections, other wireless channels, wired connections, etc.) that meet one or more additional criteria. That is, the on-board controller may only actuate (turn on) the switch in response to determining that the signal (e.g., signal 78) received from an off-vehicle source is a designated control signal and that the one or more other signals 94, 96 meet the additional criteria. For example, the first signal 94 may be generated by a secure manual "UV light" actuation switch mounted on the vehicle (e.g., in a locked central control / electronic cabinet), which may only be accessed by maintenance personnel or flight attendants on board the vehicle. Thus, when the vehicle is at a maintenance depot, maintenance personnel can verify that the vehicle is passenger-free and, when so determined, can turn on the manual switch. Subsequently, if a specified control signal is received from an off-vehicle source while the manual activation switch was on, the on-vehicle controller can activate the UV light element, e.g., pulse activation, as described herein. As another example, the second signal 96 can originate from one or more sensors on or off the vehicle, with additional criteria related, for example, to vehicle occupancy, vehicle location, vehicle schedule information, vehicle movement, etc.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the periods 76 may all be of the same length. Additionally, the periods may be relatively short such that each activation of the UV light elements affects a pulse or strobe. For example, the length of the periods may be selected such that the amount of UV light generated by the UV light elements 74 within the interior region of the vehicle during a single specified period 76 is less (or much less) than a specified threshold for human safety. For example, if the specified maximum safe level of UV-C light exposure for humans is 6 mJ / cm2 / day (which is a typical value), the specified period 76 may be selected such that the UV light generated during the period within the vehicle is 0.5 mJ / cm2 to 2 mJ / cm2, e.g., 1 mJ / cm2. That is, if a failure or fault condition happens to cause the UV light elements within the vehicle to be activated for one cycle (one specified period), the person may be exposed to only safe levels of UV light while the person was accidentally inside the vehicle. The exact length of period 76 may be selected for each vehicle type depending on one or more of the following: (i) the rated UV light output (e.g., watts) of the UV light element; (ii) the actual UV light output of the UV light element; (iii) the rated or actual variable output of the UV light element (e.g., watts per cm2 at 1 meter); (iv) the positioning (e.g., distance) of the UV light element relative to where a passenger would be closest to the light element under specified normal circumstances (e.g., standing on the floor inside the vehicle or sitting in a passenger seat inside the vehicle); and / or (v) the specified threshold value selected (e.g., 1 mJ / cm2).

[0044] According to one embodiment, when the UV light elements are activated for multiple of the designated periods 76 in response to receiving multiple respective designated control signals 78, the total amount of UV light applied to surfaces within the vehicle over a specified time horizon (e.g., a day) is sufficient to kill microorganisms (e.g., viruses or bacteria). Because activation is limited to one designated period for each control signal, and the amount of UV light during each period is below a safety threshold, activation under fault conditions will not be harmful to vehicle occupants, while intended activation for multiple periods over a controlled, specified time horizon is sufficient to at least partially disinfect interior vehicle surfaces.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, in another embodiment, the light emitting modules 22 may additionally include respective UV sensors 98. That is, each light emitting module may include one or more UV sensors 98. The UV sensors are electrically connected to the control unit 52. The UV sensors are configured to detect incident UV light 100, i.e., UV light falling on the sensor. Because the light emitting modules are deployed inside the vehicle, the incident UV light will most likely originate from UV light 33 emitted by the UV light elements 26. The UV sensors may be positioned to receive light directly from the UV light elements and / or to receive UV light reflected from the interior surfaces of the vehicle. The UV sensors are configured to generate a sensor signal 102 indicative of the detected UV light, e.g., indicative of the magnitude of the UV light sensed over time. The sensor signal 102 is routed to the control unit 52. The control unit is configured to communicate information 104 of the sensor signal (e.g., the sensor signal itself or information obtained from the sensor signal, continuously or periodically) to the off-vehicle control unit 60. The off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to control the device 106, e.g., a display screen, to display or otherwise communicate the information 104 to a user. For example, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to control the display screen 106 to display a graphical representation 108 of a vehicle in which the light-emitting module 22 is housed and deployed. The control unit 60 may also be configured to control the display screen to display a graphical representation 110 of the light-emitting module, and to change how the graphical representation of the light-emitting module is displayed depending on the received information 104. For example, if the received information 104 indicates that the UV light element of the light-emitting module is emitting UV light above a specified threshold (e.g., thus functioning as intended), the control unit may display the graphical representation of the light-emitting module in one manner to represent proper functioning, such as, for example, a green color, an open circle, a first specified icon, or other specified representation.On the other hand, if the received information 104 indicates that the UV light element of the light-emitting module is not emitting UV light above a specified threshold (e.g., may be "burned out" or otherwise not functioning as intended), the control unit may display the graphical representation of the light-emitting module in a different, second manner, such as a red, opaque circle, a second designated icon, or other second designated representation, to indicate that it is not functioning properly. Thus, maintenance personnel or other persons can view the graphical representation and quickly understand and identify that the light-emitting element may need replacement or other service.

