UV-C LED Array Design for Expanded Sterilization Work Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV-C sterilization technologies face limitations in efficiently and flexibly sterilizing surfaces and airspaces due to inflexible light distribution and inadequate control over UV-C LED intensity and duration, which can lead to incomplete disinfection or damage to living tissues.
Innovation Solution
A UV-C generation device featuring multiple UV-C LEDs positioned around a workspace on a flexible printed circuit board, allowing independent control of LED intensity and duration, with the ability to be wrapped around various shapes and equipped with reflective materials and heat sinks for efficient sterilization of surfaces and airspaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If UV-C LEDs are positioned around a workspace to improve sterilization coverage, then the work area and sterilization effectiveness are increased, but the device complexity and difficulty of installation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C generation device is divided into multiple independent UV-C LEDs arranged around the workspace, with each LED capable of independent control. This segmentation allows the system to cover a larger work area while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design and independent operation of each LED unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-C LEDs are positioned in a three-dimensional arrangement around the workspace rather than in a single plane, enabling coverage of a larger volumetric work area. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions increases sterilization effectiveness while allowing flexible positioning to optimize coverage without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If UV-C LED intensity is increased to improve sterilization effectiveness, then the disinfection capability is enhanced, but the risk of damage to living tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic control of UV-C LED intensity and operation duration through independent control circuitry, allowing the sterilization parameters to be adjusted in real-time based on the specific application requirements. This enables effective sterilization while minimizing harmful effects on living tissues by optimizing the exposure parameters dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-C LEDs can be operated in periodic pulsed modes rather than continuous operation, allowing for controlled exposure intervals that achieve effective sterilization while providing rest periods that reduce cumulative damage to living tissues. The independent control of each LED enables flexible pulsing patterns optimized for different sterilization scenarios.
3Productivity
If UV-C LEDs are positioned close to the workspace to improve sterilization efficiency, then the sterilization speed is increased, but heat management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heat management system is segmented with individual heat sinks attached to each UV-C LED or small groups of LEDs, allowing localized heat dissipation close to the source without requiring a single large heat management system. This enables the LEDs to be positioned close to the workspace for efficient sterilization while managing heat locally at each LED position.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat dissipation is addressed by extending into the third dimension with heat sinks that protrude from the LED mounting surfaces, increasing the heat exchange surface area without occupying additional planar space. This allows the UV-C LEDs to maintain close positioning to the workspace while effectively dissipating heat through vertically oriented heat sinks.
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 provides flexible and efficient UV-C light distribution, enabling effective sterilization of surfaces and airspaces while minimizing the risk of damaging living tissues by allowing precise control over UV-C LED operation.
Implementation Method 1
multiple UV-C light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned around a work area
Implementation Method 2
The UV-C LEDs may, for example, have a wavelength between 200 and 280 nanometers
Implementation Method 3
The cylinder may be, for example, comprised of a UV-C transparent material (e.g., a material with UV-C transparency greater than fifty percent (50%) such as, for example, quartz or UV-C transparent polymer
Implementation Method 4
One or more heat sinks may be provided around the UV-C LEDs in order to capture and expel heat from UV-C LEDs away from those UV-C LEDs
Implementation Method 5
UV-C reflective material may be provided on the flexible printed circuit board around the UVC-LEDs or selectively provided, around the UV-C LEDs placement
Data Source
AI summary
A UV-C generator is provided where multiple UV-C LEDs are provided around a work area (e.g., a tube) in order to sterilize contaminants in that work area (e.g., virus and/or bacteria) to provide a sterilization device for substances in, or flowing through, the work area. The tube may gates to change the speed and/or direction of a flowing working substance and may have a spiraling channel in the tube such that the length of travel in the spiraling channel is longer than the tube. Such UV-C generator devices may be utilized, for example, to sanitize air flowing through devices such as a ventilator or face mask.