UV Edge-Lit Display Panel Sterilization Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display apparatuses with touch screens, such as interactive kiosks, often become contaminated with bacteria due to public use, and existing sanitization methods may expose users to ultraviolet light or require manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus equipped with ultraviolet light sources positioned on the edges, emitting UV light towards the screen only when no user touch input is detected for a specified time, using UV LEDs with refracting lenses to optimize sterilization without exposing users to UV radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultraviolet light sources are positioned to sterilize the display surface, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but user exposure to UV radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display surface is divided into multiple sterilization zones, with UV light sources positioned at multiple locations (edges and corners) to provide localized sterilization. This segmentation allows effective coverage of the display surface while maintaining safety margins for user exposure zones.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor system acts as an intermediary between the UV light sources and the display surface. The sensor detects the presence of users and controls the activation state of UV light sources, mediating the interaction to prevent direct user exposure while maintaining sterilization effectiveness when no users are present.
2Reliability
If UV light sources are activated continuously to maintain sterilization, then cleanliness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV light sources operate periodically rather than continuously, being activated only during predetermined time slots when the display is not in use. This periodic operation maintains sterilization effectiveness while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensor feedback to detect user presence and display usage state, which controls the activation of UV light sources. This feedback mechanism ensures that sterilization occurs only when necessary (when no users are present), optimizing the balance between maintaining cleanliness and reducing energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If manual sterilization is required, then user control is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system performs self-sterilization automatically based on its own operational state and sensor detections. The system monitors its own usage patterns and activates sterilization functions without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing the complexity of manual sterilization procedures.
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
Effectively sterilizes the display surface without user exposure to UV light, ensuring cleanliness between uses and maintaining user safety.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet (UV) light source provided on an edge portion of the display panel and configured to emit UV light to the display panel from the edge portion of the display panel
Implementation Method 2
a lens configured to refract the UV light emitted from the LED chip
Data Source
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AI summary
A display apparatus, including a display panel; a touch sensor provided on the display panel and configured to detect a user touch input; an ultraviolet (UV) light source provided on an edge portion of the display panel and configured to emit UV light to the display panel from the edge portion of the display panel; and a controller electrically connected to the display panel, the touch sensor, and the UV light source, wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the user touch input is not detected, control the UV light source to emit the UV light toward the display panel.