Sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer

Abstract

Herein is disclosed a sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer having a high-voltage ultraviolet light source, the sanitizer comprising: a sealed body; an electrical isolator plate mounted within the sealed body; a high-voltage ultraviolet light source mounted within the sealed body and configured to emit ultraviolet light through the light source aperture; a light source seal; a communications module mounted within the sealed body; a control module mounted within the sealed body and configured to: receive one or more control parameters from the communications module; and control the ultraviolet light source based at least in part on the control parameters.

Description

SEALED HIGH-VOLTAGE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT SANITIZERTechnical Field

[0001] The present disclosure is directed to sanitizers. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to ultraviolet light sanitizers.Background

[0002] When two or more people and / or animals are within physical proximity to each other, there is a risk that one of the people or animals may transmit a pathogen to another of the people or animals. For example, humans and / or other animals may transmit viruses and / or bacteria between each other.

[0003] The risk of transmitting a pathogen between people and / or animals is generally proportional to the number of people and / or animals, the physical proximity of the people and / or animals, and the environment shared by the people and / or animals. For example, a larger number of people and / or animals in close proximity within an indoor area have a higher likelihood of transmitting a pathogen between each other than a smaller number of people and / or animals distant from each other in an outdoor area.

[0004] Many indoor areas have a particularly high risk of pathogen transmission between occupants of the areas. For example, waiting rooms commonly found in healthcare facilities may have a large number of occupants in close proximity in a relatively small indoor area. Furthermore, individuals attending to a healthcare facility such as a clinic or hospital are generally more likely to carry pathogens, as individuals carrying pathogens typically seek medical treatment at a healthcare facility. As such, many indoor spaces in healthcare facilities such as waiting rooms have a particularly high risk of pathogen transmission between occupants.

[0005] To reduce the transmission of pathogens between people and / or animals within an indoor area, for example occupants of a healthcare facility, the indoor area may be sanitized of pathogens. Common methods of sanitizing an indoor area of pathogens include filtering the air within the indoor area to remove pathogens from the air, applying liquid disinfectants to the surfaces of the indoor area to destroy pathogens on the surfaces, and the like.However, many methods of sanitizing an indoor area of pathogens may also be harmful to the people and / or animals occupying the indoor area, often necessitating that the people and / or animals vacate the indoor area before sanitizing the indoor area. Vacating an indoor area may disrupt the operation of an indoor area needing to operate continuously, for example a 24-hour healthcare facility, and / or may be difficult and / or costly for an indoor area used to contain animals, for example a bam holding many animals.

[0006] Some indoor areas needing to be sanitized may have harsh environments for conventional sanitization devices. For example, an indoor area of a healthcare facility may be warm and humid, wherein heat and humidity are both detrimental to the operation and life of an electrical device. As another example, an indoor area of a farm may be warm, humid, and dusty, wherein dust is additionally detrimental to the operation and life of an electrical device. Furthermore, such indoor areas may have limited space within which to install a sanitization device. For example, the walls and / or ceilings of such indoor areas may not permit the installation of a physically large sanitization device.

[0007] Ultraviolet light can be used to sanitize indoor areas. However, many ultraviolet light sanitizers are unsuitable as sanitizers for indoor areas, or have limited use as sanitizers for indoor areas. For example, some ultraviolet light sanitizers may be too large for use in certain indoor areas, and / or some ultraviolet light sanitizers may suffer decreased life due to the harsh environments of some indoor areas.

[0008] There is a general desire for an improved ultraviolet light sanitizer for indoor areas. In particular, there is a general desire for a sealed and / or compact ultraviolet light sanitizer. There is a further desire for an ultraviolet light sanitizer that is easy to install on a number of different surfaces of an indoor area.

[0009] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.Summary

[0010] Further aspects and example embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and / or described in the following description.

[0011] One aspect of the invention provides a mountable ultraviolet light sanitizer, the sanitizer comprising: a sealed body having: a front housing forming a light source aperture; a back housing coupled to the front housing; and a housing seal compressed between the front housing and the back housing; a mounting system mounted to an outside of the sealed body, wherein the mounting bracket system comprises: a bracket; and a backplate having a first side and a second side; wherein the first side of the backplate is configured to be mounted directly to a structure, and the second side of the backplate is configured to be mounted to the bracket and the bracket mounted to the structure; an ultraviolet light source mounted within the sealed body and configured to emit ultraviolet light through the light source aperture; a light source seal compressed between the ultraviolet light source and the light source aperture; a communications module mounted within the sealed body; and a control module mounted within the sealed body and configured to: receive one or more control parameters from the communications module; and control the ultraviolet light source based at least in part on the control parameters.

