UV Inspection Device for Invisible Soiling Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to optimize hygiene maintenance in vehicle interior spaces, particularly in areas like aircraft, buses, and ships, where cleaning intervals are increasingly short and hygiene standards are rising due to health concerns like pandemics, making it difficult to detect and ensure the removal of invisible soiling and odor-causing substances.
Innovation Solution
An inspection device with an optical detection system that uses electromagnetic radiation, such as UV light, is permanently installed to render invisible soiling visible, allowing for improved cleaning quality and hygiene assurance. This device can be integrated into interior linings, furniture, or structures, and includes sensors and cameras for targeted cleaning and odor detection, with control units to assess and display the cleanliness level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cleaning intervals are shortened to meet economic requirements, then productivity is improved, but the ability to detect and remove invisible soiling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an optical detection device that uses electromagnetic radiation (UV light) to automatically detect invisible soiling. This substitution enables rapid inspection that does not extend cleaning intervals, thereby maintaining high productivity while improving detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical detection device as an intermediary between the cleaning process and quality assessment. This device uses UV radiation to reveal invisible contaminants, acting as a mediator that provides accurate detection without requiring extended time for manual inspection.
2Device complexity
If manual inspection methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect invisible soiling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual visual inspection with an optical detection device that uses electromagnetic radiation. Although this increases device complexity, it enables the detection of invisible soiling that manual methods cannot detect, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplicity and detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If permanent installation of detection device is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical detection device with existing permanent structures such as interior wall linings or ceiling linings. By integrating the detection device into these existing structures, the system achieves permanent installation for continuous monitoring while minimizing additional complexity through combined functionality.
4Ease of operation
If accessible inspection device is provided, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical detection device to serve multiple functions: it can be accessed by cleaning personnel for quality control, by hygiene officers for verification, and integrated into existing vehicle systems. This multi-functionality justifies the access control mechanism by providing diverse operational benefits that simplify different aspects of hygiene management.
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection device is provided to monitor hygienic conditions of a space unit for a vehicle. The vehicle includes, but is not limited to, an inspection device, the use of an inspection device, and a method to assure hygienic conditions in a vehicle. In order to optimize assuring hygienic conditions in interior spaces on board a vehicle an inspection device is provided that includes, but is not limited to, an optical detection device. The optical detection device generates electromagnetic radiation to irradiate a surface to be cleaned, and renders visible soiling that, in visible light, is invisible to the human eye. The optical detection device is permanently installable on an interior lining.