Alternating UVA/UVC Light Control for Safe Surface Pathogen Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

UVC light sources are effective in reducing bacteria levels but pose risks to human eyes and epidermis due to high radiated power and exposure time, necessitating a system that can safely reduce and inhibit pathogen growth without harm.

Innovation Solution

An alternating UVA/UVC system with controlled UVA and UVC light sources, where UVC reduces pathogen levels and UVA inhibits growth, ensuring safe exposure times and intensities for humans and animals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UVC light sources are used to reduce bacteria levels, then pathogen reduction effectiveness is improved, but harmful effects on human eyes and epidermis increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen reduction effectivenessVSAvoidharmful effects on human eyes and epidermis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system alternates between UVC light emission periods and UVA light emission periods in a cyclic manner. During UVC periods, pathogen reduction is achieved; during UVA periods, growth inhibition occurs while allowing human exposure. This periodic switching enables effective pathogen control while limiting cumulative harmful exposure to safe levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the wavelength parameter of UV light emission between UVC (200-280 nm) and UVA (315-400 nm) ranges. By switching between these different wavelength parameters, the system achieves both pathogen reduction (UVC) and safe human exposure (UVA), resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If UVC light sources are used to reduce pathogen levels, then pathogen reduction is improved, but exposure time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen reductionVSAvoidexposure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic alternating emission of UVC and UVA light, where UVC periods provide pathogen reduction and UVA periods provide growth inhibition. This periodic action allows achieving effective pathogen control within shorter total exposure times compared to continuous UVC application, while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by seamlessly transitioning between UVC and UVA emission. While UVC reduces pathogens, UVA simultaneously inhibits growth, ensuring that pathogen control is maintained continuously without interruption or idle time, thereby reducing total required exposure time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If UVC light sources are used to reduce bacteria, then pathogen reduction effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen reduction effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges UVC and UVA light sources into a single integrated device with a unified control mechanism. By combining both light sources and controlling them alternately through one controller, the system achieves effective pathogen reduction while minimizing the complexity that would arise from separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed with multi-functionality, where the same system performs both pathogen reduction (UVC function) and growth inhibition with safe human exposure (UVA function). This universal design eliminates the need for separate devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system effectively reduces pathogen levels by up to 100% and inhibits growth without deleterious effects on humans or animals, maintaining safety within exposure limits.

Implementation Method 1

said at least one UVC light source emits UVC light to a surface for a period of time reducing the level of said pathogen on said surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet C radiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

said at least one UVA light source emits UVA light to a surface for a period of time inhibiting growth of said pathogen on said surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet A radiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12409245B2Combination ultra-violet A (UVA) and ultra-violet C (UVC) system for reduction and inhibition of growth of pathogens

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 HELIOS SHIELD LTD

AI summary

A UVA/UVC system for reducing levels, on a surface, and inhibiting further growth of at least one pathogen on the surface, wherein the system has no deleterious effects on a human, in particular on a human eye or epidermis and dermis, wherein the system includes:at least one UVA light source;at least one UVC light source; andat least one controller connected to each of the at least one UVA light source and the at least one UVC light source, for controlling at least one parameter of each of the UVA light source and UVC light source.