Equipment Disinfection With UV-C Safety Interlocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection solutions lack autonomy, convenience, and effectiveness in disinfecting equipment surfaces, particularly those with complex geometries and high user interaction, often requiring excessive UV energy and failing to reach shaded areas, and are not designed for intelligent automated interaction.
Innovation Solution
A disinfection and human machine interface integrated circuit with UV and visible light LEDs, sensors, and control circuits for automated disinfection and feedback, enabling intelligent interaction and comprehensive surface disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV energy is increased to disinfect all surfaces, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but UV exposure to users increases causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A UV-transmissive barrier (acrylic sheet or glass) is introduced as an intermediary between the UV LED and the external environment. This barrier allows UV-C light to pass through for disinfection while physically blocking direct UV exposure to users. The barrier can be transparent or translucent in the visible spectrum, maintaining visibility while providing UV protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of user presence using sensors (capacitive, optical, or motion sensors) before activating the UV LED. If a user is detected in proximity, the system prevents UV LED activation or reduces its intensity, ensuring safety while still enabling disinfection when the area is unoccupied.
2Reliability
If UV LED is activated continuously, then disinfection coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV LED is activated periodically rather than continuously. The control circuit activates the UV LED for specific time intervals (e.g., 5-10 minutes) at scheduled times or when triggered by sensor detection of contamination, then deactivates it. This periodic operation maintains disinfection effectiveness while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback (contamination detection, user presence detection) to dynamically control UV LED activation. When sensors detect high pathogen levels or no users present, the system activates the UV LED for disinfection. When users are present or contamination levels are low, the UV LED remains inactive, optimizing energy usage based on real-time conditions.
3Reliability
If equipment surfaces are made UV-transmissive for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but visible light transmission may be affected reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
UV-transmissive properties are applied locally only where needed for disinfection (specific barrier regions or equipment surfaces), while other areas maintain normal visibility characteristics. The barrier material is selected to have high transmittance in the UV-C range (200-280nm) while maintaining adequate visible light transmission for user visibility and interface functionality.
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
Provides automated, efficient, and intelligent disinfection of equipment surfaces, ensuring thorough coverage and user safety by integrating UV and visible light LEDs with sensor modules for real-time feedback and control.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C light has been shown to be effective in destroying pathogens
Implementation Method 2
UV-C light has been shown to be effective in destroying pathogens
Implementation Method 3
visible light LED
Implementation Method 4
sensor module configured to sense a user interaction
Data Source
AI summary
A disinfecting system and method with monitoring and safety system. The system is available at a semiconductor level with sensors for enabling effective disinfection and human machine interface functions. UV transmissive material can assist in effective distribution of UV-C light for disinfection and visible light for feedback. A replaceable sealed UV source can disinfect multiple distinct areas and be configured with a wide variety of equipment, such as medical equipment, vacuums, and cabinetry. Disinfection interlocks promote safety and efficiency.