Far-UV Diverging Optics for Wide-Area Safe Pathogen Inactivation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultraviolet irradiation devices are limited in inactivating pathogens due to the risk of emitting harmful ultraviolet light to humans and have restricted coverage, as they require directional emission to avoid human exposure.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet irradiation device with a light source emitting ultraviolet light in the 190-240 nm range, combined with a diverging optical system that enlarges the light distribution angle, ensuring broad coverage while minimizing harm to humans and animals, and an optical filter to further restrict harmful wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ultraviolet light (254 nm) is used for pathogen inactivation, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but harmful effects on human body increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of ultraviolet light from conventional 254 nm to the 190-240 nm range. This parameter change enables effective pathogen inactivation while reducing harmful effects on human skin and eyes, as shorter wavelength UV light has less penetration ability into human tissues.
2Area of stationary object
If ultraviolet light is emitted in all directions to cover wide area, then sterilization coverage is improved, but exposure risk to humans increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the wavelength parameter to 190-240 nm, the patent enables omnidirectional emission without increasing exposure risk, as this wavelength range has inherently lower harmfulness to human tissue.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If directional ultraviolet emission is used to ensure safety, then human safety is improved, but sterilization coverage area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter to enable safe omnidirectional emission. Combined with a diverging optical system, this allows the ultraviolet light to be emitted in all directions while maintaining safety, thereby expanding sterilization coverage without increasing exposure risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a diverging optical system as an intermediary component that distributes ultraviolet light in all directions. This mediator enables omnidirectional emission while controlling the light distribution to maintain safety standards.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple ultraviolet devices are deployed to cover wide area, then sterilization coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the wavelength parameter to 190-240 nm and combining with a diverging optical system, the patent enables a single device to achieve omnidirectional emission with wide coverage, reducing the number of devices needed and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single ultraviolet irradiation device capable of providing omnidirectional sterilization coverage through the diverging optical system, making the device more versatile and reducing the need for multiple units.
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 device effectively inactivates pathogens across a wide area without posing a safety risk to humans or animals, ensuring thorough sterilization and compliance with safety thresholds, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength belonging to a range from 190 nm to 240 nm
Implementation Method 2
pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses has an absorption maximum around a wavelength of 260 nm
Implementation Method 3
a diverging optical system that enlarges a light distribution angle of the ultraviolet light passing through the extraction part
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an ultraviolet irradiation device that can effectively inactivate pathogens while ensuring safety for a human body, a method for using the irradiation device, and the ultraviolet irradiation method. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to the present invention includes: a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength belonging to a range from 190 nm to 240 nm; a housing that accommodates the light source; an extraction part that extracts the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source to the outside of the housing; and a diverging optical system that enlarges a light distribution angle of the ultraviolet light passing through the extraction part.