Disinfection Base Station With Occupancy Sensing and Docked Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable area/room disinfection apparatuses are costly, complex, and inefficient due to the need for air moving devices, filters, and actuators, which increase power requirements and weight, making them unsuitable for occupied facilities, and occupancy sensors like thermal, Doppler, and photo recognition sensors are more expensive and complicated.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle system with occupancy sensors and a wireless transmitter that inhibits or terminates disinfection operations when occupancy is detected, combined with a portable disinfection apparatus that includes a germicidal source and air moving device, allowing for efficient and safe disinfection in occupied spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air moving devices, filters, and actuators are included in portable disinfection apparatuses to enable air and surface disinfection selectivity, then the disinfection functionality and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity, power requirements, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates air disinfection and surface disinfection functions into distinct operational modes. The portable apparatus can be docked at a base station for air disinfection operations, while portable deployment enables surface disinfection. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently without requiring both systems to be integrated into a single complex unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary between the portable disinfection apparatus and the environment. When docked, the base station provides air moving devices and filters that enable air disinfection functionality, while the portable apparatus maintains its surface disinfection capability. This intermediary approach allows access to complex air handling components without permanently increasing the portable unit's complexity.
2Reliability
If thermal sensors, Doppler sensors, or photo recognition sensors are used as occupancy sensors for automated movement disinfection robots, then the reliability of occupancy detection is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the portable apparatus, enables air disinfection operations, and houses occupancy sensing capabilities. By consolidating these functions at the base station level, the portable apparatus itself remains simpler while still benefiting from reliable occupancy detection when docked.
3Reliability
If occupancy sensors are installed on automated movement disinfection robots to monitor for human or animal presence, then the safety and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the disinfection operation into portable surface disinfection mode and docked air disinfection mode. Occupancy sensing is implemented at the base station level where the portable apparatus docks, allowing safety monitoring for air disinfection operations without requiring complex sensor systems on the portable unit itself.
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 provides cheaper, less complex, and more efficient disinfection by ensuring germicide exposure is minimized in occupied areas, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining effective disinfection efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
an air moving device for drawing air from an ambient of the receptacle
Implementation Method 2
a portable disinfection apparatus having a germicidal source configured to emit a germicide
Data Source
AI summary
Receptacles and systems having occupancy sensors and/or air disinfection capability in conjunction with portable area/room disinfection apparatuses are provided. An embodiment of a receptacle for receiving a portable disinfection apparatus includes a sensor for detecting occupancy or potential occupancy in an area/room and a wireless transmitter communicably coupled to the sensor. Embodiments of other receptacles include an air moving device for drawing air from an ambient of receptacle and configurations to provide an air channel from the air moving device to an area at which germicide from a portable disinfection apparatus is emitted when the portable disinfection apparatus is arranged in the receptacle. An embodiment of a system includes a receptacle for receiving a portable disinfection apparatus and an air duct fluidly coupled to a port of the receptacle and extending through a wall of a room in which the receptacle is arranged.