Chromic Coating Visual Sanitation Status Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of vehicles are unaware of the sanitation status of high-touch surfaces, leading to concerns about potential disease transmission despite the use of disinfection strategies.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a coating with a chromic material on surfaces, which changes its optical state from a baseline to an altered state upon contact with a cleaning composition, allowing the sanitation status to be visually indicated through illumination with specific wavelengths of light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent application of chemical cleaning products and disinfectants is used, then sanitation effectiveness is improved, but user awareness of sanitation status deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies chromic materials that undergo color changes in response to cleaning compositions. The coating transitions from a first color state indicating unsanitized surfaces to a second color state indicating sanitized surfaces, providing visual feedback to users about sanitation status without requiring additional communication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a visual feedback mechanism where the coating's optical properties change in response to contact with cleaning compositions. This feedback loop allows users to immediately see which surfaces have been sanitized, creating direct information return about the effectiveness of cleaning actions.
2Loss of information
If visual indication systems are added to show sanitation status, then user awareness is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating system is self-indicating and requires no external power source, control electronics, or additional components. The chromic material inherently changes optical properties when contacted by cleaning compositions, providing sanitation status indication through its own chemical response rather than requiring an external indication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The chromic coating acts as an intermediary between the cleaning composition and the user. It chemically interacts with the cleaning agents and translates this interaction into visible optical changes, serving as a passive mediator that converts chemical information into visual information without requiring active electronic 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 system effectively communicates the sanitation status of surfaces, ensuring users are aware of cleaned versus unclean areas, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the coating comprises a chromic material and exhibits a baseline optical state under illumination with light having a first wavelength prior to contact with the cleaning composition and an altered optical state under illumination with light having a second wavelength after contact with the cleaning composition
Implementation Method 2
the cleaning composition configured to induce a switch from the baseline optical state to the altered optical state
Data Source
AI summary
A method for indicating a sanitation status of a surface may comprise contacting a coating on a surface with a cleaning composition, wherein the coating comprises a chromic material and exhibits a baseline optical state under illumination with light having a first wavelength prior to contact with the cleaning composition and an altered optical state under illumination with light having a second wavelength after contact with the cleaning composition, the cleaning composition configured to induce a switch from the baseline optical state to the altered optical state; and illuminating the coating with the first wavelength of light, the second wavelength of light, or both, to reveal a sanitation status of the surface. Systems for indicating a sanitation status of a surface are also provided.