Selected-Area UV Disinfection With Occupant-Aware Irradiation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UVGI systems are unsafe and impractical for continuous disinfection of occupied spaces due to their inability to selectively irradiate desired areas, potential harm to humans, and inability to track and avoid occupants, necessitating high UV-C light intensity levels for rapid disinfection.
Innovation Solution
A selected-area ultraviolet disinfection (SUD) system that uses controllable light sources, sensing sub-systems, and control sub-systems to direct disinfecting light only to safe, unoccupied areas, avoiding human exposure by employing sensors to detect occupants and control light source placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-power UVGI systems are used to disinfect spaces quickly, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but health hazards to occupants increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the UVGI system into multiple independently controllable light sources that can be selectively activated to target specific areas. This segmentation allows the system to disinfect high-risk areas quickly while avoiding occupancy areas, resolving the contradiction between disinfection speed and occupant safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different UVGI intensity levels to different locations based on occupancy status and risk assessment. High-power UVGI is applied to unoccupied high-risk areas for rapid disinfection, while low or zero power is applied to occupied areas, achieving both quick disinfection and occupant protection
2Reliability
If conventional UVGI systems operate continuously to maintain disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts UVGI light source operation based on real-time occupancy detection and risk assessment. Light sources can be selectively turned on or off, adjusted to different power levels, or directed to different areas, enabling continuous disinfection of at-risk areas while maintaining safety in occupied areas
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses occupancy sensors and risk assessment algorithms to continuously monitor the environment and feedback-control UVGI operation. This feedback mechanism ensures disinfection is maintained where needed while automatically reducing or stopping UVGI exposure in occupied areas, resolving the contradiction between continuous disinfection and safety
3Area of stationary object
If UVGI systems are designed to irradiate entire spaces, then disinfection coverage is improved, but precision in avoiding occupants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UVGI irradiation field into multiple controllable zones corresponding to different light sources. Each light source can be independently controlled to target specific areas, enabling precise avoidance of occupants while maintaining comprehensive coverage of at-risk areas through coordinated operation of multiple segments
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically directs UVGI beams to specific locations based on real-time occupancy detection. The beam direction and intensity can be adjusted to follow or avoid occupants, providing precise spatial control that improves both coverage of at-risk areas and avoidance of occupied areas
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 frequent and safe disinfection of occupied spaces by selectively irradiating specific areas, reducing health hazards and allowing continuous operation without evacuating the space, thus enhancing disinfection efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) with light in the UV-C band (100-280 nm)
Data Source
AI summary
A Selected-area Ultraviolet Disinfection (SUD) system which enables increased frequency of ultraviolet light treatment of spaces by improving the convenience, cost, safety, and/or efficacy. The core utility of the SUD system is to frequently and safely disinfect spaces where occupants are conducting their normal activities, enabled by a system constructed with a disinfecting light source that can direct and irradiate only selected areas (and corresponding volumes) that sensing and control components have determined are safe to disinfect, i.e. are not currently occupied.