UV Disinfection via 3D Mapping and Dynamic Lamp Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UV disinfection technologies fail to effectively target high-touch surfaces due to coarse dosing methods and geometric limitations, leading to inefficient disinfection, especially in complex environments with occlusions.
Innovation Solution
A technique using three-dimensional mapping, GPU-based irradiance calculation, and optimization strategies, including linear programming and the Traveling Salesman Problem solver, to deliver targeted UV dosages to high-touch surfaces, optimizing disinfection efficiency and coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If stationary or fixed orientation UV lamps are used, then device complexity is reduced, but disinfection coverage and effectiveness deteriorate due to geometric limitations and inability to target high-touch surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic lamp positioning mechanisms including mobile robots and articulated arms that can move and reorient UV lamps to different locations and angles. This allows the system to adapt to complex room geometries and target specific high-touch surfaces, resolving the contradiction between simple fixed positioning and precise dosage distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational intermediaries including 3D mapping algorithms, irradiance calculation models, and optimization solvers that mediate between the UV lamp and surfaces. These computational components enable precise dosage control by calculating optimal lamp positions and orientations, effectively decoupling the physical lamp simplicity from the control precision.
2Ease of operation
If coarse dosing methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but disinfection effectiveness deteriorates because dosage cannot be targeted to specific surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by calculating and applying different UV dosages to different surfaces based on their individual characteristics. The system identifies high-touch surfaces and assigns them higher priority dosages, while adjusting dosages for other surfaces according to their specific geometry, material properties, and contamination risk, thereby achieving precise targeted disinfection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors lamp position, surface geometry, and calculated irradiance, then adjusts dosing parameters in real-time. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain precise dosage accuracy while automatically adapting to varying conditions, reducing the operational burden on users.
3Ease of operation
If UV irradiation is applied uniformly to all surfaces, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates because high-touch surfaces require higher dosages that would over-dose low-touch surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent classifies surfaces into different categories (high-touch, medium-touch, low-touch) and assigns different target dosages to each category. This allows the system to concentrate UV energy on high-priority surfaces that require higher dosages, while using lower dosages for less critical surfaces, thereby optimizing overall disinfection efficiency without requiring uniform high-dosage application throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts UV dosage parameters based on surface classification, distance from lamp, angle of incidence, and material properties. By changing dosing parameters adaptively rather than uniformly, the system achieves faster overall disinfection times while ensuring adequate dosage on critical surfaces.
4Manufacturing precision
If 3D mapping and optimization algorithms are implemented, then disinfection precision is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces computational intermediaries including 3D mapping modules, irradiance calculation engines, and optimization solvers that act as mediators between the physical UV lamp and target surfaces. These computational components handle the complex calculations and decision-making, allowing the physical hardware to remain relatively simple while achieving high precision through software-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary 3D mapping and surface classification before actual disinfection begins. By pre-calculating optimal lamp trajectories, dwell times, and dosages based on the mapped environment, the system reduces real-time computational requirements during execution, thereby managing overall system complexity while maintaining high precision.
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
This approach enables 65% faster disinfection of empty rooms and 100% coverage in cluttered hospital rooms, compared to traditional methods, while maintaining a 2-5% sacrifice in disinfection time compared to a gold standard method.
Implementation Method 1
ultraviolet (UV) disinfection of surfaces, which has strong antimicrobial properties particularly in the UVC (200 nm to 280 nm) spectrum. UV deactivates a wide range of pathogens
Implementation Method 2
three-dimensional mapping using a camera and/or laser sensors
Implementation Method 3
visibility detection and irradiance calculation using graphics processing units (GPUs)
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment may involve obtaining a three-dimensional image map of m surfaces within an environment, wherein the surfaces are associated with importance weights that represent how frequently the surfaces are expected to be touched; determining a set of n vantage points for a light source within the environment; calculating an m×n irradiance matrix for each of the surfaces when the light source is in each of the vantage points, wherein each entry in the m×n irradiance matrix is determined by: (i) rasterizing the three-dimensional image map, (ii) identifying a set of visible surfaces, and (iii) calculating an amount of light-based power that would reach each of the visible surfaces; determining a set of n dwell times for the vantage points; and providing instructions, to a disinfecting agent, to traverse at least a subset of the vantage points, pausing at and illuminating at least some.