Multispectral UV Disinfection Lighting for Occupied Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection systems face challenges in effectively inactivating pathogens in occupied spaces without posing a safety risk to humans, particularly for viruses suspended in air, due to the limitations of UV-C radiation exposure limits.
Innovation Solution
A multispectral light source system that includes UV-C and non-UV-C light sources, controlled by electronics to emit light below the actinic exposure limit, with occupancy sensors to adjust intensity and timing, ensuring efficient pathogen inactivation while minimizing human exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If UV-C light intensity is increased to improve pathogen inactivation efficiency, then pathogen inactivation rate improves, but human safety risk increases due to exceeding actinic exposure limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the disinfection function across multiple wavelength bands (UV-C, UV-A, and visible light sources) rather than relying on a single high-intensity UV-C source. This allows the system to achieve effective pathogen inactivation through combined spectral action while keeping individual UV-C exposure levels below harmful thresholds for human occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spectral parameters by incorporating non-UV-C light sources (UV-A and visible light) alongside UV-C sources. This parameter change enables the system to maintain effective disinfection through multi-spectral action while reducing the actinic dose from any single source to levels that are safe for human exposure, thereby resolving the contradiction between disinfection efficacy and human safety.
2Reliability
If UV-C exposure time is extended to achieve complete pathogen inactivation, then disinfection effectiveness improves, but surface discoloration and material degradation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The disinfection process is segmented across multiple wavelength bands with different penetration and interaction characteristics. UV-C provides deep germicidal action, UV-A contributes to surface disinfection with less discoloration, and visible light sources provide additional sanitization. This segmentation allows achieving complete pathogen inactivation through combined action while reducing the cumulative UV-C exposure time needed, thereby minimizing surface discoloration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of extended UV-C exposure (surface discoloration) into a benefit by using complementary light sources. UV-A and visible light sources contribute to the overall disinfection effectiveness while having minimal discoloration effects, thereby transforming the limitation of UV-C into an opportunity to use a multi-spectral approach that achieves reliable disinfection without the harmful side effects of prolonged UV-C exposure.
3Productivity
If multiple light sources are added to achieve multispectral disinfection, then pathogen inactivation effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources (UV-C, UV-A, and visible light sources) into an integrated luminaire assembly that functions as a unified disinfection system. This merging approach achieves effective multi-spectral pathogen inactivation while managing system complexity through integrated design, shared control electronics, and coordinated operation of all light sources from a single device rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The multispectral luminaire is designed as a universal disinfection device that can target multiple types of pathogens simultaneously through its multi-wavelength light sources. The single device performs the function of what would traditionally require multiple specialized disinfection systems, achieving broad-spectrum pathogen inactivation effectiveness while consolidating system complexity into one multi-functional unit rather than several separate devices.
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
Achieves at least 90% inactivation of pathogens within 8 hours in occupied environments, maintaining actinic doses below safety thresholds, reducing surface discoloration, and minimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to generate ultraviolet light toward one or more surfaces or materials to inactivate one or more pathogens
Data Source
AI summary
A multispectral light source for disinfection is disclosed, including a plurality of light sources with different disinfection peak wavelengths and electronics. Each disinfection peak wavelength is effective for disinfection, and the electronics are configured to drive the plurality of light sources to emit light at the different disinfection peak wavelengths. In a specific embodiment, multispectral light source includes one or more UV-C light sources emitting ultraviolet light in a UV-C range, and one or more UV-A light sources emitting ultraviolet light in a UV-A range. The multispectral light source optionally may further include one or more white light sources emitting white light providing illumination. In a disinfection method, light in the UV-C range is emitted into an occupied space, and light outside of the UV-C range that is effective for inactivating at least one target pathogen is also emitted, optionally simultaneously, into the occupied space.