Movable UV-C Lamp for Air and Surface Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating air and surfaces with UV light, such as UV-C, face challenges in safely and effectively inactivating germs while minimizing human exposure, particularly in environments where excessive UV light exposure is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A device with moveable UV-C LED lamps that can switch between air treatment and surface treatment modes, controlled by sensors and a remote, ensuring safe operation by preventing surface treatment when people or open apertures are detected, and featuring a fan unit for air circulation and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-C light is used to treat air and surfaces, then germ inactivation effectiveness is improved, but human exposure safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment lamps are made movable between air treatment position (facing inward) and surface treatment position (facing outward), allowing the system to dynamically adjust its configuration based on operational mode, thereby enabling effective germ treatment while minimizing harmful human exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates air treatment and surface treatment functions into distinct operational modes with physically separated lamp orientations, allowing the system to perform germicidal treatment on air or surfaces at different times and positions, reducing simultaneous exposure risks
2Reliability
If surface treatment mode is enabled, then surface germ inactivation is improved, but safety control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Interlock sensors detect door/window positions and presence sensors detect human presence before surface treatment mode can be activated, preventing unsafe operation by checking environmental conditions in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors sensor inputs (interlock and presence sensors) and automatically adjusts lamp operation and positioning based on real-time environmental feedback, ensuring safety without requiring complex manual control systems
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 inactivates germs in air and on surfaces while ensuring user safety by adjusting lamp positions and operation based on environmental conditions, reducing exposure risks.
Implementation Method 1
Treatment via lamps using LED technology, among others, is an effective manner to inactivate such germs
Implementation Method 2
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C comprises light at a wavelength between 200-280 nm). A germicidal range may extend beyond UV-C to 300 nm, and include a portion of UV-B spectrum
Implementation Method 3
a fan unit between the inlet and the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus, system and method to treat air and surfaces using light. The apparatus comprises a hollow body having an inlet and outlet for passage of air. Treatment lamps are body mounted for movement between an air treatment position to treat air inside the body and a surface treatment position to treat air/an external surface. When installed in a room environment, the apparatus, via a system controller, operates in an air treatment mode, a surface treatment mode or an off mode. Room sensors (e.g. interlock and presence) communicate with the controller and the controller permits or prevents operation in the surface treatment mode accordingly. If any interlock sensor senses an open position or the presence sensor senses a presence (e.g. motion), operation in the surface mode is prevented. A remote control communicates with the controller to select an operating mode.