[0012] In some embodiments, each of the backplate and the bracket form respective central apertures, and the central apertures overlap with each other and with a wiring aperture formed by the back housing when the backplate and bracket are mounted to the sealed body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first side of the backplate has two T-bar mounting hooks, and the first of the backplate is mounted directly to a structure having a T-bar by attaching the T-bar mounting hooks to the T-bar.

[0014] In some embodiments, the T-bar mounting hooks are on opposite sides of the central aperture of the backplate and extend in opposite directions.

[0015] In some embodiments, each of the T-bar mounting hooks comprises a head and a spring, and the spring of each of the T-bar mounting hooks is biased towards the head.

[0016] In some embodiments, the head of each of the T-bar mounting hooks is concave towards the respective spring of each of T-bar mounting hooks.

[0017] In some embodiments, the spring of each of the T-bar mounting hooks has an open end, and the open end of the spring is angled opposite to the direction of the bias of the spring, and wherein a T-bar depresses the spring by sliding over the open end of the spring when the T-bar is mounted to the one of the T-bar mounting hooks.

[0018] In some embodiments, the second side of the backplate has two bracket mounting hooks, and the bracket is configured to receive the bracket mounting hooks.

[0019] In some embodiments, the bracket mounting hooks are on opposite sides of the central aperture of the backplate and extend in opposite directions.

[0020] In some embodiments, the bracket forms two or more channels each terminating in a mounting bar, and the backplate is mounted to the bracket by inserting the bracket mounting hooks into respective channels, and rotating the backplate to attach each of the bracket mounting hooks to one of the mounting bars.

[0021] In some embodiments, the channels comprise four circular grooves spaced circumferentially around the central aperture of the backplate.

[0022] In some embodiments, each of the bracket mounting hooks has an open end, and the open end of each of the bracket mounting hooks is curved away from the backplate.

[0023] In some embodiments, the open end of each of the bracket mounting hooks is configured to deflect away from the backplate when the backplate is mounted to the bracket, thereby compressing a part of the bracket between each of the bracket mounting hooks.

[0024] In some embodiments, the channels are configured to receive the open ends of the bracket mounting hooks.

[0025] In some embodiments, each of the channels has a closed end and an open end wider than the closed end.

[0026] In some embodiments, the closed end of each of the channels has a ridge for receiving a one of bracket mounting hooks.

[0027] In some embodiments, the backplate forms at least one notch, the back housing forms at least one key corresponding to the at least one notch, and the backplate is mounted to the back housing by aligning the key and the notch, and mounting the backplate to the back housing with the key inside the notch.

[0028] In some embodiments, the backplate is substantially square, and each side of the backplate is shaped to admit one or more power cables passing into the back housing.

[0029] In some embodiments, the mountable ultraviolet light sanitizer further comprises an electrical isolator plate mounted within the sealed body and having a front side facing the front housing and a back side facing the back housing, and wherein: the ultraviolet light source comprises a high-voltage ultraviolet light source mounted within the sealed body between the front housing and the front side of the electrical isolator plate; the communications module is mounted within the sealed body between the front housing and the front side of the electrical isolator plate; and the control module is mounted within the sealed body between the back housing and back side of the electrical isolator plate.

[0030] In some embodiments, the ultraviolet light source has a voltage of at least 1 ,000 volts.

[0031] In some embodiments, the electrical isolator plate provides an electrical resistance between the front side of the electrical isolator plate to the back side of at least 1 ,000,000 ohms.

[0032] In some embodiments, one or more of the ultraviolet light source, communications module, and control module generate thermal energy, and the back housing conducts heat from an inside of the sealed body to an outside of the sealed body.

[0033] In some embodiments, the back housing comprises metal.

[0034] In some embodiments, the front housing comprises plastic.

[0035] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036] The accompanying drawings illustrate non-limiting example embodiments of the invention.

[0037] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Fig. 2 is a side view of the sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer of Fig. 1 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 3A is a side cut-away view of the sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer of Fig. 1 , according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Fig. 3B is a side cut-away view of a sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer, according to further example embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 4A is a bottom view of a mounting system for an ultraviolet light sanitizer, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Fig. 4B is a perspective view of a backplate of the mounting system depicted in Fig. 4A, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Fig. 4C is a perspective view of a bracket of the mounting system depicted in Fig. 4A, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figs. 5A and 5B are perspective views of two mounting configurations of the mounting system depicted in Fig. 4A.Description

[0045] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive sense.

