Sterilization System with Real-Time Human Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods lack the ability to selectively target and efficiently sterilize areas without exposing humans to sterilizing radiation, particularly in environments where both sterilization and human presence are concurrent, such as hospitals and transportation vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines the presence or absence of objects within areas using various detection technologies and transmits signals to control the emission of sterilizing radiation, ensuring that radiation is directed only where necessary and avoiding human exposure by using technologies like infrared radiation, retinal reflection, and tag readers to model and adjust the sterilization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilizing radiation is emitted continuously to ensure complete sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but human exposure to radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of human presence using detectors (infrared sensors, cameras, RFID readers) before emitting sterilizing radiation. This preliminary action allows the control system to determine whether the area is safe for radiation emission, preventing human exposure while maintaining sterilization effectiveness when the area is unoccupied.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the area using detectors and provides feedback to the control system. Based on this real-time feedback about human presence, the control system dynamically adjusts the emission of sterilizing radiation, turning it off when humans are detected and turning it on when the area is clear, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous sterilization and human safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sterilizing radiation is emitted only when areas are clear of humans, then human safety is improved, but sterilization completeness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of the area using detectors, ensuring that sterilization opportunities are not missed. When human presence is detected, the system can quickly transition to safe mode, and when the area becomes clear, sterilization resumes immediately, maintaining continuous useful action without compromising either safety or completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic detection cycles to monitor human presence and periodically emits sterilizing radiation in controlled intervals when the area is clear. This periodic action ensures that sterilization is performed in cycles rather than continuously, allowing for human safety checks while maintaining overall sterilization effectiveness through repeated treatment cycles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If detection technologies are integrated into the sterilization system, then selective sterilization capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple types of detectors (infrared sensors, cameras, RFID readers) that can serve multiple functions: detecting human presence, tracking movement, and identifying objects. This multi-functionality allows the system to perform selective sterilization without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same detection infrastructure serves multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that processes information from various detectors and coordinates the emission of sterilizing radiation. This centralized intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a single point of decision-making, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from direct connections between multiple detectors and radiation sources.
4Productivity
If real-time detection and control is implemented, then radiation emission efficiency is improved, but energy consumption for detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses rapid detection cycles that can quickly determine human presence or absence, allowing for fast transition between sterilization and safe modes. This skipping approach rushes through the detection process efficiently, minimizing the time detectors need to operate at full power while still providing real-time control, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining high radiation emission efficiency.
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 system effectively sterilizes areas while preventing exposure to humans, ensuring safety and efficiency by selectively directing sterilizing radiation based on real-time object detection and presence, thus enhancing the sterilization process in complex environments.
Implementation Method 1
using technologies like infrared radiation, retinal reflection, and tag readers to model and adjust the sterilization process
Implementation Method 2
using technologies like infrared radiation, retinal reflection, and tag readers to model and adjust the sterilization process
Implementation Method 3
transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for sterilizing one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are described. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be used to sterilize one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas through use of sterilizing radiation. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be utilized so that objects, such as humans, that are within one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are not substantially irradiated with sterilizing radiation.