Console Armrest Sterilization Layout for Full-Surface Visible-Light Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sterilization type console arm rest devices face challenges with UVC light emission, including potential harm to humans, directional limitations, and limited light transmittance, which hinder effective sterilization of both front and rear surfaces of items due to the UVC LED's placement and wavelength range.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional sterilization type console arm rest device is designed with first and second sterilization light generators emitting visible light at 405 nm wavelengths, one downward from the arm rest and the other upward from the console storage, utilizing a light guiding plate and photocatalytic reflectors to enhance light diffusion and coverage, ensuring simultaneous sterilization of both surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UVC light (100-280 nm wavelength) is used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but human safety is compromised due to potential harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter from UVC (100-280 nm) to visible light (405 nm), maintaining sterilization effectiveness while eliminating harmful effects on human skin and eyes. This parameter substitution resolves the contradiction by selecting a different portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that achieves the same functional goal without the associated hazards.
2Device complexity
If UVC LED is mounted on arm rest cover emitting from top to bottom, then device structure is simplified, but sterilization coverage is limited as both front and rear surfaces cannot be sterilized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sterilization function into two separate light sources: one mounted on the arm rest cover for downward emission, and another mounted on the console storage for upward emission. This segmentation allows simultaneous sterilization of both front and rear surfaces of items, resolving the coverage limitation while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to light emission by implementing both downward and upward emitting light sources, transforming the single-direction sterilization into multi-directional coverage. This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive sterilization of items regardless of their orientation on the tray.
3Device complexity
If single-direction light emission is used, then device structure is simplified, but light transmittance and diffusion are limited resulting in reduced sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting system into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations and orientations, enabling light to propagate through multiple paths and improve overall transmittance and diffusion throughout the console interior space.
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 effectively sterilizes both front and rear surfaces of items using visible light, addressing human safety concerns and directional limitations while improving sterilization efficiency and usability by increasing light transmittance and diffusion, thus enhancing healthcare functions and marketability.
Implementation Method 1
the downward emission and the upward emission are performed in a light guiding plate forming a traveling path of the visible light
Implementation Method 2
a reflector, a photocatalyst reflector, and a photocatalytic extended reflector, which reflect the visible light
Implementation Method 3
a photocatalyst configured to increase reflectance, and may form a length section of the light guiding plate in which the light diffused reflection induction and the reflectance increase are performed
Data Source
AI summary
A bidirectional sterilization type console arm rest device includes a first sterilization light generator configured to generate visible light emitted to front surfaces of belongings in an arm rest, and a second sterilization light generator configured to generate visible light emitted to rear surfaces of belongings in a console inner space. Therefore, sterilization by the visible light can solve the problem of harmfulness to the human body and the problem of light directivity and transmittance and maximize a sterilization effect by light diffusion of a light guiding film and, particularly, due to a separation structure of a light source and a light guiding film, the light guiding film also comes out of a belongings storage space so that usability of the tray as well as utilization of the storage space can be increased.