[0046] The present disclosure is directed to ultraviolet light sanitizers. Many ultraviolet light sources used in ultraviolet light sanitizers operate at a high voltage, for example, over 1 ,000 volts (V). The high voltage ultraviolet light sources may damage other components in a device which incorporates the ultraviolet light source, for example an ultraviolet light sanitizer, if the other components contact the ultraviolet light source.

[0047] Ultraviolet light sanitizers are often mounted within rooms to sanitize areas within the rooms. Generally, the more compact, easy to install, and / or low maintenance an ultraviolet light sanitizer, the more rooms it may be mounted within, and the more effective it may be when mounted. For example, having a more compact ultraviolet light sanitizer whichrequires less maintenance may allow more ultraviolet light sanitizers to be installed within a room than a less compact ultraviolet light sanitizer which requires more maintenance.

[0048] The easier an ultraviolet light sanitizer is to mount, the more such ultraviolet light sanitizers may be mounted within a room, or within different types of rooms.

[0049] Some embodiments of the present invention provide an ultraviolet light sanitizer which is compact and sealed against water and dust ingress. In some embodiments, the ultraviolet light sanitizer also provides electrical isolation between a high-voltage ultraviolet light source, and other electrical components of the sanitizer. The isolation between components may also be provided in a compact and sealed sanitizer. Some embodiments may also provide a means for easily mounting the ultraviolet light sanitizer to a variety of surfaces.

[0050] Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and fig. 2 is a side view, of sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer 100 having high-voltage ultraviolet light source 10, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Sanitizer 100 comprises sealed body 12 having front housing 14 and back housing 16 coupled to front housing 14. Front housing 14 forms light source aperture 17.

[0051] Fig. 3A is a side cut-away view of sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer 100. Like features are indicated with like reference numerals in figs. 1 , 2 and 3A.

[0052] Housing seal 18 is compressed between front housing 14 and back housing 16. Front housing 14 and back housing 16 together form sealed body 12, meaning substantially sealed against ingress of water and dust into sealed body 12.

[0053] Sanitizer 100 further comprises electrical isolator plate 20 mounted within sealed body 12. Electrical isolator plate 20 has front side 22A facing front housing 14 and back side 22B facing back housing 16. Electrical isolator plate 20 provides electrical isolation between components on front side 22A of electrical isolator plate 20, and components on back side 22B of electrical isolator plate 20.

[0054] Sanitizer 100 further comprises communications module 26, and control module 28. Ultraviolet light source 10 and communications module 26 are mounted within sealed body 12 between front housing 14 and front side 22A of electrical isolator plate 20. Ultraviolet light source 10 is configured to emit ultraviolet light through light source aperture 17. Lightsource seal 27 is compressed between ultraviolet light source 10 and light source aperture 17. In some embodiments, light source seal 27 may substantially seal light source aperture 17 against ingress of water and dust.

[0055] Sanitizer 100 may further comprise a power supply, wherein the power supply powers ultraviolet light source 10, the communications module, and the control module.

[0056] Control module 28 is mounted within sealed body 12 between back housing 16 and back side 22B of electrical isolator plate 20. Control module 28 is configured to receive one or more control parameters from communications module 26, and control ultraviolet light source 10 based at least in part on the control parameters.

[0057] One or more of ultraviolet light source 10, communications module 26, and control module 28 may generate thermal energy. In some embodiments, back housing 16 conducts thermal energy more readily than front housing 14, for example, by back housing 16 comprising a material which has a greater thermal conductivity than a material which front housing 14 is comprised of. For example, back housing 16 may comprise metal, for example aluminum, and / or front housing 14 may comprise plastic.

[0058] In some embodiments, the electrical isolator plate has a breakdown voltage greater than the voltage of ultraviolet light source 10. Ultraviolet light source 10 may have a voltage of at least 1 ,000 volts, and electrical isolator plate 20 may have an electrical resistance of at least 1 ,000,000 ohms from front side 22A to the back side 22B of electrical isolator plate 20.

[0059] In some embodiments, back housing 16 forms wiring aperture 30, and sanitizer 100 further comprises one or more power cables 32 and grommet 34. Power cables 32 pass through wiring aperture 30 and are connected at least to control module 28 to power at least control module 28. Grommet 34 is mounted within wiring aperture 30 and seals wiring aperture 30 around power cables 32.

