Lighting Control Device for UV-C Sanitizing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems with sanitizing functions, such as UV-C and violet light, pose safety risks due to potential hazardous emissions, especially when users are exposed for long periods or at high intensity, as they lack effective control mechanisms to ensure safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for controlling a lighting and sanitizing system that integrates sensors and a control unit to ensure the sanitizing source is only activated under safe conditions, using a presence sensor, door sensors, and a communication system to manage the sanitizing source's power and alert users, ensuring safe operation by monitoring current levels and interrupting power if safety thresholds are breached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-C lamps or violet light sources with sanitizing function are used, then sanitizing capability is improved, but safety risks increase due to potentially hazardous emissions to users
Solution Approach 1:
The control device checks safety conditions (presence sensors, door sensors, ventilation sensors) before activating the sanitizing source. This preliminary verification ensures that the UV-C lamp or violet light source is only turned on when the environment is safe for operation, preventing hazardous exposure to users while maintaining sanitizing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors safety conditions during sanitizing operation through sensors that detect presence, door status, and ventilation levels. If unsafe conditions are detected during operation, the control device automatically deactivates the sanitizing source, providing real-time feedback control that maintains both sanitizing effectiveness and user safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If control mechanisms are added to ensure safe operation of sanitizing sources, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device integrates multiple safety functions into a single unit that manages presence detection, door monitoring, ventilation checking, and sanitizing source control. This multi-functional approach improves user safety through comprehensive monitoring while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically monitors safety conditions and activates or deactivates the sanitizing source based on sensor inputs without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates its operation to ensure safety, reducing the need for complex manual control interfaces while maintaining high safety standards.
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 a reliable and safe control mechanism that prevents hazardous exposure to sanitizing radiation, ensuring the sanitizing source is only active when users are not present and reducing the risk of harm by monitoring current levels and interrupting power if safety thresholds are exceeded.
Implementation Method 1
UV light being capable of deactivating or eliminating pathogenic microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
certain light radiations in the visible range, particularly in the violet range, can have disinfectant effects
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A control device (5) for controlling a lighting system (1) with sanitizing function comprises a printed circuit board (10) connectable to at least one lamp (2) of the lighting system (1) provided with at least one sanitizing source (3); at least one presence sensor (13) connected to the board (10) by a communication system (37), for example a wireless communication system; an amperometric sensor (35) connected to the sanitizing source (3) to measure the current in the sanitizing source (3); the board (10) is configured so as to disable the sanitizing source (3) or to reduce the power supply to the sanitizing source below a threshold value when the presence sensor (13) detects the presence of users; or when a malfunction is detected in the communication system (37) and the amperometric sensor (35) detects in the sanitizing source (3) a current greater than the threshold value.