Sterilizing LED Lighting With Safe 405 Nm Irradiance Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting apparatuses with ultraviolet LEDs for sterilization pose health risks due to harmful ultraviolet rays, making them unsuitable for use in spaces where people are present.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus using a combination of white light emitting diodes and wavelength converters, along with specific wavelength emitting diodes, emits white light and sterilizing light without causing eye or skin diseases, and includes a controller for adjusting light doses based on location and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultraviolet LEDs are used for sterilization, then sterilizing function is improved, but harm to human body (eyes and skin) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light source into multiple LED chips with different wavelengths (e.g., 380nm, 405nm, 420nm, 440nm, 460nm, 480nm, 500nm, 520nm, 540nm, 560nm, 580nm, 600nm, 620nm, 640nm, 660nm, 680nm, 700nm). This segmentation allows the system to provide sterilization functionality while controlling the intensity of harmful wavelengths, as each LED chip contributes differently to both sterilization and potential harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters by using multiple LEDs with different peak wavelengths and by adjusting the irradiance of each wavelength component. The controller dynamically adjusts the irradiance of individual LEDs to maintain the sterilizing effect while ensuring that the sum of harmful irradiance across all wavelengths remains below safety thresholds for human exposure.
2Productivity
If high irradiance of sterilizing wavelength is used, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but harmful irradiance to human body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the irradiance parameters of individual LEDs based on real-time conditions. By independently controlling the irradiance of each wavelength component, the system optimizes sterilization effectiveness at critical wavelengths (particularly 405nm) while simultaneously limiting the cumulative harmful irradiance across the entire spectrum to remain below safety thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static to dynamic control by continuously monitoring and adjusting the irradiance of each LED chip. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing conditions, maximizing sterilization effectiveness when needed while automatically reducing harmful irradiance levels to protect human health, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety.
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 apparatus effectively sterilizes pathogens while ensuring safety by minimizing harmful irradiance levels, allowing use in environments with people, and dynamically adjusts color temperature to mimic natural sunlight.
Implementation Method 1
the wavelength converter includes a plurality of wavelength conversion substances to convert light of the first light emitting diode into white light
Implementation Method 2
at least one second light emitting diode emitting light suitable for sterilizing at least one pathogenic microorganism, in which the second light emitting diode emits light having a central wavelength in a range of about 400 nm to about 420 nm
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting apparatus including a first light emitter including at least one first light emitting diode and a wavelength converter, and a second light emitter including at least one second light emitting diode, in which the first light emitting diode emits light having a central wavelength in a range of violet or blue, the second light emitting diode emits light having a central wavelength in a range of about 400 nm to 420 nm, the wavelength converter includes green and red phosphors to convert light of the first light emitting diode into the white light, in the white light, an irradiance of light emitted from the first light emitting diode is less than that from the red phosphor, and an irradiance of light emitted from the second light emitting diode is greater than that of the white light emitted from the first light emitter at the same wavelength.