Flexible UVC Housing With Motion-Triggered Touchpoint Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public touch points in public buildings are frequently contaminated by users with illnesses, posing a risk to subsequent users, and existing solutions like gloves are inconvenient or ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A flexible UV light disinfectant device with UVC LEDs and a motion sensor that automatically sanitizes touch points by activating UVC LEDs after detecting user motion and deactivating them when no motion is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UVC LEDs are continuously activated to disinfect touch points, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and user safety is compromised due to UV exposure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates UVC LEDs periodically based on motion detection cycles rather than continuously. The controller monitors motion signals and triggers UVC disinfection only after detecting that no motion has occurred for a predetermined time period, creating an on-demand periodic operation mode that reduces energy consumption while maintaining disinfection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses motion sensors to provide real-time feedback about user presence and behavior. This feedback loop allows the controller to dynamically adjust UVC LED activation, turning them off when motion is detected and turning them on only after a predetermined period of no motion, thereby optimizing both energy efficiency and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If motion detection delay is extended to ensure complete user departure before disinfection, then user safety is improved, but response time increases and disinfection frequency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of motion signals and maintains a predetermined time buffer before activating UVC LEDs. This preliminary action ensures that user departure is fully confirmed before disinfection begins, prioritizing safety while the predetermined time threshold is optimized to minimize unnecessary delays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible housing is made configurable to accommodate various touch point geometries, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a flexible housing made of bendable material that can be physically shaped into different geometries to match various touch point configurations. This flexible shell approach provides adaptability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, electronic controls, or multiple interchangeable components, thereby maintaining device simplicity while achieving versatility.
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
Effectively disinfects touch points without user intervention, ensuring safety and convenience by automatically sanitizing surfaces after use.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
UVC light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 3
a motion sensor. In some cases, in response to receiving a first motion signal from the motion sensor, indicating motion near the desired touchpoint
Data Source
AI summary
A device configured for disinfecting a desired touchpoint may include a flexible housing, which may be field configurable into two or more different shapes to accommodate the desired touchpoint. The flexible housing may house a plurality of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a power source, and a controller which may be operatively coupled to the plurality of UVC LEDs, the power source, and a motion sensor. In response to receiving a motion signal from the motion sensor indicating motion near the desired touchpoint, the controller waits until the motion sensor no longer detects motion and then activates one or more of the plurality of UVC LEDs for a predetermined period of time to disinfect the desired touchpoint.