Adaptive UV Sterilization Control for Human-Active Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV sterilizers cannot perform sterilization when people are present and active, and methods that avoid people during sterilization fail to optimize sterilization efficiency and safety, especially in unforeseen circumstances.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization method that includes setting a sterilization area within a human activity area, defining peripheral areas, determining an irradiation mode based on peripheral area information, and irradiating sterilization electromagnetic waves in a controlled manner to ensure efficient and safe sterilization even when people are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If UV sterilizers irradiate surrounding areas indiscriminately to disinfect the entire area, then sterilization coverage is improved, but safety is worsened due to inability to perform sterilization when people are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from indiscriminate area-wide irradiation to targeted sterilization of specific zones (sterilization areas) distinguished from peripheral areas. The system identifies and irradiates only specific locations where contamination is detected, while excluding areas where people are present, thus achieving both effective sterilization coverage and safety simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the sterilization system adaptive and responsive to real-time conditions. The control device dynamically adjusts the irradiation plan based on detected human presence and contamination levels, switching between different irradiation modes (first and second modes) to balance sterilization effectiveness with safety requirements
2Reliability
If the system avoids people during sterilization, then safety is improved, but sterilization efficiency is worsened due to inability to concentrate irradiation where needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system concentrates sterilization resources on specific local areas (sterilization areas) where contamination is detected, rather than uniformly treating the entire space. This localized approach maintains safety by excluding human-present areas while maximizing sterilization efficiency in high-risk zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the control device continuously monitors contamination levels and human presence, then adjusts the irradiation plan accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to concentrate sterilization effort where most needed while maintaining safety, optimizing the balance between efficiency and safety requirements
3Productivity
If the system performs sterilization when people are present, then sterilization efficiency is improved, but safety is worsened due to potential irradiation of human areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection of human presence. When people are detected in peripheral areas, the control device modifies the irradiation plan by switching to a second irradiation mode that excludes these areas, thus maintaining safety while preserving sterilization efficiency in safe zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the space into distinct sterilization areas and peripheral areas based on contamination levels and human presence. This segmentation allows the system to independently control irradiation in each zone, maintaining safety by protecting human areas while preserving sterilization efficiency in designated zones
4Ease of operation
If the system uses autonomous sterilization mode, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to need for area setting and peripheral area information acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where the control device automatically acquires peripheral area information and determines appropriate irradiation modes without requiring manual intervention. The autonomous sterilization mode enables the system to independently manage the complex tasks of area identification, contamination assessment, and irradiation planning, improving ease of operation while containing complexity within the automated control logic
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 efficient and safe sterilization in areas with active people by concentrating sterilization where needed and preventing it where ineffective, improving safety through intelligent irradiation mode determination.
Implementation Method 1
sterilization electromagnetic wave irradiation in order to irradiate the sterilization area with sterilization electromagnetic waves in the irradiation mode
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a highly flexible sterilization method that is also safe and optimal. This sterilization method includes sterilization area setting in order to set in advance a sterilization area within a predetermined area of human activity, peripheral area setting in order to set in advance peripheral areas that are adjacent to or in proximity to the sterilization area, irradiation mode deciding in order to decide an irradiation mode for irradiating sterilization electromagnetic waves onto the sterilization area based on peripheral area information acquired from the peripheral areas, and sterilization electromagnetic wave irradiating in order to irradiate sterilization electromagnetic waves onto the sterilization area in the irradiation mode.