[0060] Where sanitizer 100 comprises housing seal 18, light source seal 27, and grommet 34, housing seal 18 may substantially seal back housing 16 to front housing 14 against water and dust ingress, light source seal 27 may substantially seal light source aperture 17 against water and dust ingress, and grommet 34 may substantially seal power cables 32 within wiring aperture 30 against water and dust ingress. As such, sanitizer 100 may be substantially sealed against water and dust ingress. Substantially sealed against water anddust ingress may mean an insufficient amount of water and / or dust penetrate sanitizer 100 during normal operation of sanitizer 100 to interfere with the operation of sanitizer 100.

[0061] In some embodiments, the control parameters received by communications module 26 and used by control module 28 to control ultraviolet light source 10 may comprise a schedule for ultraviolet light source 10. The schedule may include one or both of a timing schedule, and an intensity schedule. For example, a timing schedule may include a series of times during which ultraviolet light source 10 is on and times during which ultraviolet light source 10 is off. An intensity schedule may include periods of time during which ultraviolet light source 10 emits light with a different intensity than during other periods of time.

[0062] In some embodiments, communications module 26 is configured to receive an installation height and generate the schedule from the installation height. For example, communications module 26 may receive a function for determining a schedule from an installation height, and determine the schedule from the function and the installation height.

[0063] Fig. 3B is a side cut-away view of sealed high-voltage ultraviolet light sanitizer 102, further comprising sensor 36 and display 42 (described in further detail below). Like features are indicated with like reference numerals in figs. 1 , 2, 3A, and 3B.

[0064] Sanitizer 102 may comprise sensor 36. Where sanitizer 102 comprises sensor 36, front housing 14 may form sensor aperture 38, and sensor 36 may be mounted within sealed body 12 between front housing 14 and isolator plate 20 at least partially aligned with sensor aperture 38. Sensor seal 40 may be between sensor 36 and sensor aperture 38 to substantially seal sensor aperture 38 against water and dust ingress. Sensor seal 40 may be compressed between sensor 36 and sensor aperture 38.

[0065] Sensor 36 may comprise one or more of: an ultrasound sensor, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and an infrared sensor. Sensor 36 may be configured to measure a presence or an absence of a person or animal proximate to sanitizer 102, and generate a sensor measurement based on the measured presence or absence. In some embodiments, sensor 36 is configured to determine if a person or animal is proximate to sanitizer 102 when the person or animal would be illuminated by light emitted by ultraviolet light source 10.

[0066] Communications module 26 may be further configured to receive a sensor measurement from sensor 36. Communications module 26 may be configured to generate the control parameters at least in part based on the sensor measurement. In someembodiments, the sensor measurement indicates a presence or an absence of a person or animal proximate to sanitizer 102.

[0067] Sanitizer 102 may further comprise display 42. Where sanitizer 102 comprises display 42, front housing 14 may form display aperture 44, and display 42 may be mounted within sealed body 12 between front housing 14 and isolator plate 20 at least partially aligned with display aperture 44. Display seal 46 may be between display 42 and display aperture 44 to substantially seal display aperture 44 against water and dust ingress. Display seal 46 may be compressed between display 42 and display aperture 44.

[0068] Communications module 26 may be further configured to control display 42. For example, communications module 26 may control display 42 based at least in part on one or more of: the control parameters, the sensor signal, the installation height, and the like.

[0069] In some embodiments, display 42 comprises a plurality of indicator LEDs, and communications module 26 is configured to control the indicator LEDs to indicate one or more of: an activity of ultraviolet light source 10, an operating mode of sanitizer 102, and a sensor measurement indicating a presence or an absence of a person or animal proximate to sanitizer 102.

[0070] In some embodiments, control module 26 comprises a wireless communication module, for example one or both of a Wi-Fi module and a Bluetooth™ module. In such embodiments, control module 26 may receive wireless signals, for example one or more control signals.

[0071] Ultraviolet light source 10 may comprise an excimer lamp, for example a krypton chloride excimer lamp, specifically a 222 nm far-UVC lamp. Ultraviolet light source 10 may further comprise an optical filter. The optical filter may be configured to pass wavelengths between 200 nm and 280 nm. For example, the optical filter may comprise one or more of: a bandpass filter configured to pass wavelengths between 200 nm and 280 nm, a high-pass filter configured to pass wavelengths above 200 nm, and a low-pass filter configured to pass wavelengths below 280 nm.

[0072] In some embodiments, ultraviolet light source 10 has a power output of between 1 and 10 mW / cm2at 0 cm. Ultraviolet light source 10 may be configured to emit ultraviolet light with at least 90% of the emitted power between 200 nm and 280 nm is between 200 nm and 235 nm.