[0046] Optionally, one or more of these sensors may sense the presence or absence of passengers aboard the vehicle. For example, at least one of the sensors 98 may be a motion sensor, a structured light array sensor, an infrared or thermal sensor, a camera, or the like. An output from this type of sensor may indicate whether the vehicle is occupied (the UV light element cannot be activated) or whether the vehicle is unoccupied (the UV light element can be activated). The sensor may provide this output to a control unit (which may be on-board or off-board), which may control the UV light element accordingly. Optionally, the sensor may provide an output to a UV light element that activates or deactivates based on the output. This may prevent the UV light element from generating UV light that may be harmful to people while passengers are aboard the vehicle.

[0047] In another embodiment, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may communicate with multiple different light-emitting modules 22 mounted on one vehicle, and the off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to receive the respective UV sensor emitted information 104 from each of the multiple different light-emitting modules mounted on one vehicle. In such a case, the off-vehicle control unit may be further configured to additionally control a device that conveys the respective information regarding all the multiple light-emitting modules. For example, the off-vehicle control unit may be configured to control the display screen 106 to display multiple additional graphic representations 112, 114, 116, etc. of each light-emitting module associated with the graphic representation 108 of the vehicle in which the light-emitting module is housed and deployed. The off-vehicle control unit may control how each graphic representation 112, 114, 116, etc. is displayed (e.g., as either a first designated representation or a second designated representation, or otherwise) depending on the received information, for example, to indicate whether the light-emitting module is functioning as intended or to indicate some other quality or aspect of the light-emitting module. The relative positioning of each graphical representation (with respect to the displayed vehicle representation) may indicate the location or position of each lighting module mounted on the vehicle, and / or the off-vehicle control unit may be further configured to additionally display additional information that uniquely identifies each lighting module mounted on the vehicle and / or its location. Again, this may enable maintenance personnel or other persons to quickly understand and identify which, if any, of multiple lighting modules mounted on a particular vehicle may be in need of replacement or other service.

