Sanitizing Hand Dryer with UV Light and Motion-Activated Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand dryer devices lack a mechanism for sanitizing hands using ultraviolet light after air drying, which is essential for removing germs and bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A hand dryer device with a housing containing a blower for air drying, an ultraviolet light for sanitizing, a motion sensor to detect user presence, and a basket to collect expelled liquids, all powered by a battery compartment and controlled by a microprocessor for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only air drying function is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but sanitization capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air drying function (blower) and sanitization function (ultraviolet light) into a single integrated hand dryer device. The housing contains both the blower and ultraviolet light source, allowing simultaneous or sequential operation to achieve both drying and sanitization in one device, thereby improving reliability without requiring separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand dryer device is designed to perform multiple functions: air drying hands via the blower and sanitizing hands via the ultraviolet light. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate hand drying and hand sanitizing devices, addressing the technical contradiction by providing sanitization capability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
2Reliability
If ultraviolet light is added for sanitizing, then germ removal capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a motion sensor to detect when hands are present and activates the blower and ultraviolet light only during this period. This periodic operation based on user presence ensures that energy-consuming components operate only when needed, rather than continuously, thereby improving germ removal capability while controlling energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion sensor provides feedback about user presence to the control system, which then activates or deactivates the blower and ultraviolet light accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy is consumed only when hands are present for drying and sanitizing, optimizing the balance between germ removal capability and energy consumption.
3Extent of automation
If motion sensor and microprocessor are added, then automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a motion sensor to automatically detect when hands are present and activates the blower and ultraviolet light without requiring manual intervention. The microprocessor controls the sequence of operations automatically, allowing the device to serve itself by detecting user presence and initiating the appropriate functions, thereby improving automation while keeping the control system relatively simple.
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 dries and sanitizes hands by using ultraviolet light after air drying, reducing germ and bacteria spread through liquid collection and targeted UV exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The blower is configured for air drying a pair of hands of a user positioned proximate to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
The light is configured for emitting an ultraviolet light for sanitizing the pair of hands of the user subsequent to air drying the pair of hands of the user from the outlet of the blower
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitizing hand dryer device for drying and sanitizing a pair of hands includes a housing enclosing an interior. The housing has a back wall, a bottom wall and a front wall. The housing includes a battery compartment providing electric power to the sanitization hand dryer device. A microprocessor renders data and executes actions of the sanitization hand dryer device. A blower is positioned within the interior of the housing and has an outlet being positioned on the bottom wall of the housing. A light emits an ultraviolet light for sanitizing the pair of hands of the user subsequent to air drying the pair of hands. A motion sensor detects the pair of hands positioned below the bottom wall. An indicator illuminates after to the motion sensor detects the pair of hands. Furthermore, a basket collects liquid expelled from the pair of hands by the blower.