[0073] Some embodiments of sanitizer 100, 102 may further comprise mounting system 50, wherein mounting system 50 is mounted to an outside of sealed body 12, as depicted in Fig. 2. Fig. 4A is a bottom view of a mounting system 50 comprising backplate 52 and bracket 54. Fig. 4B is a perspective view of backplate 52, and fig. 4C is a perspective view of bracket 54. Figs. 5A and 5B are respective perspective views of two mounting configurations of the mounting system depicted in Fig. 4A.

[0074] Mounting system 50 may be configured to mount sanitizer 100, 102 to a variety of structures, for example a variety of walls and / or ceilings. Mounting system 50 may be further configured to mount sanitizer 100, 102 with a low profile, wherein sanitizer 100, 102 is mounted to the structure with back housing 16 near-flush with the structure. Near-flush with the structure may mean within 2 cm of a surface of the structure to which sanitizer 100, 102 is mounted.

[0075] Mounting system 50 comprises backplate 52 and bracket 54. Backplate 52 and bracket 54 form respective central apertures 53 and 55. One or both of central apertures 53 and 55 overlap with wiring aperture 30 when one or both of backplate 52 and bracket 54 are mounted to sanitizer 100, 102. As such, power cables 32 pass through one or both of apertures 53 and 55 when one or both of backplate 52 and bracket 54 are mounted to sanitizer 100. For example, power cables 32 may pass through one or both of apertures 53 and 55 and into a structure to which sanitizer 100, 102 is mounted.

[0076] Backplate 52 has first side 60A and second side 60B opposing first side 60A (collectively, sides 60). Either of sides 60 of backplate 52 may be mounted to sanitizer 100, 102. In some embodiments, backplate 52 forms a plurality of screw holes 62, and sanitizer 100, 102 forms a plurality of corresponding screw holes. In such embodiments, backplate 52 may be mounted to sanitizer 100, 102 by abutting one of sides 60 with sanitizer 100, 102, and screwing backplate 52 to sanitizer 100, 102. The one of sides 60 mounted to sanitizer 100, 102 may be switched by unscrewing the screws, flipping backplate 52 so that the second one of sides 60 abuts sanitizer 100, 102, and then replacing the screws.

[0077] First side 60A of backplate 52 is configured to be mounted directly to a structure, and second side 60B of backplate 52 is configured to be mounted to bracket 54. Where second side 60B of backplate 52 is mounted to bracket 54, bracket 54 is mounted to the structure, thereby mounting sanitizer 100, 102 to the structure. Where first side 60A ofbackplate 52 is mounted directly to a structure, backplate 52 is in the first configuration, as depicted in Fig. 5A. Where second side 60B of backplate 52 is mounted to bracket 54 and bracket 54 is mounted to the structure, backplate 52 is in the second configuration, as depicted in Fig. 5B.

[0078] First side 60A of backplate 52 has two T-bar mounting hooks 66. T-bar mounting hooks 66 are on opposing sides of aperture 53, and extend in opposite directions.Backplate 52 may be mounted to a structure having a T-bar by abutting first side 60A of backplate 52 with the T-bar passing between the two T-bar mounting hooks 66, and rotating backplate 52 to hook T-bar mounting hooks 66 onto the T-bar. So mounted backplate 52 may be released from the T-bar by rotating backplate 52 in the opposite direction.

[0079] Bracket 54 may be attached to a structure using any conventional means, for example by screwing bracket 54 to the structure. Second side 60B of backplate 52 has two bracket mounting hooks 68. Bracket mounting hooks 68 are on opposing sides of aperture 53, and extend in opposite directions. Bracket 54 is configured to securely receive bracket mounting hooks 68. For example, bracket mounting hooks 68 may be received within channels 56, and then backplate 52 may be rotated to slide bracket mounting hooks 68 through channels 56, and over mounting bars 58.

[0080] In some embodiments, bracket 54 has one or more circular grooves spaced circumferentially around central aperture 55, and bracket mounting hooks 68 may be spaced circumferentially around central aperture 53, wherein bracket mounting hooks 68 engage one or more of the circular grooves when backplate 52 is mounted to bracket 54. In some embodiments, the circular grooves comprise four circular grooves, bracket mounting hooks 68 comprise two hooks spaced circumferentially around central aperture 53, and the two hooks engage two opposing of the four circular grooves when backplate 52 is mounted to bracket 54.

