Ceiling-Mounted UV Disinfection Device for Office Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning methods for office workspaces require significant staffing and chemical usage, posing health risks and inefficiencies, especially for areas with low occupancy.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling-mounted disinfection device equipped with a UV light emission system, controlled by a sensor and controller to automatically activate UV light during unoccupied periods, providing efficient disinfection without chemical agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning with chemical agents is used, then disinfection can be performed, but health risks increase and staffing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated UV light emission system. The UV disinfection device automatically emits ultraviolet light to disinfect surfaces and air, eliminating the need for manual cleaning with chemical agents and thereby removing health risks associated with chemical exposure while maintaining effective disinfection
2Reliability
If manual cleaning with chemical agents is used, then disinfection can be performed, but staffing requirements and external costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UV disinfection device operates autonomously without requiring human staff intervention. The system automatically activates UV lights according to predetermined schedules or sensor-triggered conditions, performs disinfection cycles, and deactivates automatically, enabling the workspace to disinfect itself without external cleaning personnel or chemical supplies
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs disinfection in advance during unoccupied periods before workspace occupants arrive or return. By scheduling UV emission cycles to occur during nighttime or breaks when no one is present, the system ensures surfaces and air are disinfected before human activity resumes, eliminating the need for post-occupancy cleaning operations
3Reliability
If UV light is emitted continuously, then disinfection coverage is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV disinfection device operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The controller activates UV lights for predetermined time intervals (e.g., 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) or triggers emission only when sensors detect unoccupied conditions, thereby providing adequate disinfection coverage while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs disinfection in advance during unoccupied periods before occupants arrive or during breaks when no one is present. By scheduling UV emission to occur only when the workspace is empty, the system achieves complete disinfection coverage without the need for continuous operation, as each discrete cycle during unoccupied periods is sufficient to eliminate pathogens
4Use of energy by moving object
If motion detection is used to control UV emission, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs motion sensors as intermediary devices that detect occupancy conditions and automatically control UV light emission. The sensors act as mediators between human presence and the disinfection process, triggering UV activation only when no motion is detected for predetermined periods, thereby achieving energy efficiency through automated occupancy-based control without requiring complex manual scheduling systems
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 solution reduces staffing requirements and chemical usage, enhances disinfection quality and coverage, and provides health benefits by eliminating chemical agents, while maintaining efficient operation even with intermittent occupancy.
Implementation Method 1
a lamp having an ultraviolet (UV) light emission device connected to the housing. The controller can be connected to the lamp to control an output of UV light from the UV light emission device
Implementation Method 2
The UV light can be a non-visible light within the UV emission range. For instance, the UV light can have a wavelength between 100 nanometers (nm) and 400 nm. In some preferred embodiments, the UV light has a wavelength that is between 200 nm and 225 nm or is 222 nm
Data Source
AI summary
Disinfection devices positionable to disinfect work spaces within an office of an office building or other work area can be configured or incorporated into a lighting device, ceiling mounted device, baffle, furniture, or other type of disinfection device. Embodiments can be configured to utilize UVC-222 light or other UVC light to disinfect the work area. In some embodiments, the disinfecting light can be applied at a pre-selected time of night when the work area is expected to have no staff or limited numbers of staff therein. The distribution of the disinfection light can be configured to help ensure application of the light for a pre-selected time period applies at least a pre-selected dose of the light to the work area for sufficient, if not complete, disinfection of objects within the work area that include papers, furniture, and other items.