[0048] In another embodiment, the off-vehicle control unit 60 may communicate with a plurality of different light-emitting modules 22 mounted on a plurality of vehicles, and the off-vehicle control unit 60 may be configured to receive respective UV sensor emitted information 104 from the plurality of different light-emitting modules mounted on all of the plurality of vehicles. In such a case, the off-vehicle control unit may be further configured to additionally control the device to convey respective information regarding all of the plurality of light-emitting modules of all of the plurality of vehicles. For example, the off-vehicle control unit may be configured to control the display screen 106 to display a plurality of additional graphical representations 118, 120, 122, etc. of each of the vehicles with which it is communicating, and / or a selectable subset thereof, e.g., one vehicle at a time, or multiple vehicles simultaneously, but less than the total number of vehicles with which the control unit is communicating. The off-vehicle control unit may be further configured to control the display screen to simultaneously display a plurality of additional graphical representations 124, 126, 128, etc. of the multiple light-emitting modules mounted on each vehicle associated with the displayed graphical vehicle representation. As described above, each of the multiple additional graphical representations of the multiple lighting modules may be displayed to convey specified information regarding the lighting module of interest. For example, for a given lighting module, its associated displayed graphical representation may be displayed in one manner reflecting one state of the lighting module (or other aspect or characteristic of the lighting module), e.g., functioning to emit UV light above a specified threshold, and in a different other manner reflecting another state, e.g., not functioning to emit light above a specified threshold. For each displayed vehicle representation, the relative positioning of the graphical representation of the lighting module associated with the vehicle may indicate the location or position of the lighting module mounted on the vehicle, and / or the off-vehicle control unit may be further configured to display additional information that uniquely identifies each lighting module mounted on the vehicle and / or its location.The multiple lighting module representations in conjunction with the multiple vehicle representations enable maintenance personnel or other persons to quickly understand and identify which, if any, of the multiple lighting modules installed on the multiple vehicles may require replacement or other maintenance, thereby facilitating efficient vehicle maintenance.

[0049] The display screen or other device 106 may be located, for example, at a maintenance depot or facility, a distribution center, a central office, etc., or it may be incorporated into a portable electronic device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Device control may be direct or indirect, in whole or in part, via the Internet or other network. For example, the off-vehicle control unit may be configured to control a display screen mounted locally by a cable. Or, the off-vehicle control unit may be configured to communicate information to a website, which may then communicate information to a user device of an authorized user linked to the website via the Internet or another network. The off-vehicle control unit may be configured to communicate information in a number of different ways, for example, via a local device directly connected to the off-vehicle control unit and via Internet communication with an authorized user.

[0050] In one example, a system (e.g., a vehicle surface disinfection system) is provided. The system may include a light emitting module having at least one UV light element and at least one visible light element, characterized in that the UV light element and the visible light element can be at least partially independently and electrically activated so that the visible light element emits visible light while the UV light element is off. The light emitting module may be inserted into a light emitting receptacle in the interior of the vehicle.

[0051] The light emitting module may be a replacement for an existing light emitting module in a receptacle of the vehicle, including electrical connections for the existing light emitting module. The light emitting module may be placed in the same receptacle and connected to the same electrical connections with an existing light emitting module without modifying the receptacle or electrical connections, along with an existing light emitting module without a UV light element. The light emitting module may also include a control unit, a communication unit, and at least one switch. The communication unit and the at least one switch may be operatively coupled to the control unit. The control unit may actuate the at least one switch and activate the at least one UV light element to emit UV light in response to receiving a specified control signal from an external source via the communication unit. The communication unit may include a wireless transceiver that receives the specified control signal from the external source via a wireless communication channel. The external source may include a control server at the distribution center. The control unit may actuate the at least one switch for successively spaced designated periods of time in response to successively receiving different codes as the specified control signal from the external source. During the designated periods of time, the at least one UV light element may be activated to emit UV light. Between the specified time periods, the at least one UV light element may be off. The UV light emitted by each of the at least one UV light element during each of the specified time periods may be individually less than a specified threshold for safe human exposure to UV light for a closest distance between the at least one UV light element and a specified location of a human as a passenger inside the vehicle. The application of UV light to the interior surfaces of the vehicle during an aggregate of the specified time periods over the specified time horizon may be or is sufficient to reduce microbial contamination of the interior surfaces.

[0052] The control unit may receive sensor signals from sensors mounted on the vehicle. The control unit may control activation of the at least one UV light element in response to the sensor signals meeting one or more specified criteria. The sensor signals may be indicative of one or more of a sound inside the vehicle, movement inside the vehicle, movement of the vehicle, vehicle location, vehicle acceleration, vehicle door actuation, the presence of one or more persons occupying the vehicle, and / or the absence of one or more persons occupying the vehicle.

