Microwave Lighting Housing for Safe Air Disinfection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UV-C disinfection systems pose health risks due to potential UV-C light leakage, necessitating a safer alternative for air disinfection.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device incorporating a microwave generator for disinfection and a housing that prevents microwave leakage while allowing light transmission, using a Faraday cage-like structure with openings smaller than the microwave wavelength and reflective or absorptive materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UV-C light is used for disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but health safety deteriorates due to potential light leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidhealth safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces harmful UV-C radiation with microwave radiation for disinfection. Microwaves are used to heat and destroy pathogens without the harmful effects of UV-C light on human skin and eyes, thus converting the disinfection method from harmful to beneficial while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a housing with microwave-transparent windows as an intermediary structure. This housing contains the microwave generator and allows microwaves to pass through to disinfect the room while blocking harmful UV-C light, serving as a mediator between the disinfection source and the environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If microwaves are generated for disinfection, then health safety is improved, but microwave leakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealth safetyVSAvoidmicrowave leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a housing with microwave-transparent windows made of thin film materials that are transparent to microwaves. These thin film structures allow microwaves to pass through for disinfection while the housing structure contains the microwave generator and prevents uncontrolled leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is segmented into different sections with microwave-transparent windows and opaque sections. The transparent windows are strategically placed to allow microwaves to exit for disinfection while the opaque sections contain the microwave generator and prevent leakage in other directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If housing is made solid to contain microwaves, then microwave containment is improved, but light transmission deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrowave containmentVSAvoidlight transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses microwave-transparent window materials that have properties similar to porous materials - they allow microwaves to pass through while maintaining structural integrity for containment. These materials have selective permeability that allows different types of electromagnetic radiation to pass through differently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is constructed as a composite structure combining microwave-transparent and microwave-opaque materials. The transparent sections allow both light and microwaves to pass through, while the opaque sections block microwaves but can be designed to allow light transmission, creating a composite housing that satisfies both containment and illumination requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Provides effective air disinfection without exposing individuals to harmful microwaves, ensuring safety and efficiency in pathogen deactivation.

Implementation Method 1

a microwave generator for generating microwaves into a volume, wherein the microwaves are for disinfecting the volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

the microwaves are for disinfecting the volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 3

the housing comprises a surface, wherein at least part of said surface comprises a coating for reflecting the microwaves, wherein said surface is facing the microwave generator, wherein the microwaves are reflected back into the volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

the housing encloses the volume and is configured to prevent the microwaves from passing through the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFaraday cage effect: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 5

a lighting load for emitting light for illuminating external objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS20250235575A1Lighting device using microwave radiation

Publication Date: 2025.07.24 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting device comprising a microwave generator for generating microwaves into a volume, wherein the microwaves are for disinfecting the volume, a lighting load for emitting light for illuminating external objects and a housing, wherein the housing encloses the volume and is configured to prevent the microwaves from passing through the housing and to pass through the light.