UV-C LED Face Mask with Reflective Diffuser for Safe Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV light systems for disinfection, particularly those using UV-C light, are inefficient and unsafe for personal use due to their bulkiness, high power consumption, and potential harm to humans, making them unsuitable for adaptation into smaller personal articles like face masks or disinfecting bags.
Innovation Solution
The development of an LED disinfecting system that includes a power supply, LED light source module with a driver, and control circuitry for timed operation, integrated into wearable devices such as face masks and bags, utilizing AlGaN-based UV-C LEDs with reflective and diffusion sheets to enhance safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV lamps and fluorescent tubes are used for disinfection, then effective UV light radiation is achieved, but the devices become large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional UV lamps and fluorescent tubes to UV LEDs, representing a fundamental parameter change in the light source technology. UV LEDs emit light at specific wavelengths (265-285 nm) that match the peak absorption spectrum of DNA/RNA, providing effective disinfection while enabling miniaturization and integration into portable devices.
2Reliability
If UV-C light is used for disinfection, then effective pathogen destruction is achieved, but human exposure becomes dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical design elements including reflectors and diffusers that create localized UV-C irradiation zones. The reflector directs UV light onto the target surface, while the diffuser scatters the light to cover a broader area, both containing the harmful radiation within a controlled region and preventing exposure to surrounding areas where users may be present.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV LED system operates in periodic cycles with controlled duration, automatically turning on and off to provide disinfection while limiting cumulative exposure. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve effective pathogen destruction during brief activation periods while ensuring user safety during off periods.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional UV lamps are used, then UV light is emitted, but excess local heat and high power consumption are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal-based UV generation (lamps and fluorescent tubes that convert electrical energy to heat and then to light) with UV LEDs that directly convert electrical energy to light through electroluminescence. This substitution eliminates the intermediate thermal conversion step, dramatically reducing power consumption and heat generation while maintaining effective UV-C output.
4Illumination intensity
If conventional UV lamps are used, then UV light is emitted, but the devices are unwieldy and difficult to adapt into personal articles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the UV disinfection system into modular components: UV LED arrays mounted on flexible circuit boards, optical elements (reflectors and diffusers), and control circuits. This segmentation allows the system to be configured in various forms factors including face masks, bag attachments, and other personal articles, providing high adaptability while maintaining effective UV-C output.
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 LED system provides effective, safe, and efficient UV germicidal irradiation, reducing heat and power consumption, increasing the device's lifespan, and ensuring user safety while maintaining comfort and flexibility, with automatic disinfection functions.
Implementation Method 1
UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for UV germicidal irradiation
Implementation Method 2
UV-C light rays are known to be quite effective at destroying DNA, and more specifically RNA (Ribose Nucleic Acid) in the case of COVID-19, within the cell walls of bacteria and viruses, which have peak DNA absorption spectrums between 250-265 nm
Implementation Method 3
UV-reflective sheet disposed behind the FPC light emitting sheet, such that the UV-reflective sheet can reflect UV-C light emitted from the plurality of LEDs
Implementation Method 4
light diffusion sheet disposed in front of the FPC light emitting sheet, such that the light diffusion sheet can scatter the UV-C light emitted from the plurality of LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation system comprising: a light emitting diode (LED) disinfecting face mask comprising: a flexible mask body having a front surface and a back surface; a flexible printed circuitry (FPC) sheet disposed within the flexible mask body, the FPC sheet having a plurality of LEDs adapted to emit UV light, the plurality of LEDs facing the front surface; a vibration sensor electrically connected to the FPC sheet, the vibration sensor being adapted to detect vibrations; a UV-reflective layer disposed behind the FPC sheet, the UV-reflective layer being adapted to reflect the UV light; and a light diffusion layer disposed in front of the FPC sheet, the light diffusion layer being adapted to scatter the UV light; and a control module comprising: a central processing unit (CPU), an LED driver, and a power source; the CPU being in electrical communication with the LED driver and the vibration sensor.