[0053] The sensor signal may include a video signal inside the vehicle. The control unit may at least one of: communicate information of the video signal to an external source for the external source to generate a control signal based at least in part on information of the video signal, and / or vary the number of consecutively spaced designated periods during which the at least one UV light is activated. The control unit may at least one of: control opening of a door of the vehicle, and / or activate at least one warning device inside the vehicle simultaneously with or immediately prior to activation of the at least one UV light element. For example, the door may be opened and / or the warning device may be activated simultaneously with activation of the UV light element or within a period during which transmission of an electronic signal is no longer required between detection of activation of the light element and opening of the door or activation of the warning device. The control unit may operate at least one switch to activate the at least one UV light element to emit UV light only in response to both receiving a designated control signal from an external source via the communication unit and receiving a second control signal from a user-activated input.

[0054] The light emitting module may also include at least one UV sensor that generates a UV sensor signal indicative of the UV light emitted by the at least one UV light element. The light emitting module may also include a control unit and a communication unit operably coupled to the control unit. The control unit may control the communication unit to communicate information of the UV sensor signal to an external source. The light emitting module may include a housing in which the at least one UV light element and the at least one visible light element are disposed.

[0055] In another example, another system (e.g., another disinfection system) may include an off-vehicle control unit including a controller and a communication device electrically connected to the controller. The control unit may be deployed at a location that is off-vehicle of a plurality of vehicles. The off-vehicle control unit may control the communication device to communicate a first control signal to the vehicles. The first control signal may at least partially control operation of a plurality of UV light elements within the interior of the vehicle separately from operation of one or more visible light elements within the interior of the vehicle.

[0056] The off-vehicle control unit may receive sensor signals from the plurality of vehicles via the communication device. The sensor signals include information of UV light emitted by the UV light elements. The off-vehicle control unit may generate a second control signal for controlling at least one user interface device to communicate the UV light information to a user. The at least one user interface device may include a display screen. The second control signal may control the display screen to display a graphical representation of the vehicle and at least one of the UV light or the UV light element information. The first control signal may include a respective cyclic code for each of the vehicles to activate the UV light elements mounted on the respective vehicle for successively spaced apart designated periods. During the designated periods, the UV light elements are activated to emit UV light, and between the designated periods, the UV light is turned off, and the cumulative UV light emitted by the UV light elements in the vehicle during each of the designated periods may be below a designated threshold for safe human exposure to UV light.

[0057] In another example, a method (e.g., for disinfecting a vehicle interior) may include receiving a control signal from an external source at a control unit of a light-emitting module mounted on the vehicle, and activating at least one UV light element of the light-emitting module in response to receiving the control signal at the control unit. The light-emitting module may have at least one UV light element and at least one visible light element both disposed within a common housing that is removable from a light-emitting receptacle in the interior of the vehicle. The at least one UV light element may be activated to emit UV light separately from the activation of the at least one visible light element to emit visible light.

[0058] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and the description may include cases where the event occurs and does not occur. Approximation language used herein throughout this specification and claims may be applied to modify any quantitative expression that may be permissibly varied without causing a change in the basic function involved. Thus, values ​​modified by terms such as "about", "substantially", and "approximately" or terms may not be limited to the exact value specified. In at least some cases, approximation language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Throughout this specification and claims, unless the context or language indicates otherwise, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged, and such ranges are specified and may include all subranges contained therein.

[0059] This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments, including the best mode, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that differ insubstantially from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A system comprising: an off-vehicle control unit including a controller and a communication device electrically connected to the controller, the off-vehicle control unit configured to be operatively deployed at a location outside of a plurality of vehicles; the off-vehicle control unit is configured to control the communication device to communicate a first control signal to the vehicle, the first control signal being configured to control operation of a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light elements within the interior of the vehicle at least partially independently from operation of one or more visible light elements within the interior of the vehicle; the off-vehicle control unit is configured to receive sensor signals from the plurality of vehicles via the communication device, the sensor signals including information of UV light emitted by the UV light elements; The system, wherein the off-vehicle control unit is configured to generate a second control signal for controlling at least one user interface device to communicate the information of the UV light to a user.

