Phased Array Antenna RF Beam Sweeping for Pathogen Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for killing or deactivating pathogens in air using RF energy are unsafe as they often exceed permissible exposure limits, posing risks to humans.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna system that generates a narrow beam of RF energy, controlled by phase shifters and a controller, sweeps through a volume to ensure each voxel is irradiated long enough to kill pathogens while maintaining power density within safe limits, ensuring compliance with RF exposure regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong RF energy is used to kill or deactivate pathogens, then pathogen elimination effectiveness is improved, but safety for people deteriorates (exceeds permissible exposure limits)
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the treatment volume into multiple voxels and uses a phased array antenna to direct RF energy at each voxel sequentially rather than illuminating the entire volume simultaneously. This segmentation allows concentrated energy delivery to small regions while keeping overall exposure low, resolving the contradiction between effective pathogen killing and safety compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic scanning of the RF beam through the treatment volume, dwelling on each voxel for a specific duration sufficient to kill pathogens, then moving to the next voxel. This periodic action allows sufficient energy delivery for pathogen elimination while maintaining safe average power density through the scanning cycle, as the beam is not continuously present at any single location
2Productivity
If RF energy is concentrated to kill pathogens quickly, then treatment time is reduced, but power density increases beyond safe limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates localized high power density only at the current beam position (active voxel) while other regions receive no or minimal RF energy. The phased array antenna focuses energy precisely at each voxel in sequence, ensuring that high power is applied only where and when needed for pathogen killing, while the rest of the volume remains below safety thresholds
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the beam position and timing to optimize the balance between killing speed and power density. By controlling the beam dwell time at each voxel and the scanning speed, the system achieves rapid pathogen elimination within each voxel while maintaining safe average power levels across the entire treatment volume through continuous movement
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 kills or deactivates pathogens within a volume without exceeding safe RF exposure limits, providing protection from infection while ensuring safety for individuals and adhering to regulatory standards.
Implementation Method 1
exposing them to RF energy
Implementation Method 2
heat pathogens suspended within the volume by at least 50° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Pathogens (e.g., viruses or bacteria) within a volume of air can be killed or deactivated using RF energy. A plurality of phase shifters input an RF signal and output a phase-shifted version of the RF signal at their respective outputs, wherein an amount of phase shift introduced by each of the phase shifters is controllable. A phased array antenna has a plurality of microwave radiators, and each of the respective outputs of the phase shifters drives a respective one of the microwave radiators. A controller controls the phase shifters to drive the phased array antenna such that a beam of RF energy emanates from the phased array antenna and sweeps through a volume positioned in front of the phased array antenna, and the beam of RF energy kills or deactivates the pathogens.