UV-C Disinfection Shelf With Optical Elements For Mask Irradiance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Respirator masks, especially those with cup-shaped designs, experience non-homogeneous UV-C light irradiance within UV-C disinfection chambers, leading to potential underexposure and material damage when attempting to achieve thorough disinfection, and existing methods require high exposure levels or additional handling.
Innovation Solution
A metal mesh shelf with integrated optical elements, such as diverging or focusing lenses, is used within the UV-C disinfection chamber to concentrate UV-C radiation on under-exposed areas, ensuring homogenous irradiance without material damage or additional handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high UV-C exposure levels are used to ensure thorough disinfection of cup-shaped masks, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but material damage occurs and workflow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using optical elements (lenses or reflectors) positioned at specific locations on the shelf to concentrate UV-C radiation onto the interior surfaces of cup-shaped masks. This localized concentration of radiation ensures thorough disinfection of shadowed areas without requiring high exposure levels across the entire mask, thereby preventing material damage while maintaining disinfection efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical elements as intermediaries between the UV-C light source and the mask. These optical elements (lenses or reflectors) mediate the radiation distribution by focusing UV-C rays onto specific areas of the mask interior, enabling effective disinfection without direct high-intensity exposure that would cause material damage.
2Reliability
If additional handling such as flipping masks inside-out is performed to ensure uniform disinfection, then disinfection coverage is improved, but workflow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by designing the shelf with integrated optical elements that automatically direct UV-C radiation onto all surfaces of the mask, including the interior and exterior surfaces. The mask itself is positioned on the shelf and receives uniform radiation distribution without requiring manual intervention to flip or reposition the mask, thereby maintaining disinfection coverage while improving workflow efficiency.
3Device complexity
If conventional metal mesh shelves are used without optical elements, then device complexity is reduced, but irradiance homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conventional metal mesh shelf structure with integrated optical elements (lenses or reflectors) to create a hybrid shelf system. This combination maintains the simplicity and functionality of the basic shelf while adding the capability to distribute UV-C radiation uniformly, achieving irradiance homogeneity without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution enables efficient and uniform disinfection of respirator masks and other objects by directing UV-C radiation to shadowed areas, enhancing disinfection efficacy while preventing material damage and improving workflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one UV-C light source adapted to emit UV-C radiation inside the UV-C disinfection chamber
Implementation Method 2
A metal mesh shelf with integrated optical elements, such as diverging or focusing lenses, is used within the UV-C disinfection chamber to concentrate UV-C radiation on under-exposed areas
Implementation Method 3
directing UV-C radiation to shadowed areas
Implementation Method 4
A metal mesh shelf with integrated optical elements, such as diverging or focusing lenses, is used within the UV-C disinfection chamber to concentrate UV-C radiation on under-exposed areas
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shelf (10) for a UV-C disinfection chamber (12) comprising at least one UV-C light source (24) adapted to emit UV-C radiation (22) inside the UV-C disinfection chamber, the shelf comprising: a metal mesh shelf plate (14); and at least one optical element (26), wherein each optical element of the at least one optical element is adapted to locally modify the UV-C radiation relative to an object (28) supported by the shelf in conjunction with the optical element when the shelf is placed inside the UV-C disinfection chamber.