Multiple Light Emitter Device for Disinfecting White Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LED technologies struggle to produce a visually appealing white light for indoor illumination while incorporating violet disinfecting light, as simply adding violet light to existing white light spectra results in an undesirable violet hue, requiring a correct balance of colors to achieve desirable white light with disinfecting properties.
Innovation Solution
A multiple light emitter device comprising at least two light emitters, one emitting violet light in the range of 380-420 nm without a light-converting material and another emitting blue light in the range of 440-495 nm with a light-converting material, ensuring the combination of light forms a high-quality disinfecting white light that meets ANSI standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If violet light is added to existing white light spectrum for disinfection, then disinfection capability is improved, but color characteristics deteriorate (undesirable violet hue)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into multiple independent light emitters, each producing a specific wavelength range. Instead of adding violet light to a single white light source, the system segments the illumination into multiple spectral components that can be independently controlled and optimized for both disinfection and visual quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters by using multiple light emitters with different peak wavelengths and bandwidths. By adjusting the intensity ratios and spectral distributions of individual emitters, the system achieves the desired balance between disinfection effectiveness (violet light component) and visual appeal (color rendering), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light emitters are used to achieve both white light and disinfection, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light-emitting functions into a single integrated device. By combining multiple light emitters, phosphor materials, and optical elements into one unified structure, the system achieves both general illumination and disinfection capabilities without requiring separate devices, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal lighting device that performs multiple functions simultaneously - general illumination, color rendering, and disinfection. The multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate devices, achieving versatility while the integrated structure helps manage complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If blue light with phosphor conversion is used for white light, then luminous efficacy is improved, but disinfection capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spectral output by incorporating multiple light emitters with different characteristics. While the blue light emitter with phosphor conversion maintains high luminous efficacy for general illumination, additional emitters provide the violet light component necessary for disinfection, thereby resolving the contradiction between efficiency and disinfection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite light-emitting structures combining different emitter types and phosphor materials. This composite approach allows the system to leverage the high efficiency of blue LED with phosphor conversion while simultaneously incorporating violet light sources for disinfection, achieving both luminous efficacy and disinfection capability through material composition rather than a single emitter type.
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 device efficiently produces a disinfecting white light spectrum that is both visually appealing and effective in inactivating microorganisms, balancing luminous efficacy with desirable color characteristics and disinfection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
each of the at least two light emitters includes a light-converting material arranged to be in a direct path of the light emitted from the given light emitter, each light-converting material being arranged to convert the wavelength of the light emitted from the given light emitter to a wavelength different therefrom
Implementation Method 2
the light from any light emitter not passing through a light-converting material combines with the light emitted from each light-converting material to form white light
Implementation Method 3
capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a hue of white while simultaneously causing the inactivation of microorganisms
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a multiple light emitter device which inactivates microorganisms. The device includes at least two light emitters and at least one light-converting material arranged to convert at least a portion of light from the light emitters. Any unconverted light emitted from the light emitters and converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mixes to form a combined light, the combined light being white. In one aspect, the light emitters include at least one blue light emitter and at least one violet light emitter. In another aspect, the light emitters include one blue light emitter and one emitter within the range of approximately yellow to infrared light.