Proximity-Based Ultraviolet Dosage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability in distance from a UV light emitter to a target surface in lavatories complicates controlling the UV dosage, potentially leading to excessive energy application that can harm humans and degrade materials, as existing systems do not effectively adjust for changes in ceiling height or obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a processor to measure and record distances from a UV light emitter to a target surface, calculating and adjusting the accumulated UV dose based on these measurements, and deactivating the emitter when a target dose is reached, ensuring consistent germicidal efficacy while minimizing exposure risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed overhead UV emitter is installed to provide germicidal function, then the UV dosage can be simplified for control, but the distance to the target surface varies depending on ceiling height or objects placed below the emitter, complicating UV dosage control
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the UV emitter operation based on real-time distance measurements. The processor continuously monitors the distance between the UV emitter and target surface, and modifies the UV dosage delivery accordingly to maintain consistent germicidal efficacy despite variations in ceiling height or object positions
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by measuring the actual distance from the UV emitter to the target surface and using this information to adjust the UV dosage. The processor receives distance feedback and modifies the emitter operation to achieve the desired cumulative UV dose, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and dosage consistency
2Reliability
If extra UV dose is applied beyond the target amount to ensure pathogen inactivation, then pathogen inactivation is improved, but it creates a hazard for materials and potential human exposure risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the UV emitter based on measured distance. By adjusting the UV dosage delivery according to the actual distance from the emitter to the target surface, the system ensures that the cumulative dose reaches the target amount for effective pathogen inactivation without exceeding it, thereby preventing material degradation and human exposure hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces fixed mechanical timing controls with a dynamic control system that uses distance measurements to determine UV emitter operation. This substitution allows precise control of UV dosage delivery, ensuring the target dose is achieved without excessive application that would cause harmful effects
Data Source
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AI summary
A of using an ultraviolet (UV) light emitter is disclosed herein. The method includes measuring, by a processor (310), a first distance from the UV light emitter (302) to a target surface, activating, by the processor, the UV light emitter, and recording, by the processor, a second distance from the UV light emitter to the target surface. The method further includes calculating, by the processor, an accumulated dose of UV light on the target surface based at least in part on the second distance and deactivating, by the processor, the UV light emitter in response to the accumulated dose reaching a target dose.