[0081] In some embodiments of mounting system 50:• backplate 52 forms at least one notch, back housing 16 forms at least one key corresponding to the at least one notch, and backplate 52 is mounted to back housing 16 by aligning the key and the notch, and mounting backplate 52 to back housing 16 with the key inside the notch;• each of T-bar mounting hooks 66 comprises a head and a spring, and the spring of each of T-bar mounting hooks 66 is biased towards the head;• the head of each of T -bar mounting hooks 66 is concave towards the respective spring of each of T-bar mounting hooks 66;• the spring of each of T -bar mounting hooks 66 has an open end, and the open end of the spring is angled opposite to the direction of the bias of the spring, wherein a T- bar depresses the spring by sliding over the open end of the spring when the T-bar is mounted to the one of T-bar mounting hooks 66;• backplate 52 is substantially square, and each side of backplate 52 is shaped to admit power cables 32;• each of bracket mounting hooks 68 has an open end, and the open end of each of bracket mounting hooks 68 is curved away from backplate 52;• the open end of each of bracket mounting hooks 68 is configured to deflect away from backplate 52 when backplate 52 is mounted to bracket 54, thereby compressing a part of bracket 54 with each of bracket mounting hooks 68;• channels 56 are configured to receive the open ends of bracket mounting hooks 68;• each of channels 56 has a closed end and an open end wider than the closed end; and• the closed end of each of channels 56 has a bar for receiving a one of bracket mounting hooks 68.

[0082] In some embodiments of ultraviolet sanitizer 100, 102, each of front housing 14 and back housing 16 form a trapezoidal prism having a top face and an open base face, and sealed body 12 is formed by coupling the open base face of front housing 14 to the open base face of back housing 16.

[0083] The open base face of front housing 14 may have a surface area greater than a surface area of the top face of front housing 14 and a surface area of the top face of bottom housing 16. The surface area of the top face of front housing 14 may be substantially equal to the surface area of the top face of bottom housing 16.

[0084] In some embodiments, each of the trapezoidal prisms has four lateral faces extending from the base face to the top face, and a height of the lateral faces of back housing 16 is greater than a height of the lateral faces of front housing 14. A sum of theheight of the lateral faces of back housing 16 and the height of the lateral faces of front housing 14 may be between 70 mm and 90 mm.

[0085] The base face of front housing 14 and the base face of back housing 16 may each be substantially square, and a length of the sides of the base faces may be between 170 mm and 190 mm.

[0086] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are consistent with the broadest interpretation of the specification as a whole.Interpretation of Terms

[0087] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims:• “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”;• “connected”, “coupled”, or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof;• “herein”, “above”, “below”, and words of similar import, when used to describe this specification, shall refer to this specification as a whole, and not to any particular portions of this specification;• “or”, in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list;• the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” also include the meaning of any appropriate plural forms.

[0088] Words that indicate directions such as “vertical”, “transverse”, “horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “backward”, “inward”, “outward”, “vertical”, “transverse”, “left”, “right”,“front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “under”, and the like, used in this description and any accompanying claims (where present), depend on the specific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. The subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations. Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

[0089] Processing may be centralized or distributed. Where processing is distributed, information including software and / or data may be kept centrally or distributed. Such information may be exchanged between different functional units by way of a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channel.

[0090] For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative examples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and / or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.

[0091] In addition, while elements are at times shown as being performed sequentially, they may instead be performed simultaneously or in different sequences. It is therefore intended that the following claims are interpreted to include all such variations as are within their intended scope.

[0092] Software and other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, tablet computers, image data encoders, image data decoders, PDAs, colorgrading tools, video projectors, audio-visual receivers, displays (such as televisions), digital cinema projectors, media players, and other devices suitable for the purposes described herein. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that aspects of the system can be practised with other communications, data processing, or computer system configurations, including: Internet appliances, hand-held devices (including personal digital assistants (PDAs)), wearable computers, all manner of cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics (e.g., videoprojectors, audio-visual receivers, displays, such as televisions, and the like), set-top boxes, color-grading tools, network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers, and the like.

[0093] In some embodiments, the invention may be implemented in software. For greater clarity, “software” includes any instructions executed on a processor, and may include (but is not limited to) firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Both processing hardware and software may be centralized or distributed (or a combination thereof), in whole or in part, as known to those skilled in the art. For example, software and other modules may be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or other application in a distributed computing context, or via other means suitable for the purposes described above.

[0094] Some embodiments and / or features of the present invention may comprise or reference artificial intelligence (Al), including machine learning (ML). Where a feature of the present invention is described as comprising a machine learning algorithm, unless otherwise stated, the machine learning algorithm may comprise one or more of:• an untrained machine learning model;• a trained machine learning model, for example a training convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), and the like;• a lookup table; and• a software algorithm.

