Adjustable UV Emitters for Enclosed Space Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enclosed spaces, such as aircraft, pose challenges in preventing infection due to shared surfaces that can become contaminated, leading to potential infection vectors for occupants.
Innovation Solution
The use of disinfecting devices equipped with multiple adjustable UV emitters that can rotate multi-axially, allowing for varied fields of illumination to effectively disinfect a wider range of surfaces within enclosed spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single UV emitter is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the area of surfaces that can be disinfected is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The UV emitter is divided into multiple segments (first UV emitter and second UV emitter) that can be independently positioned and oriented. Each emitter can be rotated about a different axis, allowing the system to cover a broader area of surfaces without requiring a single complex emitter.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV emitters are made dynamically adjustable through rotational mechanisms. The first emitter rotates about a first axis and the second emitter rotates about a second axis, enabling the system to adapt its illumination pattern to cover various surface areas and orientations within the enclosed space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple UV emitters are used, then the variety of surfaces disinfected increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the UV emission function into multiple independent emitters, each capable of being positioned and oriented separately. This segmentation allows each emitter to target specific surface varieties while maintaining manageable individual component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple UV emitters are designed with universal mounting and rotation capabilities, allowing them to serve multiple functions and target various surface types. The emitters can be independently adjusted to disinfect different varieties of surfaces within the same enclosed space.
3Area of stationary object
If UV emitters are positioned close together, then the device size is reduced, but the fields of illumination overlap and reduce disinfection effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational mechanisms allow each UV emitter to dynamically adjust its orientation and field of illumination. Even when emitters are positioned close together, their fields of illumination can be oriented to cover different areas, preventing overlap and maintaining disinfection effectiveness while keeping the device compact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution increases the likelihood of fully decontaminating enclosed spaces by illuminating more surfaces than a single UV emitter could, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of adjustable ultraviolet (UV) emitters disposed at the housing that have fields of illumination that are adjustable along multiple axes
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for disinfecting. One embodiment includes a disinfecting device. The disinfecting device includes a housing having an attachment surface and an illumination surface that are opposed along an axis, and a plurality of adjustable ultraviolet (UV) emitters disposed at the housing that have fields of illumination that are adjustable along multiple axes via rotational couplings to illuminate an enclosed space that the illumination surface faces.