2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface device includes a display screen, and the second control signal is configured to control the display screen to display a graphical representation of at least one of the vehicle and information of the UV light or the UV light element.

3. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control signal includes a respective cyclic code for each of the vehicles to activate the UV light elements mounted on each of the vehicles for consecutively spaced designated time periods, during which the UV light elements are activated to emit the UV light, and between each of the designated time periods the UV light is turned off, and wherein an amount of cumulative UV light emitted by the UV light elements in the vehicles during each of the designated time periods is less than a designated threshold for safe human exposure to the UV light.

4. the system further comprising a light emitting module having the UV light element, the light emitting module also having a visible light element, the UV light element and the visible light element being configured to be at least partially independently and electrically activated such that the visible light element emits visible light while the UV light element is off; The system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module is configured to be inserted into a lighting receptacle within the interior of the vehicle.

5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the light emitting module is configured to be a replacement for an existing light emitting module in the light emitting receptacle of the vehicle, including electrical connections for the existing light emitting module, and the light emitting module is configured to be placed in the same light emitting receptacle and connected to the same electrical connections without modifying the light emitting receptacle or the electrical connections, and the existing light emitting module does not have the UV light element.

6. The system further comprises a light emitting module having the UV light element; 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting module further comprises an on-vehicle control unit, a communication unit, and a switch, the communication unit and the switch being operably coupled to the on-vehicle control unit, and the on-vehicle control unit configured to operate the switch and activate the UV light element to emit the UV light in response to receiving a specified control signal from the off-vehicle control unit via the communication unit.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the communication unit comprises a wireless transceiver configured to receive the designated control signal from the off-vehicle control unit over a wireless communication channel.

8. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the on-board control unit is configured to operate the switch for successively spaced designated time periods in response to successively receiving different codes as the designated control signal from the off-vehicle control unit.

9. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein during the specified time periods the UV light elements are activated to emit the UV light, and between the specified time periods the UV light elements are off, and the amount of UV light emitted by each of the UV light elements in each of the specified time periods is individually less than a specified threshold for safe human exposure to the UV light for a closest distance between the UV light element and a specified position of a human as a passenger in the interior of the vehicle.

10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein application of the UV light to an interior surface of the vehicle for the amount of the specified time period over a specified time horizon is sufficient to reduce microbial contamination of the interior surface.

11. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the on-board control unit is configured to receive sensor signals from sensors mounted on the vehicle, and the on-board control unit is configured to control activation of the UV light element in response to the sensor signals meeting one or more specified criteria.

12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of one or more of: sounds within the interior of the vehicle, movement within the interior of the vehicle, movement of the vehicle, location of the vehicle, acceleration of the vehicle, operation of a door of the vehicle, the presence of one or more persons occupying the vehicle, or the absence of the one or more persons occupying the vehicle.

13. The sensor signal includes a video signal of the interior of the vehicle, and the on-board control unit communicating the information of the video signal to the exterior control unit such that the exterior control unit generates the control signal based at least in part on the information of the video signal; or and varying the number of the consecutively spaced designated periods during which at least one of the UV lights is activated.

14. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the on-board control unit is configured to at least one of control the opening of a door of the vehicle or activate at least one warning device in the interior of the vehicle simultaneously with or immediately prior to activation of the UV light element.

15. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the on-vehicle control unit is configured to operate the switch to activate the UV light element to emit the UV light only in response to both receiving the specified control signal from the off-vehicle control unit via the communication unit and receiving a second control signal from a user-actuated input.

16. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the light emitting module further comprises a UV sensor configured to generate a UV sensor signal indicative of the UV light emitted by the UV light element.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the communication unit of the light emitting module is configured to communicate information of the UV sensor signal to an exterior control unit.

18. The system of claim 4 , wherein the light emitting module comprises a housing in which the UV light element and the visible light element are disposed.

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