Single Diode Disinfection Light-Emitting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting devices struggle to simultaneously provide white or a hue of white light and effectively inactivate microorganisms, as they often compromise on luminous efficacy or desirable color characteristics to achieve disinfection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device comprising a light emitter and at least one light-converting material, where the light emitter emits light in the 380 nm to 420 nm wavelength range, and the light-converting material converts this light to create a combined white light with a proportion of spectral energy in the 380 nm to 420 nm range greater than 20%, thereby achieving both effective illumination and microorganism inactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED lighting uses blue light-emitting semiconductors combined with phosphor material to achieve high luminous efficacy and desirable color characteristics, then white light illumination quality is improved, but the ability to inactivate microorganisms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate functions into a single LED device: general illumination (white light) and microorganism inactivation (UV-C wavelength). By integrating a UV-C emitting semiconductor junction with phosphor materials that convert some UV-C light to visible wavelengths, the device simultaneously provides both illumination and disinfection capabilities, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED device is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a general illumination source (providing white light for visibility) and a disinfection device (emitting UV-C light to inactivate microorganisms). This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate illumination and disinfection systems.
2Reliability
If LED lighting uses UV, near UV, or violet light-emitting semiconductors to achieve microorganism inactivation, then disinfection capability is improved, but luminous efficacy and color characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having different parts of the LED device serve different functions: the UV-C emitting junction provides disinfection capability, while phosphor materials strategically positioned to convert portions of UV-C light to visible wavelengths provide illumination. This spatial differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous optimization of both disinfection and illumination functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of the emitted light by using phosphor materials that convert UV-C wavelengths to visible wavelengths. This parameter transformation allows the device to maintain high UV-C content for disinfection while simultaneously generating visible light for illumination, thus improving both aspects.
3Reliability
If lighting devices increase output in specific radiation regions for specialized functions (horticulture, health, disinfection), then specialized function performance is improved, but general illumination quality and luminous efficacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines specialized disinfection function (UV-C emission) with general illumination function (white light output) into a single integrated device. The UV-C emitting junction provides disinfection capability while phosphor materials convert portions of this UV-C light to visible wavelengths, ensuring that specialized function enhancement does not come at the expense of general illumination quality.
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
The device emits white light with desirable color characteristics, including a high color rendering index (CRI) and correlated color temperature (CCT), while maintaining the ability to inactivate microorganisms, thus addressing the dual requirements of illumination and disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
A phosphor material is combined to convert a portion of the blue, violet, or UV light to other wavelengths of light
Implementation Method 2
Some alternative LED technologies use semiconductor junctions that emit UV, near UV, or violet light instead of blue light... have commercially been shown to be able to provide an adequate visual quality of light
Data Source
AI summary
A surface light emitting device that inactivates microorganisms may include at least one light emitter configured to emit a first light comprising a first peak wavelength wherein the first light is a blue light, and a light converting layer disposed over the at least one light emitter. The light converting layer may include a first light-converting material configured to convert only a first portion of the first light to at least a second light comprising a second peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength, a second light-converting material configured to convert only a second portion of the first light to at least a third light comprising a third peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength and the second peak wavelength.