Far UV-C Sanitizing Light Control for Occupied Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultraviolet light sanitization technologies pose safety risks to humans and animals due to harmful wavelengths, limiting their widespread adoption in occupied spaces.
Innovation Solution
Development of sanitizing devices that emit safe ultraviolet light within the far UV-C range (200-240 nm) with controlled intensity and direction, integrated with sensors and control systems, and networked for coordinated operation to generate environmental protection plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultraviolet light is used for sanitization, then pathogen destruction is effective, but harm to human eyes and skin occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by shifting the ultraviolet wavelength from the traditional 254 nm UV-C range to the 207 nm far UV-C range. This specific wavelength parameter change maintains effective pathogen destruction while reducing harm to human tissue, resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and human safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation into a beneficial sanitization tool by using the specific 207 nm far UV-C wavelength. This wavelength has selective effects: it effectively destroys pathogens while being safe for human exposure, thus converting a harmful factor into a beneficial one
2Object-affected harmful factors
If far UV-C light is used for sanitization in occupied spaces, then human safety is improved, but sanitization effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by precisely selecting the 207 nm wavelength within the far UV-C range (200-240 nm). This specific parameter optimization ensures both human safety and maintained pathogen destruction effectiveness, overcoming the perceived trade-off between safety and efficacy
3Adaptability or versatility
If ultraviolet sanitization is deployed in occupied spaces, then widespread adoption is enabled, but safety risks to humans and animals remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables widespread deployment in occupied spaces by changing the operational wavelength parameter to 207 nm far UV-C. This parameter change removes the safety barrier that previously prevented use in occupied environments, allowing both adaptability and safety to coexist
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms ultraviolet radiation from a harmful agent requiring evacuation of occupied spaces into a safe sanitization tool that can operate in presence of humans and animals. The 207 nm wavelength conversion turns a previously dangerous technology into a safe one for occupied space deployment
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
Enables safe pathogen neutralization in occupied environments by ensuring minimal harm to humans and animals while effectively reducing pathogens through optimized sanitization strategies.
Implementation Method 1
The sanitizing light source may be configured to emit sanitizing light into an environment through an aperture in a housing that houses the sanitizing light source
Implementation Method 2
Ultraviolet light within the far UV-C range (e.g., 180-228 nm) has been shown to be safe for human exposure up to limits designated by, for example, by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and can therefore be deployed in occupied spaces including offices, food preparation areas and public transport to kill germs within these environments
Implementation Method 3
the sanitizing device may include a filter configured to filter sanitizing light emitted by the sanitizing light prior to the sanitizing light exiting via the aperture so that the sanitizing light exiting the housing has a particular set of wavelengths and removing other wavelengths
Implementation Method 4
the sanitizing light source may be configured to emit the sanitizing light toward one or more reflectors or sensors arranged within the environment so that, for example, operation of the sanitizing device may be optimized and/or light emitted by sanitizing light source may be directed to one or more desired locations within the environment
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for the generation and execution of an environmental protection plan may be deployed to aid with a reduction of, for example, air-borne and/or surface pathogens within an environment. The environmental protection plan may use one or more sanitizing devices to emit sanitizing radiation (e.g., far UVC light) into the environment to kill or otherwise neutralize pathogens such as viruses and bacteria within the environment. At times, the environmental protection plan may be responsive to one or more aspects (size, objects contained therein) of the environment, a use for the environment, a modeled and/or actual pathogen load within the environment, desired levels of pathogen reduction within the environment, and/or human and/or animal safety limits for the sanitizing radiation.