In-Vehicle UV Disinfection Console With Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles lack effective methods for disinfecting personal items such as smartphones, wallets, and cosmetics carried by occupants.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle disinfection apparatus with an interior chamber and a UV radiation source emitting ultraviolet radiation within the 200 nm to 300 nm wavelength range, utilizing light guides and reflective layers to ensure efficient disinfection of items placed inside.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultraviolet radiation is used to disinfect items in vehicles, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for specialized housing, light guides, and reflective layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the UV radiation source, light guides, and reflective layers within a compact housing that fits into existing vehicle interiors. The light guides are embedded within the housing structure, and reflective layers are applied to internal surfaces, creating a nested configuration that maximizes disinfection capability while minimizing space occupation and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light guides as intermediary elements that transfer ultraviolet radiation from the radiation source to the items requiring disinfection. These light guides act as mediators that distribute the UV radiation evenly across the interior chamber, improving disinfection effectiveness while allowing the radiation source to be positioned separately from the items being disinfected.
2Manufacturing precision
If light guides and reflective layers are added to enhance UV radiation distribution, then disinfection uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible light guide materials and thin reflective film layers that can be easily shaped and installed within the housing. These flexible components can conform to the interior surfaces and are simpler to manufacture and install compared to rigid optical components, thereby improving disinfection uniformity while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the physical parameters of the light guides and reflective layers, such as their thickness, refractive index, and reflectivity, to achieve uniform UV radiation distribution. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high disinfection uniformity without requiring complex multi-layer structures or precision machining.
3Productivity
If the UV radiation source emits high intensity radiation, then disinfection speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the UV radiation system to operate continuously at optimized intensity levels rather than using high-intensity intermittent pulses. The light guides and reflective layers ensure that even at moderate radiation intensities, the UV energy is distributed efficiently and continuously across all items in the chamber, maintaining high disinfection speed while reducing peak energy consumption and heat generation.
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 disinfects items within a short period, providing a convenient and efficient solution for occupant personal hygiene in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a source of ultraviolet radiation configured to emit ultraviolet radiation into the housing
Implementation Method 2
the housing comprises a light guide operably coupled to at least one of the base and the lid, the light guide accepting the ultraviolet radiation from the source of the ultraviolet radiation and guiding the ultraviolet radiation within the interior chamber
Implementation Method 3
the disinfection apparatus further comprises a reflective layer, disposed adjacent to the opposite surface of the light guide, that reflects at least 40 percent of incident electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a range of 200 nm to 300 nm
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle comprising: a seating assembly; and a console disposed proximate the seating assembly. The console comprises a disinfection apparatus. The disinfection apparatus comprises a housing to accept items to be disinfected, and a source of ultraviolet radiation configured to emit ultraviolet radiation into the housing. In embodiments, the housing comprises a light guide operably coupled to at least one of a base and a lid, the light guide accepting the ultraviolet radiation from the source of the ultraviolet radiation and guiding the ultraviolet radiation within an interior chamber. In embodiments, the source of ultraviolet radiation is a light emitting diode configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a peak intensity within a wavelength range of 200 nm to 300 nm.