Hands-Free UV-C LED Sterilization With Independent Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV-C sterilization technologies face challenges in efficiently and effectively sterilizing surfaces and objects across various environments and materials, particularly in ensuring uniform exposure and controlling intensity to prevent damage to living tissues while effectively inactivating viruses and bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A UV-C generation device featuring multiple UV-C LEDs positioned around a work area on a flexible printed circuit board, allowing for independent control of intensity and duration, with the ability to be wrapped around objects or surfaces, and incorporating reflective materials and heat sinks for efficient heat management, along with manual and automated control modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-C sterilization intensity is increased to effectively inactivate pathogens, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but risk of damage to living tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements independent control of each UV-C LED's intensity and duration, allowing different regions to be sterilized with appropriate doses. The system can target specific contaminated areas with higher intensity while keeping surrounding areas at lower intensities to protect living tissues, achieving localized optimization of sterilization effectiveness versus safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts UV-C LED intensity and exposure duration based on real-time feedback from sensors detecting living tissues and contamination levels. This dynamic control allows the sterilization process to adapt during operation, increasing intensity when pathogens are detected and reducing or stopping when living tissues are present, thereby resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and tissue safety.
2Manufacturing precision
If UV-C LEDs are positioned to provide uniform exposure across surfaces, then sterilization uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sterilization system into multiple independently controllable UV-C LED units arranged around the work area. Each LED can be individually positioned and controlled to target specific zones, allowing uniform coverage to be achieved through coordinated operation of segmented units rather than requiring a single complex illumination system.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible printed circuit board substrate allows the UV-C LED array to be configured in various geometries and wrapped around different shaped objects. This universal mounting approach enables the same basic device structure to achieve uniform exposure across diverse surfaces and geometries without requiring complex custom-designed illumination systems for each application.
3Measurement precision
If UV-C LED intensity is controlled independently for each LED, then sterilization precision is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect contamination levels and living tissues, providing feedback to the control system. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex manual control mechanisms, as the system autonomously adjusts individual LED intensities based on sensor data, achieving precise sterilization control while minimizing the complexity of the control interface.
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 solution provides efficient and controlled UV-C sterilization across diverse surfaces and objects, ensuring effective inactivation of pathogens without damaging living tissues, with adaptable configurations for various applications and environments.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C light may be provided at a wavelength between 200 and 280 nanometers... UV-C LEDs may interact with the working substance to, for example, sterilize the working substance
Implementation Method 2
One or more heat sinks may be provided around the UV-C LEDs in order to capture and expel heat from UV-C LEDs away from those UV-C LEDs
Implementation Method 3
UV-C reflective material may be provided on the flexible printed circuit board around the UVC-LEDs... around the interior surface or exterior surface of the cylindrical housing
Data Source
AI summary
A hands-free object sanitization system is provided where multiple UV-C LEDs are provided around a work area (e.g., a surface) in order to sterilize contaminants located on objects placed in that work area (e.g., virus and/or bacteria). Objects may travel through the work area without direct human intervention so that a hands-free sanitization system is provided. For example, objects may be dropped through a working area so that gravity provides a transport force through that working area.