Vehicle Cabin UV Sanitization with Adaptive Surface Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cabin surfaces are often insufficiently sanitized between passenger occupancies, as manual cleaning may not effectively kill viruses, germs, bacteria, and other pathogens, and can be time-consuming and variable in quality.
Innovation Solution
A self-sanitizing system that activates UV or far-UVC light sources to sanitize vehicle cabin surfaces, with adjustable light positioning and actuation zones to ensure thorough sanitization, triggered by detecting changes in thermochromic or photochromic materials indicating occupant presence or sanitization status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning is used to sanitize vehicle cabin surfaces, then cleaning can be performed, but the quality of sanitization is insufficient to effectively kill viruses, germs, bacteria, and other pathogens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with an automated UV light-based sanitization system. The system uses UV-C or far-UVC light sources to inactivate pathogens on surfaces, eliminating the need for manual wiping or spraying. This substitution ensures consistent pathogen kill rates without relying on human operator skill or effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle cabin to sanitize itself automatically without human intervention. The control system activates UV light sources during periods when the vehicle is not in use, allowing surfaces to be sanitized autonomously. This self-service capability ensures reliable sanitization effectiveness while removing the variability associated with manual cleaning quality.
2Reliability
If manual cleaning is performed frequently to ensure thorough sanitization, then pathogen removal may improve, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-based sanitization system replaces time-consuming manual cleaning processes with rapid light exposure. The system can sanitize entire cabin surfaces in minutes rather than requiring extended manual wiping or treatment, dramatically reducing the time needed to achieve complete pathogen removal while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to sanitize multiple surfaces simultaneously and continuously throughout the vehicle cabin. Multiple UV light sources operate in parallel to treat seats, door handles, armrests, and other high-touch surfaces at the same time, eliminating the sequential nature of manual cleaning and significantly reducing total sanitization time.
3Area of stationary object
If UV light sources are positioned to cover all surfaces, then sanitization coverage improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vehicle cabin into multiple sanitization zones, each served by dedicated UV light sources positioned in strategic locations. Seats, door handles, armrests, and other surfaces are segmented into separate treatment areas with appropriately positioned lights. This segmentation achieves comprehensive surface coverage while keeping each individual light positioning task manageable and systematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system manages multiple UV light sources with a single centralized controller that coordinates activation across all zones. The system universally applies sanitization protocols to diverse surfaces through programmable control, eliminating the need for complex manual positioning adjustments and simplifying the overall system architecture despite covering extensive surface areas.
4Reliability
If UV light sources remain active continuously to ensure constant sanitization, then pathogen protection improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates UV light sources in periodic cycles rather than continuously. Sanitization is activated during scheduled intervals when the vehicle is between uses or during idle periods, and deactivated during normal operation. This periodic operation maintains high pathogen protection levels by regularly eliminating contaminants while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors vehicle usage status and automatically adjusts UV light activation accordingly. Sensors detect when the vehicle is unoccupied or when sanitization cycles are due, triggering light activation only when needed. This feedback-based control ensures reliable pathogen protection is maintained while minimizing energy waste by keeping lights off during periods when sanitization is not required.
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 sanitizes vehicle cabin surfaces by targeting areas likely to be exposed to pathogens, ensuring thorough coverage through adjustable light positioning and actuation zones, and conserving power by terminating cycles when surfaces are sufficiently sanitized.
Implementation Method 1
activate a light source, such as an ultraviolet (UV) light or far-UVC light. Such light sources have been shown to kill pathogens, such as viruses, germs, bacteria, and other microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
Detecting the change of state event can include detecting that a color of thermochromic material of at least one surface is within a specified color range
Implementation Method 3
terminating the sanitizing cycle includes detecting that a color of photochromic material of at least one surface is within a specified color range
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes self-sanitizing systems that sanitize the cabins of vehicles. In one aspect, a method includes initiating a sanitizing cycle for sanitizing one or more surfaces of one or more components of a vehicle cabin. During the sanitizing cycle, one or more UV light sources are activated, and at least one of a shape, a position, or orientation of the surface is adjusted with respect to the one or more UV light sources. The sanitizing cycle is terminated.