Antimicrobial Backlit Display Using HINS Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices, such as LCDs, LEDs, and OLEDs, often accumulate microbial contamination on their surfaces due to human interaction, which existing illumination methods fail to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating high-intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light sources with peak wavelengths between 380 nm to 420 nm, specifically 405 nm, into display devices and human-machine interface (HMI) devices to emit antimicrobial light, reducing, eliminating, or inactivating bacterial, fungal, and viral contaminants, along with control systems to manage light emission based on predefined profiles or user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional illumination methods are used for display devices, then visible light functionality is provided, but microbial contamination on surfaces is not effectively addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional visible light illumination with HINS light emission in a single display device. The backlight system includes both visible light sources and HINS light sources (380-420 nm wavelength), allowing simultaneous achievement of illumination and antimicrobial functions through merged light sources
Solution Approach 2:
The display device is designed to perform multiple functions: visible light illumination for display purposes and HINS light emission for antimicrobial protection. This multi-functional approach allows the same device to address both illumination needs and microbial contamination without requiring separate systems
2Object-affected harmful factors
If HINS light sources are added to provide antimicrobial function, then microbial contamination is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The HINS light sources are integrated into the existing backlight structure of the display device. By merging the antimicrobial function with the illumination system, the patent avoids adding separate complex subsystems, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving dual functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If continuous HINS light emission is used to eliminate microbes, then antimicrobial effectiveness is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is configured to emit HINS light periodically or in cycles rather than continuously. The system can activate HINS light emission during periods when visible light illumination is reduced or turned off, achieving effective microbial reduction while minimizing energy consumption through periodic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts HINS light emission based on operational conditions, user presence, or contamination levels. The control system modulates the timing and intensity of HINS light to optimize the balance between antimicrobial effectiveness and energy consumption, rather than maintaining constant emission
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 HINS light effectively reduces microbial contamination on display surfaces and biometric sensors, enhancing hygiene and device functionality while maintaining visible light functionality.
Implementation Method 1
one or more high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light sources. The one or more HINS light sources can be configured to emit HINS light onto the display screen
Data Source
AI summary
Antimicrobial backlit devices and methods are provided. In one example embodiment, a device includes a backlight system configured to provide backlight for a display screen of the device. The backlight system includes one or more HINS light sources configured to emit HINS light and one or more non-HINS light sources configured to emit non-HINS light. The device further includes one or more control devices configured to control operation of the one or more HINS light sources and the one or more non-HINS light sources according to one or more light control profiles.