[0095] Where a component (e.g. a software module, processor, light source, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e. , that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0096] Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would beapparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and / or acts with equivalent features, elements and / or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and / or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and / or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and / or acts of other technology; and / or omitting combining features, elements and / or acts from described embodiments.

[0097] Various features are described herein as being present in “some embodiments”. Such features are not mandatory and may not be present in all embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may include zero, any one or any combination of two or more of such features. This is limited only to the extent that certain ones of such features are incompatible with other ones of such features in the sense that it would be impossible for a person of ordinary skill in the art to construct a practical embodiment that combines such incompatible features. Consequently, the description that “some embodiments” possess feature A and “some embodiments” possess feature B should be interpreted as an express indication that the inventors also contemplate embodiments which combine features A and B (unless the description states otherwise or features A and B are fundamentally incompatible).

[0098] It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, omissions, and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer having a high-voltage ultraviolet light source, the sanitizer comprising: a sealed body having: a front housing forming a light source aperture; a back housing coupled to the front housing; and a housing seal compressed between the front housing and the back housing; an electrical isolator plate mounted within the sealed body and having a front side facing the front housing and a back side facing the back housing; a high-voltage ultraviolet light source mounted within the sealed body between the front housing and the front side of the electrical isolator plate and configured to emit ultraviolet light through the light source aperture; a light source seal compressed between the ultraviolet light source and the light source aperture; a communications module mounted within the sealed body between the front housing and the front side of the electrical isolator plate; a control module mounted within the sealed body between the back housing and back side of the electrical isolator plate and configured to: receive one or more control parameters from the communications module; and control the ultraviolet light source based at least in part on the control parameters.

2. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light source has a voltage of at least 1 ,000 volts.

3. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the electrical isolator plate has a breakdown voltage greater than the voltage of the ultraviolet light source.

4. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or more of the ultraviolet light source, communications module, and control module generate thermal energy, and the back housing conducts thermal energy from an inside of the sealed body to an outside of the sealed body.

5. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the back housing comprises metal.

6. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front housing comprises plastic.

7. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the back housing forms a wiring aperture, and the ultraviolet light sanitizer further comprises: one or more power cables connected to the control module and passing through the wiring aperture; and a grommet mounted within the wiring aperture and sealing the wiring aperture around the power cables.

8. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 7, wherein: the housing seal substantially seals the back housing to the front housing against water and dust ingress; the light source seal substantially seals the light source aperture against water and dust ingress; and the grommet and power cables substantially seal the wiring aperture against water and dust ingress.

9. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control parameters comprise a schedule for the ultraviolet light source.

10. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 9, wherein the schedule comprises a series of times during which the ultraviolet light source is on and times during which the ultraviolet light source is off.

11. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 10, wherein the communications module is configured to receive an installation height and generate the schedule from the installation height.

12. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 11 , wherein generating the schedule from the installation height comprises: receiving a function for determining a schedule from an installation height; and determining the schedule from the function and the installation height.

13. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the front housing forms a sensor aperture, and the ultraviolet light sanitizer further comprises: a sensor mounted within the sealed body and at least partially aligned with the sensor aperture; and a sensor seal between the sensor and the sensor aperture to substantially seal the sensor aperture against water and dust ingress; wherein the communications module is further configured to receive a sensor measurement from the sensor.

14. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 13, wherein the sensor seal is compressed between the sensor and the sensor aperture.

15. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 13 and 14, wherein the communications module is configured to generate the control parameters at least in part based on the sensor measurement.

16. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the sensor measurement indicates a presence or an absence of a person or animal proximate to the ultraviolet light sanitizer.

17. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of: an ultrasound sensor, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and an infrared sensor.

18. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the front housing forms a display aperture, and the ultraviolet light sanitizer further comprises: a display mounted within the sealed body and at least partially aligned with the display aperture; and a display seal compressed between the display and the display aperture to substantially seal the display aperture against water and dust ingress; wherein the communications module is further configured to control the display based at least in part on the control parameters.

19. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 18, wherein the display comprises a plurality of indicator LEDs, and the communications module is configured to control the indicator LEDs to indicate one or more of: an activity of the ultraviolet light source, an operating mode of the ultraviolet light sanitizer, and a sensor measurement indicating a presence or an absence of a person or animal proximate to the ultraviolet light sanitizer.

20. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a krypton chloride excimer lamp.

21. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a 222 nm far-UVC lamp.

22. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises an optical filter configured to pass wavelengths between 200 nm and 235 nm.

23. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the ultraviolet light source has an output of between 1 and 10 mW / cm2at 0 cm.

24. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light with at least 90% of the emitted power between 200 nm and 280 nm is between 200 nm and 235 nm.

25. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 24, further comprising a power supply, wherein the power supply powers the ultraviolet light source, the communications module, and the control module.

26. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 25, further comprising a mounting system mounted to an outside of the sealed body.

27. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 26, wherein the mounting system comprises a bracket and a backplate having a first side and a second side, and the first side of the backplate is configured to be mounted directly to a structure, and the second side of the backplate is configured to be mounted to the bracket and the bracket mounted to the structure.

28. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 27, wherein each of the backplate and the bracket form respective central apertures, and the central apertures overlap with each other and with the wiring aperture when the backplate and bracket are mounted to the sealed body.

29. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 27 and 28, wherein the first side of the backplate has two T -bar mounting hooks, and the first side of the backplate is mounted directly to a structure having a T-bar by attaching the T-bar mounting hooks to the T-bar.

30. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 29, wherein the T-bar mounting hooks are on opposite sides of the central aperture of the backplate and extend in opposite directions.

31. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 29 and 30, wherein each of the T-bar mounting hooks comprises a head and a spring, and the spring of each of the T-bar mounting hooks is biased towards the head.

32. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 31 , wherein the head of each of the T- bar mounting hooks is concave towards the respective spring of each of the T-bar mounting hooks.

33. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 32, wherein the spring of each of the T - bar mounting hooks has an open end, and the open end of the spring is angled opposite to the direction of the bias of the spring, and wherein a T-bar depresses the spring by sliding over the open end of the spring when the T-bar is mounted to the one of the T-bar mounting hooks.

34. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 27 to 33, wherein the second side of the backplate has two bracket mounting hooks, and the bracket is configured to receive the bracket mounting hooks.

35. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 34, wherein the bracket mounting hooks are on opposite sides of the central aperture of the backplate and extend in opposite directions.

36. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 34 and 35, wherein the bracket forms two or more channels each terminating in a mounting bar, and the backplate is mounted to the bracket by inserting the bracket mounting hooks into respective channels, and rotating the backplate to attach each of the bracket mounting hooks to one of the mounting bars.

37. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 36, wherein the channels comprise four circular grooves spaced circumferentially around the central aperture of the backplate.

38. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein each of the bracket mounting hooks has an open end, and the open end of each of the bracket mounting hooks is curved away from the backplate.

39. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 38, wherein the open end of each of the bracket mounting hooks is configured to deflect away from the backplate when the backplate is mounted to the bracket, thereby compressing a part of the bracket with each of the bracket mounting hooks.

40. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of either of claims 38 and 39, wherein the channels are configured to receive the open ends of the bracket mounting hooks.

41. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein each of the channels has a closed end and an open end wider than the closed end.

42. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 41 , wherein the closed end of each of the channels has a bar for receiving a one of the bracket mounting hooks.

43. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 34 to 43, wherein the backplate forms at least one notch, the back housing forms at least one key corresponding to the at least one notch, and the backplate is mounted to the back housing by aligning the key and the notch, and mounting the backplate to the back housing with the key inside the notch.

44. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 34 to claim 41 , wherein the backplate is substantially square, and each side of the backplate is shaped to admit the power cables.

45. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 44, wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication module.

46. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 45, wherein the wireless communication module comprises one or both of a Wi-Fi module and a Bluetooth™ module.

47. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 46, wherein each of the front housing and the back housing form a trapezoidal prism having a top face andan open base face, and the sealed body is formed by coupling the open base face of the front housing to the open base face of the back housing.

48. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 47, wherein the open base face of the front housing has a surface area greater than a surface area of the top face of the front housing and a surface area of the top face of the bottom housing.

49. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 48, wherein the surface area of the top face of the front housing is substantially equal to the surface area of the top face of the bottom housing.

50. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 49, wherein each of the trapezoidal prisms has four lateral faces extending from the base face to the top face, and a height of the lateral faces of the back housing is greater than a height of the lateral faces of the front housing.

51. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 50, wherein a sum of the height of the lateral faces of the back housing and the height of the lateral faces of the front housing is between 70 mm and 90 mm.

52. The sealed ultraviolet light sanitizer of claim 51 , wherein the base face of the front housing and the base face of the back housing are each substantially square, and a length of the sides of the base faces is between 170 mm and 190 mm.

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