Rotating UV Reflector for Shadowed Vehicle Interior Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles present challenging environments for effective ultraviolet light sterilization due to shadows created by nooks, crannies, and objects, leading to insufficient ultraviolet flux coverage in many areas.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an outer and inner shell with a reflective inner surface, a UV light source, and a negative pressure source, configured to rotate and draw air through holes, ensuring comprehensive UV flux coverage and ozone removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a stationary UV light source is used in a vehicle, then the device structure is simple, but the UV flux coverage is insufficient due to shadows from nooks, crannies, and objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the reflector rotatable around the UV light source. The reflector can change its orientation angle to direct UV flux into shadowed areas created by vehicle nooks, crannies, and objects. This dynamic adjustment allows a single stationary light source to achieve comprehensive coverage of areas that would otherwise remain dark, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and sufficient coverage.
2Reliability
If UV light sources are used for sterilization, then viral sterilization is achieved, but ozone is generated which may exceed environmental tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by introducing a negative pressure source that actively removes ozone from the vehicle interior. The negative pressure source creates a suction effect that draws ozone away from the sterilization zone and expels it externally. This separates the harmful ozone byproduct from the useful sterilization function, allowing effective viral sterilization while maintaining ozone levels within environmental tolerances through active removal.
3Reliability
If the reflector is made rotatable to improve UV flux coverage, then comprehensive sterilization is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotatable reflector mechanism that can change its orientation angle to direct UV flux into shadowed areas. The reflector rotates around the UV light source, allowing a single light source to achieve comprehensive coverage of all vehicle surfaces including nooks, crannies, and areas behind objects. This dynamic positioning capability ensures complete sterilization without requiring multiple light sources, thus managing complexity while achieving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable reflector serves multiple functions: it directs UV flux to different areas of the vehicle interior, adjusts coverage patterns based on vehicle configuration, and enables a single light source to perform the work of multiple fixed sources. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed while achieving comprehensive sterilization coverage.
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
Ensures thorough viral sterilization of vehicle interiors by maximizing UV flux coverage and maintaining ozone levels within environmental tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet light is one means for sterilizing a surface or an area of viruses
Implementation Method 2
emitting ultraviolet light from the corresponding ultraviolet lamp
Implementation Method 3
a negative pressure source in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the negative pressure source is configured to be actuated to draw air and ozone through the plurality of holes
Implementation Method 4
an inner shell having a second arcuate shape different than the first arcuate shape... with a reflective inner surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A device (100, 600) including an outer shell (102, 602) having a first longitudinal axis (104, 617) and a first arcuate shape (106). The outer shell (102, 602) is opaque to ultraviolet light and to visible light. The device (100, 600) also includes an inner shell (108, 604) having a second longitudinal axis (110, 616). The inner shell (108, 604) is connected longitudinally to the outer shell (102, 602) along a first longitudinal length (112, 612) and a second longitudinal length (114, 614). The inner shell (108, 604) has a second arcuate shape (116, 605) different than the first arcuate shape (106). A chamber (108, 608) is disposed between the outer shell (102, 602) and the inner shell (108, 604). The chamber (106, 608) is defined by a difference between the first arcuate shape (106) and the second arcuate shape (116, 605). The device (100, 600) also includes an ultraviolet light source (124, 610) disposed along the second longitudinal axis (110, 616).