Rotatable Sleeve Lighting Assembly for UV Disinfection and Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting solutions, such as fluorescent bulbs and disinfecting UV lightbulbs, fail to simultaneously disinfect and illuminate surfaces effectively, particularly in environments like restaurants and department stores, where manual cleaning is not feasible due to airborne viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Innovation Solution
Development of lighting assemblies that selectively emit ultraviolet radiation and convert it to visible light using a rotatable sleeve assembly, allowing for both disinfection and illumination by controlling the emission of UV or visible light through a motorized system and control circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluorescent bulbs are used for illumination, then visible light is provided, but UV light for disinfection is not effectively utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly integrates both illumination and disinfection functions into a single device. The bulb housing contains both a fluorescent bulb for visible light and a UV bulb for disinfection, with a rotatable sleeve that can position either bulb's output toward the target surface, enabling one device to perform multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable sleeve assembly allows dynamic switching between illumination and disinfection modes. By rotating the sleeve, the system can direct either the fluorescent light or UV radiation toward the surface, enabling flexible adaptation of function based on operational requirements.
2Reliability
If disinfecting UV lightbulbs are used, then UV radiation for disinfection is provided, but illumination capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly integrates both illumination and disinfection functions into a single device. The bulb housing contains both a fluorescent bulb for visible light and a UV bulb for disinfection, with a rotatable sleeve that can position either bulb's output toward the target surface, enabling one device to perform multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable sleeve assembly allows dynamic switching between illumination and disinfection modes. By rotating the sleeve, the system can direct either the fluorescent light or UV radiation toward the surface, enabling flexible adaptation of function based on operational requirements.
3Ease of operation
If manual cleaning is employed, then surfaces can be cleaned, but it is not feasible in environments with airborne viruses
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables surfaces to disinfect themselves automatically through UV radiation without requiring manual intervention. The lighting assembly can be positioned to direct UV light onto surfaces, allowing the surfaces to be treated by the lighting system itself rather than requiring human cleaners to physically contact and clean the surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with automated UV radiation-based disinfection. Instead of requiring physical contact and manual effort to clean surfaces, the system uses UV light to inactivate pathogens on surfaces, eliminating the need for human operators to expose themselves to potentially contaminated environments.
4Reliability
If multiple cleaning methods are used simultaneously, then comprehensive disinfection can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple disinfection approaches into a single integrated lighting assembly. By incorporating both fluorescent and UV bulbs within one housing and using a unified rotatable sleeve mechanism to direct their output, the system achieves comprehensive disinfection capability while maintaining relatively simple overall structure compared to using 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
Enables simultaneous disinfection and illumination of surfaces without manual cleaning, effectively inactivating bacterial cells and viral particles while providing continuous UV or visible light emission as needed.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet (UV) light has often been used to disinfect items and surfaces
Implementation Method 2
UV light... sterilizing science lab equipment... effectively inactivating bacterial cells and viral particles
Implementation Method 3
Fluorescent bulbs, which are readily available and often times already installed as a light fixture... produce UV light
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting assembly includes a lightbulb, sleeve, motor assembly, a control circuit, power source, first state, and second state. The control circuit is communicatively coupled to the power source, the lightbulb, and the motor assembly. The lightbulb emits ultra violet (“UV”) radiation. The sleeve converts UV radiation to visible light, is circumferentially positioned about the lightbulb, and is rotatably coupled to the lightbulb via the motor assembly. The motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the sleeve, and selectively rotates the sleeve about the lightbulb and thereby positions the lighting assembly in the first state or the second state. The sleeve includes a slit that emits the UV radiation from the lightbulb. In the first state, the lighting assembly emits UV radiation towards a surface. In the second state, the lighting assembly emits visible light towards the surface.